Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 129

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 129

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).

Leonard Rowe was very influential in local affairs, a leader in the Democratic organiza- tion, and for many years a supervisor and jus- tice of the peace. Edward went to Minnesota in 1856, purchased a large tract of land on the Minnesota river where he improved a large farm, and resided there twenty-one years. His health failing, he rented his land and returned to Milan in 1887, where he died in 1889. Julius O. Rowe still resides with his brother and sister at Home Nest, the ancestral home of their parents, where in youth they received an academic education, fitting them for any

699

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

vocation in life. They stand high in the es- teem of the people, among whom they live. In politics Julius O. is a Democrat, but has never sought nor could be induced to hold any official position. Horatio has served satisfac- tory as supervisor for several terms.

S HERMAN HOWARD, a prominent agri- culturist and a dairyman of the town of Poughkeepsie, and a descendant of one of the oldest families of Dutchess county, was born in the town of Pawling, January 27, 1821. The family is of Irish origin, the first of the American line settling in Rhode Island at an early date.

Edward Howard, the great-great-grand- father, a Quaker, came from Rhode Island to Dutchess county early in the seventeenth cen- tury, settling on Quaker Hill, in what is now the town of Pawling, when that locality was a primeval wilderness. He built a cabin near a spring of water, and he and his wife endured all the hardships and privations of pioneer life before they transformed their land into a pro- ductive farm. They had three children, viz .: Cynthia (who married James Akin), Benjamin and Edward.

Edward, our subject's great-grandfather, was born in the year 1730, married Phebe Hart, and reared a family of eleven children: Stephen, Edward, John, William, Thomas, Richard, Matthew, Phebe, Mary, Patience and Sarah. Phebe married Daniel Martin; Mary married Samuel Tripp; Sarah married Thomas Stephens; and Patience married John Howard, an officer in the British army, whom she mar- ried during the Revolutionary war.

Stephen Howard, the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1760, was a tanner and shoemaker by trade, and also followed farm- ing at the old homestead. Like his ancestors, he adhered to the faith of the Quakers, as have the majority of his descendants. He married Theodocia Totten, of Westchester county, by whom he had six children: Robert, Peter, Thomas, James (who died in childhood), Phebe and Edward (our subject's father. )

Edward Howard was born in 1785, and was a farmer in the town of Pawling, and in politics was a Democrat. He married Drusilla Sherman, a daughter of Abial Sherman, of Pawling, who was a soldier in the Revolution- ary war and a politician of note, serving as a member of the State Legislature in 1817.

Two children were born to this union: Matilda A., who married Hiram Haviland, who resided on Quaker Hill, in the town of Pawling; and Sherman, our subject. The mother, Drusilla Sherman Howard, died in 1857, and the father survived her until the year 1871.

Sherman Howard grew to manhood at the old homestead, attending the schools of the neighborhood. His first venture into the world of business was as a clerk in a general store, where he remained two years. He then re- turned to the homestead. He was married in 1853 to Sarah Dorland, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Dorland, of the town of Lagrange. Of the five children of this union only two lived to maturity, Anna M., the wife of Edwin S. Barnes, a farmer of Poughkeepsie township, and Charles, who is at home. Charles mar- ried Anna K. Barnes, and they have one son, Roger S. Howard. In 1869 Mr. Howard purchased his present farm of 100 acres near Arlington, where he is engaged in general farming and the milk business, to which he gives especial attention. He has made exten- sive improvements upon the estate, and it is now a fine and productive property.

Mr. Howard was the first justice of the peace of the town of Pawling, and held such office from 1846 to 1850. In 1850 he was appointed deputy sheriff by Alonzo H. Morey, who was then sheriff of Dutchess county, and held such office three years. In 1854 and 1856, Mr. Howard represented the town of Pawling in the board of supervisors, and held the office of postmaster of the town of Pough- keepsie, at Manchester Bridge, from the years 1880 to 1892. Mr. Howard takes great in- terest in local affairs, notwithstanding his advanced age, and in politics is a Democrat.

A RVIS HAIGHT, agriculturist, of the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county, residing

near Johnsville, is engaged in dairying and horticulture. His estate lies upon both sides of the highway between Johnsville and Brinck- erhoff, and is bounded on the west by Charles D. Sherwood's farm, on the east by the farm of John Smith, on the north by Fish- kill creek, and on the south by the property of Henry Schluter.

