Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 123

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

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A stanch Republican in political faith, Mr. Sweet has taken an active part in local mat- ters wherever he has lived, and has been town clerk of Milan for two years, also a school trustee, and in the spring of 1894 he was elected supervisor of the town of Clinton, and is still serving as such, his term being from 1894 to 1898. He is a member of the F. & A. M., Warren Lodge No. 32, at Schultzville, having joined January 18, 1894.

W ILLIAM HALL, a well-known resident of Dover Plains, Dutchess county, was born in 1823. in Unionvale, Dutchess county, where his family has been prominent for many years. Mr. Hall received his early education there, and in the town of Washington, later learning the carpenter's trade, which he fol- lowed for nearly forty-five years. He was also engaged at one time in mercantile busi- ness at Dover Furnace, and was postmaster there. A stanch Republican, he has always taken great interest in politics, and has held several town offices, including those of con- missioner and collector. In 1862 he enlisted in Company I, 150th N. Y. V. I., under Col. J. H. Ketcham, and took part in many im- portant engagements. His experience at Gettysburg was especially striking, as his division was instrumental in saving the day. Other battles were those of Dallas, Resaca, Culp's farm and Peach Tree Creek, and he also joined in Sherman's march to the sea. He was taken ill, and spent some time in a hospital; but he served until the close of the war. and was mustered out at Washington, D. C. In 1852 Mr. Hall married Miss Priscilla Cutter, a lady of excellent mental gifts and great force of character. Her parents, Calvin and Keziah Cutter, were prominent residents of the town of Dover. Four children were born of this union: Helen A., who died at the age of thirty years; Harriet A. , who died at twenty- five; Calvin, who resides in Dover Plains; and David, who died in infancy.

Calvin Hall, the only survivor of this fam- ily of children, was born in Dover Plains,

Dutchess county, March 12, 1857, and was educated in the schools of that place. He lost the use of his lower limbs through sick- ness, but about two years ago he established himself in business in his native place, and has met with well-deserved success. He and his mother bought the home in which they now reside.

The Hall family was known in Rhode Is- land at an early date, and William Hall, our subject's grandfather, came from that State to Dutchess county to locate in Unionvale, where he purchased a farm and spent the greater portion of his life. He married Miss Vale, of that town, and reared a family of nine children : John, Israel, William and Isaac are mentioned below; Gedding and Benjamin never married; Katie was the wife of Mr. Duncan; Ruth mar- ried Mr. Deyo; and Abbie married Isaac Titus. John Hall was a farmer by occupation, and married Miss Mary Waite, by whom he had children, as follows: Lavine (Mrs. Smith Titus), Kittie (Mrs. Haws), Rebecca. Helen Mrs. Joe Benson), Ruth, Abbie, Phobe (who died at an early age), S. Emily, Pelina, Platt, John J., and Fred D). Israel Hall was also a farmer. He married Miss Katie Albrow, and had children as follows: Leonard married (first) Miss Lawson, and (second) Miss Hurd; Draper married Miss Strong; Rutser married a lady of the same name; Richard married Miss Vale: Amy remained single; Mary be- came the wife of Mr. Townsend; Helen mar- ried (first) Mr. Bowdish, and (second) Mr. Northrup; Margaret never married, and Ann married Mr. Wheeler. A majority of the above are now living, at advanced ages and in different parts of the country. William Hall was a well-known teacher. He married Re- becca Waite, and had four children: Mary A., Joseph, George and William H.

Isaac Hall, our subject's father, was born at the old homestead at Unionvale in 1791, and was educated in that town, later engaging in farming. He married Miss Mary Rodgers, a daughter of William Rodgers, a leading farmer of the same locality, and his wife Eleanor. Eleven children were born of this marriage, of whom one died in infancy. (1) Abbie married Gilbert Rozell, and had nine children: Theo, Charles, De Witt, Silas, Richard, Rhoda, Jane, Mary and Lillie. (2) Daniel E., a carpenter by trade, married Jane Duncan, and has five children: Mary, Samuel, Esac, Kate, and Jane. (3) Cordelia, born in 1818, never mar-

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ried. (4) William is the subject of this sketch. (5) Eleanor married Leonard Davis. (6) Ange- line married David Tallman. (7) Lewis mar- ried Sarah Southwick. (S) Hannah married Isaac Palmer. (9) Joseph married Mary J. Duncan. (10) Phoebe married Robert Butts.

