Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 119

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

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The first ancestor of the American line was one of the founders of South Norwalk. and one of the original patentees of the land there. Seven children were born of this marriage: Fannie Reed, Mary Ella, Edmund Nelson, Raymond Fitch, Jennie (deceased), Horace and Angeline.

Edmund N. Landon received a good edu- cation in his youth, attending first the district schools of the neighborhood, and later the academies of Lakeville and Lime Rock, Conn. After leaving school, in 1874, he taught at Orr Hill (one term), Sharon and Salisbury, and then began clerking for W. B. Hawley, at Sherman, Conn., in a general store. There he remained about six years, and then became traveling salesman for J. L. Clark & Son, manufacturers of carriages, Oshkosh, Wis., and for two years represented them in the east- ern and middle States. He then traveled for the house of I. D. Ware, of Philadelphia, manufacturer of varnishes and japans, and later for the Ware Brothers, publishers of the Carriage Monthly, remaining with them four years. In 1887, he left " the road " to take a position in the store of C. B. Dakin & Co., of Sharon, Conn., and early in the follow- ing year he came to Millerton, where he opened a general store on the ist of April, under the firm name of E. N. Landon & Co. In 1893 he sold this business to Hoag & Keefer, and bought a store building of Julius Benedict, in which he established his present business as a dealer in flour, feed, grain and coal. He has a large trade, extending for a considerable dis- tance around Millerton, and amounting to about forty thousand annually. His keen judgment and energetic methods have insured his success in his undertakings. and he has a high standing in business circles.

On March 30, 1887. Mr. Landon married Miss Adelaide Cross Barker, daughter of Henry Barker, a well-known resident of White Creek, Washington Co., N. Y., and they have one daughter. Adelaide Barker Landon. On na- tional political questions Mr. Landon is a Re- publican, but on local issues he votes independ- ently, giving his support to the " best man." He has repeatedly been urged to enter the po- litical field himself, but has declined to do so, and on one occasion when elected justice of the peace he did not qualify, as he did not

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wish to take the office. He takes a hearty in- terest in local improvements, however, and is always ready to promote them in a quiet way.

H ENRY BODENSTEIN, a prominent and worthy citizen of Staatsburg, is exten- sively engaged in the manufacture of ice tools, having a large plant in that village. He was born September 28, 1852, in Nesselreden, Hessen, Germany, a son of John H. and Dorothia (Boerner) Bodenstein, natives of the same place, and of whom mention is made elsewhere.

In 1858 our subject came to America with his parents, and in the common schools of Staatsburg. Rockland Lake, N. Y., Jersey City, N. J., and Athens, N. Y., he received his education. At the age of sixteen he left the school-room in order to start out in life for himself, and for two years he worked at cigarmaking in Hudson and Athens, N. Y. At this time his father was much in need of help, so he decided to learn the trade, and ac- cordingly entered the establishment of his father, who was then in the manufacture of ice tools in Staatsburg. He gradually worked his way upward until he became mas- ter of every department of the business, and remained in his father's employ from 1868 to 1875. After the latter's death he, with his brother, continued the business for the estate until 1877, and then formed a partnership under the firm name of J. G. Bodenstein & Brother. In 1887, the name was changed to J. G. & H. Bodenstein, and the firm con- tinued to do business until March 22, 1890, when the co-partnership was dissolved. Our subject has since conducted the business alone at the same stand where his father carried on operations, and has built up a large trade which extends over the whole country. While the name Bodenstein is a guarantee as to workmanship and the quality of material used in the manufacture of their tools by the use of improved machinery, he has increased the facilities for getting out ice tools.

In 1879 Mr. Bodenstein was united in marriage with Antoinette Podrabski, and to them have been born eight children: Clar- ence Henry, Charles Irving, Morgan, Harriet Eliza, Sarah Margaret, Ernest Frederick Adam, Laura Antoinette and Louise Amelia. Formerly our subject cast his ballot with the Republicans, but is now a strong Prohibition-

ist, as that party embodies his views on the temperance question. He and his wife are faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has served as trustee and steward. Socially he is identified with Rhine- beck Lodge No. 432, F. & A. M.

