Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 115

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

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ducted the trade alone, handling all kinds of goods in the wagon line, and is now at the head of a large and constantly increasing busi- ness. Socially he affiliates with the Royal Ar- canum at Wassaic, Dutchess county, and polit- ically is identified with the Republican party. At Plainsville, Conn., December 22, 1887, he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Grid- ley Parrish, a native of Hillsdale, Columbia Co., N. Y., and they have two children: Celia M. and William Parrish.

H' ENRY M. BARKER, who for the past five years has been the efficient superin- tendent on the place of Mr. Mills, of the town of Hyde Park, is a native of New Hampshire, born at Antrim, August 24, 1838, and is of Scotch-Irish lineage, but for several genera- tions representatives of the family have made their home in New England.

His paternal grandfather, Capt. Peter Barker, was born in Atkinson, N. H., and was the son of Zebediah Barker. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, being captain of the alarm list, and served for seven years in that terrible struggle. By occupation he was a farmer, and was one of the most successful and prominent men of the community in which he lived. He wedded Sallie Wood, of Atkinson, N. H., and to them were born the following children: Samuel, Hannah, Peter, Isaac, Thomas, Moody M. and Sallie. The family were all faithful members of the Pres- byterian Church, and the male representatives were ardent Democrats, very firm in their polit- ical convictions. The death of Capt. Peter Barker occurred on the 23d of May, 1829.

Moody M. Barker, the father of our sub- ject, first opened his eyes to the light in New Hampshire, May 24, 1795, became a promi- nent farmer of that State, and would have been an honor to any community. He became captain of the State Militia, and served for about four months in the war of 1812. He was married to Miss Nancy Bixby, of Hills- boro, N. H., a daughter of John Bixby, and they became the parents of five children: John B., a paper maker, who became the foreman of a factory in Mexico, where he died in 1863; Emily, who became the wife of Sam- uel Brown; Adeline, who married Charles Woods; Miles, who is living at Nashna, N. 1I .; and Henry M., of this review. On March 24, 1873, the father departed this life, and his

loving wife only survived him two days. They were earnest Christian people, who had the respect of all who knew them.

Mr. Barker, whose name introduces this record, attended both public and select schools during his youth, and as he is quite a reader, the knowledge thus acquired has been greatly sup- plemented, and he is now a well-informed man. On starting out in life for himself, for five years he was clerk in a dry-goods store at Manches- ter, N. H .; but in 1864 he returned to the old home farm, to which he devoted his time and attention until 1878. In that year he came to Staatsburg, Dutchess county, as manager for Mrs. Major Lowudis on her farm, just above the one on which he is now located. At the end of a year, however, he became superin- tendent on the farm of Maturin Livingston, with whom he remained until the latter's death, and for the past five years has been on the same farm with Mr. Mills. It is needless to say that he gives general satisfaction, as his long-con- tinued service well indicates that fact.

For the last two years Mr. Barker has taken quite an active part in local political affairs, adhering closely to the principles of the Repub- lican party, and at the election in the spring of 1894 was chosen supervisor of the town of Hyde Park. Since coming to the county he has always held a prominent and influential position, and stands remarkably high in the estimation of the community, as an honorable, upright and trustworthy man. In religious belief he is a Presbyterian, and socially is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity of Staatsburg.

In November, 1864, was celebrated the mar- riage of Mr. Barker and Miss Mary J. Colbourn, of New Boston, N. H., a daughter of Luther Colbourn, and three sons grace their union: Herbert L., a practicing physician of Wood- side, Long Island; Harry C., an attorney at law, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; and Fred M., at home.

W ILLIAM J. CAREY, a well-known mer- chant at Pawling, Dutchess county, is one of the most enterprising and successful young business men of the town, having built up his trade from the start to its present hand- some proportions.

Ifis ancestors have had their home for many generations in Kings county, Ireland, and his grandfather, Andrew Carey, a farmer.

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left there in 1858 to come to America, where he followed his occupation first in the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, and later at Clare- mont. N. H. His last years were spent in re- tirement at that place. He married, and had eight children: John, a resident of Manches- ter, England, who died in 1896; Mary, the wife of James Kating, of Claremont, N. H. ; Christo- pher, formerly a farmer, but now a resident of Danbury, Conn .; Joseph, deceased, who lived at Claremont, and has a son practicing law in Washington, D. C .; Edward and Thomas, both residents of Claremont; Margaret, the wife of M. Fitzgerald; and Andrew, our subject's father.