E BENEZER H. STURGES, a wide-awake and thorough-going business man of Dover, is a representative of the hardware trade of that place, and is also a tinsmith. He married Miss Adaline S. Cook, whose birth occurred at Saugerties, Ulster Co., N. Y., August 1, 1845, and they have become the parents of four children: (1) Edward H., born in Danbury, Conn., February 11, 1866, 'secured his education in the schools of Dover, and is now employed as ticket agent on the New York Central & Hudson River railroad. He married Miss Jennie Benson, daughter of Joshua Benson, of Dover Plains, Dutchess county. (2) Theodore, born in Dover, No- vember 24, 1867, was there educated and learned the tin and hardware business; is now located at West Cornwall, Conn., in the tin and hardware business. He married Miss Helen L. Cartwright, of that place, and they now have two children, Lawrence C. and Gertrude C. (3) Ida S., born at Dover, Oc- tober 31, 1869, was the wife of Frank Hoster, an employe of the Harlem Railroad Company at White Plains, and they had two children, Lillie M., who died in infancy; and Earl. Mrs. Hosmer departed this life July 14, 1894. (4) Lillie E., born at Dover, March 31, 1872, is the wife of Benjamin Hoag, son of Cornwell Hoag, of South Dover, Dutchess county, and now an employe in the condensed milk manu- factory at Brooklyn, N. Y. They have one child, Jerome E.

Edward Cook, the paternal grandfather of Mrs. Sturges, was a native of Somersetshire, England, where he received a common-school education, and there devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Ann Jones, and to them were born twelve children: Jane, Emma, William, Sylvester, Ann, James, Henry, Walter, Winter, Jessie, Solomon and Benjamin.

Benjamin Cook, the last named, was the father of Mrs. Sturges. He was born in Som- erset, England, April 11, 1810, and his educa- tional privileges were such as the schools of his native country afforded. At the age of

twenty years he crossed the Atlantic, locating first in Canada, but afterward made his home in Montgomery and Orange counties, N. Y., where he engaged in the butcher business and in farming. His political support was ever given the Republican party, but he never as- pired to public office. After coming to this country he was united in marriage with Miss Susan O. Booth, who was born at Hampton- burg, Orange Co., N. Y., September 9, 1813. Her grandfather, William Booth, was a native of the same county, where he followed farm- ing. He married Miss Lydia Booth, a cousin, and to them were born five children: George, who married a Miss Tuttle; Charles, who mar- ried Philadelphia Haines; Annie, who married David Haines; Mary, who remained single; and Sarah, who married William Conning. Charles Booth, the father of Mrs. Cook, was also born in Orange county, and was a farmer by occupation. He wedded Philadelphia Haines, a daughter of David and Temperance Haines, agriculturists of Orange county, and they became the parents of eight children: William, George and Temperance, who all died unmarried; Sarah, who first married a Mr. Vanansdoll, and after his death wedded a Mr. Doxie; Charles, who wedded Mary E. -; Jackson; Susan, who died in infancy; and Susan, the mother of Mrs. Sturges.

Eight children blessed the union of Ben- jamin Cook and Susan O. Booth: ( 1) George E., born July 15, 1835, at Flatlands, Long Island, where he secured his education, en- gaged in the drug business at Port Jervis, N. Y. He married Miss Catharine Bloomer, and they had six children-Willie, who died when a babe; Ida; James; Nellie, wife of John Lit- tle; George and Eva. (2) Susan, born on Long Island, January 11, 1837, was three times married, her first husband being Mr. Elliott, who survived his marriage only six months. By her second husband. a Mr. White, she had two children-Annie and Lula. After his death she married Mr. Connor, and to them was born a daughter- Catharine V. (3) James A., born on Long Island, Septem- ber 20, 1838, was a hatter by trade; he wed- ded Miss Mary Morse, of Massachusetts, by whom he had one child-Helen L. (4) Mary Ellen, born at Hunter, Greene county, June 28, 1841, never married. (5) Harvey H., born at Hunter, Greene county, June 20, 1843, was never married; he engaged in the hat business at Danbury, Conn. (6) Adaline S., wife of

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

our subject, is the next in order of birth. (7) William H., born May 23, 1848, at Saugerties, wedded Mary A. Parmer. 'S) Annie E., born October 26, 1850, at Saugerties, first married Edward H. Abbott, and after his death wed- ded Seth Sturges.

