Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 121

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

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David Roger was born in 1810, and for about thirty years was a gardener in the em- ploy of the Ferguson family, being head gar- dener for some time previous to his coming to America, in 1873. He married Janet Bone, daughter of Quintin Bone, of Paisley, and had eleven children: William and Quintin (both deceased); Janet (Mrs. William Allen); Mary (Mrs. Thomas Moore); Agnes (Mrs. John Dempey); John, a gardener at Spencer's Cor- ners; James and David (twins), the former of whom is the depot agent at Rosslyn Castle, Scotland, the latter being now a clerk in the Colonial Bank, at Dunedin, New Zealand; Robert, a gardener at Millerton; Marian, the wife of Freeman Traver; and George, the sub- ject of this sketch. After coming to this coun- try David Roger and his wife made their home with their sons, John and Robert, and he was was not regularly engaged in any work. He died in 1892, followed a year later by his wife. Both were devout Presbyterians, and their children all adhere to the same faith.

George Roger received a good education in the schools of his native land, and taught as a pupil teacher for one year, but finding the occupation injurious to his health he en- gaged work in a railroad office for a short time. He accompanied his parents to this country, and his first employment here was as bookkeeper for C. S. Maltby, he and Mr. Manning entering his service in the same year, 1873. Mr. Roger resigned after two years, but in 1880 returned to the firm, retaining his position until 1893. In 1894 he was appointed postmaster by President Cleveland for the term of four years, and his efficient management of the office has won the praise of all classes. He has also held the office of excise commis- sioner, and he is a prominent worker in the Democratic organization of his locality. It is not often that a stranger can so quickly gain the confidence of an entire community, but Mr. Roger's character and abilities are of a sort to command esteem.

He was married, in 1882, to Miss Mary I. E. Ward, daughter of Alfred Ward, of Dur- ham, England, and they have five children: Isabel, Janet, Marion, David and Margaret. Mr. Roger attends the Presbyterian Church, and is a member of Webatuck Lodge No. 480, F. & A. M. (in which he has been master for two years), and of Poughkeepsie Chapter; he also belongs to Millerton Lodge No. 383, 1. O. O. F., and is now noble grand in that body.

C AMPBELL N. HICKS, a well-known busi- ness man of Red Hook, Dutchess county, and proprietor of a livery stable there, was born September 10, 1855, in the town of Stan- ford. His father, Eli Hicks, was a native of Clermont, Columbia county, married Miss Margaret A. Waters, of Binghamton, Broome county, and reared a family of nine children. The subject of our sketch received his educa- tion in Brooklyn, N. Y., and after completing his course learned the butcher's trade. He then engaged in business for himself at Red Hook, in partnership with George Cramer, to whom he sold his interest two and a half years later. Since that time he has conducted a stage and livery business, and holds the con- tract for carrying the U. S. mail.

On October 28, 1874, he was married to Miss Mary E. Hutton, a daughter of Jacob and

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Lydia Hutton, prominent residents of Red Hook. Two children were born of this union: Byron N., December 2, 1876, and Margaret B., June 9, 1882. Mr. Hicks takes an active part in local affairs, and has been overseer of the poor for one terin, and town clerk for two terms, discharging his duties with the faithful- ness which has characterized him in every line of effort. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., Christian Lodge No. 379, of Red Hook, in which he is past grand, and of Shiloh Encamp- ment No. 68, holding the office of chief pa- triarch.

S SAMUEL HOLMES BROWN, a promi- nent citizen of Poughkeepsie, and one of the leading members of the Dutchess County Bar, is a descendant of a well-known family which has been identified with this section for more than a century.

Noah Brown, his great-grandfather, who was of Scotch ancestry, had his early home at Johnstown, N. Y. He married Lois Mills, September 20, 1783, the two starting upon their united career with but little capital ex- cept their health, their strong common sense and industrious habits. Not long after their marriage they moved to Dutchess county and settled upon a tract of land at or near the Square, about two miles northwest of Amenia City, and there Mr. Brown conducted a farm, a hotel and a tannery. They prospered as they deserved, and in 1817 they purchased a fine farm two miles south of the site of the present village of Millerton, a part of what is known as the Edgar Clark farm. Mr. Brown's well-proved abilities were devoted mainly to his business affairs, and he never, in any sense, took a position which would call him from his family, yet he felt a keen interest in public affairs, and filled several local offices with credit to himself and satisfaction to the pub- lic. After the towns of Amenia and Northeast were divided, he was elected, April 1, 1823, to act as one of the first assessors of the latter. He served in the 6th Regular Dutchess County Militia, of Charlotte Precinct, under Col. Ros- well Hopkins and Capt. Waters. His death occurred May 11, 1841, when he was seventy- eight years old, and that of his wife October 3, 1849, when she was aged eighty-six; their final resting place is in the family lot in Spen- cer's Corner burying yard, north of Millerton, N. Y They had six children, whose names i for himself and family.

