Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 111

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

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G EORGE WARHURST, the present effi- cient superintendent of the engraving de- partment of the Dutchess Print Works, at Wappingers Falls, Dutchess county, has now held that position for sixteen years, and the long period of fifty-three years connected with that business plainly indicates his fidelity to duty. He has been longer in the employ of the company than any other man, and his trustworthiness and capability have been fully appreciated by those over him.

Mr. Warhurst was born at Newtonmore, England, April 19, 1824, and is a son of George and Mary ( Wood) Warhurst, both also natives of England, the former born in 1799, and the latter in 1798. Their marriage was celebrated in England, and some of their children were born there, while the births of the others occurred after their removal to America; they were as follows: William, de-

ceased, was a gold-leaf manufacturer of New York City; Ann married William D. Snow, who in early life was a block printer, and later became a shoe merchant of Wappingers Falls, but both are now deceased; Thomas (1) died in infancy; George, of this review, is next in order of birth; Thomas (2), for several years served as agent on the road for " Blind Tom," the musician, and others, but is now living re- tired in New York City; Betsy, deceased, was the wife of Mr. McGinn, of Newburgh, N. Y .; James was a carpenter and shipyard superin- tendent in Chicago, but has now laid aside business tares; and Mary died in infancy. On his emigration to the United States, the father located first at Belleville, N. J. , in 1831, where he worked at his trade of blacksmithing for a short time, and then came to Wappingers Falls, where he followed the same occupation. His death occurred in New York City, and his wife, who survived him, has also departed this life. The family were earnest and faithful members of the Episcopal Church.

When seven years of age George Warhurst was brought by his parents to the New World, and at Wappingers Falls grew to manhood. During his youth he learned machine-engraving -to calico printing - and has followed that business continuously since, being connected with the Dutchess Print Works for over half a century, as previously stated.

In 1845 Mr. Warhurst was joined in wed- lock with Mary Turner, who was born near Leeds, England, and is a daughter of William and Mary (Wood) Turner. After coming to America her father followed the leather busi- ness for a time, both in New York City and Wappingers Falls, but his last days were spent upon a farm in Wisconsin. To our subject and his estimable wife have been born the fol- lowing children: William, who died in Wis- consin; Mary, wife of Dan Ives, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Rowena, wife of Dr. William Baxter, of Wappingers Falls; Esther, wife of William J. Brown; Lizzie, wife of Dr. L. C. Wood, also of Wappingers Falls; George and Joseph, both machine-engravers of the same place ; Martha, who died in infancy; Violetta, wife of James Hunter, of Wappingers Falls; Edith, wife of M. J. Van Aden, a merchant of New Hamburg, Dutchess county; Martha; Frank, a die maker, who is living at home; and Louisa, wife of Richard A. Pott, a publisher of New York City.

As neighbors, friends and citizens, Mr.

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Warhurst and his wife are held in the high- est regard. Both are members of the Episco- pal Church, in which he is at present a vestry- man. They are passing quietly down the sunset hill of life, enjoying the esteem and confidence of their neighbors, and the affection of their children and friends. In politics Mr. Warhurst has been a life-long Republican, has served as trustee of the schools of Wappingers Falls, and for two terms was trustee of the village. He is a trustee of the Grinnell Li- brary Association, and is at present trustee of the Wappinger Savings Bank. For forty years he has been a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and with the Masonic lodge, No. 671, F. & A. M., in which he has served as master, he has been connected for many years.

A SAHEL DENMAN LYON was born August 12, 1838, in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, a son of Clinton and Jane (Denman) Lyon. His father was the son of Aaron Lyon, a surveyor by profession, who married a Miss Nelson, an ancestor of the Nelsons of Poughkeepsie. The Lyon family came from England.

Clinton Lyon, our subject's father, was a machinist and a fine workman. He was a man of great natural ability, and when Henry Clay ran for President he " stumped " Orange coun- ty in his behalf, and became well-known as a fluent and forcible speaker. He was well qualified to hold a high position in society, and was a warm friend of the historian Benson J. Lossing, and of Egbert Kelley. They were all members of the same reading class, and were in accord in many things. Clinton Lyon worked on the construction of the first steam- boat which ran on the Hudson river, and on many other important structures. He was a liberal Democrat, afterward becoming a Whig and a strong Protectionist. He died in 1840, esteemed and respected throughout the county. The wife of Clinton Lyon was a daughter of John Denman, and a granddaughter of Asahel Armstrong, who was a brother of Gen. Arm- strong. They had seven children, namely: John Robert, Adeline, Horatio, Sheridan and Julia (both died when sixteen years old), Asa- hel, and William Henry born August 27, 1840, lives in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania).