W ILLIAM J. DEDRICK, a well-known and highly respected resident of Ame- nia Union, Dutchess county, was born at Cox- sackie. Greene Co., N. Y., February 20, 1814. and is a son of John F. Dedrick, a native of the same county, while the birth of his pa- ternal grandfather occurred in Holland. The father prepared for the ministry of the Re- formed Dutch Church, of which he was a mem- ber. but, on account of an impediment in his speech, never engaged in preaching. He con- ducted a book store at Coxsackie throughout the greater part of his life. In politics he was a Federalist. He married Fannie Judson. whose death occurred November 7. 1831, at the age of forty-six years, and he did not long survive her, dying August 22, 1832, at the age of fifty-two years. In their family were seven children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: F. C., May 14. 1808; Jane A., October 25, 1809; Catherine, September 27. 1811; William J., February 20, 1814: T. S .. March 6, 1818; Harriet. April 1, 1820; and J. F., November 28, 1827.

At the age of twenty years our subject left Coxsackie, going to Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he began the study of dentistry with his brother- in-law, Dr. Buck, and continued to follow that profession until 1865, since which time he has engaged in handling pictures and frames. It was in 1841 that he removed to Amenia Union, where he has since resided.

At Cornwall, Conn., in February, 1848, Mr. Dedrick was united in marriage with Miss Mariette Bonney, daughter of Stephen and Anna 'Stone) Bonney. They have no chil- dren of their own, but adopted a daughter. Rosa Loper, who died in 1867, at the age of nineteen years.

Since the time that Horace Greeley ran for the Presidency, Mr. Dedrick has been a corre- spondent of the Amnenia Times. He was first a Whig in politics, electioneering in the Will- iam H. Harrison campaign for three months, and since the organization of the Republican party has been one of its most earnest advo-

cates, taking a prominent part in political affairs. On September 6, 1856, he received a license as local preacher in the Methodist Epis- copal Church, in which service he has since engaged, and is the oldest living member of the Church of that denomination at Amenia Union. In all the walks of life he takes as his guide the precepts of the scriptures, and is foremost in any movement for the religious advancement of the community. He was the originator and a prominent helper of the Ame- nia Union Lyceum during the eleven years of its existence, and for twenty-seven successive years he has been elected superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school.

J ONATHAN DICKINSON was born in Lin- colnshire, England, and educated in York- shire, from which county he came at an early age to the United States, and for a num- ber of years lived in Indiana, enduring all the rigors of pioneer life.

Leaving Indiana, Mr. Dickinson removed to New York City and became a commercial traveler for English hardware, of which line of business he made a success, and followed it for twelve years. In 1863 he took up his abode in Norfolk. Va., and was extensively engaged in furnishing the government with hardware, machinery, belting, building mate- rial, etc., by contract. At the close of the war he moved to Newark, N. J., where he carried on large manufacturing interests until the latter part of 1875, when he embarked in the real-estate business in Stanfordville, Dutch- ess Co., N. Y. In 1877 he came to Pough- keepsie, where he has continued to deal in real estate to the present day.

Notwithstanding the fact that the city and county have experienced some exceedingly de- pressing periods, Mr. Dickinson, by close ap- plication, continued to maintain such a steady business that he felt himself called upon to lo- cate where he now is-in the central portion of the city, and on the main street, where he would be easily accessible to his numerous pa- trons. He has successfully negotiated some of the largest transactions in real estate that have taken place for a number of years in Poughkeepsie. Mr. Dickinson believes that in a city of that size a man cannot deal in real estate, fire and life insurance, etc., and make a decided success of each ; consequently he has

JonathanDickinson.

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made the sale and exchange of real estate his specialty, to which fact his success in that line is probably due. [The foregoing is taken from the Souvenir Edition of The Eagle, issued in 1889.]

In 1856, in Westbury, L. I., Mr. Dickinson was united in marriage with Miss Anna Willis Smith, daughter of Samuel and Mary (Willis) Smith, one of the oldest families on Long Island. Thomas Willis, her grandfather, was a stanch Quaker, and at the division of the Hicksite and Regular Church, he was disowned by the body following Elias Hicks at Jericho, the home of Elias Hicks, and T. Willis, a minister, for over thirty years drove twice each week past the Jericho meeting-house, three miles farther to the Westbury meeting-house of Orthodox Friends, to worship. Thomas Willis was born and died on the farm that was deeded to his predecessors by the British Government. The English soldiers occupied the house during the Revolution, allowing the the family a few rooms, when they occupied Long Island.

