Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 126

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

USA > New York > Dutchess County > Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York > Part 126

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

John Baright, the grandfather, was born in Poughkeepsie, of Holland ancestry. He married, and then settled on a farm in Pleasant Valley, where the following children were born to him and his wife: Augustus is a farmer in Batavia, N. Y .; Sarah became the wife of John Stringham, a farmer in Michigan; and Susan married Daniel Stringham, a farmer in the town of Lagrange. John Baright remained on the farm all his life. The Barights were Quakers, and consequently did not take part in either the Revolutionary war or the war of 1812.

J OHN G. SENCERBAUGH, now residing on a farm in the town of Fishkill, Dutch- ess county, was for over forty years con- nected with the Union Ferry Company, but is now retired from active labor, and in the en- joyment of all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. He is a native of the town of East Fishkill, born June 19, 1818, and is a son of Simeon D. Sencerbaugh, whose birth occurred in the town of Beekman, Dutchess county. His mother, who bore the maiden name of Phæbe Washburn, was also born in Dutchess county.

After their marriage, the parents of our subject located upon a farm in the town of East Fishkill, where they reared their family of nine children: Jane, who married Laben Rogers, a farmer of Beekman town; John G., subject of this review; Jarvis W., a farmer and business man of Minnesota, who repre- sented his district in the State Senate; Charles, who was a steamboat captain on the Mississippi; Mary, who wedded William Phil- lips, of East Fishkill town, but both are now deceased; Catherine, who married Joel Sea- man, and died at Candor, in the western part of the State; Susan, who married A. A. Brush, a warden in the prison at Sing Sing, N. Y .; Antoinette, who married William Humphrey, of the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county; and Henry. The father was a farmer by occupation, and both himself and wife were consistent members of the Re- formed Dutch Church.

John G. Sencerbaugh grew to manhood on the home farm, and was united in marriage with Catherine Lounsbury, a native of the town of East Fishkill, and a daughter of Joshua Lounsbury, also born in that town- ship. The birth of her grandfather, Isaac

683

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

Lounsbury, occurred either in Dutchess coun- ty or in Putnam Co., N. Y. The family is of English origin. In the spring of 1848, with his wife, Mr. Sencerbaugh removed to Brook- lyn, where he became connected with the Union Ferry Co., which connection continued until he laid aside business cares in 1889, and he has since lived retired upon a farm in the town of East Fishkill, where he is surrounded by many warm friends.

In the family were four children: (1) Carrie, married John V. Van Arsdale, who is a descendant of Baron Resolve Waldron, who came from Harlem, Holland, in 1666, and settled in New Harlem, N. Y .: Mr. Van Ars- dale is a native of Bound Brook, N. J., where he was reared in his father's store. For thirty years he has made his home in Brooklyn, but now calls the Sencerbaugh farm, in the town of East Fishkill, his home. He is connected with the custom-house business, and every Monday goes into the city, returning again on Saturdays. (2) John died in infancy. (4) Emma became the wife of William D. Bar- num, but died while yet young. (3) William P. ( the third in order of birth ) now manages the home farm of 125 acres, devoting his at- tention to general farming, and has made many valuable and useful improvements since locating thereon in 1889. Previous to coming to Dutchess county, he was a traveling sales- man fora lace-importing house, for a period of about ten years, but gave up that work on account of ill health. He is a firm Republic- an in politics, and though his residence here is of comparatively short duration, he has figured quite actively in political affairs. By all who know them, the family is held in the highest regard, and justly ranks among the best citizens of the community.

A BUTLER ANDERSON, a prosperous agriculturist, residing near Brinckerhoff, Dutchess county, is one of the progressive citi- zens of that vicinity. His family has been identified with Dutchess county for several generations, and its various members have al- ways shown the qualities of character which tend to good citizenship.

John Anderson, our subject's grandfather, a native of Dutchess county, married Ann Travis, and settled in the town of Fishkill (now East Fishkill), where a family of six children were born to them: Zilla, who mar-

ried Lewis Wright, a farmer in the town of Lagrange; Susan, the wife of Abram Van- Vlack, a farmer in East Fishkill town; Polly, the wife of Moses Homan, a farmer in the same town; Elizabeth, who married Harvey Eighmy, as a farmer in the town of Beekman; Peter, who followed agriculture all his life in the town of East Fishkill; and John.