Asahel D. Lyon received only a limited education, but has been a great reader, and is

a man of keen perception, one of close obser- vation, in which way he learns much. He is well-informed on all current topics, and is a man of sterling good sense. When Asahel was only two years old his father died, and as soon as he was able to work the lad was put out on a farm, the wages of even so small a boy of eleven years being a help to his widowed mother. He worked by the month until eight- een or nineteen years old, when he started out for himself, running a threshing machine for three years. He was married when twenty- two, and after working for awhile on a farm went into the butchering business, which has grown to be quite extensive, and in which he is still engaged. He has also for a number of years done some auctioneering.

In 1871 Mr. Lyon bought his present farm of 120 acres, which he is carrying on, as well as his other business, and has become a very successful agriculturist. He is active and en- ergetic, and puts through whatever he under- takes, qualities which are essential in a farmer as much as in any other man, and which sel- dom fail to bring prosperity. In politics he is a Republican, and believes strongly in Protec- tion. In public matters he has always been ready to assist in the development and growth of the community, and has taken a special in- terest in the schools of the county, doing all in his power to make them equal to any in the State.

On February 22, 1860, Mr. Lyon was married to Sarah A. Lawless, daughter of Jacob and Anna Lawless, of Clinton. Two sons have been born to them: Asahel Anson and George Morgan. The family are highly esteemed by all who know them.

TOEL.S. WINANS, one of the prominent and influential citizens of the town of Stan- ford, Dutchess county, comes of an old es- tablished family in the county.

James Winans, born in 1715, first of the name in Dutchess county, was descended from ancestry who came from Brabant, Belgium, in 1630, He and his wife Sarah migrated from Horse Neck, Long Island, to Dutchess county, about 1770, settling in the town of Stanford, on the late Dr. Isaac M. Hunting farm. Their children were as follows: James, Ira, Girau- dus, David and Sarah. Of these, James mar- ried Hannah D. Groff, of Poughkeepsie, and had eleven children: Ira married Mary -,

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and had children; Giraudus ("Crand ") mar- ried (first) Hannah Merritt, and (second) Vi- letta Knickerbocker; Sarah married Peter Smith.

David Winans (mentioned above), grand- father of cur subject, came from Horse Neck to Dutchess county with his father, and was a lifelong agriculturist. He served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, gallantly fighting for the freedom of the colonies. He was an earnest Christian gentleman, and politically was a supporter of the Whig party. By his marriage with Miss Tammy Smith he had the following children: David, Leonard, Morris, Smith, Seymour, Egbert, Ambrose, Amanda, Gertrude, Tammy, Maria, Harriet and Eliza- beth.

Upon the old homestead in the town of Pine Plains, Leonard Winans, the father of our subject, was reared to manhood. He was married in the town of Stanford to Miss Sally Ann Sutherland, daughter of Joel Sutherland, an early settler of that township, and to them were born six children, namely: Brush and John (deceased); Joel S., subject of this re- view; Walter H., of near Amenia, Dutchess county, a sketch of whom follows; William, a superanuated minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, now located at Catskill, Greene Co., N. Y .; and Mary. The mother of these children died in 1828, and Mr. Winans after- ward married Miss Elizabeth Thompson, of the town of Stanford. Four children graced their union: Sally Ann and Margaret (both de- ceased); Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Robin- son, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; and Isaac (de- ceased ). For many years Leonard Winans operated the farm in the town of Pine Plains, and in 1830 returned to the old homestead in that township, which is now owned by Frank Eno. At the end of six years, however, he re- moved to Stanford town, locating near Bangall, where he farmed for many years, but finally laid aside all business cares, and spent his last days in that village, dying there in 1868, at the age of eighty-five years. He was always interested in the success and welfare of his country, and took part in the war of 1812. Politically, he was first a Whig and later a Re- publican, while in religious faith he was one of the most active and prominent workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church, being the founder of the Church of that denomination at Bangall.