The Dickinson family originated in York- shire, England, and were all Quakers from the middle of the seventeenth century. At the rise of Quakerism in the time of George Fox, John Dickinson came to America, and for a time preached, traveling from North Carolina to New England, whence he started to return to England, but the vessel he was on was lost, and he was never heard from again. The old Dickinson homestead in Yorkshire, England (still standing) is built of stone, and over the door is a plate bearing the family name " John Dickinson, 1736." The house is now occupied by Simeon Dickinson, a cousin of Mr. Dickinson. The grandfather of our subject lived and died in England, in the same house wherein he was born; he was a weaver by trade.

Jonathan Dickinson, father of our subject, and by occupation a merchant, in his native land married Alice Hunt, a lady of means and social standing in Lincolnshire, England. He died in 1840, at the age of fifty-three years, and after his death the widowed mother came to America, where she died in Indiana, in 1863, aged sixty-five years. She had thirteen chil- dren, of whom eight grew to maturity, and all came to America, our subject being the only one living in the East.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson have been born two children: Mary Alice, residing in

Poughkeepsie, and Jonathan, Jr., a graduate of Haverford College, and is B. A. and M. A., now teaching in Oakwood Seminary, Union Springs, New York.

M ILO FOLLETT WINCHESTER, one of the self-made men and influential citizens of Amenia, Dutchess county, com- menced to " paddle his own canoe " at an early age, and is now a well-to-do and success- ful merchant, whose property has been accu- mulated by his own perseverance and untiring labors.

Mr. Winchester was born in the town of Amenia, October 1, 1823, and is a grandson of Amariah Winchester, whose birth occurred at New London, Conn., February 13, 1753. The father of the latter was a native of Brook- line, Mass. The boyhood and youth of the grandfather were passed at New London, where he learned the hatter's trade, and on reaching man's estate he was married at Kent, Conn., to Mary Follett, who was born Decem- ber 4, 1759, and died June 9, 1832. In their family were seven children, all now deceased: Henry, Milo, David, Mary, Lucy, Myra and Betsy. During the Revolutionary war the grandfather was a faithful soldier of the Con- tinental army. It was in 1781 that he came to Dutchess county and purchased a farm at Hitchcocks Corners, in the town of Amenia, where his death occurred March 26, 1842. He engaged in the hatter's business until 1827, in connection with which he also carried on farming, and was one of the prominent men of the community.

Milo Winchester, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Amenia, November 30, 1788, and with his father learned the hat- ter's trade. On January 24, ISIO, he was married to Betsey Pray, who was born Octo- ber 7, 1791, and died January 13, 1872. In their family were five children, namely: Asa H., born October 26, 1810, died May 29, 1819; Julia M., born August 19, 1813, mar- ried Charles Wattles; Joanna, born June 21, 1816, married Seeley Brown, and died De- cember 28, 1866; Eliza, born December 23, 1819, married Amariah Hitchcock on Decem- ber 26, 1840, and died April 27, 1892; Abby, born December 22, 1821, first wedded L. P. Lockwood, and after his death Sidney Thomp- son, and died January 19, 1858; and Milo F., of this sketch, is the youngest. In 1830 the

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father removed to New York City, where he engaged in the grocery business until 1834, at which time he returned to Amenia Union, and bought a hotel, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying February 5, 1861. Frater- nally, he was connected with the Masonic Order at Amenia Union, and in politics was first a Whig and later a Republican.

The boyhood and youth of Milo Follett Win- chester were principally passed at Amenia Union, where he attended the district schools, and later pursued his studies in a select school on Seventh street, in New York City. He began his business life as a clerk in a store at Great Barrington, Mass., was next with Bowne & Trowbridge, of Poughkeepsie, N. Y., after which he clerked at Amenia Union, and subse- quently filled similar positions at Dover Plains, Dutchess county, and at Kent, Conn. In April, 1847, he purchased the store of Judah Swift, at South Amenia, which he has since successfully conducted, and has also efficiently served as postmaster since 1849. In the town of Washington, Dutchess county, on October 13, 1847, Mr. Winchester was married to Miss Mary T. Nase, daughter of Henry I. Nase, of Amenia, and to them were born four children: Martha, who died in infancy; . Henry Nase, who married Frances Sleight, a granddaughter of Peter R. Sleight (a prominent man of the town of Lagrange, Dutchess county), and they have two children-Milo F. and Henry F .; Frank, who died at the age of nine; and Syd- ney Thompson, who died at the age of twenty- eight.