Andrew Carey was born in the Emerald Isle in 1844, and was about fourteen years old at the time of the emigration to this country. He is now one of the substantial citizens of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, owning a farm of 160 acres, gained by his industry and thrifty management. Ile is a member of the Catholic Church at Pawling, and in politics is a Democrat, and his sound common sense and public spirit have made him influential in local movements. Thoroughly patriotic in his de- votion to the best interests of his adopted country, he enlisted in 1863 in the 28th Con- necticut V. I., under Capt. Hoag, and served for one year, taking part in several important engagements. He now belongs to Campbell Post No. 661, G. A. R., of Pawling. He married Miss Mary Ellen Donahue, daughter of William Donahue, of Pawling, N. Y., and they have ten children, of whom our subject is the eldest. Mary Ellen married Daniel J. Driscoll, an en- gineer, of Boston, Mass .; John Edward is head clerk in the store of his brother, William J .; Margaret is in Boston; and Elizabeth, Sarah, Andrew, Alice, Emma and Frank are at home.

The subject of this sketch was born No- vember 20, 1865, in the town of Pawling, and was educated in the common schools near his home, attending only the winter terms after he reached the age of eleven. At sixteen he left school and began business life, but he has always taken a keen interest in reading, and is well informed upon the topics of the day. His first employment was in a pleating shop in Boston, in 1883, and after some time there he went to Brooklyn and secured work as a porter in a chop house for the winter season. In March, 1884, he took a position as driver for Dr. E. II. Hasbrook, and remained with him until November, 1886. The next two years

were spent at home, working part of the time by the day upon the farm, and meanwhile farming some rented land. On December 5. 1888, he opened a candy and cigar store at Pawling, at the corner now occupied by Olm- stead's store, and continued there in a small way until April 25, 1889. when he moved to his present place and added groceries to his stock, his business having so increased as to justify the investment. Since that time his trade has extended until it is regarded as among the largest in the town.

Mr. Carey's matrimonial partner is Cath- erine Lehan, daughter of Daniel Lehan, a prominent resident of Pawling, and they have one daughter, Madeleine. Like his ancestors, he is a Catholic in religion, and he is an active worker in local affairs, supporting the Demo- cratic ticket, and serving the community as a member of the board of education and of the fire department.

TAMES RUSSELL PAINE, the senior mem- ber of the well-known firin of J. R. Paine & Son, leading hardware merchants of Mil- lerton, was born June 20, 1831, in the town of Northeast, upon the old Paine homestead, which has been in the possession of the family since the first settlement of the town of North- east. He is of English descent, the founder of the American line being Thomas Paine, who landed at Plymouth in 1621.

Mr. Paine's descendants have held a distin- guished place in the early history of the coun- try, Robert Treat Paine, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, being among them. Thomas Paine had a son, Elisha, who settled at Canterbury, Conn., and his son Abram located in Amenia about 1741, and was the first to take steps toward organizing a Church there, Joshua Paine, also of Canter- bury, probably a son of Thomas, came to Dutchess county in 1749, and purchased land in the eastern part of the township, and Sec- tion 59 of the "Oblong," where he followed farming and blacksmithing. He was the father of Barnabus l'aine, Sr., and of Judge Ephraim Paine, who was county judge in 1778, being the first to be appointed to that office in Dutch- ess county after the organization of the gov- ernment of the State of New York. Elihu Paine, our subject's great-grandfather, owned and cultivated the old farm in Northeast, as did his son, Jeremiah, who, as one of the

ghiaie

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most influential and prosperous men in the community, sustained the well-deserved repu- tation of the family. He was a justice of the peace for many years. He married Betsey Woodard, and had six children: Lorinda (Mrs. Eggleston); Platt A., our subject's father; Sarah Ann (Mrs. Bailey Bowditch); Rachel (Mrs. Mortimer Worthey); Jeremiah W .; and Mary (Mrs. Darius Penny). His death oc- curred about 1855, and that of his wife about 1848.