Arvis Haight was born at the old home in Phillipstown, August 9, 1849, and acquired his education in the district schools while working upon the farm and in the mill. In 1870 he

700

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

left home and went to New York City, where he became a salesman in a commission house in Washington Market. There he remained nine years, and then moved to Dutchess coun- ty, and after a short residence in Fishkill vil- lage, he purchased, in 1880, his present farm. It contains eighty acres of cultivated land, and twenty which are not cleared. From ten to fifteen cows are kept, and the fruit and veget- able crops are of various kinds.

Mr. Haight married Miss Phobe A. Hus- tis, by whom he has had three children: Bes- sie Beulah, Ralph, and Edna, who died at the age of eight years. Mrs. Haight's father was Caleb Hustis, son of William Hustis, the son of Caleb Hustis, and her mother was Eliza- beth Ann Haight, the daughter of James and Jemima (Budd) Haight, and granddaughter of Marion Swims) Haight.

E .DWIN TRAVER, one of the most promi- nent agriculturists of the town of Rhine- beck, Dutchess county, is a descendant of one of the earliest settlers of this region. Among the emigrants from Holland who located in Ulster county, in 1710, was Anna Maria Tre- ber, who had two sons between the ages of nine and fifteen, and from them the numerous Traver family in this vicinity have sprung. The first of the name to settle in the town of Rhinebeck, came about 1715.

Our subject's grandfather, Henry B. Tra- ver, was a native of Dutchess county, and probably of the town of Rhinebeck, where he was a prosperous farmer in later years. He married Miss Cookingham, and had seven chil- dren: Lewis, a farmer in Rhinebeck, who served as a soldier in the war of 1812; William, also a farmer in Rhinebeck; Eve, who mar- ried Gideon Traver, a farmer; Maria; Aaron, our subject's father; Moses, a farmer; and Gilbert, who is now a retired farmer in Rhine- beck.

Aaron Traver was born at the old farm in 1 809. He married Christma Traver, a native of the town of Clinton, whose great-grandfa- ther, Bastian Traver, was born in Holland, and came to Dutchess county when a young man, locating in the town of Rhinebeck. His son David had a son Samuel, born in Clinton town, in 1783, who was the father of Christina Tra- ver. After their marriage our subject's parents lived in Clinton town for some years, and then moved to the farm in Rhinebeck, now

owned by our subject. They had eleven chil- dren: Darius, a farmer in Rhinebeck ; Elbert, who died in 1863, in defense of the Union; Nathaniel, now living in Arizona; Seth, who died in 1887; Edwin, our subject; Sarah, who died in 1886; Wesley B., a farmer in Rhine- beck; Oscar and DeWitt, who died in youth; Mary, who died in 1891; and Emma C., now living with our subject. The mother died in 1882, and the father six years later.

The subject of our sketch was born in the town of Clinton, November 15, 1844, and at six years of age he moved with his parents to his present home. His farin comprises 18o acres of land, well adapted to general farming. For about six years in all, during his earlier years, he taught school, and he takes great in- terest in educational progress and in all the movements of the day, keeping well informed .on current measures. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, and he contributes to the Lutheran Church, of which his forefathers were ad- herents.

W ILLIAM P. ROE, a well-known dairy- man and agriculturist of the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county, residing near Brinck- erhoff, is one of the most enterprising workers in his chosen lines.

John Roe, his father, was born June 28, 1792, and followed the occupation of a farmer, settling upon a farm of about 100 acres in the town of Wappinger, Dutchess county. On April 1, 1849, he married Mary Ann Phillips, who was born August 26, 1802, in Fishkill, Dutchess county. To their union one son was born - William P. Our subject's mother was a daughter of William I. Phillips (who was born March 14, 1767, and died July 9, 1839) and his wife, Elizabeth (who was born Decem- ber 3, 1774, and died March 14, 1854). The father of our subject died September 27, 1861; the mother passing away Jannary 24, 1875.

William P. Roe was born near Flushing, Long Island, January 29, 1847. Although not a native of Dutchess county, he come here at the age of two years with his father, and re- ceived his education in the district schools of the town of Fishkill, assisting in the meantime with the work at home. After leaving school he devoted his attention to the management of the farm, to which he succeeded at his father's death. On September 27, 1861, he married Miss Elizabeth De Long, daughter of James R.