W ILLIAM C. ARMSTRONG is one of the popular and esteemed citizens of Pleasant Valley. Though his connection with the history of Dutchess county extends over a period of thirty-three years, he was in his ear- ·lier life an extensive traveler, and thereby be- came a man of broad mind and liberal views. He was born in New York City October 24, 1830, but for many generations his ancestors had lived in Scotland. His father, Henry Armstrong, an only child, was born in Glasgow, Scotland. He wedded Mary Clifford, and shortly afterward sailed for New York, where both he and his wife died of cholera in 1837. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, and people of genuine worth. Their family included five children: John A., an en- gineer, residing in New York City; William C., subject of this review; Thomas, who carried on harness-making in Syracuse, N. Y., but is now deceased; Henry, also deceased, who was an engineer of New York, and ran on several river boats; and Elizabeth, deceased.

Mr. Armstrong, whose name introduces this review, spent his boyhood days in his na- tive city, and is indebted to its public schools for his educational privileges. There he re- ceived his training as an engineer, working in the Novelty Iron Works for twelve years, and in the Cold Springs foundry for three years. He afterward became engineer on the steamer " Golden Gate," running between Panama and San Francisco, Cal., his service in that line covering a period of one year. He was then employed to construct the river passenger boat "Talca," for the government of Chili, and made his headquarters at Valparaiso in that country. He next went to Cuba, where he took charge of a sugar plantation, thus spend- ing the winter seasons for nine years. During this period he purchased machinery to the value of many thousand dollars in Newburg, N. Y., and sent to the island of Cuba. His extensive travels gave him a knowledge of the regions which he visited, that any amount of reading could not have done, and he can re- late many interesting incidents concerning the

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places he has visited. He is a man of com- prehensive business powers, of ceaseless activ- ity and enterprise, and the success he has achieved is the merited reward of his own labors.

Mr. Armstrong has been twice married. He wedded Elizabeth Scott, a native of New York, who lived only a few years. They had two children, but one died in infancy, and Emma is also now deceased. She was the wife of Frederick J. Fay, of Brooklyn, pay- teller for the Union Trust Company, of New York. In 1862 Mr. Armstrong married Hes- ter I. Seaman, a native of Pleasant Valley,. and a daughter of Egbert C. and Eliza (Van- Wagner) Seaman, the latter a native of Dutch- ess county. The father was a harnessmaker of Pleasant Valley. In 1863 Mr. and Mrs. Armstrong located in this place, and their home has been blessed with two daughters, Clara and Bessie, the former now the wife of Har- vey G. Ward, who is engaged in the practice of law in New York City, but resides in Ridge- wood, N. J. Bessie became the wife of George Rutherford, a music teacher and dealer in music, Poughkeepsie.

Since locating in Pleasant Valley, Mr. Arm- strong has conducted a hotel, and his pleasant, genial and courteous manner, combined with honorable dealing, makes him a popular land- lord and his house a favorite with the travel- ing public. He is also a dealer in coal, and has an extensive trade among the citizens of Pleasant Valley. Public-spirited and progress- ive, he manifests a commendable interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of the community, and is found a liberal supporter of all enterprises calculated to prove of public benefit. He would be a valued addition to any community, and his fellow-townsmen hold him in high regard.

C HARLES A. STEPHENS, one of the most enterprising business men of Miller- ton, Dutchess county, was born December 14, 1851, in Morrisania, then in Westchester county, but now a part of New York City. The family originated in Scotland, his grand- father, Thomas Stephens, having emigrated from that country in 1821, accompanied by his wife, Margaret Perkins, daughter of Thomas Perkins. He located in New York City, where he followed the trade of ship carpenter until his death, in 1835; his wife died in 1827.

They had three children-Thomas, who was drowned; John, our subject's father, and Mar- garet, who married H. Higginson, a builder.

John Stephens was born in New York City August 6, 1822, and at an early age found employment in the Morrisania Railroad Car Shops. His unusual ability soon attracted the notice of the officials, and he was promoted to a position of responsibility ; in 1859 was trans- ferred to Dover Plains and placed in charge of the car repairing department, where he re- mained until he retired from active business, in 1892. At that time the Harlem road ac- cepted his resignation with reluctance, not- withstanding his advanced age. He was a well-read inan, a close observer and original thinker, and could have made a success of almost any enterprise. Although he has al- ways been a stanch Republican in principle, he has taken no part in political work. He is an active worker in the Masonic Lodge of Dover, and is a regular attendant of the Bap- tist Church. His first wife was Miss Anna Reed, daughter of James Reed, of New York City, who died at the age of twenty-seven, leaving three children : Thomas, born in 1849, died in 1869; Charles Anthony, our subject; and John George, born in June, 1856, is now the agent of the Harlem railroad at Fordham, and a dealer in electrical appliances for domes- tic use. In 1858 Mr. Stephens married, for his second wife, Miss Jane Reed.