Platt A. Paine was born June 19, 1806. He conducted the old homestead for a time in early manhood, but later bought the Roe farm of 244 acres, and lived there for nearly twenty years. He became interested in Western lands also, and made a number of successful deals. In politics he was a Republican, and an active one, holding various offices in that town, in- cluding those of supervisor and justice of the peace. He was highly esteemed in the neigh- borhood, and was a deacon in the Baptist Church, with which his family has been closely identified from very early times. He married Julietta Russell, daughter of Eli Russell, in his day a leading citizen of Northeast. Both lived to a good old age, and retired in 1859 to the village of Millerton to spend their declin- ing years. Mrs. Paine died there in 1876, her husband surviving her only three years. They had five children: James R .; Judson P., now of Annawan, Ill. ; Theron J., of New York City; Martin W., living in Millerton; and Julia, who married George Houston, now of Penn- sylvania, but at that time the superintendent of Maltby's furnace in the town of Northeast.

James R. Paine was educated mainly at a select school in his native town, of which E. WV. Simmons was principal. He attended there until he was nineteen years old, and at- tained a good academic education. His vaca- tions were spent in farm work, and until his marriage, at the age of twenty-two, he re- mained at the old farm, assisting his father. In 1853 he bought a life lease of a farm in Northeast, where he lived for ten years, buy- ing in the meantime another farm. In 1863 he sold both properties, and for three years was engaged with William Dayton in the hotel business at Millerton. Later he made several changes, moving to Canaan, Conn. (where he owned a farm for a time), to Great Bar- rington and to Sheffield, Mass., where he en- gaged in speculating in real estate and stock. After a successful year there he returned, in 40

1869, to his native county, and established himself in business in Millerton, buying out Mr. Merrifield's interest in the hardware store which he had been conducting in partnership with Darius Penny. The new firm continued the business for three years, when Mr. Paine purchased Mr. Penny's interest, continuing alone until January, 1878, when his son became a partner. This is the oldest mercantile house in the town, and commands a large and profit- able trade. Mr. Paine's well-proved ability and judgment have made him a valued ad- viser in many business enterprises; he has been a director of the Amenia National Bank, and was one of the original directors of the Millerton National Bank, of which he has for a number of years past been the vice-president.

Mr. Paine has been married four times, first to Miss Julia Eggleston, who died leaving one son-Platt N .; and second to Miss Julia Dayton, by whom he had two sons-William H., a resident of Roanoke, Va .; and Lester, who conducts the homestead. His third wife, who was Miss Ann Friss, had one daughter, Florence, a successful music teacher at Keene, N. H. ; his present wife, formerly Miss Cynthia Tripp, has one son, James Russell Paine, Jr. The family are active and influential supporters of the Baptist Church, of which Mr. Paine has been a communicant since the age of twelve years, and for many years has been a deacon. In local affairs he has always been a leader, but, although he is an influential Republican, he has never cared to hold office. He served a term as town assessor, but has since declined to be a candidate for any position.

P LATT N. PAINE was born December 25, 1854, and received a good academic edu- cation in the schools of Millerton, Canaan, Great Barrington, and Amenia. On leaving Amenia Seminary at the age of nineteen, he engaged in clerking for his father; but in 1876 he went to Port Royal, S. C., and became interested in gardening and draying, with the view of supplying the government fleets at Port Royal harbor. He sold out after eight months, however, and returned to Millerton to make his permanent home. On January 1. 1878, he formed a partnership with his father in the hardware business, and he has also been engaged in the building of houses for sale. Some of the finest cottages in the town have been erected by him, five being located in

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Park Lot. He has already disposed of nine houses, and has made this branch of his work very profitable. Some years ago he under- took the work of surveying with W. E. Sim- mons, and is now engaged in that also. He takes an active part in public affairs and is among the leaders in the Re- publican organization in his town, serving as trustee for several terms, and as treasurer of the village to fill a vacancy; he has now also held for some time the offices of justice of the peace, sealer of weights and measures, and superintendent of the water works. He introduced the original motion for the con- struction of these works, and has been one of the chief promoters of various other measures for local improvement. He is a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee.

