Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 116

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

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Mr. Barlow is a member of the Episcopal Church, and is clerk of the vestry; for three Years he was secretary of the Cemetery Asso- ciation. He belongs to the Masonic Order, being a member of the Royal Arch at Pough- keepsie. In all the relations of life he bears the reputation of an honorable. upright man, and is highly esteemed wherever known.

J ACOB H. FEROE. The records of the lives of our forefathers are of interest to the modern citizen, not alone for their his- toric value but also for the inspiration and ex- ample they afford; yet we need not look to the past. Although surroundings may differ. the essential conditions of human life are ever

the same, and a man can learn from the suc- cess of those around him, if he will heed the obvious lessons contained in their history. Turn to the life record of Mr. Feroe, study carefully the plans and methods he has fol- lowed in bringing about his wonderful success in business affairs. He is a man of keen per- ception, of great sagacity and unbounded en- terprises, who is now at the head of exten- sive business interests at Tivoli.

He was born October 15, 1841, at Tivoli, then known as Myersville. His father, John K. Feroe, was born in the northern part of Red Hook town, and is the son of Henry Fe- roe, who was of French descent. John K. Feroe was married to Miss Anna Coon, who was born in Clearmont town, Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1820. She is the daughter of Jacob Coon, also a native of Columbia county, and of Holland extraction. Upon their marriage the couple located at Tivoli, where the father has followed his trade of carpentering since that time; they are faithful and devout mem- bers of the Methodist Church. Four children were born to them: Sarah, wife of David Affleck, station agent at Tivoli; Jacob H., subject of this review; Frances, who married Rensselaer Potts, a bookkeeper; and Libbie, wife of James Greene, station agent at Sau- gerties.

Mr. Feroe, whose name introduces this sketch, spent his boyhood days at Tivoli, at- tending the district schools and also a private school, but when only fifteen years of age he began teaching near the village. He later taught school for two years and a half at Unionville, in the town of Saugerties, Ulster Co., N. Y., after which he clerked and kept books for Gilbert A. Melham for nearly a year and a half, and then conducted a school at Nevis, Columbia county, for two years. For the same length of time he had a select school at Tivoli, and met with great success as a teacher. For a time Mr. Feroe carried on fruit farming, his principal product being straw- berries, of which he raised as high as 500 bushels per season, at the same time teaching at Tivoli. After having charge of a school at Glasco, Ulster county, for four years and a half, he taught the public school at Tivoli for five years, during the last two years of which he also engaged in the coal and lumber business on the Tivoli dock, and has since carried on the latter occupation. He has built up an ex- tensive trade along that line, does a general

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freighting business, conducts a grist and cider mill, and has large real-estate interests, renting about forty houses.

In September, 1871, Mr. Feroe was mar- ried to Miss Evelin Cooper. Her father, Ozias Cooper, was a native of Dutchess county, a miller by occupation, and the uncle of Charles Davis, of Saugerties, Ulster county. A family of four children have been born to our subject and his wife: Harry Cooper, who married Harriet Laflin, and is now a book- keeper for his father; Thomas J., also a book- keeper for his father; Millie and Florence.

In manner Mr. Feroe is social and genial. He is the center of a circle of friends, who honor and esteem him for many manly virtues and genuine worth. His prosperity cannot be attributed to a combination of lucky circum- stances, but has risen from energy, enterprise, integrity and intellectual effort, well directed. He is a worthy representative of that type of American character, that progressive spirit, which promotes public good in advancing in- dividual prosperity.

C HARLES E. SMITH, a skillful black- smith of Amenia, Dutchess county, was born in that village, June 20, 1854, and comes of a family that have long been residents of the county. Stephen Smith, his grandfather, was born in Pawling, and throughout most of his life was engaged in blacksmithing at South Dover. He married Hannah Skelton, by whom he had the following children: William and Edward (deceased); George W .; Sarah (deceased); Emeline; Abbie J. (deceased); Amanda; Asa; and Mary (deceased).