Edwin Traver

------

701

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Frances (Seaman) De Long, prominent residents of the town of Beekman. James R. De Long was the only brother of the Hon. Charles E. De Long, the most prominent law- yer on the Pacific coast, and who was ap- pointed, by President U. S. Grant, United States minister to Japan, which office he filled with great honor, his wife being the first Amer- ican lady introduced to the Mikado of Japan. In 1877 Mr. Roe sold his farm and moved to Brooklyn, where he opened a feed, flour and grain store, which he carried on for one year; he then returned to Dutchess county, and worked for a year on the farm of his father-in- law. Since that time he has been continu- ously engaged in agriculture, spending four years on the estate of George Tabor, of Beek- man (Mrs. Roe's uncle); three years at Green- haven on the Peters farm; three years in the town of Unionvale, on the Peter H. Christie property; and for the past seven years at his present location - the farm of 300 acres owned by W. F. Wilson, of New York City. He is largely interested in dairying, keeping, on an average, about fifty cows, with many young cattle.

In politics Mr. Roe is a Democrat, and in religion inclines to the Methodist Church, which he and his wife attend. They have had ten children: John Franklin, George Bert, Mary Helena, James Clifford, Charles, Bertha, Sarah Elizabeth, Edith May, Carrie Elizabeth and William P., all of whom are living, except Charles and Sarah Elizabeth, who died in childhood.

Mrs. Roe's paternal great-grandparents were James and Sally (Losee) De Long, and their son Egbert her grandfather) married Sarah Crandall, daughter of Reed and Eliza- beth Crandall. On the maternal side her grandparents were David N. Seaman and his wife, Melissa Howard, who was a daughter of Edward Howard. This David N. Seaman was sheriff of Dutchess county, serving three years from 1847.

T HEODORE ANTHONY, a representa- tive agriculturist of the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county, resides one-half mile from Fishkill village, upon a farm which has been in the family for many years. He was born September 25, 1830, in the house which he now occupies. and has passed the greater por- tion of his life there. His education was be-

gun in the public schools of Fishkill, and com- pleted in the old academy which has given so many of the clever sons of Dutchess county their intellectual training. On completing his course there he began his career as a farmer. Some years were spent at the homestead, and then he went to De Kalb county, Ill., to im- prove some prairie land belonging to his father; but after four years he returned and resumed his work at the old home. In 1884 he pur- chased the place, which now contains sixty- three acres, mainly devoted to general crops. He keeps from ten to twelve cows, and is very successful in his dairy work, and also raises some fine fruit of various kinds, his apple orchard being extensive and productive. The estate is bounded on the north and west by the lands of Sylvanus Haight, on the east by the old Albany and New York post road, and on the south by the property of Sebring Smith and Charles D. Rogers.

On November 20, 1862, Mr. Anthony mar- ried Miss Mary T. Phillips, daughter of Isaac and Cornelia (Tappan) Phillips, and grand- daughter of John Phillips and his wife Hester (Van Voorhis). On the maternal side she was a granddaughter of Major Peter Tappan and his wife Annie (DeWitt), who was a daughter of Col. Charles De Witt of Revolutionary fame, and Blandina (DuBois), his wife. Major Peter Tappan was a son of Christopher, who was a son of the Christopher Tappan, whose daughter Cornelia married Gov. George Clin- ton. Mrs. Anthony died November 15, 1884, leaving no children, and Mr. Anthony was married October 20, 1894, to her sister, Miss Cornelia V. Phillips, who lived but a short time, passing away December 18, 1894. Both were members of the Reformed Dutch Church, and were held in high esteem among their ac- quaintances. Mr. Anthony has also been a member of that Church for years, and at differ- ent times has held the office of deacon. Mr. Anthony is one of the leading workers in local affairs, and in the Republican organization, and has held the office of town auditor, and received the nominations of his party on various occasions as assessor, highway com- missioner and collector.

The Anthony family is among the early comers to this State, and our subject's great- grandparents, Nicholas and Catherine (Daly) Anthony, were residents of New York City. Their son John, our subject's grandfather, mar- ried Elizabeth Van Wyck, daughter of William

702

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Martha Carman Van Wyck. William An- thony, the father of our subject, was born Au- gust 10, 1798, and became a successful farmer at the present homestead, owning about 210 acres of land. He was a prominent member of the Reformed Dutch Church for many years previous to his death, which occurred November 16, 1879. His first wife, Miss Mary Wright, was a daughter of Enos and Mary ( Woolen) Wright. She died June 20, 1836, leaving four children: John W., Theodore, Elizabeth (Mrs. Abraham G. Remsen, of Plainfield, N. J.), and Mary, who died at the age of thirty. By a second wife, Hannah Wright, a sister of the first, there were also four children: Cornelia, Sarah A., Enos and Kate.

