Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 100

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1354

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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 Phoebe 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 fitted 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 1, 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

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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.

W ILSON 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 1, 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 1, 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 stanch supporter of the Republican party, was elected supervisor of the town of Beekman in 1894, in which position he served for two years or until his removal to East Fishkill, and was the young- est member of that board. In social as well as business circles he holds a high position, and is a young man of more than ordinary ability. Religiously, Mrs. Storm holds mnem- bership in the Reformed Church at Hopewell.

D AVID EDWIN COLWELL, a highly es- teemed resident of Matteawan, Dutchess county, is one of the favored few, who, on reaching the ordinary limit of three-score years and ten finds life still enjoyable, old age being but the harvest time for their previous years of toil. He was born in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, April 1, 1825, and is a de- scendant of an old Scotch family.

His direct ancestors lived in the North of Ireland for some generations, and his great- grandfather was the first of the line to come to America. He was a Protestant, and the ma- jority of the family have been members of the Methodist Church. Samuel Colwell, our sub- ject's grandfather, married Mary Smith, whose brother was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Their son Archibald, our subject's fath- er, married Abigail Hall, and had eight chil- dren: Calvin Hubbard ( deceased ); Louisa, now Mrs. Reed, of Moores Mill; Archibald L., of Verbank; Samuel Augustus, of Peoria, Ill .; David E., our subject; Julia Ann, now Mrs. Burnett, of Connecticut; Mary L. Ack- erman; and Sarah A. Seaman.

When David E. Colwell was six years old his parents moved to Verbank, and at an early age he began to work in a cotton factory there, which was the first of its kind to be operated in this State. In 1845 he went into the shoe business with his brother Archibald, but in 1855 entered the service of the Fishkill Land- ing Machine Co., and in due time became a skilled machinist. For a short time he was employed by the late H. N. Swift, in the man- ufacture of lawn mowers, and then he moved to Passaic, N. J., to take a lucrative position with the New York Steam Engine Co. After a few years he went to Yonkers, N. Y., and was engaged in Waring's hat factory until his retirement from active business. He has re- sided at Matteawan for many years, and is a

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leading member of the M. E. Church there. On January 14, 1847, he was married to Miss Jane A. Beach, and on January 14, 1897, they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, a most joyous occasion. They have two sons, Winfield S. and Frank W., both residents of Matteawan.

FRANK W. COLWELL was born in Mattea- wan, April 9, 1859, and after receiving an ed- ucation in the public schools of that place, went to Yonkers to learn the jewelry and watchmaking business with H. F. Von Storch, with whom he remained for more than four years. He then worked at this trade in various places, spending some time with the Independ- ent Watch Co., at Fredonia, N. Y., four years with the Waterbury Co., at Waterbury, Conn., and two years with the Cheshire Watch Co., of Cheshire, Conn. In 1888 he returned to his old home and engaged in business for him- self in a small way, beginning with one window in a millinery store on Main street. He pros- pered, and after seven or eight months he moved into a more convenient store in a new building, and has since carried on his business there with a constantly growing patronage. His store is fully equipped with all the modern appliances, and a complete stock of watches, clocks, and jewelry of all kinds. He has a pleasant home at No. 21 Vine street, but in January, 1895, it was darkened by the death of his beloved wife, Carrie E. Tiel, to whom he was married November 10, 1880. Four children survive her: Minnie A., Jennie R., Frances B. and Edmund T.

Mrs. Colwell was a member of one of the leading families of Matteawan, a granddaugh- ter of the late William H. Tiel, and a daughter of J. William Tiel, a well-known hat manu- facturer. He married a lady of English de- scent, Miss Julia Rogers, a native of Palen- ville, Greene Co., N. Y., and both are still living. Of their eight children the first two and the last died in infancy. The others were Dr. Arthur R. Tiel, Edson L., J. William, Jr., Carrie E. and Minnie A. In politics Mr. Col- well is a Republican, and he is an active worker in the M. E. Church, holding at pres- ent the office of superintendent of the Sunday- school. He is much interested in fraternal society work, belonging to the I. O. O. F., Evergreen Lodge, in which he has been a trus- tee for six years, and to the F. & A. M., Bea- con Lodge, having joined the Masonic order while 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 Underhill, who practiced medicine successfully at New Hackensack for more than forty years. Dr. Anthony Underhill 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 31, 1895, Mr. Underhill 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. Underhill 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 New York August 3, 1895, on the Cunarder " Aurania " and on August 12 arrived at Liv- erpool, where they stopped at the " Adelphia

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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. Underhill 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.

S ILAS 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 brothers who came from Ireland in 1600 and settled in Rhode Island. Of their numerous descendants many came west from time to time, following the advancing line of civilization, and Edson Card, our subject's grandfather, who was born in Connecticut, became one of the early set- tlers of Ancram, Columbia Co., N. Y., where he was engaged in farming. He married Char- lotte Witheral, and had nine children: Edson (1) (deceased), Catherine, Mary (deceased), Eton H., Emma (deceased), Sarah, Edson (2), Charlotte, and William (deceased).