John Anderson (2), our subject's father, was reared as a farmer boy, and married Miss Eliza M. Butler, daughter of Allen Butler, a well-known farmer, and lifelong resident of Dutchess county. His wife was Sarah Crouse, and they had two children: Egbert C., a re- tired business man of the city of Poughkeep- sie, and Eliza M. ( our subject's mother). The young people settled upon the present home- stead, which they purchased over fifty years ago. Mr. Anderson was an influential man in local affairs, serving for nine years as com- missioner of his town, and in early years was a Democrat and afterward a Republican. He and his wife were leading members of the Re- formed Church at Hopewell, and he held the office of elder for many years previous to his death in 1890. His wife survives him with one son, our subject, and a daughter, Sarah A., who married T. G. Matthews, a flour mer- chant of New York City, and a real-estate owner and resident of Brooklyn.

A. Butler Anderson was born August 15, 1847, and spent his life mainly at the old farm. He attended the neighboring district schools in early boyhood, and then went to Poughkeep- sie, where he pursued his studies in a select school and the College Hill School. On his return home he assisted his father, and in time assumed the management of the estate. On October 30, 1875, he was united in matri- mony with Susan H. Van Wyck, daughter of Henry Van Wyck, a farmer of the town of Wappinger, Dutchess county. Six children were born of this union: John, Eliza Maria, Henry V. W., Annie L., Sarah L., and Eg- bert B., who are all at home.

Mr. Anderson makes no specialities in his work as an agriculturist. The old homestead comprised 196 acres, and to this an adjoining tract of eighty-six acres has been added, making one of the best farms in the neighborhood. In politics he is a Republican, and he takes a gener- ous interest in all public improvements; he and his wife contribute to the support of the Re- formed Church at Hopewell, of which she is a member.

684

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

C HARLES DU BOIS ROGERS, a promi- nent young agriculturist of the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county, is the owner of a farm which has been in his family for four gen- erations.

His ancestors of a still earlier period were well known among the pioneers of this State, the head of the American line being John Rogers, who came from Scotland, formerly from England (lineal descendant of John Rogers, who was burned at the stake at Smith- field in Queen Mary's reign), and located in Putnam county, N. Y., where he kept the first road house, or hotel, opened between New York and Albany. It was in the woods among the Indians, near what is now called Garrison's Station on the Hudson River railroad.

The great-great-grandparents of our subject were Benjamin and Elizabeth (Fowler) Rogers. His great-grandparents, Benjamin (2) and Elizabeth F. Rogers reared a family of ten children: John, William, Benjamin, Absalom, Elijah, Pattie, Hester, Betsey, Mary, and Sarah. Absalom Rogers, our subject's grand- father, married Maria Du Bois, and had six children: Emily Abraham D., Peter, William, Lewis, and Charles C. (our subject's father).

Charles C. Rogers married Harriet L. Cook, and our subject was their only son. He was born March 17, 1867, at the old homestead near Fishkill Village, and his education was ob- tained in the district schools of the neighborhood and the Union Free School at Fishkill, with two years in Leslie's Academy in Poughkeepsie. He left school at the age of eighteen, and re- turned home, where he gradually assumed the management of the farm, relieving his father from the burden during his declining years, and caring for him until his death, which occurred May 30, 1892. The estate contains 100 acres, fifty acres lying on each side of the road laid out by Madame Brett from old Fishkill to Fishkill-on-Hudson. The trolley cars now pass the the door. Mr. Rogers makes a spe- cialty of dairying, keeping from twenty-five to thirty cows the year round.

He has a pleasant home. His wife, whom he married December 9, 1891, was formerly Grace A. Haight, a daughter of J. Cornelius Haight, the historian. They have three chil- dren: Lewis D., Bertha May, and Grace A. Both Mr. and Mrs. Rogers attend the Protestant Episcopal Church, and are heartily in sympathy with various lines of social, religious, and ed-

ucational progress. Politically, Mr. Rogers is a Democrat, and he is a member of Hudson River Lodge No. 57, K. of P.

F RANK A. HOTCHKISS, a prominent merchant of Millerton, Dutchess county, and a representative of a family which has be- come widely famous for its inventive genius, was born August 27, 1857, at Sharon Valley, Connecticut.

