Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 120

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

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

C HARLES HAMILTON DAVIS, JR., a prominent and representative citizen of Amenia, Dutchess county, was born in Wor- cester county, Mass., March 8, 1840, a son of Charles H. and Lucinda (Mundell) Davis, who are the parents of four children, of whom our subject is the eldest. The others are: George H., who died in 1863; Ginery T., of Auburn- dale, Mass .; and Frank, who died in infancy. The father, also a native of Worcester county, Mass., was born in ISto, and has there fol- lowed farming most of his life. He is still living, and enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

In the district schools of his native county our subject acquired his elementary education, and completed his literary course at the Barre Academy, in Barre, Mass., after which he taught school for several years in that State. In the spring of 1864, he entered the East- man Business College, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and on leaving that institution secured the po- sition of bookkeeper in the City National Bank of Poughkeepsie, where he remained for eight years.

In 1872, Mr. Davis located in Amenia, where he has since served as assistant cashier and notary public in the First National Bank. During President Cleveland's first administra- tion, he was appointed national bank examiner for a term of four years, and for many years served as justice of the peace at Amenia, in fact holding the office as long as he would ac- cept of it. He is public-spirited and progress- ive, faithfully discharging every duty of citi- zenship, and has hosts of friends throughout the county. Politically, he is a stanch Demo- crat, and has been the nominee on his party's ticket for county treasurer of Dutchess county. Religiously, he holds membership with the Bap- tist Church at Amenia.

While a resident of Poughkeepsie, Mr. Davis was united in marriage with Lucy E. Harrington, who died in that city. Later, in Worcester county, Mass., he wedded Miss Minnie R. Harrington, and they have one son, Robert S., born June 4, 1883.

G EORGE SEDGWICK NORTON. The history of the American branch of the Norton family begins in the days of the Pilgrim Fathers with the emigration of three brothers of that name from the home of their ancestors, near the border line between England and Scot-

land. They landed at Plymouth Rock, and while one son went farther west to locate at Whitehall, N. Y., two settled in Berkshire county, Mass., where their descendants have maintained a high reputation for ability and public spirit.

The subject of this sketch is descended from this Berkshire-county line, and his great- grandfather, Jonathan Norton, was among the distinguished citizens of that locality in his day, owning between two and three thousand acres of land, and holding various positions of honor and usefulness. In 1790 he was com- missioned captain in the State militia by John Hancock, the immortal signer of the Declara- tion of Independence, who was at that time governor of Massachusetts. Jonathan Norton was a Whig in politics, and, with the excep- tion of one man who voted for George B. Mc- Clellan, his posterity at all times have sup- ported the Whig and Republican parties. He married, and had three sons-Jonathan L., Roderick J. and Lyman-and two or three daughters, all of whom married.

Roderick J. Norton, our subject's grand- father, possessed great natural ability, and, like his father, was a man of prominence. His holdings in real estate were very extensive, and he followed farming all his life. In local poli- tics he was very active, holding at different times all the offices in his town and several in the county. He and the majority of his fam- ily were leading members of the Congrega- tional Church. His wife, Rhoda (Johnson), was a member of an old Granville, Mass .. family, daughter of Charles and granddaughter of Timothy Johnson. They had seven chil- dren, of whom the first, Roderick J., died in childhood. Isaac was treasurer and clerk of the town of Otis, Berkshire county, for fifty- two years without being required to furnish a bond, and his term of service only ended at his death, when he was ninety-four years old. Elam was at one time sheriff of the county, and was trial justice for twenty-five years, and justice of the peace for seventy years, being elected at the age of twenty-one, and holding the office until his death, which occurred when he was ninety-one. Unlike the rest of the family, he was an Episcopalian. Harriet mar- ried Robert Hunter, of Berkshire county. Rod- erick Hyde is mentioned more fully below. Sedgwick died at twenty-one years of age. George was a harness maker of the town of Otis, Berkshire county, and lived to the age

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of seventy-seven years. Roderick J. Norton died in 1848, and his wife in 1858.

