Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 104

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

USA > New York > Dutchess County > Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York > Part 104

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A native of Dutchess county, Mr. Pierce was born in the town of Beekman, March 18, 1842, and the family have mostly made their homes in that county for the last century, his grandfather, Daniel Pierce, having come from Westchester county about 100 years ago. He followed the vocations of carpenter and farmer.

Isaac Pierce, the father of our subject, was one of the fourteen children born to Daniel Pierce, his birth occurring in the town of East Fishkill, where he grew to manhood upon a farm. In early life he learned the tailor's trade, was later an agriculturist, and still later in life conducted a general store at Johnsville, Dutchess county. His political support was given to the Whig party until its dissolution, when he became a Republican.

Isaac Pierce married Jane E. Wilcox, who was also born in the town of East Fishkill, and was a daughter of Abner Wilcox, a native of Dutchess county, and a farmer by occupation. Six children blessed this union: Elizabeth, who married Abraham Stout, a farmer of the town of East Fishkill; Leonard V., our subject; Louisa, widow of Abraham Way, a wagonmaker; Cora, wife of William H. Griffin, an agriculturist of East Fishkill; Antoinette, who married DeWitt Conover (both are now deceased); Mary J., wife of Dearborn Wixon, a farmer of East Fishkill. The mother died in 1888, the father in 1893, respected by all who knew them.

The childhood of our subject was passed in the town of Beekman, but the greater part of his life was spent in East Fishkill. For eight years he clerked in the store of his father at Johnsville, since which time he has been engaged in the culture of fruit with most satisfactory re-

sults, 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.

W INTHROP SARGENT, of " Wodene- 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-

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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. Thc 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 114 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 1745; 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. Howc, 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 1, 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 his novel called the " Fortunes of Nigel, " in which the King familiarly calls him " Jingling Geordie." Some exquisite specimens of gold and silver work are still shown in England as the work of Heriot. It is related that one day, through the carelessness of the attendant, the only daughter of Master Heriot, a child of tender age, fell from the window of his house on London Bridge into the Thames below. One of her father's apprentices, FFrancis Os- borne, seeing this, jumped from a window into the water, and saved the child from death. After some years had passed, Francis Osborne married his master's daughter, whose life he had saved; succeeded to his business, became a great merchant, and, like Whittington, was thrice Lord Mayor of London, and was knighted by King Charles I. One of his direct descend- ants was afterward ennobled, and that branch has held in succession to the present day the title and estates of the Duke of Leeds. While this was going on in England, a male descendant of Sir Francis Osborne found his way to this country in the carly Colonial days, and settled in Rhode Island. One of his de- scendants, Hon. John Osborne, became a res- ident of Boston, and his daughter married, in 1738, a great-great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch.

A DOLPH G. HUPFEL. One of the most beautiful and well-appointed estates in this region of elegant country homes is the 200- acre farm, near Johnsville, belonging to the subject of this sketch. Nature did much for it, but no expense has been spared to add to those attractions all the improvements which artistic taste and utility could desire.

Mr. Hupfel was born August 13, 1845, in Orange county, N. Y., the son of Adolph and Catherine Glaser (née Bross), the former a native of Neviges, Prussia, the latter being of Ilolland. The family of Adolph Glaser was of some note in Prussia, he enjoying the distinc- tion of Burgomaster of Neviges, and holding other important local offices; took part in the revolution of 1848, was banished, and after a general amnesty was declared he returned to his native place where he taught languages; he lost all through his participation in the 1848 trouble. They passed the first years of their residence in this country in New York City, where the father worked as a cabinet

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maker, in 1843 removing to Orange county, N. Y., where he engaged in the manufacture of fishing rods, which he continued until his death in 1849. His widow conducted the busi- ness about three years, and then married Anton Hupfel, who took it in charge, continning same until 1854, when he associated himself with Roemelt & Assheimer, in the brewery business, at Nos. 223-229 38th street, New York. In 1858 he bought out his partners, and carried on the business alone until his re- tirement in 1873, his two stepsons, Adolph G. and John C. G. Hupfel, taking the place in partnership, under the firm name of A. Hup- fel's Sons.

Adolph G. Hupfel attended the district schools of Orange county for some years and at the age of nine accompanied his parents to New York City, where he took a course in the public schools, graduating in 1861. He then spent a short time in a private school, and on leaving this entered business life at the foot of the ladder, being employed as driver of a beer wagon for two years. For the five years fol- lowing he collected the debts and kept the books of the establishment, and then worked in the brewery, learning the business in all its details. His health failing at this time, he was sent to Europe to recuperate, and on his return he took charge of all the out-door in- terests of the brewery. After succeeding to the business in 1873, Mr. Hupfel and brother conducted it for ten years, together with another establishment, at the corner of 16ist street and Third avenue, which their step- father had purchased in 1863. In 1883 John C. G. Hupfel retired from the 161st street and Third avenue plant, and our subject continued alone for about six years, when he sold a part of his interest, but continned the management. In the following year he bought his farm near Johnsville, then known as the Du Bois prop- erty, now called "Echodale." There were no improvements of any kind upon it, and he has spent many thousands of dollars in bringing it to its present state of perfection. His resi- dence is one of the finest in the county, and his barns are models of construction and arrange- ment; he still owns property in New York City, including a residence. but he makes his home constantly at the farmn.

On April 11, 1870, Mr. Hupfel married Miss Catherine Kentz, of New York City, who died in February, 1871, with her only child. On May 11, 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.

W ILLIAM BAKER. To the traveler of 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

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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 1. V'an 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 llemy 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.