Joel S. Winans, the subject proper of this sketch, was born November 5, 1820, in the

town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county, where he attended the district schools, and aided his father in the cultivation and improvement of the home farm until he had attained the age of thirty years. On October 2, 1850, in the town of Stanford, Mr. Winans married Miss Lucy Ann Wright, who was born July 29, 1822, in the town of Fishkill, daughter of Isaac and Jeanette (Howe) Wright, natives of Dutch- ess county. Three children were born of this union: (1) Tamar Ella, who married Charles H. Carpenter, of Stanfordville, N. Y., and has three sons-George Irving, Joel S. Wi- nans, and Henry Sesson; (2) Sophie D. H., married to George E. Rogers, by whom she had one daughter, Sophie, and two sons, George E., Jr., and Clayton, who died in in- fancy; and (3) W. Irving (only son), who died while attending school at Fort Edward Insti- tute, N. Y. in 1877.

Mr. Winans first located upon a farm at Attlebury, in the town of Stanford, where he continued operations until 1866, when he re- moved to his present farm near Stanfordville, and in connection with the cultivation of his land he also for a year ran a freight boat on the Hudson from Poughkeepsie to New York City. As an agriculturist he has been quite successful, having secured for himself a com- fortable competence. He has always been one of the most progressive, reliable and popu- lar citizens of the town of Stanford, where he has held a number of prominent positions of honor and trust, having been justice of the peace for the long period of forty-three years; revenue collector for seven years, which office he filled during the trying years of the Civil war; and from 1869 to April, 1887, was bond- ing commissioner for the town for the New- burgh, Dutchess & Connecticut railroad. Po- litically, he early became a stalwart Abolition- ist, and on the organization of the Republican party joined its ranks, becoming one of the leaders of that party in his locality. In re- ligious belief he and his wife are Baptists.

Isaac Wright, father of Mrs. Winans, was born in Fishkill, Dutchess county, as was also her mother, he in 1787, and she in 1791. They had nine children, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood, one dying at the age of eleven years, and five yet living. The father, who was a carpenter and joiner by trade, died in 1871; the mother died in 1873. Lebbens Howe, maternal grandfather of Mrs Winans, served in the war of the Rev-

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olution. John Wright, her paternal grand- father, came from England, and settled in Fishkill, Dutchess county, in a very early day.

W ALTER H. WINANS, a prosperous agriculturist, residing near Amenia, Dutchess county, is one of our most highly re- spected citizens, the sturdy virtues of his Scotch- Irish ancestry being well exemplified in his character and his successful, though quiet, career. [A sketch of his immediate ancestry will be found in that of his brother, Joel S. Winans. ]

Walter H. Winans was born in the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county, April 21. 1823, and the district schools of the locality afforded him the usual opportunities for instruc- tion. Until the age of twenty-three he re- mained at home, and then he began farming in the town of Stanford, where he made his home for many years, and took a leading part in local affairs, and at one time held the office of collector. In 1870 he purchased a farm in the town of Washington, Dutchess county. April 1, 1892, he removed from that farm to his present estate. December 24, 1846, he was married in the town of Stanford to Miss Emily Robinson, with whom nearly a half- century of wedded life was passed, before she was called to the unseen world, her death oc- curring February 27, 1893. Six children were born to their union: Franklin: Mary Eliza- beth: Seth K., who married Miss Nettie Robin- son; Brush; Amy and Ellsworth. Amy mar- ried Christian Lang, and has had three chil- dren: Walter, Miriam and Emily. Ellsworth married Miss Ida Wheeler, and resides in the town of Washington. He is possessed of the same self-reliance and industry for which his family is noted, and has never had any finan- cial aid from his father.

Mrs. W. H. Winans was a descendant of a well-known Putnam county family, her grandfather, Chappell Robinson, a farmer, having located there, with two brothers, in the early days. He married Miss Mary Sprague, and had five children: Stephen, Sabins, Squire, Mary and Eli. Stephen Robinson. Mrs. Winan's father, was born in the town of Kent, Putnam county, and was married there to Miss Martha Kelley, daughter of Seth Kelley. Thirteen children were born to them as follows: Chappell, Kelley, Osborn, Enos, Emily, Zillah, Jarvis, Ada, Nathaniel, Priscilla, Robert,

Catherine and William. In 1836, Mr. Robin- son moved to the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, continuing there his chosen calling of agriculture. Later he spent twelve years in Lithgow. Dutchess county, but returned to the town of Stanford, where he breathed his last in February, 1876, at the age of eighty years. His patriotisin and gallantry were proved in the war of 1812, and the various issues in na- tional politics never ceased to interest him, his influence in his later years being given to the Republican party.

