USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 8
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 8
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 8
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The first ancestor of this branch of the Dickinson family in America came from England, about 1640, and settled in the Connecticut valley. Dr. Dickinson's grand- father, James Dickinson, was born in Connect- icut. He came to this State shortly after the Revolution and settled in Canaan, Columbia County. Several years later he removed to a farm in Roseboom, Otsego County, and there remained until his death, at the age of seventy-seven.
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Lyman Dickinson, son of James, was born in Canaan and one of a family of seven chil- dren. He lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, when he went to Henrietta, where he engaged in mechanical work for a number of years, at the same time doing some farming. He then removed to Northern Indiana, but ten years later re- turned to Roseboom. Some years afterward he moved to Tioga valley, and, purchasing a farm, continued to reside there until his death, at the age of eighty-eight. He attended the Presbyterian church. His wife was the daugh- ter of Aaron Webster, and was born in Canaan, N. Y. She was of the seventh generation from the first representative of this branch of the Webster family in America. One of her an- cestors, John Webster, who settled in Hart- ford about 1636, was the fifth Governor of Connecticut, holding the office one year, 1656-57. He afterward removed to Hadley, Mass. ller grandfather was one of the fa- vorite scouts of General Putnam during the war of the Revolution. Iler father, who was born in Connecticut, removed to Canaan and later to Roseboom. His first wife died at the age of twenty-six, leaving only one child, Charles, now Dr. Dickinson. She was a birthright Quaker. Ilis second wife, whose maiden name was Sarah Sutphen, had five children, two of whom are living, by name Orville and Lyman D. She lived to the age of eighty.
Charles Dickinson in his early years at- tended the common schools and later the academy at Cherry Valley. Ile began the
study of medicine with Dr. James E. Sutphen, of Seward, and subsequently took three courses of lectures at the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1860. Return- ing then to Seward, he began the practice of his profession, and remained until 1869, when he removed to Binghamton. At the end of a year and a half he came back to Seward, and has since made this the scene of his professional labors. He has now been longer in practice than any other physician in this section of the county. Dr. Dickinson is energetic and per- severing in whatever he undertakes, and is able as a business man as well as skilful in his profession. During early and middle life he had a large practice, and covered a wide circle in his ministrations; but in later years he has retired to a more limited field. An un- tiring student through all his career, he has given attention, not simply to medical subjects, but to science and literature in general. He has now and then lectured on some scientific or literary subject ; and during the summer of 1896, while he was making the tour of Europe for pleasure and study, he wrote, by request, a number of letters on his travels for the Cobles- kill Index.
The Doctor has lived for twenty-seven years in his present house. He was married in 1859 to Celia M. France, daughter of Gilbert G. France and one of a household group of seven children. Her father was a well-known farmer of this region, where the family has been settled ever since the Revolution. Mrs. Dickinson was a member of the Methodist church. She died at the age of thirty-eight,
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leaving three children ; namely, Everett M., Melville D., and Hattie A. All of these are graduates of Cobleskill Academy. Both sons are Knights Templar. Everett M. Dickinson has been for the last seven years a jeweller in North Adams, Mass., where he conducts a large business. He married Laura Mann, who died in 1894, and by whom he had two children - Angie and Everett. In 1895 he married Louise Tower Wallace. She had one child --- Gertrude Wallace. Melville D. Dickinson studied medicine with his father, and was graduated at Albany in 1890. He was also for two years a student at Cornell Univer- sity. He is now assistant surgeon of the Troy Hospital, and is physician to St. Vincent Orphan Asylum. He married Emma Cole, and has one child, Celia. Hattie Dickinson is the wife of Clarence H. Shafer, of Cobles- kill. Mr. Shafer is engaged in the jewelry business.
Dr. Dickinson is a member of the Schoharie County Medical Society, has been its presi- dent, and has served as delegate to the State society. He has written and read before the society papers on a variety of medical subjects. Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat, and he has held a number of important offices in the town. As Justice of the Peace he has done a large amount of important business, and as railroad commissioner he has rendered valuable service. He was formerly a Free Mason at Cobleskill. For many years he has been a leading member of the Methodist church and for over thirty-five years a Sunday- school teacher.