Charles A. Stephens attended the district schools near his home for some time, and later spent two or three years in the Dover Plains Academy. When he was about sixteen years old he became a clerk in B. F. Chapman's coal and lumber yard at Dover Plains, and in the following year went to Poughkeepsie, as clerk in the dry-goods store of W. H. Broas. Here he worked for a year and a half. when, his health failing, he returned to Dover. While recuperating, he studied medicine with Dr. Berry, of Dover Plains, for two years, but decided that he would not follow the profes- sion. He had also gained a knowledge of telegraphy in the meantime, and in February, 1873, was appointed agent of the Newburg, Dutchess & Connecticut railroad, at Fishkill, and in the spring of 1874 took a similar position at Sylvan Lake. He lived at that place for thirteen years, and was postmaster under Pres- ident Arthur and, later, under President Harri- son. He was also engaged in the coal business there, and owned and operated a farm of fifty

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acres for about ten years, while for some time he was a conductor on the Clove Branch rail- road. In 1887 he moved to Fordham, and bought an express business in New York City, which he sold after seven months. He then took a position as telegraph operator at White Plains, but after four months there he returned to his old situation at Sylvan Lake, where he remained until August, 1894, when he was transferred to Millerton. In addition to his work as station agent there, he is the repre- sentative of the New York Life Insurance Company, and since September, 1894, has been a member of the well-known firm of Landon & Stephens, the leading wholesale and retail coal dealers.

Mr. Stephens is a firm believer in the prin- ciples of the Republican party, and in local affairs is an active and progressive worker, seeking always to secure the nomination and election of good men. He has taken great in- terest in educational matters also. He belongs to the Reformed Dutch Church at Hopewell, and is a member of and officer in Webatuck Lodge No. 480, F. & A. M.

Mr. Stephens married Miss Helen E. West- cott, by whom he has had two children- George Westcott and Helen Anthony. Mrs. Stephens is a descendant of two of the oldest families of the town of Fishkill-the Westcotts and the Scofields. Her father, the late George W. Westcott, a son of Abram W. Westcott, a pioneer farmer, was a prominent man of that locality, the owner of a fine farm, devoted largely to fruit raising, and for some years a leading merchant at Glenham. His influence in local affairs and in the Democratic organiza- tion was marked, and he held the offices of supervisor and assessor for a number of years. He died in December, 1891, in his seventy- ninth year. He was twice married, first to Miss Helen Mills, by whom he had five chil- dren-George, Elbert, Matilda, Adaline, and Abram; and, second, to Miss Jane E. Storm, of Stormville. Two children were born of this union - John and .Helen-the latter of whom and her half-sister, Matilda, are now the only survivors of the family.

R OBERT MATTHEWS. This gentleman, who spent his early manhood in active business, mainly in agricultural pursuits, is now living retired at Wappingers Falls, Dutchess county. A native of that county,

he was born in the town of Poughkeepsie, November 1, 1825. His paternal great-grand- father was born in either Ireland or Scotland, and, on crossing the Atlantic to America, lo- cated in Dutchess county, where he carried on farming as a life work. When the colonists took up arms against the mother country, he joined the ranks of the Continental army, and was killed in battle.

Samuel Matthews, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Poughkeep- sie, September 25, 1756, there grew to man- hood, and followed the occupation of farming and carpentering. He married Mary Comp- ton, of Canada, and they became the parents of four children: John, who became a farmer in the town of Poughkeepsie; Robert, the father of our subject; Mary, who became the wife of Isaac A. Willsey, a farmer of Albany county, N. Y .; and Jane, who died when young. The family were members of the Re- formed Dutch Church.

Robert Matthews, Sr., was also born in the town of Poughkeepsie, on December 22, 1788, and was there reared upon a farm. He was married to Jane Jaycox, who was born March 3, 1794, in the same town, and was a daughter of Benjamin and Gertrude Jaycox, the former a native of Dutchess county, and a farmer by occupation. Shortly after their marriage they located upon a farm in the town of Poughkeepsie, where they reared their chil- dren, six in number, namely: Samuel, who throughout life engaged in farming in that town; Maria, who married Harvey Van Dyne, a farmer of the same town; Jane Ann, the widow of Henry Willsey, of Albany county, N. Y .; Robert, of this review; Harriett, who married H. Ferdon, a farmer of Poughkeepsie; and John, who still carries on agricultural pur- suits in that town. The father's death oc- curred May 4, 1872, and the mother departed this life December 20, 1857. They were both earnest members of the Reformed Dutch Church, and in politics he was a Democrat.