C ORNELIUS SMITH VAN ETTEN, M. D.,

who is distinguished as one of the most successful practitioners of Dutchess county, is a descendant of one of the oldest families in the State, being the seventh generation in direct line from Jacob Jansen Van Etten, who, when a young man, came to America from Etten, North Brabant, Holland. He settled in Ulster county, N. Y., and on January 4, 1665 (according to the record in the First Reformed Church of the city of Kingston, N. Y. ), he mar- ried Anna Ariense Von Amsterdam. This

union was blessed with three sons: Jan, Peter and James, who lived and died in Ulster coun- ty. Jan was baptized January 3, 1666, and about 1690 was united in marriage with Jen- nette Roosa, daughter of Arien Roosa. They had two sons-Arien and Jacob-besides a large family of daughters. Jacob was baptized at Kingston December 25. 1696, and at the same place on April 22, 1719, was married to Autje Westbrook, of Rochester, Ulster coun- ty. About the year 1720 he settled in the Delaware Valley, and reared a large family of children, among whom was Johannes, the fifth son, who was born at Namanock, N. J., in 1731. When near the age of twenty years, Johannes settled upon a tract containing 1, 500 acres near Milford, Penn., which is still owned by his descendants. He died February 15. 1815, in his eighty-third year, and was buried on his own farm. He had been twice married, and by his second wife, Rachel Williams, had a son, Cornelius, our subject's grandfather. born near Milford, December 8, 1782.

Cornelius Van Etten married Anna Smith, and became the father of eight children: Rachel, Solomon (our subject's father), Mary, Amos, Catherine, Robert, Margaret, and Amanda. This family all settled near Milford, and Catherine, Robert and Amanda are still

6.l'auteur M.

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living. Amos Van Etten was the father of Edgar Van Etten, who is now general super- intendent of the New York Central & Hud- son River railroad. The Pennsylvania Van- Ettens have usually followed farming, and have been prominent in non-political local af- fairs, but have never sought public office.

Solomon Van Etten was born near Milford, May 18, 1806. He married Hannah Mettler, daughter of Mathias Mettler, and a descendant of one of the oldest families of Hunterdon Co., N. Y. They had seven children: William and Amos, who died in infancy; John H., a lawyer in Milford; Cornelius Smith, our sub- ject; Mathias M., a farmer at Dover, N. J .; and Frank and Anna, both deceased. The father died in 1873 in his sixty-eighth year, mother in 1894, at the age of eighty-two years.

Dr. Cornelius Smith Van Etten was born at the old homestead September 13, 1846. He completed the regular course of study at the seminary at Schooley's Mountain, N. J., and in 1870 entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania for a three- years' course. On graduating in 1873 he lo- cated in the lower part of the Wyoming Val- ley; but after a few months was called home by the death of his father. He then remained at home until 1876, when he came to Rhine- beck, and has here engaged in general practice. He has been very successful-his fine abilities, his thorough training, and his firm but kindly manner, have won for him the entire confidence of the community.

On June 7, 1882, the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hill, who was born June 16, 1849, a daughter of Edwin and Catherine (Cramer) Hill, the former a leading citizen of Rhinebeck, and, until recently, pres- ident of the First National Bank. To Dr. and Mrs. Van Etten have been born two sons, Edwin and Royal, and the home is one of the most charming in the town. a fine library be- ing an especial feature. The Doctor and his wife are active workers in the Reformed Church. In politics he is a Republican, but his professional duties have never allowed him time to be very active in political affairs. He is a director in the First National Bank, a trustee of the Savings Bank, and in municipal matters has taken a great interest, being health officer of the town, member of the fire depart- ment, and, for ten years past, the president of the school board. He is a trustee of Starr In- stitute, and treasurer of the Rhinebeck Gas

Company. In professional circles he is equally prominent, and is a member of the New York State Medical Association, and of the United States Medical Association.

L EWIS F. EATON is one of the most en- terprising business men of Dutchess coun- ty, and is a resident of Amenia. His opera- tions as a wholesale grain dealer are extensive in their scope, and he belongs to that class of representative American citizens who promote the general welfare while advancing their indi- vidual prosperity. For over a quarter of a century he has been identified with the inter- ests of Amenia, and the connection has been as honorable as it is long.

