Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 136

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

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In 1857 John S. Powell was married to Rachel A. Powell, a descendant of the Long Island branch of the family. Her grandfather, Thomas T. Powell, who died in 1862, at the age of ninety-one years, kept an old-fashioned inn at Westerlo, Albany county. His mother was a Titus, and his wife was Mary Ann Greene, who died in 1861 at the age of eighty- six years; she was of Welsh blood, and a direct descendant of Gen. Nathaniel Greene. Six children were born to Thomas Powell and his wife: Ezekiel died in 1882 at the age of seventy-five; Joseph D. died at sixty; Orrin at fifty-five; Jesse D. at thirty; Harriet at fifty- five; and Mary Ann at fifty.

. Ezekiel Powell, the maternal grandfather of our subject, married Prudence Halsted, who died in 1884, aged seventy-two years. She was one of the ten children of Stephen and Eve (Decker) Halsted, both of whom were natives of Germantown, Dutchess county. He died in 1835 aged fifty-five, his wife passing away in 1867. Of their children all but three lived in Illinois. Thomas died there at the age of eighty; Bartow at fifty; Stephen D. at forty-five; Samuel at sixty; John now lives there at eighty years of age; Betsey Ann died there at forty-five; Mary Ann is living there at seventy-five. Of those who remained in New York, besides Prudence, there were Sally Maria (Mrs. Blossom), who is living in W'es- terlo, at the age of sixty-two; and Marilla, who died at South Westerlo when aged twenty- four.

From the foregoing it will be seen that at 47

the time of the birth of Dr. Powell (in 1860) he was blessed with six living grandmothers and four grandfathers. He was the only child of his parents, and they lived to rejoice in his success, his father dying in 1895, his mother now residing with him. Our subject attended the public schools of his native place while his father was teaching there, and at the age of sixteen entered the Albany Normal School, where he took the two-years' course, graduat- ing with the valedictory honors in 1878. For a short time he conducted a drug store at "Bath-on-the-Hudson", and disposing of it he matriculated in the fall of 1878 at the Albany Medical College under Dr. E. T. Rulison (now of Buffalo, N. Y.), the late Dr. Norman L. Snow, of Albany, curator of the college, and Prof. Albert Van Der Veer, as preceptors. He was graduated in 1882, being again awarded the honor of delivering the valedictory address. In the spring of that year he located at Housa- tonic, Mass .; but in the fall he moved to Poughkeepsie and commenced practice at No. 4 Garden street. Fortune did not at first smile upon him, but his fine abilities and train- ing gradually won recognition, so that at the end of three years he had a fair practice, and now has one of the best in the city. He keeps well abreast of the advances of his pro- fession, his retentive memory being a great advantage to him, and is very successful as a general practitioner.

In 1883 Dr. Powell married Idell H. Champlin, daughter of Charles Champlin, and has two children, Robert Carlisle and Vera Terry. Possessing a genial nature, the Doctor is a leading spirit in local affairs. He takes an ardent interest in the success of the Republic- an party; was health officer of the city under Mayor Ellsworth, and is now a member of the Board of Education. He belongs to Pough- keepsie Bicycle Club, the K. of P., Triumph Lodge No. 165, and to the Masonic fraternity, Triune Lodge No. 782, being the first man to be admitted to that order at a regular com- munication of the lodge in the new Masonic Temple. Among his professional brethren he holds a high rank, and is a member of the Dutchess County Medical Society, has been president of the Clinical Society of Poughkeep- sie, and in 1892 was president of the Alumni Association of the Albany Medical College. He is U. S. Pension Examining Surgeon; is surgeon of the Nineteenth Separate Company, Third Brigade, New York; has been Police

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Surgeon, and is now County Physician. He is also a member of the Board of Trade, and of the Retail Merchants Association of the City of Poughkeepsie; is a member of Davy Crock- ett Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, being ex-president thereof, and at the present time is president of the board of trustees.

