Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 125

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

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as a reward for his gallantry he and his family were advanced to a prominent position in France, which his descendants still maintain. Stephen Kampf was employed, as a young man, in building the first railroad through Metz, and in 1852 he came to America, locat- ing at Lenox, Mass., as a skilled workman in a glass factory, the first in this country to en- gage in the manufacture of heavy glass. He was married to Miss Brielmann, at North Ad- ams, Mass., and about 1861 they settled in Glenham, where they still reside. They are Catholics in faith, and Mr. Kampf, who early became a citizen of the United States, has al- ways taken a keen interest in everything per- taining to the welfare of his adopted country. Their union has been blessed with four chil- dren, three of whom are living, Louis E. being second in the order of birth.

Our subject's early life was spent in Glen- ham, where he received his education, and later took his first lessons in the practical art of making a livelihood, working for some time in the Glenham woolen mills. After learning the details of the business, he worked for many years in the Groveville mills, becoming foreman of the weaving department. In 1888 he purchased his present property at Mattea- wan, and in the following year erected the brick building where, in 1892, he established his saloon, one of the finest in the place.

On February 2, 1885, Mr. Kampf married Miss Carrie Marchesseault, and their home is brightened by a little daughter, named Grace. Mrs. Kampf is a native of Montreal, Can- ada, where her grandfather, Simon Marches- seault, a Frenchman by birth, settled upon coming to the New World, and her father, Simon Marchesseault, still resides there. Mr. Kampf is active in social life, and was one of the founders of the Matteawan Mannerchor. He is also a charter member of Court Beacon, Foresters of America. In politics he is a Re- publican, and actively supports his party, al- though he has never held nor sought political office.

F RANK BURROUGHS, a wide-awake and skillful agriculturist of the town of East Fishkill, Dutchess county, was born January JO, 1844, on the farm which is still his home, and is descended from John Burroughs, who landed at Salem, Mass., in 1637, and came to Long Island in 1654. He, with others, were

the patentees of the township of Newtown, Long Island. In the third generation from him was Benjamin Burroughs, who settled in Dutchess county in 1748, and from Madame Brett obtained the deed for a tract of land, on which he reared his family.

Joseph Burroughs, son of this Benjamin Burroughs, and grandfather of our subject, was born August 24, 1754, and in 1781 he wedded Mary Nelson. In 1793 they removed to the farm now owned and occupied by our subject, having purchased the land the year previous, and the house was erected by the grandfather in 1799. There both he and his wife died. In their family were nine children: Elizabeth, who married Cornelius Haight, a farmer of the town of East Fishkill; Reuben, a mechanic, who died unmarried at the age of twenty-eight years; George, a physician of Red Hook, Dutchess county, who died at the age of thirty-eight; Francis, a farmer of Columbia county, N. Y .; Susan, who married Nathan Jones, a mechanic and farmer of the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county; William, an agriculturist of Ohio, where his death oc- curred; Joseph, who died in Schenectady coun- ty, N. Y., where he was engaged in farming; Charles, the father of our subject; and Fairly, who died when young near Lake George, New York.

Upon the homestead farm, where our sub- ject now lives, Charles Burroughs was born March 18, 1799, and throughout life he de- voted his attention to its care and cultivation, with good success, dying there December 8, 1873. He married Alida Blatchley, whose death occurred May 8, 1887. She was a na- tive of Rensselaer county, N. Y., and a daugh- ter of Samuel Blatchley, who was of English lineage, and carried on agricultural pursuits, coming to Dutchess county from Connecticut. A family of four children were born to Charles Burroughs and his wife: Joseph, who was killed by the Indians in Arizona; Abraham, now a resident of San Francisco, Cal. ; George, who also makes his home in the Golden State; and Frank, of this review.

The entire life of our subject has been passed at his present home, and he is success- fully engaged in general farming upon his 194- acre tract of valuable and productive land. He is progressive in his methods of carrying on his work-in fact, is one of the model farmers of the community, the neat and thrifty appear- ance of his place indicating the careful and

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systematic manner in which it is cultivated. He is an intelligent, public-spirited citizen, and his neighbors have for him the highest regard. Politically, his ballot is cast in support of the inen and measures of the Republican party.

0 LIVER S. BARNES, a well-known agri- culturist and real-estate owner of Dutch- ess and Putnam counties, resides near Gay- head, Dutchess county, and is one of the influential and progressive citizens of that locality.