J AMES MADISON WOOD. It is a natural and praise-worthy interest in our common humanity that lends to biography its chief charm to the reader, and there is no life his- tory from which there may not be some lesson drawn to enlighten and direct the inexper- ienced, cheer the despondent, or renew the energy of the weary. Years spent in quiet usefulness may win honor for gray hairs as well as those which have been passed under the public eye, and while no one would de- tract from the merits of those who gain the world's applause, faithful attention to the ev- ery-day duties of life may also show ability and high purpose.

Our subject's paternal grandparents, Jo- seph and Elizabeth Light) Wood, were early settlers, and his father, Joseph I. Wood, was born September 16, 1783, dying April 2, 1861, after a life given mainly to agricultural pursuits. His wife, Rachel Finch, was a native of Croton Falls, Westchester county, born June 7. 1790, and her death occurred March 19, 1879. Our subject was the eldest of five children; the others being: Martha E., Isaac F., John H., and Harvey.

James Madison Wood, who is one of the oldest and most esteemed residents of Mattea- wan. Dutchess county, was born in Johnsville, town of Fishkill, October 1, 1816. His edu- cation was received at the district school at Glenham for some years, and he then pursued the higher branches, including trigonometry and surveying, in a private school. On at- taining his majority he left the farm, and learned the machinist's trade, which he fol- lowed until 1860, when he engaged in mercantile

business, conducting a general store at Mattea- wan. In 1869 he disposed of this, and pur- chased a farm of Soo acres in Louisa county, Va., where he remained five years, raising corn, wheat, oats, and tobacco. Selling this property in 1874, he returned to Matteawan and rented a gristmill, and from that time un- til his retirement from business, in 1885. he was engaged in milling and in dealing in flour and feed. His sound judgment in business af- fairs gave him an influential place in local af- fairs; yet he has never sought public honors. He voted the Democratic ticket until 1859, but since that date he has been a Republican.

He married Louisa Rothery, daughter of John and Mary (Ashforth Rothery, who were both natives of England. Her great-grand- father (on the father's side) was Joseph Roth- ery, and her grandfather, John Rothery, was the originator of the Rothery files, known all over the world. Her maternal grandparents were William Ashforth and his wife, Ann Clay, a native of Chesterfield, England, and a cousin of the famous American statesman, Henry Clay. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have had five children: Mary Ann, who married Moses Cortland Sanford, of New Jersey; John A. ; Wilfred, who died in infancy; lda, who died at the age of eleven; and Lelia, the wife of Al- bert Townsend, of Peekskill, N. Y. Mr. Wood has been a member of the I. O. O. F. for nearly fifty-two years, and is now one of the two surviving charter members of Evergreen Lodge.

W ILLIAM H. HAIGHT. In his chosen specialties of dairying and horticulture, the subject of this sketch is regarded as one of the leaders in his vicinity, and his fine farin, within sight of the village of Fishkill, Dutchess county, is one of the best-managed places of its kind.

For several generations the home of his family has been at Phillipstown, Putnam Co., N. Y., where his grandfather, Joshua Haight, was a farmer. Henry W. Haight, our sub- ject's father, was born there in 1809, and be- came a farmer and extensive dealer in ship timber. On November 7, 1829, he married Jane Mekeel, who was born in 18o8, the daugh- ter of Stephen and Elizabeth (Bell) Mekeel, and of this union eight children were born: Sylvanus W., Mary E., Charles B., Sarah Jane, John, Phoebe W., William H. (our sub-

703

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

ject), and Albert. The father died December 20, 1872, and the mother passed away May 15, 1886.

William H. Haight was born September 27, 1844, and grew to manhood on the farm near Phillipstown, attending the neighboring district schools in winter and assisting in the work at home at other seasons. At eighteen he left school and engaged in business, follow- ing the occupations of his father. He con- tinued to conduct the homestead until he was thirty years old, when he rented a farm for a few years, and later purchased his present property, which contains something over 100 acres. He keeps thirty-five head of cattle, and sells an average of 200 quarts of milk per day the year round, while a goodly portion of his estate is devoted to the raising of fine varieties of fruit. As a business man he holds a high reputation, and he is a stockholder in the National Bank at Matteawan.

Mr. Haight has a pleasant home. His wife, whom he married February 12, 1881, and whose maiden name was Mary Nelson, is a daughter of Justus and Sarah (Nelson) Nelson. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are interested in all efforts for the advance- ment of morality. Their only son, Harry N. Haight, is a student in the Union School at Fishkill. Politically, Mr. Haight is a Repub- lican, but has not given much time to party work, especially of late years. While living at Phillipstown he held the office of commis- sioner of highways for three years.