Roderick Hyde Norton, our subject's fa- ther, was born at the old home March 19, 1809, and was intended for the ministry; but on account of financial reverses his education was interrupted, and at twenty-one he began teaching, which occupation he followed suc- cessfully some forty years. His first school was at Claverack, Columbia Co., N. Y., where he met and married his first wife, Harriet Bierce, who was born in ISOS in an old brick house on the post road between Ghent and Hudson. Her father, Bradford Bierce, was a prominent resident of the town. After two years in Claverack, Mr. Norton returned to his native place, and for many years taught at Otis, Mass., becoming known as one of the ablest teachers of that region. For twenty- five years he was chairman of the examining committee, was a selectman of the town for many years, and was a deacon in the Congre- gational Church. The last ten years of his life were spent at Egremont, Mass., in agricult- ural pursuits. His first wife died August 17, 1861, and he formed a second matrimonial alliance with Miss Dora Van Buren (a second cousin of President Van Buren), of Stockport, Columbia Co., N. Y. She departed this life in 1882, and on October 12 of the following year he breathed his last. There was no off- spring by the last marriage, but his first wife bore him four children, of whom three grew to adult age. (1) Isaac F. was given good ad- vantages in his youth, and became wealthy. For some years he was a merchant at Egre- mont, Mass., but later traveled as a salesman. (2) Bradford B. followed mercantile pursuits for some years at Blandford, Mass., and East Winsted, Conn., afterward removing to Gold Hill, Nev., where he acquired great wealth, owning a large ranch and holding an interest in many valuable properties. He was treas- urer and secretary of eight different mining companies. He possessed great influence in political circles, and in ISSo was urged to ac- cept the nomination for governor. Against his own wish he undertook the campaign, and was defeated by but a very small majority. In the following year his death occurred through overwork.

(3) George S. Norton, the youngest son, was born at Otis, Mass., August 19, 1841, and his educational advantages were confined to three years and four months attendance at the

district schools; but he has so thoroughly in- formed himself upon important topics of the day that these limitations would not be suspected. At the age of eleven he was put to work upon the farm, and practically placed in charge, and when he was fifteen he raised 500 bushels of potatoes and ioo of corn. In the fall of 1859 he apprenticed himself to J. L. Fatro, of Win- sted, Conn., for two years, at $50 for the entire term, in order to learn the blacksmith's trade. Before the expiration of his term in had become proficient in the business, and he April, 1861, he opened a shop in Egremont, Mass., where he spent one year. He then went to Collinsville, Conn., and worked for Mr. Shook six months, forging plow standards, afterward returning home for a year. On re- suming his trade he went to Salisbury to work for Mr. Pratt; but after four months, ill health caused him to choose another occupation, and he went "on the road" selling a "Life of Lincoln." Six months later he widened his field of operations, selling jewelry, silverware and cigars, in which he continued successfully until 1875. During the previous year he had bought the hotel at Pawling, known as "Trav- elers' Home," which he had been carrying on in connection with his other business, and on leaving the road he gave his attention to its management. For two years he conducted a jewelry store also. In ISSo he engaged in the business of shipping ice to New York City, and after the sale of the hotel to Frank Lee, in 1881, he carried on the retail ice business un- til 1896, when he sold out and began contract- ing to do various kinds of work, chiefly the transplanting of trees. In this he is remarka- bly successful, having moved shade trees which were fifty feet high and fifteen iches in diameter.

On August 22, 1870, Mr. Norton was mar- ried to Miss Siche Doughty, daughter of Peter D. and Emma Doughty, prominent residents of Beekman, and he has a pleasant home in Pawling, his present residence, built in 1881, being one of the finest in the village. Aside from his business activities, in which his success has won for him a high reputation for good judgment, Mr. Norton is interested in all movements of public importance, and was among the leading promoters of the plans for the incorporation of the village and the con- struction of the water works. In politics he is active and influential, giving his support to the Republican party, and he has held all offices except those of supervisor and deputy

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sheriff, and for eleven years he has been justice of the peace. Although often urged to become a candidate for supervisor, he has declined. For twenty-five years he has been chairman of the town committee, and for three years chair- man of the Assembly committee of the First District, and for a quarter of a century he has attended every Assembly convention but one, and most of the county conventions. He has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for twenty- one years, and is now an active worker in Lodge No. 173, Patterson. At one time he held the office of noble grand, and he has passed the chair fifteen times.