George W. Smith, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Dover, January 14, 1824, and in the town of Dover he passed his boy- hood and youth, acquiring his education in the schools near his home. With his father he learned the blacksmith's trade, and about 1847 came to Amenia, where he worked in the shop of Clark Fish. Subsequently he began business for himself down by the mill pond at Amenia, later removing to a shop nearly op- posite the B. H. Fry foundry, afterward con- ducting business near the present residence of Dr. Rockwell, and on leaving that location he engaged in farming and blacksmithing at Sharon, Conn. On his return to Amenia, he opened the shop now carried on by our sub- ject. He was initiated into the mysteries of

the Masonic Order in Montgomery Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., at Lyme Rock, Conn., and later became a charter member of Hamil- ton Lodge No. 54, at Sharon, Conn. In re- ligious belief he is a Methodist, and was serv- ing as trustee of the Church at Amenia when it was disbanded. He cast his first vote in support of the Whig party, is now an earnest Republican, and in 1893 was collector of taxes in Amenia. He is an upright, honorable man, devoted to the best interests of his native county, and has a host of warm personal friends throughout the community, where he has so long made his home.

On November 25, 1850. in the town of Dover, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Mary Ann Van Tassell, daughter of John P. Van- Tassell. and by their union were born eight children: William H., who was born Novem- ber 26, 1852, and is now a painter and decor- ator of Torrington, Conn .; Charles E., sub- ject of this sketch; Hattie, wife of Walter S. Harrison, of Patterson, N. Y .; George W., a painter and decorator, of Amenia; Myra E .; Frederick J., a tinsmith, of Brewster, N. Y. ; Frank (deceased); and Helen A., wife of Frederick Adams, of Torrington, Conn. The wife and mother departed this life in Septem- ber, 1890.

The boyhood days of Charles E. Smith were passed in Amenia, N. Y., and Sharon, Conn., and in the latter place he secured his education. Learning the blacksmith trade with his father, he has since followed that business, having entire charge since May 24, 1886. He is now at the head of a large and constantly increasing business, doing all kinds of blacksmithing and wagon repairing. In politics he is a straight Republican, and so- cially, is connected with the Masonic Order, being a member of Amenia Lodge No. 672, F. & A. M., and the Eastern Star at Sharon, Connecticut.

At Oxford, Conn., October 10, 1878, Mr. Smith was married to Miss Rosella Russell, daughter of Theodore D. Russell, and they have two sons: Clarence Russell and Howard Alfred.

A RTHUR S. PEACOCK is one of the prominent citizens and enterprising young business men of Wappingers Falls, Dutchess county, where he is successfully engaged in the drug business. He is a native of New

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York, born at Haverstraw, Rockland county, March 24, 1860, a son of William M. Peacock, whose birth occurred in Birmingham, England. His paternal grandfather, who also bore the name of William, was a native of England, where he was married, and reared a family of four children, of whom the father of our sub- ject was the eldest. The others are: Thomas, a carpenter and millwright of Fishkill Landing, Dutchess county; George, a fish and oyster dealer of New York City; and Elizabeth, wife of Robert Wainright, of Philadelphia, Pennsyl- sylvania.

When a young man William M. Peacock, father of our subject, emigrated to America, and at Bloomfield, N. J., learned the machine- printing business. His marriage with Miss Minerva Young was celebrated at Columbia- ville, Columbia Co., N. Y .; she was born in Columbia county, N. Y., where her father was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In their fam- ily are two children, who grew to adult age, namely: Elmira, wife of John L. Shrader, who conducted the drug store in Wappingers Falls, which our subject now owns; and Arthur S. The father still works at his trade in Wap- pingers Falls, where he was employed by the Dutchess Company Print Works for nearly half a century. In his political views he coin- cides with the platforms formulated by the Republican party, and religiously he and his family are Episcopalians.

Our subject was only four years old when brought by his parents to Wappingers Falls, where he grew to manhood, receiving his early education in the Hughsonville district school, and later attended the public schools of Wap- pingers Falls, where his literary education was completed. For some time he was a clerk in the law office of Mr. J. W. Bartram, and for a year and a half was employed in the Dutch- ess Company Print Works, after which he was a clerk in his brother-in-law's drug store for about three years. Going to New York City, he held a similar position in the drug store of William Mettenheimer, at the corner of Forty- fifth street and Sixth avenue, being there em- ployed during the day, until ten and eleven o'clock at night, except on college nights, when he would attend lectures, and after go- ing to his room at night would study phar- macy. He then attended the New York Col- lege of Pharmacy, and during his vacations clerked for F. C. Corner, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Returning to New York City, he clerked

in a drug store while attending college during the senior year, but at the end of three months gave up his position in order to devote his en- tire time to his studies, and graduated with the class of 1885. In January, 1885, previous to his graduation, Mr. Peacock had purchased his present drug business, and since leaving college has built up an excellent trade, which is certainly well deserved. His store is one of the best of the kind in the county, carrying only first-class goods, and he attends strictly to the wants of his customers.