Mr. Eaton was born at Syracuse, N. Y., May 7, 1850, and is a son of Lewis Eaton, a native of Fayetteville, Onondaga Co., N. Y. After completing his common-school education the father clerked in a store for a time, and subsequently was connected with the Syracuse & Oswego line of transportation in New York City and vicinity for about fifteen years. Re- turning to Fayetteville, he became general freight agent for the New York, Syracuse & Chenango railroad, which position he retained up to the time of his death, in 1878. At Fay- etteville he had married Miss Sarah Willson, daughter of John H. Willson, and to them were born four sons: Robert W., of Fayette- ville; Frank H., of Terre Haute, Indiana; Charles B., deceased; and Lewis F., of this sketch. The mother's death occurred in 1875.

The primary education of our subject was received in the village schools of Amenia, and he later attended the public schools at Astoria, Long Island. At the age of fourteen years he entered the Peoples Line Transportation Com- pany in New York City, where he remained for one year, after which he was in the canal collector's office, where he was second clerk the first year, and first clerk the three succeed- ing years.

At the age of eighteen Mr. Eaton came to Amenia, becoming bookkeeper for B. Willson & Co., dealers in flour, feed, lumber and coal. In March, 1878, he became manager for George T. Willson, who had assumed control, and in the following May was made a partner in the business, under the firm name of Willson & Eaton. About 1881 the firm started a whole- sale trade, which now extends through several counties of New York, Vermont, Connecticut,

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Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and they also have three retail stores, one at Amenia, an- other at Wassaic, and the third at Shekomeko. Their sales have increased from $40,000, in 1881, to three-quarters of a million in 1895. Their specialty in the wholesale trade is that of feed and grain, and they were the first to sell cotton-seed meal in this vicinity. They have a wood-working factory in connection with their other business, manufacturing house trimmings, doors, sash, blinds, etc., and Mr. Eaton also handles life and fire insurance. He is a man of remarkable business qualities, re- sourceful and energetic, and the scope of his operations and his varied interests show that a master hand and mind is in control of his affairs.

On October 24, 1877, Mr. Eaton was united in marriage with Miss Julia Per Lee, daughter of Walter P. Per Lee. He is an earnest ad- vocate of Republican principles, is connected with the fire company at Amenia, and in re- ligious belief is a Presbyterian. His hobby is that of stamp collecting.

P ETER PRATT, the popular proprietor of the "Pratt House" in Amenia, Dutchess county, traces his ancestry back to Peter Pratt, a college-bred man, who was a resident of Wallingsford, Conn, He married a Mrs. Ingraham, widow of a sea captain, with whom he boarded while attending Yale College, and to them were born two children: Peter, and Sophia, who married Oliver D. Cook, of Hartford, Conn. When his son was three years old he removed to Kent, Conn., where for twenty years he served as collector, and his old home there is still in the possession of the family. He became one of the leading men of that place and an earnest worker in the Presbyterian Church.

Peter Pratt, the son, was the grandfather of our subject. He was born at Wallingsford, Conn., in 1762, and died at Kent in 1845. At the latter place he attended the district schools, and always lived on the old homestead farm, engaging in its operation, and in running a sawmill and forge. He was appointed captain in the militia, was a Whig in politics, and a Presbyterian in religious belief. He was united in marriage with Miss Sally D. Bard- well, a daughter of Rev. Joel Bardwell, who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Kent for over half a century. She was born in

1768, and her death occurred in 1849. In the family were nine children, all now deceased with the exception of John M., the father of our subject, who was next to the youngest, the others being; Philo B., Sherman, Joel, Ralph, Peter, Sophia, Sarah and Cook.

John M. Pratt was born at Kent, Conn., May 22, 1809, attended the public schools and completed his literary course in an acad- emy. He remained at home until February 7, 1838, when he married Miss Charlotte Mills, who died in 1846. She was the daugh- ter of Deacon Lewis Mills, a merchant and farmer, and was a most estimable lady. They had five children, as follows: Charlotte M. is the wife of John D. Platt, of Farmington, Conn., by whom she has three children- Frank, William and John; Jane, a resident of New Milford, Conn., is the widow of Sheldon Wheaton, by whom she had one daughter- Nellie: Mary (deceased) was the wife of Seth Hobson, and the mother of one child-Eliza- beth; Peter is next in order of birth: and Sophia is the wife of Walter B. Camp, of Ansonia, Connecticut.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 111

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