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SAAC SHOWERS, a retired civil engi- neer, was born in Hunter, August 27, 1827, son of Japhet and Sylvia (Butts) Showers. His first American ancestor was an emigrant from Holland, who settled in New Jersey, where he spent the rest of his life, and was a farmer. The next in line, John Showers, probably came to America with his father. After residing in New Jersey for a time he settled on a farm in Albany, N. Y., where he died at an advanced age. Michael Showers, son of John and grandfather of Isaac, was a native of Albany. He worked on a farm there until reaching his majority, when he came to Great Flats (now Lexington) and built a grist-mill, which he conducted a few years. He then took up a large tract of moun- tain land in what is now Jewett, and resided there with his family. He died in 1819, aged forty-nine years, leaving a widow and ten chil- dren. His widow, who again married, died at the age of fifty-three years.
Japhet Showers, above named, was born in a log house on the home farm in Jewett, seven miles below where his son Isaac now lives, and always resided in that locality. He was a farmer, and fairly successful. In politics he was a Democrat, and held some of the town offices. He died at the age of seventy. His wife, Sylvia, was a daughter of Isaac Butts, a well-to-do farmer of Lexington. Her father was twice married. By his first wife he had fourteen children ; and by his second wife, for- merly Mrs. Ruby Bellows, of Dover, N. J., widow with four children, he was the father of seven children. Isaac Butts and his second
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wife both lived to be about ninety-two years old. Japhet and Sylvia (Butts) Showers had a family of eleven children, of whom four are living - Michael, Isaac, Louisa, and Caroline. Michael is married, and resides on an adjoin- ing farm, Louisa married Beasley Teasler, and Caroline is the wife of George Benn. The mother died at the age of seventy-one. She was a Methodist in her religious belief.
Isaac Showers at the age of eight years went to live at the home of a neighbor, with whom he remained five years, and he spent another year upon a farm in the vicinity. At the age of sixteen he went to Jewett, and secured em- ployment for six months at seven dollars per month. He next worked in a saw-mill, where he received one hundred and twenty dollars a year for ten years, and saved seven hundred dollars of his earnings. After his marriage he located on a farm adjoining his present home, which is about one and a half miles from the village of Tannersville, on the road to Jewett, first purchasing one hundred and twelve acres and later buying more land. He remained there until 1891, and from 1846 to 1879 held the agency for the Hardingburgh Land Grant, Lot 25, consisting of twenty-eight thousand acres, surveying and selling about twenty-one thousand acres during that time. In 1879 he purchased seven thousand acres lying in Ulster and Greene Counties, which he surveyed and laid out in farms. It was in a poor condition at the time he took possession, but he improved it to such an extent as to make it more desir- able, and now besides a large number of farms the district contains four parks - Santa
Cruz, Twilight, Sunset, and Elka - compris- ing in all twelve hundred acres. In 1857 he adopted the profession of civil engineering, and for the past forty years he has surveyed not only all the Hardingburgh patent, but a great many farms throughout this region. He has surveyed also land near the Hudson River in Ulster County, and has completed much work for the great quarries in that locality. He has also been called upon in many law- suits as an expert ; and, although in 1895 he was compelled on account of ill health to relin- quish active work of this kind, his advice is still sought upon many important matters. In 1890 he sold the farm of two hundred and sixty-six acres adjoining his home property. He erected a new dwelling-house and other buildings upon his present farm, which con- tains seventy acres, used principally for dairy purposes. Ile also owns three other farms and outlying land, amounting in all to one thou- sand acres, and is one of the largest resident Jand-owners in the town.
In 1854 Mr Showers was united in marriage with Merilla Loomis, daughter of Alvin J. and Harriet (Palmer) Loomis, of Windham. Her father, who was a butcher in that town, died at an advanced age; and her mother, who was a native of Ashland, died at the age of forty-nine. Mr. and Mrs. Loomis had eight children, of whom five are living; namely, Addison, Merilla, Chloe, Lovisa, and Julia. Merilla is now Mrs. Showers, Chloe married Jonathan Traphagen, Lovisa is the wife of William Young, and Julia married George Goodrich. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Showers have
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had eight children. The four now living are : Cyrus, Emma, Henry W., and George H. Showers. Cyrus is a civil engineer. A sketch of him appears elsewhere in the RE- VIEW. Emma married Edward Osborn, a blacksmith in California, and has five chil- dren. Henry W. is attending the Albany Law School, and George Harding Showers is a student at the Polytechnic Institute, Troy. The others were: Jennie, who married Ste- phen Vining, and died in California, leaving two daughters - Bertha and Mingie; Elmer, who died at fourteen; Isaac, Jr., who died young ; and Irving, who died at the age of four years.