A LLEN H. DUTCHER, a most genial and companionable gentleman, has through a long and useful career been promi- nently identified with the interests of the town of Dover, Dutchess county. He is one of the representative and public-spirited citizens, always aiding in everything that will in any way benefit his town or county, and has the respect and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact.

The Dutcher family is of Holland origin, and the first of its members to locate in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, was Christo- pher Dutcher, the great-grandfather of our subject. He erected the first flourmill in this part of the county, and a portion of it is still standing. He conducted the same during his entire life, grinding much of the flour that was sold at Poughkeepsie and other places in the locality. As Dover Plains was then the ter- minus of the Harlem road, which was built before the New York Central, all the Pough- keepsie freight and passengers were brought to that village by stage, and it became quite a center of trade. The grandfather of our subject, Lawrence Dutcher, was born in the town of Washington, Dutchess county, where his education was later acquired, and he be- came a farmer by occupation. He was twice married, by the first union having three chil- dren, and by his second wife, who bore the maiden name of Waldo, had eleven children.

Belden Dutcher, the father of Allen H .. was also born in the town of Washington,

Dutchess county, in the year 1790, and after completing his education there engaged in ag- ricultural pursuits. During the old training days, he served as major of a troop of militia. An earnest and sincere Christian, he took a prominent part in religious work, giving the ground at Dover Plains, on which the Baptist Church was built and still stands. He also took a prominent part in the upbuilding of the village, crecting two good hotels, and he suc- ceeded in getting the first mechanics to locate there. He was united in marriage with Miss Maria Hurd, a daughter of Capt. Allen Hurd, and six children were born to them: Egbert, Allen H., Elizabeth, William, Thomas, and one that died in infancy. The mother was called from this life in July, 1862, and for his second wife, Mr. Dutcher wedded Mrs. Abbie Burrows.

The birth of our subject occurred at Dover Plains, Dutchess county, in 1819, and he ac- quired a practical education in the academy of that place. During early life he learned the trade of a wagon maker, at which he worked for about eight years, when he entered upon a mercantile career. He has held every office in his town with the exception of two, and it is needless to say that he ever discharged his duties with promptness and fidelity. For seventeen years he served as postmaster of Dover Plains, and for eight years was revenue collector. He is at present justice of the peace, and his decisions are marked by fairness and impartiality, being well calculated to serve the ends of justice. He is also engaged in the fire-insurance business.

Mr. Dutcher married Miss Maria Preston, daughter of Clark Preston, of Dover Plains, Dutchess county, and to them was born a son: Ernest P., who married Isabella Gridley, of New York, by whom he has one child, Isa- bella E. In 1856 Mr. Dutcher lost his wife, and about four years later he wedded Miss Mary A. Bricker, daughter of William Bricker, of England. To them was born one child, that died in infancy.

James Bricker, the grandfather of Mrs. Dutcher, was a native of Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, England-a most beautiful place, surrounded by mountains. In his fam- ily was William Bricker, who was born and educated at the same place. He there mar- ried Miss Hannah White, and in England were born to them three daughters: Mary A., wife of our subject: Caroline, who became the wife

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. of William Beldin, son of Dr. Beldin, of Dover Plains; and Emily. In January, 1842, the father came to the United States, locating at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county. When he had been here a year and nine months, he sent for his family, which arrived in 1844, and ever afterward made their home in this county, After the death of his first wife in 1850, he was again married, and his death occurred in Fond du Lac, Wis., in 1882. Although an English- man by birth, he became a thorough American citizen, and always stood by his adopted home. In his native land he had engaged in the manu- facture of broadcloth, but in this country gave his entire attention to agricultural pursuits.

C HARLES A. SIMMONS, who occupies an influential and prominent position among the citizens of Stanford town, Dutchess coun- ty, resides near Bangall, where he is engaged in the breeding of Jersey cattle and raising fancy poultry. When a young man he learned the profession of an architect, contractor and builder, which he followed at Pine Plains, Dutchess county, for four years, and then re- moved to his present home, where he still en- gages in that business to some extent.