The family is of English origin, the first of the American branch being among the early settlers of New Haven, and during the Revo- lutionary war there were three generations in the service at the same time. Asahel Hotch- kiss, our subject's great-grandfather, resided at Prospect, now a part of New Haven, and there Asahel Hotchkiss, the grandfather of our subject, was born. He was a man of superior natural talent, successful in financial manage- ment, and also in the invention of various de- vices which he manufactured in a factory at Sharon Valley, which at that day was consid- ered a large establishment. At first he was engaged in the manufacture of leather wallets, and, later, in game traps, curry combs, wrenches and other small articles of hardware. This factory was afterward moved to Bridge- port, where it is now carried on by a grandson of the founder. Asahel Hotchkiss was promi- nent in public affairs also, having great influ- ence in the Republican party. He served as a member of the Connecticut Legislature for two terms, and as State Senator for one term. He was an active member of the Congrega- tional Church. He married Althea Guernsey, and had ten children, of whom Dotha and Charles A. are yet living. (1) Andrew was a cripple, died in early manhood, but not before he invented the explosive shell called theby Rebels "screamers"-a description of rifled cannon. (2) Benjamin B. was the inventor of the famous Hotchkiss gun, and of other imple- ments of warfare, including a torpedo boat, and was well known in all parts of the world. He spent a fortune in perfecting his gun and placing it upon the market, and was in actual want before its value was recognized; but later he realized a large fortune from it, and honors as well, being decorated with the cross of the Legion of Honor, and other orders. He was a man of remarkable executive ability, as well as inventive faculty, and at. one time he car- ried on the manufacture of his inventions in

Strank a Holeholisos

685

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Vienna, removing afterward to Paris. He re- tained his residence in New York, however, and his estate was settled here. (3) Frederick A., the father of our subject, is mentioned be- low. (4) Franklin died at the age of sixteen years. (5) William died in childhood. (6) Sarah M. married George A. Kelsey. (7) Dotha married (first) Henry Finch, and (sec- ond) Hugh A. McKelvey, and now resides in Bridgeport, Conn. (8) Charles A. is a res- ident of Bridgeport, Conn. (9) Dwight was a lifelong invalid. (10) Abijah died in child- hood.

Frederick A. Hotchkiss was born in Water- town, Conn., in 1829, and became a member of the firm of Hotchkiss Sons, being for some time superintendent of the factory at Bridge- port. He retired from active business in 1870, and passed his later years in more congenial pursuits. He was a well-read man, of quiet tastes, and not at all inclined to seek public honors, though he was a strong supporter of the Republican party, and took a generous in- terest in public affairs, local and national, but never held official position. He married Car- oline Parson, daughter of John Parson, a prom- inent resident of Sharon, Conn., and had four children, as follows: Mary married W. H. Hill, of Reading, Conn .; Carrie L. died in early womanhood; Frank A. comes next; and Hattie F. was the wife of Sidney McKelvey, of Sparta, Ill. Of these, Frank A., our subject, is the sole survivor.

Frank A. Hotchkiss received his education mainly in the schools of Sharon, and attended the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, one winter. On leaving school at the age of nineteen, he taught in the village of Sharon for two years, since when he has been engaged in mercantile pursuits. For about five years he was bookkeeper and salesman for Beech, Hawley & Co., but March 17, 1886, the firm being reorganized on account of the death of Mr. Beach, Mr. Hotchkiss and L. J. Eggles- ton bought an interest, the firm becoming Hotchkiss & Eggleston. They have been very successful, and in 1894 they removed from the old locality. where the "Millerton House" now stands, to their new building, which is one of the finest of the kind in the county. His well-proven business ability places Mr. Hotchkiss among the foremost of the younger men of his locality. He has been president of the Millerton National Bank for two years, a fact which speaks volumes for the esteem in

which he is held in business circles. He is greatly interested in local improvements, and has been trustee and president of the village four terms; but while he is a firm believer in the principles of the Republican party, he does not take an active part in political work.

In 1885 Mr. Hotchkiss was married to Miss Fannie H. Gillette, daughter of Edward F. Gillette, a leading merchant of Sharon, and they have six children: Mary F., Frederick, Edward G., Benjamin B., Reed H. and An- drew Dwight. Mr. and Mrs. Hotchkiss are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is an elder.

TOSEPH SUNDERLAND, a prominent resi- dent of Glenham, Dutchess county, was

born May 25, 1839, at Darlington, England, and is descended in both paternal and maternal lines from ancestry who were engaged in agri- cultural pursuits.