with dates of birth and death are here given: Noan M., June, 1784-June 22, 1822; Sam- uel, April 20, 1785-January 5, 1870; Sally, May 21, 1787-February 13, 1876; Betsey, October 28, 1791-May 19, 1888; George, February 16, 1794-October 18, 1878; Har- riet, March 29, 1800-June 24, 1876.

Samuel Brown, our subject's grandfather, was a man of far more than the average ability and foresight, and while conducting several farms carried on successfully a number of busi- ness enterprises, including a tannery. Among some of the farms owned by him is what is known as the "Halstead farm", near Mt. Riga Station, the " David Eggleston farm ", situated between Millerton and Boston Cor- ners, the " Hopkins farm", situated between Millerton and Salisbury, and the " Rudd farm", at the head of Rudd pond. Although he was judiciously economical in his management of his private affairs, he was ready to respond liberally to any public need, and showed in inany ways a hearty sympathy with the inter- est of his fellows. In 1828 he was one of a building committee to erect the " New Baptist church " at Spencer's Corner, which was dedi- cated the following year, and was used until 1866, when the congregation decided to estab- lish a place of worship at Millerton. Samuel Brown's wife, Sally (Clark), whom he wedded February 20, 1813, was a daughter of Ezra Clark, a prosperous farmer near Millerton, who came from Lisbon, Conn., about the time of the Revolution. She died July 18, 1859, aged seventy-one years, five months, nine days. Their children were as follows: Mary, born February 20, 1815, died April 16, 1875; Milan, born July 22, 1816, now living; Milton, born September 26, 1818, died April 9, 1881; and Douglas Clark, born July 23, 1822, died March 19, 1871.

Milton Brown, our subject's father, became a successful agriculturist at the " Hopkins farm", already referred to. He, in appear- ance, favored the mother's side of the family. In looks he reminded one much of Hon. Will- iam M. Evarts, and there is no question in the mind of any one who knew him well that he was a man of marked ability and business courage and capacity. He was not only a farmer, but branched out into other enter- prises. He had the full confidence of all who knew him, and his advice was sought by many. His careful methods brought him a competency For his first wife he

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married Selina H. Wheeler, daughter of Milton Wheeler, a prosperous farmer. This marriage was blessed with one child, Mary E., who was born July 14, 1845. Selina H. died March 30, 1848. In September 14, 1864, Mary E. mar- ried William H. Hart, a dentist, who prac- ticed his profession at that time at Millerton, but afterward moved to Hudson, N. Y., where she died March 30, 1868. She left her sur- viving one child, Clarence, who died July 29, 1877. On November 21, 1849, Milton Brown married Miss Phoebe Holmes, daughter of Reuben Holmes, a prosperous farmer of Mt. Pleasant, near Millerton, N. Y. They had one son, Samuel Holmes.

The subject of this sketch was born and reared on the .. Hopkins farm ", helped in the farm work and attended the local schools dur- ing his early boyhood. As he grew older he was given better educational advantages at Amenia Seminary, Cazenovia Seminary, the Troy Business College and the Albany State Normal School; but before entering the latter institution he clerked for a short period in a store at Millerton, and was employed as a bookkeeper in a wholesale flourmill at Water- ford, N. Y. On leaving the Normal School, in 1876, he went to Newark, N. J. , and taught for a year and a half in a business college, meantime preparing himself for the position of a court stenographer. That calling he fol- lowed successfully for some time; but in that as in all his other enterprises he was actuated by the hope of finally entering the legal pro- fession. His father had always discouraged the idea, hoping that he would settle down on the old homestead. In 1881 Mr. Brown be- gan the study of law with Hon. Milton A. Fowler, of Poughkeepsie, and September 14, 1883, he was duly admitted to the bar. He immediately established himself in practice at Poughkeepsie, with a branch office at Miller- ton, and he soon attained prominence in his chosen work, much important litigation-civil and criminal-passing through his hands.