The Barnes family is of Scotch origin, and the ancestors of this branch were early settlers in Westchester county, N. Y., where our sub- ject's grandfather, Richard Barnes, and father, William Barnes, were born, the latter at White Plains, where he grew to manhood. He married Deborah Tompkins, daughter of James Tompkins, who was of Dutch descent, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and followed the occupation of a farmer. After their marriage William Barnes and wife went to the town of Kent, Putnam county, and set- tled upon a large tract of land, where they reared a family of children, as follows: Phæbe, Eliza B., and Mary A., deceased, who never married; Margaret, the wife of Louis Holmes, a farmer of the town of Pawling, Dutchess county; Hannah J., who married Thomas Townsend, a farmer in Putnam county; James, a shoemaker in Poughkeepsie; Oliver S., the subject of this biography; Caroline, who mar- ried William Holmes, a. hay and feed mer- chant in New York City; and William H., a farmer at the old home in Putnam county. The father was a Republican in political faith during his last years, and like most of his fam- ily was a Methodist in his religious views, ably filling the office of class leader for sixty years, and in all things exemplifying his belief by honesty and upright dealing. His death oc- curred in 1860, and his wife passed to her re- ward December 22, 1876.

Oliver S. Barnes was born September 6, 1828, and passed his early years at the old homestead. In 1851 he went to the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, and December 24, 1855, he married Miss Mary E. Wilde, a lady of unusual mentai acumen and executive abili- ty. She was born in the town of East Fish- kill, Dutchess county, the daughter of James Wilde, and granddaughter of James William Wilde, an Englishman, who purchased 300

acres of land at Fishkill Plains at an early period, and made his home there. Her mother, Caroline Hutchens, a native of the town of Fishkill, was a descendant of an old English family named Hudson, the spelling and pro- nunciation having changed as time elapsed, Henry Hudson, the discoverer of the Hudson river, being a direct ancestor. Members of her family took an active part in the Revolutionary war.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Barnes settled upon a farm in East Fishkill, and, in 1860, they purchased their present farm of 135 acres, near Gayhead, where they made many improvements. The property has been in the hands of some member of the Wilde family for 150 years, and Mrs. Barnes, in whose name it stands, is active in its management, owing to her husband's deafness. They are general farmers, but give especial attention to the dairy business. They have had eleven chil- dren, of whom William C., James Eugene, Lewis, Francis Eugene and Florence E. died in infancy. Of the others, Howard O., dis- appeared and his present address is unknown; Richard is a farmer in the town of East Fish- kill, Dutchess county; Wilberforce is a farmer in Putnam county; Jane married Ernest Hill, a farmer in Putnam county; Cora is at home; and Ida, deceased, was formerly the wife of Daniel Jewell, a farmer in East Fishkill.

Mr. Barnes has always taken an intelligent interest in the questions of the day, and in politics is a Republican.

M ICHAEL PELLS. The Pells family is originally of Holland stock, but the im- mediate ancestors of our subject have been residents of Dutchess county since an early day. His great-grandfather located on the old farm on the Hudson river, in the town of Poughkeepsie, near where the Hudson River State Hospital is now situated.

On this farm John Pells was born May 12, 1751. He married Rachel Leroy, who was born September 25, 1761, and they reared five of their children. Of these, Deborah died unmarried; Michael was a farmer in the town of Poughkeepsie ; John followed the same occupation; Peter was a farmer in Hyde Park; and Simon J. The latter was born on the home farm, March 17, 1798, and married Phœbe Coe, a native of Ulster county, and the daughter of Abram Coe, whose ancestors

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also came from Holland. Shortly after his marriage, in 1826, Simon Pells purchased a farm near that of his father, and there his family of six children was reared. These were Rachel and Sarah, who both died unmar- ried; Celia F., who is single; Minerva, who died in childhood, as did also Sophia; and Michael. The father was originally a Whig, and later joined the ranks of the Republican party. He and his family, as were his parents before him, were members of the Reformed Dutch Church. He died in 1881, his wife having passed from earth in 1840.

Michael Pells was the youngest of his fa- ther's children, and was born in the town of Poughkeepsie, near Arlington, April 11, 1834. In 1860 he purchased the farm, on which he now resides, and which comprises 130 acres. Here he carries on general farming, in which he has been very successful. He is a Repub- lican, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Pells has never married. He is popular with all his acquaintances, and is a good citi- zen and a man of upright life.