In politics Mr. Winchester is identified with the Republican party, giving his influence and vote to secure the passage of its measures and the election of its candidates, and socially holds membership in Amenia Lodge No. 672, F. & A. M. He has won the respect and con- fidence of all with whom he has been associ- ated, either in business or in private life, and he is justly entitled to a position among the fore- most men of Dutchess county. From 1854 until 1892 he capably served as justice of the peace, and for several terms has been super- visor of his town.

G EORGE STEVENSON, a well-known citizen of Wappingers Falls, Dutchess county, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, February 16, 1839.

John Stevenson, the father of our subject,

was born near Fifeshire, Scotland, in 1798. He learned the business of making linen cloth, which he followed in his native land for many years, He was married to Elizabeth Duncan. who was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1800. Soon alter his marriage, Mr. Stevenson went to Ireland, where he carried on his business, and where his family of children were born. Those now living are: Jane, Thomas, John, Mary, Sarah, Rachael, Margaret and George. John is employed in the print works in Wap- pingers Falls, and Thomas is a clerk in a store in the same place. On May 12, 1848, the father came to America, the family following him one year later. He settled in Wappingers Falls, and found employment in the cotton mills there. His death took place in 1868, and that of his wife in 1862. They were mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church, and in his po- litical views Mr. Stevenson was in sympathy with the Republican party.

The subject of this sketch was but seven years old when his parents came to this coun- try, and his entire life since that time has been spent at Wappingers Falls. He learned the trades of tinner and plumber when a young man, and. with the exception of five years when he was engaged in the grocery business, has carried on business in that line. Of late years he has added hardware of all kinds to his other departments, and has an extensive trade in the various implements and accessories used by plumbers, tinners and builders. He is a man of fine business ability, and has been successful in his enterprises. He is progress- ive in his ideas, and is a public-spirited citizen who stands high in the estimation of all who know him. He is a strong Republican.

In 1866 Mr. Stevenson was married to Sarah J. Barlow, a sister of James R. Barlow, whose sketch will be found elsewhere. They have two children, John and Fred.

G EORGE VINCENT, a leading carpenter of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, was there born on October 3. 1859, and since laying aside his school books has always worked at his trade, in which he is quite proficient. Socially, he is connected with the Knights of Labor. He married Addie Vincent, a first cousin, who was born in Dover, in 1862, and they have become the parents of five children: Angie, born December 16, 1880; Joseph, born December 6, 1882; William, born June 25,

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1888; George, born November 2, 1891; and Naomi, born February 2, 1894.

Allen Vincent, the great-grandfather of both our subject and his wife, was born in the town of Dover. Dutchess county, and was there ed- ucated in the common schools, and followed farming on attaining man's estate. In his fam- ily were three children: Jonathan, the grand- father; Ann, who became the wife of Leonard Carey; and Leonard, who married Ann Carey.

Jonathan Vincent was also born, reared and educated in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, and followed the occupation of farm- ing. He was married to Miss Martha Duncan, by whom he had seven children.

(1) George, the eldest son in the Vincent family, was born in Dover, and followed the occupation of shoemaking. He first married Miss Amanda Cooley, by whom he had one daughter-Mary. For his second wife he chose Malissa Sterey, and they had four chil- dren, but all died in infancy. His third wife bore the maiden name of Miss Caroline Slo- cum, and to them was born a daughter- Georgiana.

(2) William, the father of our subject, was the next. His birth occurred on Chest- nut Ridge, and in the common schools of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, he acquired his education. He learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for twenty years, but in later life he devoted his time to agri- cultural pursuits. He was a strong Republic- an in politics, but cared nothing for political preferment. As a helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Martha Eggleston, daughter of David and Martha (Burhance) Eggleston, farming people of Dover Plains. They be- came the parents of six children, of whom our subject is the eldest. David J. died at the age of ten years. Jennie, born in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, August 29, 1868, is the wife of John Hawley, a farmer of that town, and they have three children- Maude, Edgar and Lewis. Leon L. died at the age of twenty-six years. Hattie, born in Dover, Dutchess county, April 14, 1874, mar- ried William Humeston, a carpenter of Do- ver, and they have had three children- Jeffrey and two others, all of whom died in infancy. Ruth G., born in the town of Do- ver, Dutchess county, March 1, 1877, is the wife of Fred De Garino, a carpenter of Dover, by whom she has one child, Anna L. Pre- vious to her marriage with the father of our

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 123

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