Mr. Simmons was born at Pine Plains, De- cember 24, 1860, and is the only child of Norman and Emeline (Eldridge) Simmons. His father was a native of Copake, Columbia Co., N. Y., and the youngest of a family of three sons and two daughters born to John B. and Catherine (Hover) Simmons, who for many years resided in Pine Plains town, Dutch- ess county. After his marriage, the father of our subject made his home in the village of Pine Plains, where he was one of the leading contractors and builders, and his wife, who is a milliner and dressmaker, has there carried on that business ever since. He learned his trade at Philmont, Columbia county, where he served a seven-years' apprenticeship, and was entirely a self-made man. In politics he was an ardent Republican, and held the office of overseer of the poor. He died in 1881, at the age of forty-nine years, in the faith of the Baptist Church, of which he was a consistent member.

Charles A. Simmons spent his early days in the village of Pine Plains, where he attended the public schools, and completed his literary education in the Seymour Smith Institute, of that place, after which he began his business

career. In the city of Albany, N. Y., he was married, August 12, 1892, to Miss Eva Wilber, daughter of Zachariah Wilber, of the town of Milan, Dutchess county. Both are highly re- spected in their community and foremost in all good work. Mr. Simmons uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party, and is a member of the Baptist Church at Bangall.

J AMES R. BARLOW, one of the leading citizens of Wappingers Falls, Dutchess county, was born in that village, June 4, 1836, and is a son of John and Elizabeth Bar- low, the former of whom was born near Burn- ley, Lancashire, England, and for many years followed the sea. In 1827 he came to Amer- ica, and located in New York City, where, for some time, he followed the trade of a dyer. He married Miss Elizabeth Holt, of Rockland county, N. Y., a daughter of Thomas Holt, an Englishman, who was one of the first to intro- duce calico machine printing into this country.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. John Barlow settled at Wappingers Falls, where three children were born to them: Patience, who died aged twelve years; James R., the sub- ject of this sketch; and Sarah J., who married George Stevenson, a merchant of Wappingers Falls. About 1854 John Barlow became in- terested in the manufacture of combs, an in- dustry he carried on until 1858, when he em- barked in the bakery business, which he fol- lowed during the succeeding ten years. He then went into partnership with George Stev- enson, in the hardware business, in which he was engaged until his death in September, 1892. His wife passed away in February, 1885. Mr. Barlow was a Republican in politics, and both he and his wife were members of the Episcopal Church.

James R. Barlow, our subject, spent his boyhood days at Wappingers Falls, and in 1852, then a lad of sixteen, was apprenticed to learn calico engraving to calico printing, at which he worked for nine years. In 1861 he went to New York City, and engaged in the commission business some eighteen months, then proceeding to Chicago, was there em- ployed as clerk in the Stock Yards for a short time. His next occupation was that of fore- man in a cracker factory at Sparta, Wis. After a short tour through the Western States, Mr. Barlow returned to Wappingers Falls,

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where, on July 5, 1864, he opened a grocery store; which he carried on until 1869, at that time going into partnership with Mr. Sweet, the firm becoming Sweet & Barlow. In 1880 Mr. Barlow went to Newburg, N. Y., and started the Sweet, Orr & Co.'s overall factory, of which he took charge until 1882, when he returned to Wappingers Falls, and settled up the business of his own firm, which was then discontinued. In the year last mentioned he became one of the partners in the Eagan over- all factory, remaining with the firm until ISS4. when he withdrew, and the following year he sold goods for Sweet, Orr & Co., on the road. In 1889 he became proprietor of the dry-goods store which he is at present carrying on. He is a good business man and commands a large trade, his acquaintance throughout the sur- rounding country being extensive, and his many sterling qualities making him numerous warm friends.

Mr. Barlow was married, in September, 1862, to Miss Mary A. Hayes, a native of Wappingers Falls, and a daughter of John and Elizabeth Hayes, who were of English de- scent. Two children came to this union: Fred, born in 186;, died in 1872; and May, born in 1875. The wife and mother died De- cember 29, 1886. Our subject cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860, and he has ever since been a stanch Republican. He served two terms as trustee of Wappingers Falls, and March 3, 1896, was elected supervisor, an office not sought by him, but for which he received a majority of 240 votes, the largest ever given a candidate in that town, and which testifies to his popu- larity with his fellow-citizens.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 115

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