D AVID T. BARNES, one of the most pro- gressive and successful agriculturists of the town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, resides upon a farm near Arlington, which has been in the possession of his family for four generations. The family name was originally Van Ness, and our subject's great-grandfather was one of three brothers of that name, who came from Holland at an early period, and located first on Long Island. Later they sep- arated, and the ancestor of Mr. Barnes settled upon the present farm, then a wilderness. He had several children, among them a son, William, our subject's grandfather, who was born on this estate March 5, 1738. He was a farmer all his life, and died November 13, 1807, his wife, Katharine, surviving him until March 7, 1812. They had eight children, as follows: Maria, born May 29, 1760, married William Van Derwater, a farmer in Hyde Park; Richard, born May 23, 1762, a farmer in Columbia county; Henry, born October 9, 1764, a farmer near the old homestead; Cath- erine, born September 30, 1766; Hannah, born January 28, 1769, the wife of Joseph Platt, a farmer of the town of Poughkeepsie; Barnekah, born July 28, 1772, who died at the age of seventeen; David, born October 29,

1774, our subject's father; and Joshua, born July 13, 1777, a farmer near the old home.

David Barnes was married, December 20, 1806, to Ann Thorn, a lady of English de- scent, who was born in the town of Pough- keepsie, where her father, Joseph Thorn, born February 11, 1745, was a prominent farmer. Joseph Thorn married Sarah Kies, born No- vember 21, 1750, O. S., and reared a family of nine children; Stephen, born Decem- ber 9, 1773; Martha, March 3, 1776; Jos- eph, June 3, 1778; John, February 28, 1780; Phoebe, April 13, 1782; Ann, May 3, 1784; Richard, September 30, 1785; Mary, December 31, 1788; and Elizabeth, April 19, 1791. Our subject's parents settled upon the old homestead, where they made ex- tensive improvements, and in 1822 they built the house, which has ever since been the fam- ily residence. They were members of the Presbyterian Church, to which William Barnes and his wife had also belonged. David Barnes was a Whig in politics, and an influ- ential worker in local affairs, holding various minor officers. He died April 17, 1852, and his wife passed away fourteen years later- May 22, 1866. They had seven children: William, born October 10, 1807, died in infan- cy; Sarah, born January 1, 1810, married Peter R. Sleight, a farmer in the town of La- grange, and died October 20, 1829; Catherine, born April 3, 1812, was the second wife of Mr. Sleight, and died in February, 1894; Ann Elizabeth, born January 31, 1820, is the wid- ow of Alexander F. Wheeler, formerly a lead- ing attorney of Troy; Josephine, born April 15, 1823, married Edmund Van Wyck, a farmer; David, who died in infancy; and Da- vid T., born June 29, 1828, the subject of this sketch.

David T. Barnes has always lived at the homestead, a fine farm of about 180 acres, de- voted to general crops. He is one of the best managers in his locality, his estate being kept under the highest cultivation. On October 12, 1857, he was married to Rhoda E. Titus, a native of Gallia Co., Ohio, born January 15, 1837, the daughter of Lewis Titus (a farmer) and his wife, Susan. Mrs. Barnes' ancestors were residents of Dutchess county in the early days, and her grandfather, John Titus, was born there. Four children were born of this marriage: Susie, who married William H. Allen, a farmer in the town of Clinton, and died December 20, 1883; Edwin S., who

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ried Annie Mary Howard, a daughter of rman Howard, and a descendant of one the old families; Anna K., the wife of irles Howard, a son of Sherman Howard; Elizabeth, who died February 9, 1883. Barnes is a Republican in politics, and he his family contribute to the support of Presbyterian Church, and take a gener- interest in various philanthropic move- its.

ARWIN BEERS, senior member of the firm of Beers & Trafford, the well-known tractors and builders of Millerton, Dutchess ity, was born at Ancram Lead Mines, Co- bia Co., N. Y., June 5, 1858.

Linas Beers, grandfather of our subject, a native of New Milford, Conn., and he his brother Nelson came together to Co- , Columbia county, about the year 1810. son was married to Eliza McArthur, and as to Katherine McArthur, by whom he had children : Sarah, who married (first) quel Hagadorn, and (second) Mr. Livock: rose; Martin, our subject's father; and ira, the wife of Backus Howland. Linas rs was a carpenter by trade. His death trred about the year 1841, when he was I fifty years, his wife surviving him until 3, dying at the age of seventy-five years.