W ILLIS 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 carly period. John Dean, his grandfather, was a leading farmer in the town of Kent, Putnam Co., N. Y., and Niles Dean, our subject's father, succeeded to the homestead, and followed the same occupation. Ile 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 settled in Hughsonville. He continued his business successfully until 1875, when he retired, and purchased the farm of 100 acres upon which he has since resided. A good manager, his industry and thrift have enabled him to accumu- late a competency, and in addition to his farm, he owns four houses in Hughsonville.

On December 22, 1846, he married his first wife, Miss Catherine Squires, a daughter of Jonathan Squires, a well-known farmer in Putnam county. She died in 1880, leaving no children. In 1889 Mr. Dean married his pres- ent wife, a lady of Holland-Dutch descent, Miss Jeannie Westervelt. She is a grand- daughter of George Westervelt, and a daughter of John C. Westervelt, a native of New Jersey, who has been for years a prominent manufac- turer and coal dealer in New York City. Her mother, Cornelia Westervelt, a native of New York, is no longer living.

Mr. Dean has always endorsed the princi- ples of the Democratic party, and has held several minor offices. The Dean family is noted for advanced views on the temperance question and other reforms, and has always been connected with the Baptist Church, which both Mr. and Mrs. Dean attend.

Seven brothers are living. The eldest, Milton, is now eighty-three, and the youngest, Oliver, is sixty-six. They have their annual reunion in the month of June. All have Christian principles, using no intoxicating liquors, speaking no profane language, and are straightforward in every respect.

H ENRY B. KNICKERBOCKER, a repre- sentative and successful farmer of the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county, was born on February 28, 1832, upon the farm which isstill his home. There his grandfather, Benjamin Knickerbocker, located over a cen- tury ago, and it has been in the family ever since. The grandfather was a man of excel- lent judgment, and was very successful in the operation of his land. He married Alatika Smith, by whom he had four children-two sons and two daughters-namely: Peter, Alatika, Ilenry, and Hannah (who became the wife of Lewis A. Pulver).

The birth of Henry Knickerbocker, the father of our subject, occurred upon the home- stead in 1798, and he inherited half of the place from his father. He followed agricult-

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ural pursuits throughout life, and in his earlier days also conducted a gristmill upon the farm. He was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Pulver, daughter of Peter Pulver, and four children were born to them: Cornelius and Emeline (now deceased); Henry B., subject of this review; and Jane, widow of William Smith. The father died in 1861, the mother in 1886.

Our subject received a somewhat limited education in the district schools, but this has been greatly supplemented by extensive read- ing and observation in later years, so that he may be termed a self-educated man. At the age of eighteen he took charge of his father's farm, assuming the entire responsibility, and since that time has successfully managed the place. On reaching his majority he came into possession of 109 acres belonging to his father, and in 1865 purchased of Hiram Wilson the remainder of his grandfather's farm, so that he now has a valuable place of 215 acres. He is careful and methodical in business, and has converted his land into one of the most highly cultivated and attractive places in his locality. Besides general farming he is successfully en- gaged in sheep raising.

On September 26, 1860, Mr. Knickbocker married Miss Phoebe Stickle, daughter of Jacob and Hulda (Card) Stickle, and they have become the parents of two children: George H., of the town of Northeast, married to Julia Collin; and Fred, at home. Until President Lincoln ran for his second term, Mr. Knicker- bocker had always supported the Democracy, but at that time he voted for the martyred President, and was a Republican for several years, but now his allegiance is given to the Prohibition party. He and his wife and sons are members of the Presbyterian Church of Pine Plains, of which he is an officer, and takes an active interest in Church work. In the prosperity of his town and county he has been an important factor, assisting in everything for their improvement, and throughout the community he has many warm friends.

E DGAR CLARK (deceased ). The subject of this sketch, formerly one of the leading agriculturists of the town of Northeast, Dutch- ess county, was a descendant of one of the oldest families in the country, the head of the American line, Thomas Clark, having been a passenger 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 land, 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, 1814, 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, 1816, married George E. Crane, of New Milford, Conn .; George, born May 3, ISIS, was married ( first) to Emily Rogers, of Fishkill, 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,

COMMEMORATIVE 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 inen 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 generons 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, FF. & .A. M.

E DWIN 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.

Ilis great-great-grandfather Barnes was born on Tower Hill, London, England, and came to America before the Revolutionary

war, but returned to England early in the struggle, his sympathies being with the British government. His family, however, were pa- triots, and remained in this country. His son, Joseph, our subject's great-grandfather, was born November 1, 1744, in the town of Clin- ton, Dutchess county, and became a farmer there. He was married, November 7, 1771, to Sarah Butts, who was born January 4, 1745. They were Quakers in faith, and both died in 1813-he on March 15, she on April 5. Thir- teen children were born to them, their names with dates of birth being as follows: Benja- min, August 25, 1772; Thomas, April 10, 1774; Joseph, Jr. (1), July 22, 1775; Moses, November 7. 1776; Elizabeth, June 14, 1778; Joseph, Jr. (2), December 10, 1779; John, April 30, 1782; William, October 15, 1783; Stephen and Samuel (twins), April 19, 1785; Jacob, April 19, 1787; Sarah, July 15. 1790; and Mary, March 12, 1793. Samuel, our sub- ject's grandfather, lived for many years at the old homestead in the town of Clinton, and afterward in Livingston county, N. Y., but in his old age he moved to Canada, where he died. He married Fanny Armstrong, who was born October 26, 1787, and died in Pough- keepsie, January 11, 1854. They had three children: Stephen S., born July 18, 1St1; Edwin, born September 6, 1817, died April 3, 1842; and Hannah (now Mrs. Moses Camack), born December 2, 1819.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 104

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