D W. WILBUR, one of the able and ener- getic business men of Red Hook, Dutchess county, who have made that charming village a thriving commercial point, is descended from one of the oldest families of Dutchess county,

His great-great-grandfather. Jeptha Wilbur, was one of the earliest settlers of the Nine Part- ners Patent in that county. He had a son Jep- tha (2), who had a son Samuel, born in March, 1782, who married Elizabeth Hicks, whose birth occurred in 1786. Samuel Wilbur died at the age of forty-five, but his wife attained the ripe old age of ninety-five. They reared a fam- ily of five sons and three daughters, and three of the number are still living. One of the sons, Jeptha S. Wilbur, our subject's father, was born in the town of Pine Plains, October 29, 1818. He married Miss Mary J. Story, and made his home in his native township, where D. W. Wilbur was born January 18, 1857. The schools of that locality furnished our subject an opportunity for securing the rudiments of knowledge, and he afterward took a course of study in the De Garmo Institute, Rhinebeck. On his return home he assisted in the develop- ment and cultivation of the farm, until he reached the age of twenty-five, when he removed to Red Hook and entered into the coal and lumber business with his father-in-law, H. H. Conklin, under the firm name of H. H. Conk- lin & Co., which was continued until the death of the senior partner, August 1, 1883. Since that time Mr. Wilbur has conducted the busi- ness as the sole owner. In addition to this, he is also engaged in the coal trade in Poughkeep- sie under the firm name of Wilbur Bros; is president of the Kaal Rock Chair Co., of Pough- keepsie, and secretary and treasurer of the Red Hook Telephone Company.

On November 17, 1881, our subject was married to Miss Mary G. Conklin, a daughter of Henry H. and Ann Eliza (Gifford) Conklin. Her birth occurred in Red Hook, April 7, 1857, and she received her elementary schooling there, afterward supplementing it with a course in the De Garmo Institute, Rhinebeck, from which she was graduated in 1875. For several years prior to her marriage Mrs. Wilbur was a teacher in the public school of Red Hook, and was very successful in her professional work. Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur have no children. Their home is pleasantly located on South Broadway, Red Hook, where their many friends enjoy their hospitality.

The Wilburs from the carliest in the line down to the present time have been enter- prising and industrious citizens, leaving a re- cord of which the coming generation may justly be proud.

C LEMENT CARRINGTON GAINES, pres- ident of Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess .county, and of the New York Business College, New York City, is one of the noted educators of the State, and indeed, we may say of the country, the high reputation of the institutions under his care bringing students from all parts of the Union, and also from foreign lands.

He is a native of Virginia, and enjoyed the best educational opportunities afforded by the schools of that State. After graduating from Hampden Sidney College, Virginia, he began his professional career at eighteen years of age as a teacher in the Fincastle (Va.) High School, and his time during the next seven years was divided between teaching in Virginia and Ken- tucky, studying in a law office, and at the Uni- versity of Virginia, with finally a business course in Eastman Business College. At both these institutions he was duly graduated, and in 1883 he went to Chicago, was admitted to the bar, and entered upon the practice of law. In the following year a position upon the Fac- ulty of Eastman Business College was offered him, and as the profession of teaching had al- ways seemed to him to be of the highest value and importance, he accepted. Since his mar- riage, in October, 1884, to the widow of H. G. Eastman, he has been the head of the institu- tion. Under his management the interests of the college have been ably cared for, the stan-

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dard of scholarship having been raised in all departments, and the range of usefulness ex- tended. In 1895 there were students enrolled from thirty-eight States and Territories and eleven foreign countries, making a favorable comparison in point of wide-spread popularity in its special lines with that enjoyed by the most famous of institutions of the higher edu- cation in the country. Such a marked degree of success could not have been attained with- out an adequate cause, and this is found in the original and practical features of the East- man system; faithful and well-directed work in the class room; and the sincere and ener- getic efforts made to secure desirable employ- ment for every worthy pupil. In this feature of his work the excellent character of instruc- tion offered is of great assistance, as business men in search of competent assistants have already proved beyond a doubt the worth of the practical training given in this school.