Mr. Brown is an able business man, and has been engaged in several enterprises, nota- bly the Millerton National Bank, the stock of which he was one of the first to subscribe for, and of whose board of directors he was a mem- ber. Later he was made a director of the Farmers' and Manufacturers' National Bank of Poughkeepsie. He was also one of the organ- izers of the Hallock & Duryee Fertilizer Co., of Mattituck, L. I., and of several other cor-

porations. At his father's death, in 1881, he succeeded to the homestead, and he afterward acquired the " George R. Winchell farm " and the "John D. Kerley farm " adjoining. Until 1 890 he was extensively engaged in raising live stock, and dairying; but he has since disposed of all his farms, and now gives his entire time to his profession.

On October 30, 1877, Mr. Brown married Clara Lefferts Duryee, daughter of John Wyckoff Duryee, and his wife, Elizabeth T. (Verity), who resided near Mattituck, L. I., and were formerly of New Utrecht, N. Y. ; both descended from old families of Long Island, the Duryees being descendants of the famous Huguenot family who arrived in this country in 1675. For some time after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Brown lived at Newark, N. J., and on the homestead near Millerton; but in the fall of 1887, they, with Mr. Brown's mother, moved to Poughkeepsie, where they now reside. In politics, Mr. Brown is a Re- publican, and he has been a member of the board of supervisors of Dutchess county for several years. In 1893 he was the president of the Lincoln Republican League Club of Poughkeepsie. In 1894 he was the first choice of a large number of delegates to the Republi- can County Convention, for the office of Dis- trict Attorney of his county. In the fall of 1896, the Republican party of the city of Poughkeepsie got into a bitter factional fight over local matter, and a strife between lead- ers. It was not only carried into primaries and conventions, but was also carried on up to and including election day. Mr. Brown devoted much time to this matter, and it is generally conceded that it was owing much to his efforts that the Republican city ticket was saved from defeat. He is also regarded as an able, instructive, interesting, and amusing political speaker, and he has done much for his party in that direction.

In the summer of 1896, in company with his wife, he spent his vacation in traveling ex- tensively in Europe. His letters to the pub- lic press received much favorable comment, and showed him to be a keen observer and possessed of the rare faculty, as a writer, of being able to give a graphic idea of what he saw in a very few words-painting a picture with a very few lines. His genial manner, industry and strong common sense have sur- rounded him with many friends, clients and well wishers.

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J JAMES FINCH, an enterprising and success- ful merchant of Millerton, Dutchess county, has shown in his conquest of unfavorable circumstances in early life all those admirable qualities of courage and perseverance which mark the self-made business man.

Caleb Finch, grandfather of our subject, was descended from one of four brothers of the name, who came to America from England some time in the eighteenth century. He set- tled in the town of Ancram, Columbia Co., N. Y., and followed blacksmithing there dur- ing the rest of his life. He was the father of six children, all of whom lived to adult age, namely: John, Ebenezer, James, Betsey (Mrs. Amos Bryan), Alma (Mrs. Ambrose Gray), and Laura (Mrs. William Van Alstine).

James Finch, our subject's father, was born in the town of Ancram, Columbia county, on July 14, 1789, and after the death of their father, he and his brother, John, owned and farmed the old homestead together. Possessed of good natural ability, he held a prominent place in the community. He married Almira Card, who was born in Ancram on October 23, 1791, the daughter of Stephen Card, who was of English origin. Six children were born of this marriage, as follows: Betsey, Septem- ber 27, 1812, married Eli Collins; Bryan, April 23, 1814, married Mary Thorne, daugh- ter of Richard Thorne, and settled in Tomp- kins county, where he died, leaving three chil- dren; Caleb, November 13, 1816, located in Tompkins county, where he died in 1852; Sally, January 5, 1819, married Smith Stew- art: Elisha, March 21, 1823, died at the age of fourteen; and James, our subject. The fa- ther of this family died in the latter part of 1827, and his widow married William Tanner. She died July 6, 1844.