Edson Card, our subject's father, was born November 29, 1817, in Ancram, and was there married to Miss Mary Miller, who was born in 1814, a daughter of Silas Miller, of Copake, Columbia county, who was of Dutch ancestry, and followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. They had five children: Albert M., an attorney of New York City, who resides at Sharon, Conn .; Silas E., our subject; Lottie H., born in 1848, now a resident of Pleasant Valley; Charles M., born in 1850, also of Pleasant Valley; George, born in 1854, an at- torney at Poughkeepsie; and Edson, born in 1856, who was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, in ISS2, and is now a prominent physician at Lake Mahopac, Putnam county (he married Miss Cora Badeau, and has one son, Badeau Card). For eight years after their marriage our sub- ject's parents lived at Ancram, but in 1847 they removed to a farm in the town of Stan- ford, Dutchess county. In 1869 they went to Pleasant Valley, there to pass their declining years. The father was a man of influence in his neighborhood, possessing the esteem.of all classes of people, and for many years he was a justice of the peace in the town of Pleasant Valley, and held the office of assessor for many years. He died May 12, 1888; his widow is still living at Pleasant Valley.

Silas E. Card was only two years old when he came to Dutchess county, and he was edu- cated in the public schools of his vicinity and and in the seminary at Amenia. In 1865 he came to Poughkeepsie to engage in business, and after spending fifteen years in the store of Seward & Hayt he bought an interest in George P.Satterlee's merchant-tailoring establishment, at No. 280 Main street. He was admirably qualified for success in his chosen line, and held a high rank among the enterprising mer- chants of his vicinity. On November 4, 1874,

Siles & barcă

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in the town of Stanford, he married Miss E. Belle Alling, a daughter of John T. and Frances (Mabbett) Alling, and five children were born of this union : John A., born May 20, 1877, graduated from the Poughkeepsie high school at the age of sixteen, and is now completing his course in medicine at the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, New York; Frank M., who died when one year old; Mary E., born December 5, 1882; George H., born July 17, 1886; and Albert N., born May 14, 1890.

In politics Mr. Card was a Democrat, and he took an influential part in the work of the organization in his locality. He was the can- didate of his party for mayor in 1894; but that was a year of tribulation for Democrats, and he with all the others on the ticket suffered defeat. He was one of the City Alms House commissioners for ten years, and was an Ex- empt Fireman of Phoenix Hose Company No. 1, of which he was treasurer. In the Masonic order he was a member of Triune Lodge No. 782, Poughkeepsie Chapter and Commandery, and of the Royal Arcanum, and was District Deputy of Dutchess county. He was a promi- nent member of Washington street M. E. Church, at the time of his death holding the office of steward.

AMES HENRY HIGNELL, the junior member of the firm of McFarlane & Hig- nell, the well-known boiler manufacturers, of Fishkill Landing, Dutchess county, is among the most prominent of the younger business men of that place.

The family name is English in its origin, and our subject's paternal grandfather, Joseph Hignell, came from England in early man- hood, and was married in this country to Mrs. Rachel Lawson, a widow. Their son, Daniel L. Hignell, our subject's father, was born at Barnegat, N. Y., April 28, 1833, learned the blacksmith's trade in youth, and is now the Fishkill Landing Machine Company's foreman. He married Miss Mary Odell, who was born November 23, 1832, near Cold Spring, Put- nam county, the daughter of Elijah and Sa- brina (Perry) Odell. The Odell family is an ancient one, and this branch was established in this country in Colonial times. Our sub- ject was the eldest of three children, the others being Millard Fillmore Hignell; and Mamie, who married James E. Tomlins, and resides at Tuxedo Park.

James H. Hignell was born at Fishkill 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 the harness maker's trade about sixyears; but his 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, 1. 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.

W ILLIAM E. HAVENS, the efficient su- 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

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(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 ENJAMIN 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 and wholesale dealer in paints, oils, chemicals and similar commodities, his trade extending in his specialties to all parts of the United States.

Mr. Hammond was born in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England, July 12, 1849. His father, Benjamin Hammond, the son of Levi Hammond, was born in that locality in 1817, and in 1848 married Miss Mary Twemlow, for his second wife. ( Our subject is the oldest of the five children of this union, the names of the others being Mary, Levi, Sophia and Sophronia Warren. In 1855 the father came to America, bringing his family, and after locating for a time in New York City, he re- moved to Carlinville, Macoupin Co., Ill., where he remained until 1858. Returning east, he made his permanent home in Brooklyn, where he died in November, 1876. The son began his business life with Lazell, Marsh & Gardi- ner, at No. 10 Gold street, New York City, as office boy, and after nine years with them he went, in 1873, to Mt. Kisco, in company with Charles S. Ware, who had purchased the drug business of Mrs. Dr. Fenton, a sister-in-law of the late Gov. Fenton, of New York. The business was continued and developed until the fall of 1884, when Mr. Hammond removed to Fishkill Landing and founded his present establishment. Mr. Hammond is one of the pioneers in the United States in the manufac- ture of economic insecticides, and this particu- lar branch of his business is known all over the world, as he ships his product to London (England), Auckland (New Zealand), Nova Scotia, and all other parts of Canada. His works are located on the N. E. corner of Long Dock Landing, opposite the N. Y. & N. E. depot, and near the H. R. R. depot and New- burg Ferry, and the business under his judi- cious and vigorous management has been on the increase ever since its establishment. In

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 100

Author: J.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1354

Author: J.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Chicago, J. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1354