In December, 1892, Mr. Gaines opened the New York Business College, at No. SI East 125th street, New York, N. Y. Less than a dozen students were in attendance at the start, but each succeeding year has more than doubled the enrollment, and in October, 1895, there were so many applications that more space and an enlarged corps of teachers became necessary. Both day and night ses- sions are held, and students of either sex may enter at any time, selecting whatever branches they may prefer, both in the strictly business courses and in the line of general culture.

Mr. Gaines is a descendant of several of the earliest Virginia families, One of his an- cestors was one of the first governors of the Colony; two others were members of the House of Burgesses in Colonial times, representing Charlotte county, Virginia, who were among the supporters of Patrick Henry in his heroic efforts in the cause of independence. The family still own extensive plantations, and are prominent in their locality; but like the ma- jority of the Southern people they suffered financially from the Civil war.

Although Mr. Gaines belongs to several clubs and organizations of a social and literary nature, he finds but little time for society, and his business cares have prevented him likewise from entering the political arena. He has, however, served as a member of the board of education of Poughkeepsie, and has been a member of the executive committee of the Board of Trade of that city; while his hearty

co-operation and encouragement are always given to any movement which in his opinion will promote the public welfare.

J JOHN WILLIAMS, a leading hardware merchant of Dover Plains, Dutchess coun- ty, has been for many years prominently identified with the best interests of that town, and has encouraged by his active and efficient aid many of the most important progressive movements in his locality. He is of English birth, and on his mother's side is descended from an old Lancashire family.

Robert Samulshaw, his great-grandfather, was born in that county in 1758, and after re- ceiving an education in the schools of his na- tive place learned the tailor's trade, which he followed throughout his later years. He also owned and cultivated a farm there. Among his eleven children was a son, William, our subject's grandfather, who learned the tailor's trade with his father, and after working at it in his native town for some time removed to Liverpool, England, and established a custom- tailoring business, which proved very success- ful. His wife's name is not known, but they also had eleven children. A daughter, Mary, our subject's mother, was born in Wigan, Lancashire, and was educated there. She married William Williams, a native of Llan- gollen, Wales, who at the time of their mar- riage owned a large bakery in Liverpool. Nine children were born to them: Robert, who died in his youth; William, who married Addie Delaverne; John, our subject; Jane (Mrs. John Lewis); Ellen (Mrs. Andrew John- ston); Mary, who married (first) George Rey- nolds, and (second) Mr. Scott; Elizabeth, the wife of William Frost; Susanna, who died at the age of nine years; and one that died in infancy.

The subject of our sketch was born in Liverpool in 1836, received a good education in the schools of that city, and learned the art of brass finishing there. In 1858 he came to America, locating for a time in Amenia, Dutch- ess county, where he learned the tinsmith's trade. While there he married Miss Martha Harrocks, daughter of Robert and Ellen Frost Harrocks. She was born and reared in Bury, England, where her father was a well-known merchant. In 1872 Mr. Williams established his present hardware store and tinshop at Dover Plains, of which he has made a success

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from the first. His wife passed from earth in 1891, leaving two daughters: Hattie S., the wife of Frank H. Brant, and Mary E., who is at home.

The family is prominent, socially, and our subject's fine bass voice is highly appreciated among the best people of Dover Plains. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and in its choir makes worthy use of his musical gifts. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, No. 666, of Dover Plains, and has always taken great interest in public affairs, local and national. Possessing the courage of his convictions, he is an outspoken Democrat, and he has been chosen by his fellow townsmen to several official positions. He was inspector of elections for a number of years, and on one occasion his honesty, courage, and persistence saved his party from being " counted out."

