Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 108

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

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William Stuart married Sarah Harvey, who was also born in County Armagh, and they settled on a farm in Ireland, where seven chil- dren were born to them, namely: Eliza. Rob- ert J., William, John, Nathaniel. Jane and Sarah. In 1858 the father came to America, first locating in New York City, the rest of the family following in 1862, and Emily J. and Thomas H. were born in that city. In 1865 they moved to Saugatuck, Conn., where they lived until 1884; then removed to Middletown, N. Y .. thence after two years moving to their new home in New Hamburg. The parents are members of the Presbyterian Church: in poli- tics the father is a Republican.

Robert J. Stuart attended school in his na- tive country, and was fifteen years old when he came to America. In New York City he began to learn the trade of a machinist with the Dalton Knitting Machine Co., and when this firm removed to Connecticut our subject went with them and finished his apprentice- ship. He then returned to New York City. and worked at his trade for about four years. For the following twelve years he lived at Yonkers, N. Y., and while there became in- terested in an automatic paper-feeding ma-

Robert & Stuart

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chine, which, after ten years of hard and per- sistent struggle and experimenting, he suc- ceeded in perfecting. This was the first ma- chine of the kind to be put in successful opera- tion in this or any other country, and was the most successful one seen at the World's Fair in 1893. Mr. Stuart is entitled to the credit of bringing into practical use this important and wonderful invention, which has worked a revolution in the old methods of handling sin- gle sheets of paper. In 1882 Mr. Stuart went to Poughkeepsie and formed the Sedgwick & Stuart Manufacturing Co., for the purpose of putting the machines on the market, which company lasted two years, when he sold his interest to Whitman & Burrel, and for the first time started in business for himself, renting a foundry and machine shop at Middletown, N. Y. In two years business had so increased that he was compelled to find larger quarters, and purchased, of McArdle & Hart, his pres- ent property in New Hamburg, Dutchess county.

Since the date mentioned Mr. Stuart has been carrying on a large and prosperous busi- ness, in his patent shaft couplings and dryer outfits for brick, terra cotta, and various clay products, salt, starch, etc. He also builds various kinds of machinery, does all kinds of repairing, makes castings of every description, as well as patterns, and, in fact, does all kinds of work to be done in first-class foundries and machine works. His trade is extensive, and he fills orders from all over the country, his well-known skill' and ingenuity guaranteeing satisfaction to his patrons. As a citizen here he is held in high esteem, and is always ready to assist in all enterprises tending to the growth and prosperity of the community.

In 1881 Mr. Stuart was married to Miss Esther, daughter of Joseph and Ann (Platt) Toburn, of Yonkers. No children have blessed this union. Mr. and Mrs. Stuart are members of the Presbyterian Church, and are liberal contributors to all its needs, as well as active workers in Church affairs. In politics our sub- ject is a Republican, and in everything is a loyal citizen to his adopted country.

J OHN A. MARSHALL. Among the relia- ble, substantial and prosperous farmers of the town of Hyde Park there is probably none who stands higher in the public estima- tion 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

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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 five 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 the old home farm, in the cultivation of which he was very successful, and became the owner of over 300 acres. He married Abigail Marshall, daughter of Henry Marshall, and they became the parents of eleven children: Marshall, Hester, John A., Willet, Deborah, Mariam, Emeline, Maria, Catherine, Hiram and Jacob, all now deceased except John A., Maria and Hiram. In religious belief the family were Friends, and though not an active politician, the father was a strong Federalist.

John A. Culver, the father of Mrs. Mar- shall, was born January 10, 1809, on the farm adjoining the one where our subject now lives, and there continued to reside until after reach- ing his majority. He later purchased the farm once owned by his grandfather Marshall, which he operated for seven years, and then engaged in the mercantile and lumber business in the village of Hyde Park for about four years. On the expiration of that time he pur- chased a farm in the northwest corner of the town of Pleasant Valley, where he continued to make his home some twenty-three years, and as an agriculturist was very successful. Going to Poughkeepsie in 1865, he there lived retired for many years. On October 31, 1834, Mr. Culver married Miss Catherine Skidmore; daughter of Walter Skidmore, and on the maternal side a granddaughter of Jesse Bell, who served as captain in the Continental army during the Revolution, and was one of the honored citizens of Dutchess county. Three children blessed this union, Mrs. Marshall being the only one now living; Jane Ann died at the age of seventeen; and Henry M. at the age of seven years. The mother passed away February 29, 1840. For his second wife, Mr. Culver wedded Elizabeth Brown, on February 2, 1842, and they had two children: Charles Wheaton, who died at the age of two years; and Amanda, who died when twenty-one years. The mother was called from this life May 4, 1890. By birthright Mr. Culver is a member of the Friends Church, and has ever been one of the leading and influential citizens of the county, serving as alms-house commissioner while a resident of Poughkeepsie.