C ASPER LAWSON, one of the most enter- prising and prosperous agriculturists of the town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, was born at Barnegat, Dutchess Co., N. Y., November 22, 1823. His ancestors came from Holland at an early period, and settled in Dutchess county. The great grandfather of our subject, William C. Lawson (who spelled his name " Lansink "), wedded the first white girl born in Dutchess county. She was a Miss Eighmie, her Christian name being now un- known. The wedding created wide notice, and it is said that all the " whites " of Dutch- ess county attended-not very numerous in those days, though " Redmen " were plentiful.

His grandfather, Matthew Lawson, was born in the town of Fishkill, and became in- terested in several lines of business there,

aside from the management of his small farm. He married Eleanor Hoffman, a native of Dutchess county, and reared a family of seven children. His five sons were all engaged in boating and in the stone and lime business. Simeon married Mary Miller; Daniel married Rachel Weaver; Peter H. (our subject's father) married Kathline Westervelt; Matthew married Ann Budd; John M. never married; Elizabeth was the wife of Thomas Lawson, who was en- gaged in boating and in the lime business; and Maria was the wife of John Bower, a shoe- maker.

Peter H. Lawson was born at Barnegat, in 1793, and died there in 1828, his wife surviv- ing him six years. She was the daughter of Caspaurus Westervelt, a native of Dutchess county, and a descendant of an old Holland- Dutch family. He owned and conducted a farm and gristmill, and was a prominent citizen of the town of Poughkeepsie. Peter Lawson was an honorable, upright man, whose repu- tation is a heritage of which his children may well be proud. He and his wife were devout members of the Reformed Dutch Church. They had seven children, two of whom died in infancy. Elizabeth married John Bishop (now deceased), then a mason and builder in New York City, and later a merchant and ferry- man at New Hamburg, where his widow re- sided until her death in February, 1896; Al- bert G., a boatman by occupation, is now liv- ing in Brooklyn; Kathline married Benjamin Dearin, a native of Dutchess county, who en- gaged in mercantile business in New York City; and Eleanor married Adam Graham, a native of Poughkeepsie, and a well-known merchant and hotel-keeper at New Hamburg; and Casper (or Caspaurus).

The last named was a mere child when he lost his parents by death. He attended the schools of his native place until he was four- teen, when he began boating on the river, an occupation which he followed for many years. On December 15, 1847, he married Miss Eliza Nichols, who was born at the present site of Passaic, N. J., December 12, 1820. Her father, John Nichols, was a school teacher, and was an active worker in the Democratic party in his locality. He and his wife, Ann Masters, were both natives of England. After his mar- riage Mr. Lawson moved to New York City and engaged in a mercantile enterprise with his brother-in-law, Benjamin Dearin, but soon resumed his former employment, which he

704

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

continued until 1868. He did an extensive business in the transportation of brick, having twenty-two boats under his control. His suc- cess reflects great credit upon him, as it was the result of his own exertions and thrifty manage- ment. Beginning at a salary of five dollars a month, he worked a long time before he man- aged to save enough money to buy a boat ; but when this point was reached the purchase of others from time to time was more easily ac- complished. As an employer, he is noted for fair dealing. On June 12, 1868, he bought his present farm of 113 acres near Arlington, where he has since been engaged in general farming. The estate is among the finest of that vicinity, and he has barns and other im- provements of a model kind, and an elegant and commodious dwelling house. Mrs. Law- son died January 17, 1893, deeply mourned by a large circle of friends. She and her hus- band were for many years prominent members of the Second Reformed Dutch Church of Poughkeepsie. Of their seven children six are still living: Edward W. is the superintendent of the Fort Lee Ferry, at New York; Casper N. has been a stone dealer and contractor at New York, and still resides there; Roberta ( 1) died in infancy; Clementine married Henry Warrall, a farmer near Vassar; Roberta (2) is at home; Welcome H. married Catherine Wat- kins, of Fort Lee, N. J .; Watkins, a lawyer, is now studying at the farm on account of ill health; and Mary E. married Walter H. Bedell, a dentist of Poughkeepsie. Mr. Law- son has taken an active interest in local poli- tics, and is a leading Democrat ; was appointed assessor in 1869, was elected to the same office in 1870, and has served and is serving as supervisor, being elected in 1881, 1883, 1896 and 1897.

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 129

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