Martin Beers was born at Copake, N. Y., September, 1831, and he also died at an y age, passing away July 2, 1861. He was ry intelligent, energetic man, and at the y age of seventeen had already established self in business, and by his genial nature had ed a host of friends. Having learned the r's trade in boyhood, he made that his occupation, and he was also engaged in cantile business at the Ancram Lead Mines, artnership with William H. Barton. He married, February 17, 1852, to Sarah ker, and had three sons: Alton, born De- ber 6, 1855, is chief telegraph operator train dispatcher on the Boston & Albany oad at Union depot, Worcester, Mass., has been in their employ for twenty-four s; Darwin, our subject, comes next; and e M., born February 10, 1861, is in the ess business at Worcester. The widowed her of this little family subsequently, Janu- 30, 1873, was married to Ambrose Beers first husband's brother), who was for y years the most prominent contractor and

builder of Millerton. He died March 31, 1888, leaving a widow, and a son (William) by a former marriage, born 1861. She was born October 14, 1830, in Ancram township, Colum- bia Co., N. Y., a daughter of Stephen and Rhoda (Williams) Decker, both born at Co- pake-the father on June 6, 1795, the mother on January 1, 1799. They were married Au- gust 30, 1818, and had children as follows: Louisa, born September 10, 1819; Clara A., born April 23, 1821; Orville, born August 17, 1825; Sarah, born October 14, 1830; Cor- nelia E., born August 8, 1834. The father died October 2, 1856; the mother on April 17, 1881.

Darwin Beers received his early education in the village of Millerton, attending the select schools taught by Rev. Mr. Ferguson, Charles Walsh. now editor of the Amenia Times, and Miss Carrie Knickerbocker. For four months in 1873 he was employed as a clerk by Eggle- ston Brothers, of Millerton, but during the following winter he again attended school. In the spring of 1874 he began learning the car- penter trade with Ambrose Beers, and worked for him about five years, then managed the farm of his uncle, the late William H. Barton, for three years, being appointed in the mean- time to succeed him as street commissioner of the village of Millerton, for the term of three years. At the time that he assumed the duties of this office Mr. Beers was only twenty years old. After leaving the farm he returned to his trade and worked for his stepfather as a jour- neyman carpenter for three years, or until 1885, in which year he formed a partnership with William Trafford, and engaged in the construction of buildings on contract. Their work has included architectural designing, and in this department the firm has won especial praise. Among the buildings erected by them are the $50,000 residence of Mrs. Frances Scoville, at Chapinville, Conn., and the ele- gant villa at Ravine Hurst in Massachusetts, built for John Shepard, Jr., of Providence, R. I. In Millerton the evidence of their artis- tic taste and skilled workmanship are numer- ous, including the " Barton House", the busi- ness blocks owned by C. F. Hawley and the firm of Hotchkiss & Eggleston, besides many fine residences. Their business compares favorably in volume with that of any similar firm in this region outside of New York City. Since 1889 they have also dealt in lumber ex- tensively, having a commodious lumber yard,

FIRM OF BEERS & TRAFFORD, MILLERTON, NEW YORK

Darin Beers

William Trafford

سعد بصير

.14

1.1

RESIDENCE OF JOHN SHEPARD, JR., OF PROVIDENCE, R. L., BUILT AT RAVINE HURST, MASS .. BY BEERS & TRAFFORD, OF MILLERTON, NEW YORK

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and they have employed from seventy-five to 150 hands throughout the year. Messrs. Beers and Trafford devote their entire time to their contracts, which include mason work, carpen- tering, grading, painting, plumbing and intro- ducing all systems of heaters - in fact, every branch of the business. Mr. Beers has one of the finest family residences in Millerton, de- lightfully situated on Barton street.

In 1884 Mr. Beers was married to Miss Addie Bond, who was born September 30, 1860, at Newburg, daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Lozier) Bond, formerly prominent resi- dents of Newburg, N. Y., the former born in 1838, the latter in 1835. They had two chil- dren, Mrs. Beers alone surviving. Harriet (Cromwell), Joseph Bond's mother, and a lin- eal descendant of Oliver Cromwell, died at the advanced age of eighty-four years. Two chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Darwin Beers -Alton Bond and Warren Martin.

In politics Mr. Beers is a Democrat, and while he is not what is termed a politician, he is deeply interested and active in and loyal to his party, but always true to his convictions of right. In matters of local importance he is public-spirited and progressive, having given his influence to many movements which tended to promote the common good. He is one of the members of the board of health, also a member of the fire department. Socially, he is a member of Webatuck Lodge No. 480, F. & A. M., of Millerton. Religiously, he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Millerton, of which he is a liberal supporter, a member of the choir, also one of the official board.