The subject of our sketch was born at the old Finch homestead April 8, 1827, and at- tended the district schools at Pulver's Corners, receiving a good English education. He re- mained at home with his step-father until the age of twenty-two, being employed for one year, and then worked upon the farm of his brother-in-law, Eli Collins, for two years. In 1853 he went to Dryden, N. Y., and learned the details of the manufacture of fanning mills, working at the trade for two years and a half. Returning to Mr. Collins' farm, he worked there for a time, and later found employment in the Bryant Fanning Mill shop. In the fall of 1857 he began clerking, first for Herman W. Pulver,

at Pulver's Corners, and then for Harrison Jones, at Millerton, but his brother-in-law dy- ing in 1861, he was engaged for one year in looking after his sister's business interests. On March 28, 1863, he entered the general store of E. W. Simmons & Co., as clerk, the firm consisting of Mr. Simmons, J. M. Bene- dict and S. N. Jenks. He continued until 1877, when the firm failed, and as he had not drawn his wages for some time, he took the business in payment, In spite of this some- what inauspicious beginning, he made a suc- cess of the venture, and has given the busi- ness a much larger scope than it formerly had, adding to the stock a large line of furniture. It is now one of the largest houses in its line in the northeastern part of the county. On Monday night, August 2, 1880, his store was broken open by three burglars, who bound and gagged Mr. Finch, and compelled him to go thus to his office and open his safe, from which they took about $1, 300.00. This was an ex- perience which but few men could undergo with the courage and " pluck " shown by Mr. Finch.

In politics he is a Republican, and has al- ways taken a great interest in the success of his party. He has been town clerk for two terms, and is one of the most earnest advo- cates of improvement in local affairs.

V ALENTINE RICKES, one of the leading mechanics of Dutchess county, now en- gaged in blacksmithing at Millbrook, town of Washington, was born November 3, 1836, in Hegenheim, Germany, a son of Valentine, Sr., and Anna Mary (Carch) Rickes, both natives of Germany.

Valentine Rickes, Sr., was born in 1800, and spent his entire life in Germany, engaged in the hotel business, and also as owner of a bakery, when enjoying the privileges of a civilian; in times of trouble, however, he was a sharpshooter in the German ariny. He married Anna Mary Carch, one of the three children of Christian Carch, a native of Ger- many, born about 1766. To Mr and Mrs. Rickes, Sr., were born twelve children-ten boys and two girls-who grew to maturity. Four of the ten boys were college graduates, and three of the ten came to America. The father of this family died in 1867; the mother is still living.

Valentine Rickes, the subject proper of

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this sketch, spent his boyhood in Germany, and until the age of fourteen attended the excel- lent public schools of that country. For two years he served an apprenticeship at the black- smith trade, under Peter Schryver, learning all the details and mastering the art of making horse shoes in the finest style. Having com- pleted his trade at the age of sixteen, he came to America, in company with his brother Frank, and settled in Connecticut, where for two years he followed his trade. In 1854 or 55. he removed to Mechanic, Dutchess coun- ty, and here for four years was heard the busy sound of his hammer and anvil. On February 7. 1858, he was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Butler (an account of whose ancestry will be found in the sketch of her brother, Ed- mond Butler), a native of County Waterford, Ireland, born May 25. 1841. At the age of twelve years she was brought to this country by her mother, who returned to Ireland and there died, leaving her little daughter Ellen in the care of her brother Edmond. After at- tending the public schools of the town of Washington for a couple of years, she cared for herself until her marriage with Mr. Rickes, to whom she has been a devoted helpmeet. After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Rickes re- mained at Mechanic for a year, then for two years they resided at Rhinebeck, at the end of which time our subject temporarily laid aside the cares of business, and visited the old home in the Fatherland, where still resided his fa- ther, and several of his brothers and sisters. Truly a happy reunion after eleven years of absence. On his return from Germany, he and his wife again settled in Mechanic, re- maining three years, then coming to Millbrook, where he followed his trade for four years.

At this time Mr. Rickes purchased 125 acres of fine land in the town of Unionvale, and for seventeen years carried on farming: wearying of this, he again returned to Mill- brook, and for one year followed his trade, while his wife carried on the farm. They purchased a pleasant location in Millbrook, and erected a neat. Gothic house, also a commodious and well-arranged carriage house, and are now enjoying life on the fruits of their early toil. Mr. Rickes still carries on his business with the assistance of two men. To Mr. and Mrs. Rickes were born three chil- dren: (1 Edward, who for nine years has been in the employ of Swift & Co., at Kansas City, and is now their hog buyer; he married

Miss Mamie Hopson, daughter of Dr. Hopson, of Kansas City. (2) Charles, who is now farming the old homestead in the town of Unionvale: he married Miss Mamie Cutler, of that town, and has one child_Valentine. (3) Anna Mary, the only daughter, who married Cassius M. Couch, of Poughquag, and has three children - Bessie, Edmond and Ellen Stack.