At the schools near the home farm our sub- ject received his education, and on reaching manhood was married December 20, 1865, to Olive Goodsell, a native of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, where the births of her par- ents, Elliott and Beulah (Thompson) Goodsell, also occurred. Isaac Goodsell, her paternal grandfather, came to this country from Man- chester, England, and on the maternal side also she is of English descent. Upon his mar-

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riage Mr. Matthews located upon a farm in Poughkeepsie town, which he operated until his removal to Wappingers Falls in 1874, since which time he has lived retired from active labor, enjoying the fruits of his former toil. He votes the straight Democratic ticket. Both himself and wife are prominent people of the community, and receive the warmest confidence and esteem of their fellow-citizens.

L EGRAND GRAHAM, of Clinton Hollow, a miller by trade, and one of the most popular auctioneers in Dutchess county, was born in the town of Ghent, Columbia county, May 14, 1847.

The late Virgil B. Graham, our subject's father, was a native of Connecticut, born June 29, 1795. He was educated in Rhode Island, and when a young man came to Ghent, where he followed the trade of cradle and wagon making. He possessed a fine intellect, and was a great reader, taking especial inter- est in political science. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. After his removal to Col- umbia county, he married Miss Elizabeth Miller, who was born in 18o3, and died in 1896, in the ninety-third year of her age, at the home of our subject, who is the youngest of her eleven children. The names of the others are: Charles H., Gertrude, Franklin, Abner, William, Sarah, Sylvester, Eliza, Jane and Almon. Of these only Gertrude, Frank- lin, and the two last named are now living.

The early education of LeGrand Graham was acquired at Ghent, Columbia county, and at Clinton, Dutchess county. For some time he taught school, working on a farm during vacations, and for a year and a half he con- ducted a store at Clinton Hollow. In 1864 he enlisted in the First New York Mounted Rifles, and his first battle was on September 28, 1864. at Chapin's farm, Va. He was mustered out of service at Richmond, Va., at the close of the war, and returned to Ghent, N. Y. In the spring of 1867 he came to Dutchess county, engaging in farming and merchandising, and in 1871 he began to oper- ate a gristmill and sawmill at Clinton Hollow, in a building which has stood for one hundred and fifty years. He is energetic and far- sighted, and has won a fine standing in busi- ness circles. He has been twice married, first, on June 26, 1873, to Miss Jane M. Latten, daughter of Adolphus D. Latten, of Clinton.

She died January 19, 1878, leaving one daugh- ter, Bertha, and December 24. 1879, Mr. Gra- ham married Miss Ella Smith, daughter of Stephen H. Smith, of Clinton. Two children were born to this union: Frank and Florence.

In politics Mr. Graham is a Republican, and he takes an active share in local affairs. having been town clerk for five years in all, and at present is holding the office of excise commissioner of the town of Clinton. He is a member of the G. A. R., Armstrong Lodge No. 104, at Rhinebeck, and of the F. & A. M., Warren Lodge No. 32, at Schultzville.

A RTHUR R. TIEL, M. D., a prominent physician and surgeon, of Matteawan, N. Y., whose abilities have received recogni- tion far beyond the limits of his own locality, was born October 14, 1854. in Ashland, Greene county, where his family was located for some time.

His great-grandfather, Jacob Tiel, settled in Rhinebeck with others from Holland. Later, his grandfather, Henry Tiel, moved to Greene county, and was there a resident for most of his life. His son, J. W. Tiel, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the same county, in 1825, and remained there till of middle life, when he moved with his family to Newark, N. J. After living there for some time the family moved to Matteawan, where they were impelled owing to the hatting in- dustry, which was the trade of Mr. Tiel. A little later Mr. Tiel went into the grocery busi- ness in Newburgh, and at an early age, and for some time, Arthur acted as bookkeeper for his father. About this time he made up his mind to study medicine, and began this study in the office of Dr. William Jones, of Newburgh. In 1878 he was graduated from the Eclectic Medical College, of the city of New York. Since that date he has followed his profession at Matteawan, and has built up a large and lucrative practice. He located at first on Main street, opposite the depot, and in 1885 he established his office in his newly-built residence, called " Beaconview." situated on Tioronda avenue, in full sight of North Beacon.