Mr. Showers is a Republican in politics, but has declined to serve in office. He was in 1848 a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for fifty-five years, a class leader forty-three years, and has also been connected with the Sunday-school as teacher and superintendent. He assisted in building the churches at Tannersville and Jew- ett, and contributes liberally toward the sup- port of both.
ILLIAM KOHRING, of Glenville, ex-chairman of the Board of Super- visors, was born upon the farm where he now resides, September 3, 1862, son of August and Elizabeth (Martin) Kohring. The parents, who were natives of Germany, came to Glen- ville about the year 1858, and settled upon a farm. August Kohring was a sturdy and in-
dustrious man, possessing the keen intelli- gence and ambition to advance which is charac- teristic of his race; and he was respected as a worthy, upright, and progressive citizen. When naturalized he embraced the principles of the Democratic party, but withdrew his allegiance on account of the slavery question, and thenceforward acted with the Republicans. In his religious belief he was a Methodist. August Kohring died July 7, 1897. His wife is still living. They reared two sons, namely : William, the subject of this sketch; and George, who died in February, 1889, aged twenty-seven years.
William Kohring began his education in the common schools and completed his studies with a two years' course at a commercial college in Schenectady. He has made agriculture his chief occupation, and is now the owner of the home farm of about fifty acres. He carries on general farming in an able and progressive manner, keeps some fine Jersey cattle, and is regarded as one of the leading farmers in this locality. In politics he is a Republican, and since reaching his majority he has taken a lively interest in local public affairs. He has served as a Justice of the Peace four years, and was Supervisor for the years 1896-97, being chairman of the board the last year.
On March 18, 1891, Mr. Kohring was united in marriage with Lillie Muller, who was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., daughter of Ded- rich and Sophia Muller. Mrs. Kohring is the mother of one daughter, Lillie E., who was born December 5, 1892.
Mr. Kohring is well informed upon all the
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important topics of the day, and his public services were characterized by an intelligent appreciation of the people's needs. He is a Master Mason, and belongs to St. George Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M., of Schenectady. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
D URYEA BEEKMAN, president of the First National Bank of Middle- burg, Schoharie County, N. Y., was born at Seward, this county, August 9, 1840, son of Nicholas and Alida (Becker) Beekman. Of Dutch ancestry on the paternal side and German on his mother's, he is a representative of one of the oldest and most notable families in the county.
The first progenitor of the Beekman family in this country was John Beekman, an early settler in Albany, N. Y., who later removed to a farm in the Mohawk valley. William, the next in line of descent, born in 1767, was the first Judge of Schoharie County, which position he held for thirty years. When a boy he was clerk to Colonel Marius Willet. He was ap- pointed County Judge by Governor George Clinton, and held that office until 1833. In the years 1798, 1800, 1801, and 1802 he repre- sented his district in the State Senate. He was married July 18, 1788, to Joanna Low, daughter of Nicholas Low, and he afterward re- moved to Sharon, this county. His death took place at Sharon on November 26, 1845, in the house which he had built in 1802-4, and which is still standing.
Nicholas Beekman, son of Judge Beekman
and father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Sharon, N. Y., November 27, 1790. He became a prominent citizen of the town of Middeburg, where for a long period he was engaged in farming and hop-growing, being one of the first hop-growers in the Schoharie valley. He served as Supervisor and in other offices, and represented the county in the State legislature of 1841. His marriage, which oc- curred June 16, 1811, united him with Alida, daughter of David Becker, and their wedded life extended through a period of over sixty years. He survived his wife by two years and four days, dying January 13, 1874. Of their twelve children, six survived them.
Duryea Beekman came to Middleburg with his parents when a boy. His education was obtained in the schools of this town. Since early manhood his capacity has been demon- strated in various business enterprises, and he now holds a high position in the business com- munity. Elected president of the First Na- tional Bank of Middleburg at the time of its organization in 1880, he still remains in office. The bank is regarded as one of the best in this part of the State, and its reputation is due in chief measure to its excellent management. Mr. Beekman was for many years secretary and is now vice-president of the Middleburg & Schoharie Railroad. He is a director of the Davenport, Middleburg & Durham Railroad Company and a director of the Merchants' and Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company. In politics a Democrat, he served in the legisla- ture of 1879, having been elected by a majority of one thousand five hundred and six votes;
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and he has frequently represented his party in State and other conventions. He is a member of Middleburg Lodge, No. 663, F. & A. M.