J OHN DUTCHER, one of the most trusted employes of the Harlem railroad, upon which he has run an engine for over twenty years, is an honored veteran of the Civil war, having been one of the first to join the forces for the defense of the Union, and one of the last to leave the service at the close of the struggle. He was born in Dover Plains, Dutch- ess county, July 16, 1841, and his parents, John and Catherine (Elliot ) Dutcher, were both natives of the town of Dover, Dutchess county. On the material side he is of Eng- lish descent, his great-great-grandfather, Sam- uel Elliot, having been born in the city of Lon- don early in the eighteenth century. The Elli- ots of that day were engaged in commerce, owning a fleet of sailing vessels, and this an- cestor came to America as a young man, be- came a merchant and settled in Dutchess coun- ty, marrying, and rearing a family, among whom was a son, Samuel, our subject's great-grand- father. He was born in the town of Dover in 1740, and spent his life there quietly in agri- cultural pursuits. He married Catherine Gil- let, of Norwalk, Conn., and had six children: Richard, who never married: Jonathan, who died in infancy; Anna (Mrs. Morrey); Eliza- beth (Mrs. Neilson); Sarah (Mrs. Ward); and Samuel, our subject's grandfather, who was born and reared at the old homestead in the town of Dover, and followed farming. His wife was Miss Delia Dart, the daughter of a prominent farmer of Dover, and they had five children, all of whom lived to maturity and

married: Enos married Miss Mary Brown; Charles, Miss Calista Chamberlain; Juda, Sherman Mallory; Samuel, Miss Gibbs; and Catherine (our subject's mother), who was born in 1817. Our subject's father, John Dutcher, was a son of Cornelius Dutcher, a leading agri- culturist of the town of Dover, and his wife Ruth. Of the seven children, all but one lived to adult age. (1) Ruth married John Proper, of Hudson, and has had four children: Samuel, who died when about twenty-four years of age; Alfred, who married Nellie Blood; Jennie, the wife of Walter Davis; and Frank, who married Elizabeth McGarry. (2) Amelia never mar- ried. (3) Mercy married John Cameron. (4) Jennie married William J. White, and has two children - Mary Ella and Catherine C. (5) John is the subject of this sketch. (6) Enos married (first) Estella Brewer, who died, leav- ing one daughter, Bertha, and he then formed a second matrimonial union, this time with Mrs. Sophia Sailor. (7) Vaness died at the age of four years. John Dutcher, the father, died in 1856.

The subject of this sketch has spent the greater part of his life at his native place, re- ceiving his education there and later engaging in farming. After three years at that occupa- tion he enlisted, in August, 1861, in Company C, 72d N. Y. V. 1., and took part in cam- paigns under McClellan, Halleck, Burnside, Grant and others. He was in the engage- ments at Williamsburg, and Yorktown, the second battle of Bull Run, the seven-days' fight at Richmond, and the retreat to Harrison Landing-in fact, his regiment was engaged in fighting all of the time. When Halleck took command the regiment was sent to Mine Run, then to Spottsylvania, then back to Chancellorsville, and participated in the bat - tles at Fredericksburg, under Burnsides, and at Spottsylvania C. H., under Grant. While at that place Mr. Dutcher was taken prisoner, and remained a prisoner of war five months, being confined the greater part of this time at Andersonville, Ga., and on his release rejoined the army. At the close of the war he was sent west as member of the 5th Regiment U. S. V., and was mustered out at Fort Kearney, Kans., in 1865. Fortunately he passed through all the dangers of those trying years without serious injury, having been wounded but once, and that slightly, by a piece of shell. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant.

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On his return from the army Mr. Dutcher went to New York City to take a position on the police force, which he held five years. He then resigned and came back to his native place, entering the employ of the Harlem Railroad Company, with which he has now been connected about a quarter of a century, working first as .brakeman and fireman, and since 1875 as engineer. He is now in charge of an engine on a passenger train, and stands high in the confidence of his employers and the public. He belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, the Masonic Lodge of Dover, No.666, and to the Independent Or- der of Good Templars, Dover Lodge. Al- though his tastes are domestic, and he appre- ciates the repose of home life, he has never married.

G EORGE ROGER, the able and popular postmaster at Millerton, Dutchess county, and one of the most prominent of the younger men of the town, was born August 29, 1855, in Kirkmichael, Scotland, which has been the home of his family for many generations. His grandfather, William Roger, was a miller there, and was killed in a mill in the year 1822, leaving his wife, Mary Hunter (who survived until 1862), and three children- Mary, Jane and David, our subject's father.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 120

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