In 1880 Dr. Tiel was married to his first wife, Miss Ella F. R. Brown, daughter of William H. Brown, a respected citizen of Matteawan. She lived her married life only fourteen months, and in 1885 the Doctor mar- ried Miss Elizabeth H. Badeau, daughter of

Arthur ReturMS.

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Joseph N. Badeau. They have two children: Arthur David, born in 1887; and Helen Jose- phine, born in 1895.

The Doctor and his wife are both greatly interested in various movements, social, relig- ious, educational and philanthropical, and have ably assisted many a worthy enterprise. We may note especially the Matteawan Public Li- brary, of which the Doctor is treasurer and sec- retary of the executive committee. They are active members of the M. E. Church, and the Doctor is recording steward, member of the official board and president of the Epworth League, while for eight years he was superin- tendent of the Sunday-school. He has always been a worker in the temperance cause, and for some years has been a leader in the Prohibi- tion party in his locality, having beennominated for every important office in his town and dis- trict. Among his professional brethren he is also held in high esteem, and he is at present secretary of the Hudson River District Eclec- tic Medical Society; in 1894 was treasurer of the New York State Eclectic Medical Society, and last year was its president. He was re- cently elected by the State board of Regents as a member of the medical examining board, of which he is secretary.

C HARLES A. CARE, a well-known resi- dent of Millerton, Dutchess county, was born October 15, 1846, in Reffroy, France; his family is one of the oldest in that part of the country. Claude Care, his grandfather, was a cooper by trade, and followed this occu- pation successfully during his entire life, accumulating a fair competence. He married Marie Ann Boulard, and they had five chil- dren: Marie, Jannette, Margarette, Marie Ann and Laurent. He died in France in 1861, and his wife in 1859.

Laurent Care, our subject's father, was born May 19, 1819, and came to America in 1854. He married Justine Monory, and they had three children: Aderal, Charles A., and Clarice, who married Charles Pierson. Laurent Care was a sawyer by trade, but had been employed in France as a common laborer, in getting timber out and making charcoal, and other work of similar kind, and possessing good natural abilities and a laudable ambition, he determined, if possible, to better his con- dition. On coming to this country he located in the town of Beckett, Berkshire Co., Mass.

His wife died August 28, 1862, and ten years later he accompanied his son Charles to Mil- lerton, where he died December 16. 1895. He had been somewhat active in politics in France, but while heartily in sympathy with the progress of his adopted country, he took no part in public life.

The subject of our sketch attended the schools of his native land for a few years be- fore coming to America, but his education was mainly acquired in Berkshire county, Mass., at Beckett and Muddy Brook, near Stock- bridge. He received a good academic educa- tion, and has always been an intelligent reader. especially fond of history. After leaving school he assisted his father in the lumber business, until his enlistment, August 28, 1864, in Company G, Second Massachusetts Heavy Artillery. He served until the close of the war, being transferred, however, to Company A, 17th Mass. V. I. Among the engagements in which this gallant compatriot of La Fay- ette took part were the battles of Wises Forks, N. C., in March, 1865; Kingston and Goldsboro. On his return home in July, 1865, he engaged in the hotel business at Pittsfield, Mass., for four years. In April, 1872, he came to Millerton and opened a hotel in the brick block, but after four years there he went into the wood and coal business, which he car- ried on for three years. He then became a clerk in the " Amenia House," in Amenia, and a year later established his present business, in which he has been very successful. He married Phoebe Ann Loring, daughter of Chester O. Loring, a prominent citizen of Sheffield, Mass., and has had seven children: Charles A., Jr., deceased; Clarice; Florence; Mamie; Eugene, deceased; Frankie, deceased; and Fannie.

In public affairs Mr. Care has taken an active and influential part, and has always worked for the welfare of the community. He was a Democrat until 1876, but since that time has given his support to the Republican party. He is now deputy sheriff under Jerry S. Pierce, and has been constable for some years; was elected collector for the town of Northeast by the largest majority given any candidate on the Republican ticket. He is a member of Webatuck Lodge No. 480, F. & A. M., of the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 319, and of the Grand Army of the Republic, in which he now holds the rank of adjutant of Henry Gedley Post No. 617.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 119

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