His father, John Sunderland, a native of Colne, Lancashire, England, was an excellent workman, and in addition to his farm work was often employed as a stone-mason and wall- builder. He married Nancy Binns, who was born at Hunsworth, Yorkshire, England, the eldest daughter of Joseph Binns, a farmer. The young couple made their home at Armley, Leeds, England, where they spent the remain- der of their lives, rearing to maturity five sons and one daughter. The father died October 2, 1864; the mother on December 14, 1885; both passing away in full faith, having been devout members of the Primitive Methodist Church. Their children were: William, now residing at Dewsbury, England, was formerly a spinner by trade, but is now engaged in mer- cantile business; Joseph is mentioned more fully below; Mary married Thomas Jowitt, a brickmaker, at Wortley, Leeds, England; Samuel is a butcher and milk dealer at Wort- ley; Charles Henry, who was a press setter, died in January, 1886, at the age of thirty- eight; John is a general merchant at Armley, England, and takes an influential part in re- ligious work, is a member of the Methodist Church, and has been superintendent of a large Sunday-school for the past eighteen years.

Joseph Sunderland lived at home until he was sixteen years old, and by that time had gained a fair knowledge of the spinner's trade. In 1855 he joined the British army, and served

656

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

a year and a half, when he was honorably dis- charged on account of a reduction in the forces. Returning home, he began to work at his trade, which he followed until the age of twen- ty-four years, then crossed the ocean, in 1863. and for about three years lived at Ballardvale, Mass., where he learned the trade of file forg- ing. In 1866 he came to Matteawan, N. Y., and spent about two years at his trade before engaging in the saloon business, in which he continued from 1868 until 1876, when he moved to Glenham, N. Y., where he opened a saloon, which he still conducts. He is one of the leading dealers in his line, and for eight years has been president of the Liquor Dealers' Association of his Assembly District. In 1864 Mr. Sunderland married Miss Emma, only surviving daughter of David Robertshaw, of Wortley, Leeds, England. She is the only member of her family to come to America. Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland have one daughter living, Alice R., who is at home. Mr. Sunder- land is fond of reading and takes much inter- est in current events. In religion he inclines to the Episcopal Church, and in politics he is a Republican. His influence in local affairs is marked, and he has served three terms as deputy sheriff, under Sheriffs Vantassell, Bart- lett and Jerry S. Pearce, each term being for three years.

W ILLIAM W. MARSHALL, an enter- prising fruit raiser and farmer, was born in the town of Pleasant Valley, at Salt Lake Point, September 10, 1839. He began life on the farm, went to the district school, and spent two winters at the Claverack school. He then returned to his father's farm and worked for four years.

In 1861 Mr. Marshall married Miss Eliza- beth D. Wing, who was born in the town of Clinton, the daughter of Alexander Wing, a native of that town. After their marriage our subject and his wife lived for four years on the old farm, and then worked a farm at Clinton Corners for five years. Subsequently our sub- ject came to the town of Poughkeepsie, and engaged in the retail milk business for three years; then rented the John L. Marshall farm, on which he worked for ten years. In 1884 he bought a place, which consists of thirty-six acres, three-fourths of a mile from Poughkeep- sie City, and has resided there ever since, mak- ing a specialty of raising small fruits of all

kinds. He is a Democrat, and he and his wife attend the Orthodox Friends Church, to which they are contributors. He has a fine residence on his place, with all the necessary outbuildings.

Isaac Marshall, father of our subject, was born in Pleasant Valley, grew up on the Mar- shall homestead, and married Miss Eliza Law- rence, who was also a native of Pleasant Val- ley. Robert Lawrence, her father, was a farmer in the same place, and came of En- glish stock. The parents of our subject set- tled on a farm in their native place, and there reared the following children: Elnathan G., a farmer in the town of Pleasant Valley; Eliza- beth, who became the wife of Theron R. Mar- shall, a farmer of Pleasant Valley; Augusta, who married Joseph Doty, a farmer of the same place; Sarah, who married Parris Baker, a carpenter in Saratoga county, N. Y .; Pa- melia, unmarried; Emily, who became the wife of Clarence Van Wagner, a farmer in Pleasant Valley; William W., our subject. Mr. Marshall died in IS90, and his wife in 1888. He was a Democrat in politics, and was assessor in the town of Pleasant Valley. They were both members of the Baptist Church.

John Marshall, grandfather of our subject, was also born in Pleasant Valley, where he married and reared these children: Harris, a farmer in Dutchess county; Lewis was a farmer in the western part of the State; Oli- ver, who died young; Isaac, father of our sub- ject; John C., who was a farmer at Salt Point; and two daughters not named.

W ILLIAM BODDEN, one of the most prominent agriculturists of the town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, residing near Camelot, was born October 30, 1813, at Kirkcudbright, Scotland, where his ancestors had made their home for many generations.