On October 14, 1886, Mr. Peacock mar- ried Miss Eliza Clinton, of Catskill, N. Y., a daughter of Joseph Clinton. Politically, he is a Republican, a stanch adherent of the princi- ples of the party, and for the last two years has served as collector of the town of Wap- pinger. He was also nominated as president of the village in the spring of 1896, but with- drew his name. He is very popular with his fellow citizens, and always lends his support to promote the best interests of the commu- nity where he makes his home. Socially, he is identified with the Masonic Order and the In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows. He is also an enthusiastic yachtsman, owning the yacht "Orient," which is a very fast one, and, taking part in almost all the regattas held in this section, he spends the most of his time on the water, as a benefit to his health, as well as a means of pleasure.

R OBERT JACKSON HUNGERFORD is a prominent young business man of Was- saic, Dutchess county. Having a large amount of industry, perseverance and energy, he has made a noble record as a successful merchant, and is one of the reliable citizens of the county. His birth occurred at New Milford, Conn., November 7, 1866.

Edwin Hungerford, his grandfather, was a native of Sherman, Conn., and there devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits. He was an earnest Christian gentleman, and served as deacon in the Congregational Church. By his marriage with Susan Giddings he had five children: George, of Sherman, Conn .; Martin Luther, father of our subject; Phebe (deceased): Annie; and Linus, of Mabbetts- ville, Dutchess Co., N. Y. Martin Luther Hungerford was born at Sherman, Conn., January 16, 1841, there spent his boyhood and acquired his education in the district schools.

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On starting out in life he began freighting from South Dover, Dutchess county, and Pat- terson, Putnam county, to New York City, in which business he was engaged for five years. He then turned his attention to the tobacco trade, raising and selling at wholesale at Gay- lordsville, in the town of New Milford, Litch- field Co., Conn., but is now living retired, looking after his real-estate interests. He is an earnest member of the Congregational Church, and a stalwart Republican in politics. At Sharon, Conn., he was joined in wedlock with Miss Julia, daughter of Edwin Jackson, and to them were born four children: Robert Jackson; John Edwin and Arthur, of New Mil- ford, Conn., and Genevieve.

In the place of his nativity our subject was reared, obtaining his education in the district schools and in a select school at Cornwall Plains, Conn. On laying aside his text-books he began the cigar business, buying and sell- ing at retail, later selling cigars on the road for two years, and for one year was on the road selling fruits and vegetables. In March, 1891, he began general merchandising at Was- saic, which business he has since successfully followed, and in the spring of 1894 he erected his present store building. At Brookfield, Conn., June 8, 1887, Mr. Hungerford was mar- ried to Miss Jennie Simmons Peck, daughter of Clark S. Peck, and they have three inter- esting children: Martin Luther, Jessie Irene and Robert Jerrold. Socially, Mr. Hunger- ford is connected with Amenia Lodge No. 672, F. & A. M., and of the Royal Arcanum at Was- saic; politically, he supports the men and measures of the Republican party.

E BENEZER J. PRESTON, who is success- fully engaged in the tobacco business at Amenia, Dutchess county, was born March 24, 1855, in the town of Dover, that county, where his branch of the family was founded at a very early day by Ebenezer Preston, who was probably from Rhode Island, and came to the county with his brother Martin. The next in direct line also bore the name of Ebenezer, and was born in the town of Dover. His son, Abijah Preston, was the grandfather of our subject. The latter took quite an active in- terest in political affairs, served as captain of the militia, and as a life work followed farm- ing in the town of Dover. He married Eliza- beth Ross, and to them were born four chil-

dren: John R., who became a butcher of New York City; Mary; Phoebe E. ; and Ebene- zer A.

Ebenezer A. Preston was born in the town of Dover, September 20, 1818, there acquired his primary education in the district schools, and later attended the Amenia Seminary. When a young man he was for a time in the cattle business with his brother in Texas, and engaged in driving cattle from the West to the East. Returning to Dutchess county, he carried on the marble business at South Dover, and also followed farming, being a large land owner in this county. Socially, he was a mem- ber of Dover Lodge, F. & A. M., while his political support was ever given the Democ- racy, and in 1848 he served as supervisor of the town of Dover. He wedded Miss Marie Elizabeth Jewett, daughter of John Jewett, a prominent surveyor of the town of Dover, and they became the parents of five children, namely: Mary Ellen, wife of A. F. Bates, of Ontario, Cal .; Cornelia Alice, wife of George B. Upham, an attorney-at-law, of Boston, Mass .; Ida, wife of E. L. Nichols, professor of physics in Cornell University, of Ithaca, N. Y .; Ebenezer Jewett, of this sketch; and Au- gusta, wife of Stephen C. Bedell, of New York City. The mother departed this life May I, 1887, and the father's death occurred Decem- ber 20, 1891.