On October 19, 1859, Mr. Beekman married Elizabeth Richtmyer, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Richtmyer. Mrs. Beekman's pater- nal grandfather, Captain George Richtmyer, a native of Germany, came to America in 1745, and settled at Hartman's Dorf, in the town of Middleburg. Captain Richtmyer was subse- quently an officer in the American army during the Revolutionary War. He fought at Bemis Heights, and served with distinction in every engagement that occurred in the Schoharie valley. Mr. and Mrs. Beekman have been the parents of three children, namely : Charles, who died in infancy ; Dow, of whom a separate sketch appears in this volume; and William G.
OW BEEKMAN, of Middleburg, one of the leading lawyers and busi- ness men of Schoharie County, was born in this town, February 8, 1862, son of Duryea and Elizabeth (Richtmayer) Beekman. He comes of an old Schoharie County family, and a fuller account of his ancestors may be found in connection with the sketch of his father, Duryea Beekman, on the preceding page of this volume.
After the usual common-school course Dow Beekman prepared for college at Hartwick Seminary, Otsego County. He then entered Union College, at which he was graduated in 1884, having taken four of the most important prizes in the course. From September, 1884,
until June, 1886, he was professor of mathe- matics at Union Classical Institute, Schenec- tady, N. Y., and during the same period he de- voted his spare time to the study of law in the office of Judge Samuel W. Jackson, of that city. In September, 1886, he was admitted to the bar at Saratoga, and immediately began the practice of his profession in Middleburg. Since then he has built up what is probably the largest law business in this part of the county. In 1889 he was elected District At- torney of Schoharie County, receiving a major- ity of one thousand eight hundred votes, and during his term of office he never presented an indictment that was set aside or quashed. He has been attorney and counsel in many impor- tant cases, is attorney for the Middleburg & Schoharie Railroad Company, for the Daven- port, Middleburg & Durham Railroad, and also for the corporation of the village of Middleburg. He is the possessor of an un- usually extensive library.
Mr. Beekman is also a man of practical busi- ness ability. He is a director of the Middle- burg & Schoharie Railroad Company, attorney and treasurer of the Merchants' and Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a director and secretary of the Middleburg Telephone Exchange Company. A Democrat in politics, he is secretary of the Democratic County Com- mittee, and has delivered many addresses in different parts of the State in every Presiden- tial campaign since he became a voter, having on several occasions been sent out by the Democratic State Committee. He has also delivered addresses on subjects foreign to poli-
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tics, and his ability as a speaker has been fre- quently recognized by the press.
Mr. Beekman has been Master of Middle- burg Lodge, No. 663, F. & A. M., for four years. In 1896 he served as District Deputy Grand Master of the Eleventh Masonic Dis- trict, which comprises Delaware, Schoharie, and Greene Counties. He is now District Dep- uty Grand Master of the Eighteenth District, comprising Schoharie and Otsego Counties. lle is a member of John L. Lewis Chapter, R. A. M. He has also been District Deputy Grand Sachem of the Improved Order of Red Men, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
On June 9, 1891, Mr. Beekman married Miss Laura Frisbie, daughter of Grandison N. Frisbie, of Middleburg. Two children have blessed their union - Marjorie Elizabeth and Douw Frisbie.
IIOMAS W. JERALDS, a retired busi- ness man and wealthy resident of Ash- land, was born in Waterbury, Conn., August 28, 1839, son of Thomas and Mary (Brown) Jeralds. Both his father and his paternal grandfather, whose given name was Ransom, were natives of Bethany, Conn. Ransom Jeralds, however, removed from that town to Wallingford, same State, where he carried on a farm for the rest of his active period, his death occurring at the age of seventy-nine years.
When a young man Thomas Jeralds became a Methodist minister, and was attached to the
New York East Conference for about twenty years. He was subsequently engaged in the silverware business at Meriden, Conn., until his retirement. He died at the age of forty- seven years. His first wife, Mary, who was a native of Burlington, Conn., died in early womanhood, leaving two children, namely : Ellen M., who married Ilenry Wooding, and is no longer living; and Thomas W., the subject of this sketch. For his second wife he mar- ried Betsey Parker, a sister of Charles Parker, a prominent manufacturer of Meriden and the first Mayor of that city. Of this union there were three children, two of whom are living, namely: Sarah R., who married John Ten Eyck; and Mary A., who married a Mr. Morgan, of Meriden, Conn. Mrs. Betsey P. Jeralds is still living, and is now ninety-two years old.