His father, John Bodden, was born there June 27, 1789. He married Elizabeth Din- widdie, a native of Scotland, and had two children, of whom our subject was the eldest. The other, Elizabeth, married Gilbert Grieve, a farmer near the old home, and remained in Scotland. In 1817 John Bodden came to America, and for some years resided in New York City (his business being that of a builder), later, on account of ill health, removing to the farm near Camelot, where he died May 2,

687

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

1874. He took a keen interest in all that concerned the community, was an active Re- publican, and while he was not a seeker after official position he served at one time as road commissioner. He and his wife were mem- bers of the Scotch Presbyterian Church.

William Bodden attended the schools of his native place until he was sixteen years old, and after coming to New York City he attended there for some time. In 1830 he came to Dutchess county and settled upon his present farm of 130 acres, where he has since followed general agricultural pursuits. He gives es- pecial attention to the raising of fruit. On February 15, 1834, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Wilson, who was a native of his own town in Scotland, and of this union eleven children were born, a brief record of whom is as follows: John B., born August 1, 1835, resides in Poughkeepsie; David, born January 30, 1837, was a soldier in the Civil war, and, later, was a farmer in Missouri, but now re- sides in Poughkeepsie; Mary H., born Decem- ber 4, 1838, married William H. Van Keuren, a jeweler in the same city; Eliza, born March 28, 1841, and Washington, born August 6, 1842, died in childhood; William B., born April 24, 1846, is a tinner and stove dealer at Lagrangeville; Thomas G., born August 6, 1848, is a horticulturist in the town of Pough- keepsie; Robert, born March 16, 1850, is a druggist in Syracuse; Elizabeth, born April 7, 1852, married John Grubb, a bookkeeper, re- siding in Poughkeepsie; James G., born May 1, 1854, and Florence, born February 9, 1857. live at home.

Mr. Bodden and his wife are leading mem- bers of the Methodist Church at Poughkeepsie. In politics he is a Republican, and he has been active in promoting various movements for the common good, notably those for educational advancement, and he has been school trustee for many years. For more than half a cen- tury he has identified himself with the best interests of the locality, and he holds the es- teem of the entire community.

L EWIS H. WRIGHT, one of the wide- awake and progressive agriculturists of the town of East Fishkill, Dutchess county, was born there September 4, 1856, and on the pa- ternal side is of English origin. His great- grandfather, Thomas Wright, was a native of

the same town, while the birth of his grand- father, Lewis Wright, occurred in 1800, in Lagrange town, Dutchess county. After the latter's marriage with Jane Vermilyea, also a native of Dutchess county, he located upon a farm in Lagrange town, where their two chil- dren were born-John G., the father of our subject; and Mary, who wedded John Wanzer, a farmer of the town of Beekman, Dutchess county. The wife and mother was a member of the Society of Friends.

After the death of his first wife, the grand- father was again married, his second union be- ing with Zella Anderson, and they became the parents of four children: Thomas, who is a farmer of Lagrange town; Anderson, who died young; Susan, who married a Mr. Hall, of Unionvale town, Dutchess county; and Ann, who married Draper Hall, also of Unionvale. The grandfather carried on agricultural pur- suits throughout life, and died April 14, 1887, on the farm now owned by our subject in the town of Fishkill. Politically, he was a Demo- crat.

John G. Wright, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Lagrange, May 31, 1824, there grew to manhood, and February 16, 1853, married Miss Ruanah Haight, who was born in Orange county, N. Y., in 1833. and is a daughter of Henry Haight, a native of Putnam county, this State. After their mar- riage the young couple located upon the farm in the town of East Fishkill, where Lewis H., their only child, was born, and remained there until 1871. The mother's death occurred Oc- tober 4, 1889.

Lewis H. Wright obtained his education in the district schools near his home, and on at- taining to man's estate was married January 28, 1880, to Miss Henrietta Jackson, a native of the town of Washington, Dutchess county, where her father, Orry Jackson, was engaged in farming. The Jacksons are of Scotch stock. Two children grace this union: Runelia, born February 11, 1884; and John L., born April 19, 1889. Mr. Wright began his domestic life upon his present farm at Fishkill Plains, which comprises 300 acres of valuable land, and he also owns another farm of 250 acres in the town of East Fishkill. He devotes his time and attention to general farming, raising every- thing adapted to the soil and climate of this section, and is one of the most enterprising and energetic agriculturists of the community. Both himself and father cast their ballots in

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 126

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