At the old homestead in the town of Dover our subject spent his early days, and was pre- pared for college by private teachers. He then entered Cornell University, taking a scientific course, and was graduated in 1875. He is a member of the Delta Upsilon fraterni- ty. Returning to Dover, he remained with his father until 1882, when he took a trip to Europe, visiting many points of interest. Sub- sequently, in connection with J. A. Thompson, he represented P. L. Van Wagonen's interest in the tobacco . business at Poughkeepsie. Since that time he has engaged in the tobacco trade at Amenia, buying from the farmers and packing the leaf. He is one of the most wide- awake and energetic business men of Dutchess county, and his success was assured from the start.

At his present residence in Amenia, Sep- tember 19, 1885, Mr. Preston was married to Miss Carrie A. Kirby, who died January 17, 1892, and to them were born three children: Mary Reynolds; Elizabeth Jewett, and Eben- ezer Kirby. Mrs. Preston also belonged to a

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family that has been long identified with the interests of Dutchess county. George Kirby, her great-grandfather, was a native of Rhode Island, but became an early settler of Pawling, where he followed blacksmithing, and was a large land owner in that section of the county. His son, Uriah Kirby, was born in the town of Pawling, and throughout most of his life carried on agricultural pursuits in the western part of the town of Amenia, where he died in 1855, at the age of sixty-one years. By his marriage with Phebe Gerow, he had five chil- dren: William, deceased; George, the father of Mrs. Preston; Solomon; John; and Amelia, deceased.

George Kirby is also a native of the town of Pawling, born in January, 1830, but was reared in the town of Amenia. He wedded Miss Mary E. Reynolds, who died October 15. 1874, and they became the parents of two children: Carrie A., who was born July 31, 1857, and became the wife of our subject ; and Frank R., who was born November 9, 1858, and died August 20, 1861. After his marriage, Mr. Kirby purchased a farm at South Ameni , where he resided for about three years, and then removed to the present residence of Mr. Preston. By occupation he is a farmer, po- litically is an ardent Republican, and is one of the prominent, representative citizens of the community.

In connection with his local business, Mr. Preston has also traveled through the West, selling tobacco to jobbers and wholesale deal- ers. At Altoona, Penn., he was again married, Miss Minnie Helen Mckean becoming his wife. Both as a business man and true citizen he is held in high esteem, and in 1885, on the Union ticket, was elected supervisor of the town of Dover. Socially, he is prominently identified with Triune Lodge, F. & A. M., of Pough- keepsie. He was elected first master of the Pomona Grange of Dutchess county, organized in March, 1897.

E DWARD S. HICKS, of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, has accomplished satis- factory work as a farmer, and acquired a com- fortable competence so as to enable him to live retired from active business life, and he is now making his home at the "Pleasant Valley Hotel " in that village.

The Hicks family, of which our subject is a member, was founded in Dutchess county,

by Joseph Hicks, who was born on Long Island, and after his marriage with Miss Fil- kins became a resident of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county. From there he and his wife removed to Bloomingdale, Pleasant Valley town, and located upon a farm in the eastern part of the town, where his death occurred. He obtained a grant of title from Queen Anne. Twice married, he became the father of a large family of children, among whom was Samuel Hicks (the grandfather of our subject), who was born in the town of Pleasant Valley. He was reared to agriculture, which was mainly his life work; in early life he also followed shoemaking to some extent. He wedded Margaret Doty, a native of Dutchess county, and they became the parents of three children: Benjamin, who carried on farming in the town of Washington, Dutchess county, where his death occurred; Mary, who became the wife of Samuel Halstead, a farmer of Clinton town; and Samuel S., the father of our subject. The parents of both these died in Pleasant Valley town, the father in 1845, the mother in 1827. They were Hicksite Quakers.