L EONARD LYON. Few sections of this country can boast of more charming and quietly picturesque scenery than that to be found within the limits of Dutchess county,

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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 11, 1843, in Sherwood, 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: (1) Hi- ram, a farmer of Cayuga county, married to Abbie Gifford, and had six children-Sanford, Genevieve, Edith, Gertrude, Lyman and Her- bert. (2) Elizabeth married Henry Grimshaw, and had three children-Samuel, Howard and Della. (3) Samuel married Della 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, Della, Stanley and Ada. (7) Mary mar- ried William Avery, and they moved to Fort Collins, Colo., where he died; they had one child-Pearle. (8) Charles, a dealer in horses at Atalissa, Iowa, married Lucy Avery, and had one son-Alfred. The father of this fam- ily 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- ber of the State Assembly several times, and a 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 Phoebe 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 1819, and was educated there. She married Archibald Dodge, who was born

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.

E 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 1813, 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 1884, 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.

G EORGE A. TROWBRIDGE. The Trow- bridge family has been so long and favor- ably known in this section that its history will be of unusual interest to many. The great- great-grandfather of our subject, Billy Trow- bridge, was born November 4, 1748, the son of Deacon Samuel and Sarah (Seeley) Trow- bridge. He received a common-school educa-

Elin, Spray

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tion, and then engaged in agriculture. In June, 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 county, N. Y., and in 1798 moved to Truxton, Cortland county; but Mr. Trowbridge died two days before the little party reached its desti- nation. They had nine children, whose names. with dates of birth and death, are as follows: Ephraim, March 22, 1778, died May 5, 1791; Alvah, September 4, 1779, died June 10, 1856; Billy, March 26, 1781, died May 8, 1854; Levi, February 16, 1783, died 1846; Polly, April 3, 1786; died 1818; Samuel, December I, 1788, died 1817; Sally, February 23, 1792, died 1810; Ephraim, June 15, 1795, died 1798; John C., October 18, 1797, died 183[.

Alvah Trowbridge, our subject's great- grandfather, received the education obtainable in the common schools of his day, and later became a farmer. He was married November 30, 1797, to Miss Sally Crane, daughter of Judge John Crane, of Carmel, N. Y. She was born June 27, 1780, and died of measles April 6, 1833. Eight children were born to them, whose names, with dates of birth and the names of their respective partners in matrimony, are here given: Phineas B., De- cember 4, 1798-Sally B. Raymond; Ada Z., October 18, 1800-Levi Knox; Allerton M., February 24, 1803-Letitia Coe ; Aralinda. February 26, 1805-Orrin Richards; William C., April 15, 1807-Mary E. A. Holley; Cor- nelia A., November 8, 1809-Reynolds Platt; Sarah B., March 21, 1821-David B. Rogers.

Phineas Beardsley Trowbridge, the grand- father of our subject, was born and educated in the town of Southeast, Putnam county, and at an early age engaged in farming near Wings Station, later following the blacksmith's trade. He was married October 28, 1823, to Miss Raymond, who was born October 22, 1803. They have six children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows; Edwin M., November 1, 1824 (died August 29, 1854); Amanda, December 5, 1826 (died August 8, 1885); John C., September 24. 1828; Cor- nelia A., April 1, 1831 (died August 26, 1848); William R., May 6, 1833; and George Platt, July 19, 1840 (died April 15, 1845). Only two of that family entered the matri- monial state; Edwin, who married Miss Sarah D. Marsh, and William R., our subject's father. He was born and reared in the town

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: (1) Cora B., born September 20, 1858, mar- ried June 11, 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, ISSO. (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, at the 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, 1861, 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: Phœbe-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; Wilson B .- Hannah M. Doughty; Harrison-Hannah Ward; and Almeah-An- drew Ward.

Albro Sheldon, the father of Mrs. Trow- bridge, was born in 1Sos, 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-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

vember 11, 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, 1881; Howard, 1883; and Allie, 1886.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 108

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