Mr. Rickes was the first man to open busi- ness in what is now Millbrook. He purchased the ground on which the Catholic Church and parsonage now stands, and also the ground on which is located the present Catholic ceme- tery. The ground was bought for $600 per acre. On this he erected a large blacksmith, wagon and paint shop, and also the parsonage which is now occupied by Rev. Father Burns. The lumber used in these buildings was hauled by team from Poughkeepsie, and there was but one other building on the present site of Millbrook. Mr. Rickes has ever been one of the active, energetic men of the community. and is highly respected for his many manly qualities. In politics he is a Republican, and he is a member of the Roman Catholic Church.

J JOHN CAMPBELL. The family name of the subject of this sketch was identified for many years with some of the leading inter- ests of the town of Northeast, Dutchess coun- ty, and has become associated with the qualities which win success. The first American ances- tor came from Scotland at an early date, and enlisted and served in the Revolutionary war. Robert Campbell, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in 1776, and settled in the town of Mt. Washington, Berkshire Co., Mass. He possessed excellent natural abilities and much · public spirit, and became quite prominent in local affairs. He died in 1853; his wife, Hul- dah Noble, departed this life in 1841. They had eight children: Harriet, Stanton A., Anna ( wife of Simion Pollard , Robert, Almira (wife of William Vosburgh), Huldah ( wife of Gilbert Race), John, and Susan (wife of Jason Lamson).

John Campbell, Sr., our subject's father, was born at the old home in Mt. Washington, June 5, 1811, and his educational opportunities were limited to an irregular attendance at the schools of that time, as he was obliged to go to work at an early age. He was ambitious, however, and possessed more than ordinary

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ability and energy, and after a hard day's toil as a collier, or at chopping wood, he would spend his evenings in study. In this way he prepared himself for teaching, and in early manhood he followed this occupation success- fully for a number of winters. In 1849 he be- came superintendent of the works of the Salis- bury Iron Co., at Mt. Riga, Dutchess county, having acquired an interest in the business. He continued this work for nearly ten years, in the meantime securing the entire control of the stock, and in 1864 he sold the property for $42, 500 to William H. Barnum, of Con- necticut, who was chairman of the National Democratic Committee at the time of Cleve- land's first election. In his later years Mr. Campbell engaged in manufacturing Salisbury pig iron, and farming. He was a man of re- markably keen perceptions and sound business judgment, and at his death, which occurred in 1866, his estate was inventoried at $250,000, although only $180,000 was realized. In his early years he was a Whig. later a Republican, but he was never active in party work. He was prominent, however, in many public move- ments which had no partisan bias, helping dur- ing the war to raise the quota of men from his locality. In 1862 he was elected supervisor of the town of Northeast, without opposition, having been nominated by both parties. A shrewd judge of human nature, he easily made friends, whom his sterling qualities of character retained. He was a member of the Methodist Church, and was not a strict sectarian, being broad and liberal in his views. He was mar- ried June 27, 1835, at Pine Plains, to Miss Eliza Van Dusen, a descendant of an old Hol- land-Dutch family, and a daughter of James N. Van Dusen, a farmer of Taghkanic, Colum- bia county. He had eight children, whose names, with dates of birth, are as follows:

C HARLES W. WRIGHT. Among the young and energetic business men of Dutchess county, none stands higher than the subject of this personal history. who is a well-known general merchant of Clinton Cor-

ners. His birth occurred in the town of Stan- ford, Dutchess county, on March 1, 1866, and he belongs to an old and honored family of the county-his grandfather, Isaac Wright, having been born in the same town.

The father, James Harvey Wright, was born in that town in 1819, where he attended the district schools, and was also a student in the Jacob Willets school, in the town of Wash- ington. In his native town he wedded Mary Ann Humphrey, a daughter of William D. Humphrey, and they became the parents of six children: John H .; Clara, wife of F. M. Talmadge, of Yonkers, N. Y .; Isaac, de- ceased; Charles W .; Ira; and Nettie, who died in infancy. The entire married life of the father has been passed upon his farm at Bangall, in the town of Stanford, for which he went greatly in debt, as on starting in life he had very little capital besides a pair of willing hands and a determination to make a success of his business undertakings. Since quite young he has been an active member of the Baptist Church, and is a sincere and earnest Christian. He has never taken any prominent part in political affairs, but does all in his power to promote the welfare of his town and county.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 121

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