W TILLIAM TRAFFORD, a prominent contractor and builder of Millerton, member of the well-known firm of Beers & Trafford, was born December 31, 1852, in Copake, Columbia Co., N. Y. His family is of English origin, and is one of the oldest and most distinguished in Columbia county. His great-grandfather, Thomas Trafford, who was born in Copake in 1752, was one of the first two justices of the peace in Taghanick, Co- lumbia Co., N. Y., holding office in 1803, 1804 and 1808. He married Elizabeth Elliot, and died in 1817. William T. Trafford, our subject's grandfather, was born on the old family estate in Copake in 1783, and died in 1866. He was a farmer and leading citizen

of his time, serving as supervisor in 1837, and as justice of the peace in 1827, 1830, 1846, 1847 and 1851. He married Helen Snyder, and had seven children: Elizabeth, Milton, Hannah, Thomas, Homer, Robert Emmet and William.

Milton Trafford, our subject's father, was born June 13, 1813, and spent his entire life in Copake, where he followed the carpenter's trade. He married Louise Decker, who was born in Copake, September 10, 1819, and died in 1878. He survived her fourteen years, dy- ing in 1893. Of their six children our subject was the next to the youngest. The names of the others, with the dates of birth, etc., are as follows: Sarah, November 24, 1840, died March 24, 1843; Wesley, March 4, 1844, now living in New York City; Alice, February 5, 1847, died October IS, 1866; Stephen D., March 13. 1849, a resident of Torrington, Conn .; and Marion, August 16, 1858, a resi- dent of Millerton.

Our subject attended the schools of his na- tive town until he was about seventeen years old, obtaining a good academic education. In 1870 he began to learn the carpenter's trade with his father, and worked with him eight years. In 1881 he came to Millerton and en- gaged in the work of contracting and building with his uncle, Ambrose Beers, and in 1885 the present firm of Beers & Trafford was or- ganized. They are among the most successful and enterprising workers to be found in their line of business, and have built some of the finest structures in that vicinity. On June 18, 1891, Mr. Trafford married Miss Allie Eggles- ton, daughter of Stewart Eggleston, of Dutch- ess county. They have no children.

Mr. Trafford is a progressive and public- spirited citizen, a leader in many of the most important measures for local improvement. He is a Republican, but has never taken an active part in political work. At present he is a trustee of the village of Millerton, and is chief of the E. H. Thompson Hose Company.

D ANIEL S. BARIGHT, one of the pro- gressive farmers of the town of Pough- keepsie, Dutchess county, was born in Pleas- ant Valley, March 25, 1838. He stayed on his father's farm during his boyhood and at- tended the district schools, the Quaker School in the town of Union Vale, the Dutchess Coun- ty Academy, and was for a short time at the

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Nine Partners Boarding School. After going through these schools he taught for three win- ters in the town of Poughkeepsie, and three winters in the town of Pleasant Valley.

Mr. Baright was married, October 2, 1861, to Miss Mary Wing, who was born in the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, the daughter of Alexander and Hannah Wing. Our subject and his wife located on their present farm in 1862, and reared a family of four children, namely: Ann G. married a Mr. Sheldon, of Poughkeepsie; William is living in Minneap- olis, where he organized the "Order of the World," of that State, and where he is suc- cessfully engaged in the insurance business; Irving is in the insurance business in Nebraska; and Frederick is at home. Mr. Baright has a place of 116 acres, on which he carries on gen- eral farming. He is also engaged in the agri- cultural implement business, with headquarters at Poughkeepsie, and has represented the New York Life Insurance Company for over twenty years. In politics he is a Republican, and takes a lively interest in such matters, but, although frequently urged to do so, has never held office. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, in which he has always been greatly interested, and especially in the Sunday-school. He has been connected with the County Sunday-school organization for several years, and both he and his wife are devout Christians.

Elijah Baright, the father of our subject, was born, March 30, 1802, in Pleasant Valley, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Amy D. Carpenter, whose birth took place in Stanford town, January 17, 1799. She was the daughter of Samuel Carpenter, a farmer. After their marriage our subject's parents set- tled on the old farmn, and the following chil- dren were born to them: Samuel, born in 1826, is a farmer in the town of Poughkeepsie; Ann Eliza died when twenty-one years old; Daniel S. is our subject; and Edwin was an insurance agent for many years in Pough- keepsie, but is now retired, and spends his summers at Ocean Grove and his winters at Poughkeepsie. Elijah Baright was a farmer by occupation, but was also a successful busi- ness man, and dealt largely in stocks in New York City. He was a Democrat up to 1856, when he became a Republican. He and his wife were Hicksite Quakers. His death oc- curred June 19, 1873; that of his wife on De- cember 31, 1880.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 125

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