Upon a farm in the town of Pleasant Val- ley, Samuel S. Hicks was born and reared. As he was a cripple and thereby unable to per- form much labor on the farm, he was given good educational privileges, and later became a teacher in Poughkeepsie Academy. On Sep- tember 4, 1816, he was united in marriage with Mary Peters, a native of the town of Pleasant Valley, where her father, Hewlett Peters, was also born, and spent his entire life in agricult- ural pursuits. The Peters family was of French origin, and on crossing the Atlantic its members first located on Long Island. After their marriage the parents of our subject set- tled upon the old farm, where they reared their family of eleven children, as follows: Margaret, born June 23, 1817, married Thomas Smith, a farmer of the town of Washington, Dutchess county; Hewlett P., born April 5. 1819, wedded Sarah Smith, and is now living retired in the town of Clinton. Edward S. is the subject of this sketch: Elias, born Febru- ary 20, 1825, is a merchant in Rochester, N. Y., married to Miss Elizabeth Howland; Burtis, born April 3, 1827, married Mary J. Wiley. and is engaged in agricultural pursuits in Clinton town; Hannah, born May 8, 1829. became the wife of Asa U. Smith, who at one time was a farmer of Dutchess county, but died in the West; and Mary, born June 9, 1831,

Edward & Hicks

Dermine (h Husky

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD,

was the wife of Solomon Merritt, a carpenter of Rochester, N. Y., and died in 1862. The mother of these was called to her final rest June 28, 1831; the father died March 31, 1869. In religious belief they were Hicksite Quakers, and in politics he was an earnest Whig.

Upon the old homestead farm in Pleasant Valley town, Edward S. Hicks, our subject, was born March 26, 1823, and was reared to rural life, receiving the usual education of the district school, after which he taught in the neighborhood for one term. On September 25, 1844, he married Emily Wilber, a native of the town of Hyde Park, and a daughter of Sylvanus Wilber, who was born in Rhode Island, and devoted his entire life to farming. Two children blessed their union: Sylvanus W., a farmer of Pleasant Valley, born De- cember 7, 1845, married Dorcas M. Wood, of Hyde Park, September 5, 1866; and Barnard B., a traveling salesman, born October 4, 1847, married Hannah A. Doty, of Pleasant Valley, June 13, 1866. Dr. Edward E. Hicks, of Brooklyn, son of Barnard B., born November 18, 1870, married Lizzie Porteous, of Pough- keepsie City, June 1, 1893. The mother of these died February 4, 1862, and November 19, 1862, Mr. Hicks married his present wife, Jennie M. Lattin, who was born in Pleasant Valley town, where the birth of her father, John W. Lattin, also occurred (in October, 1810). Her mother bore the maiden name of Hannah E. Wilber, and was the sister of our subject's first wife. Four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Lattin, namely: Sarah C., who died unmarried; Ellen W., wife of John L. Marshall, a farmer of Pleasant Valley town; Emily C. (the twin sister of Mrs. Hicks), who first wedded George B. Dale, a farmer, and after his death became the wife of George Van- Vliet, a miller at Salt Point, Dutchess county, who is now also deceased; and Jennie M., the wife of our subject. The Lattin family was founded in this country on Long Island, but Nathaniel Lattin, the grandfather of Mrs. Hicks, early became a leading farmer of the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county.

After his first marriage Mr. Hicks located upon a farm in the town of Clinton, where he spent two years, the following year being passed on the old home in Pleasant Valley; he then removed to a farm in the same town, which he occupied some four years. For eighteen years he next cultivated a farm in

the western part of the town, and the follow- ing year he was a resident of Poughkeepsie. At the end of that time he returned to the town of Pleasant Valley, where he purchased a farm, on which he made his home until 1889, when he sold out, and has since lived at the "Pleasant Valley Hotel."

Politically, Mr. Hicks affiliates with the Democratic party, in whose principles he claims he finds the best guarantees for the preservation of the government. Both him- self and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which for the past sixteen years he has been deacon, and for twenty-five years as- sistant superintendent of the Sunday-school. After long lives of toil, surrounded by the love, respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, Mr. and Mrs. Hicks are resting from their labors, and quietly and pleasantly passing their time.

W ELDON F. WESTON, one of the leading citizens of Fishkill-on-Hudson, Dutchess county, and the proprietor of Wes- ton's Express and Transportation line running between Fishkill, Newburg, and neighboring points, is a native of Litchfield, N. H., and a member of a family which has long held a prominent place in political, business and social life. Jonathan Weston, his great-grand- father, served with honor in the Revolutionary war, enlisting from Reading, Mass., three different times.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 116

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