Thomas W. Jeralds went from the Walling- ford High School to the academy in Meriden, and his studies were completed at the Ashland Collegiate Institute. Entering mercantile business in this town, he continued it in Chesh- ire and still later in Wallingford, where he kept a general store for some time. From Wallingford he removed to Ashland, N. Y., where he engaged in active business until his retirement in 1890, and where he still makes his home. He has business interests in vari- ous places, and his time is now devoted to the care of his investments and to the management of his fine estate in this town. This valuable property, which is known as Crescent Lawn, consists of one hundred and fifty-five acres of desirably located land, used chiefly for dairy
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T. W. JERALDS.
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purposes and the cultivation of small fruits, and containing two substantial residences ad- joining each other.
In 1860 Mr. Jeralds was joined in marriage with Frances A. Tuttle, a native of Ashland, daughter of Albert and Aurelia Tuttle. A]- bert Tuttle was a well-to-do merchant and speculator. He figured conspicuously in the public affairs of this town, and held all of the important local offices. He also served as Postmaster, and while a member of the Assem- bly he introduced the act incorporating the town of Ashland. He was the father of five children by his first union, and by a second marriage he had two children, one of whom became Mrs. Jeralds. Mrs. Jeralds died Jan- uary 9, 1898, aged fifty-eight years. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a lovely Christian lady. She left three children; namely, Caroline S., Hattie A., and John T. Caroline married Lorenzo R. Cook, of the White Sewing Machine Com- pany, and proprietor of a large dry-goods store at Wallingford, Conn. Hattie A. married Charles C. Carroll, a jeweller of Wallingford, and her children are : Barbara J., Frances W., and Doris J. John T., who is residing in East Haven, Conn., married Berta L. Whit- lesey, of East Haven.
In politics Mr. Jeralds is a Republican. He held the appointment of Postmaster both in Cheshire and Yalesville, and served with abil- ity as Supervisor in Ashland for the years 1891-92. His interest in the welfare of Ash- land began some forty years ago, when he first - engaged in business; and during the period of
his residence elsewhere his attachment to the place was unabated. He is a member of and a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal church, but has contributed liberally to the different churches. He takes a lively interest in Sun- day-school work, and rendered valuable aid in securing and furnishing the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. Mr. Jeralds is an Odd Fellow, and formerly belonged to the Meriden Centre Lodge, Meriden, Conn.
ISS JANE VAN LOAN, one of the most prominent and highly re- spected ladies of Catskill, was born in this place, her parents being William W. and Sally (Du Bois) Van Loan.
Her grandfather, Captain Isaac Van Loan, was in his time the leading man of the town, and widely known throughout all this section of the county. He had large shipping interests, and was the owner of several sloops which ran on the river. When young he had learned the mason's trade, and always as long as he lived he took a deep interest in the welfare of me- chanics, and aided them in every possible way. Nor was his helpfulness extended to this class alone. Every person deserving of sympathy was sure to find in Captain Van I.oan's warm heart, which overflowed with kindness to all mankind, a fountain of consolation, and every worthy cause found in him an unfailing cham- pion. A man of fervid religious aspirations, in the church he was a pillar of strength. He was a member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and many years one of its vestrymen. He
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took a prominent part in securing in 1801 the erection of the church edifice, which was the first in Catskill. Not only did he aid with generous contributions of money, but he gave much time and personal effort during his ser- vice as a member of the building committee. He was one of those genial and whole-hearted men who are sure to make friends wherever they go, and his death caused deep and wide- spread grief. He never neglected the duties of good citizenship. For many years he served the town as Road Master, and for a time was Sheriff of the county. His death occurred in 1840, at seventy-two years of age. His wife, who also died at seventy-two, was born in Schoharie. Her maiden name was Jane Dies. She was a daughter of Madame Dies, who was long the first lady in Catskill. Madame Dies lived in the beautiful, old-fashioned house that formerly stood where the Shale brick works now are. She was a daughter of Jacob Goelet, of the famous New York family of that name. Captain Isaac and Jane (Dies) Van Loan had five children.
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