TAMES A. MARSHALL. One does not have to pursue his investigations far into the annals of Dutchess county before he finds that the name of this gentleman is con- spicuous on the pages of its history. His life is distinctive from the fact that he is one of the oldest native sons of the county, and a rep- resentative of one of its most honored pioneer families. In Pleasant Valley, April 26, 1819, he first opened his eyes to the light of day, and his father, Henry S. Marshall, was born in the same town, May 5, 1793. The grand- father, James Marshall, was born in the same locality, March 5, 1765. The great-grand- father, John Marshall, was one of the seven sons of the founder of the family in America, who came to this country from his native Eng- land.

James Marshall, the grandfather of our subject, married Catherine Van Vorehis, and located on a farm in the town of Pleasant Val- ley, where they reared children as follows: John, who was a merchant and school-teacher; Henry S., father of our subject; Stephen, a printer by trade, took charge of the State prison in later life; George, who lived in vari- ous localities in Dutchess county; Elizabeth, wife of William Welling, a farmer; Sally, wife of William Allen, a farmer; Catherine, wife of George Ham, an agriculturist; Elsie, wife of Lansing Thorne, who followed the same pur- suit ; and Julia, wife of Isaac Newcomb, who died in a Rebel prison during the Civil war.

Henry S. Marshall in his early life learned the trade of a bookbinder. He married Sarah Allen, a native of the town of Pleasant Valley, and a daughter of John I. and Esther Allen, whose family numbered twelve children. Her father was an agriculturist, and was of English lineage. Mr. and Mrs. Marshall began house- keeping on a farm in Pleasant Valley town, where they spent their remaining days, their friends and neighbors holding them in the highest esteem fer many excellencies of char- acter. Consistent members of the Presbyte- rian Church, Mr. Marshall served for many

years as deacon. In politics he was a Whig. In the family were four children: Catherine E., deceased; James A .; Eliza and Isaac, who have also passed away.

The respected subject of this review, James A. Marshall, lived with his parents through the days of his boyhood and youth, and early be- came familiar with the duties of farm life. On leaving home he married Cordelia Conover, a native of the town of Poughkeepsie, and a daughter of Jacob Conover, an enterprising farmer, born in Dutchess county, and descended from an old Holland family. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Marshall, which was celebrated October 27, 1843, was blessed with four chil- dren: Sarah E., wife of Bartlett Devine, a farmer of Pleasant Valley town; Isaac, a farmer of Olive town, Ulster county: Henry J., who operates land near the old homestead; and Nellie, wife of Harvey Halsted, a farmer of the town of Pleasant Valley.

Mr. Marshall has made farming his life work. Having resided at various places in the county, he removed in 1886 to his present home in the town of Pleasant Valley, where he has since lived retired, enjoying the compe- tence that has come to him as the reward of his earnest and able labors in former years. In September, 1895, he was called upon to mourn the loss of his loved wife, with whom he had traveled life's journey for more than half a century, but he lives in the hope of a blessed reunion in the land where sorrow and death are no more. His religious connection is with the Presbyterian Church, and his po- litical association with the Republican party, by which he was elected road commissioner and assessor. His life is not marked by any events of exciting or thrilling interest, but his is the honorable career of a man who has al- ways faithfully performed his duties to the best of his ability, and with promptness and fidelity discharged every trust reposed in him.

E LIPHAZ DELAMATER, a well-known farmer of the town of Lagrange, Dutch- ess county, was born in the town of Esopus, Ulster Co., N. Y., March 21, 1842. The great-great-grandfather on the paternal side came to this State from Holland at an early day, and settled in Esopus. His son John was born there, and the latter's son John was born at Esopus, August 4, 1779, and died Septem- ber 18, 1858.

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This John Delamater, the grandfather of our subject, was married September 13, 1806, to Fanny Decker, who was born August 24. 1780, and died March 6, 1858. Their children were as follows: Catherine, born August 7. 1807: Jacob, September 25, 1810; John (father of our subject), November 26, 1812; Peter, May 24, 1817; Eliza, July 27, 1823. The father of this family was a miller by trade, and followed that occupation for a number of years. He owned a mill which he subse- quently sold, and and in connection with his father purchased a farm. He was a prominent man in his community, and had the confidence of the public. He was made the trustee of many estates, and managed all his affairs with discretion and good judgment. He was a member of the Reformed Dutch Church, and helped to build the edifice, and was one of its most liberal supporters. For four years before his death he was afflicted with blindness, which he bore with fortitude and uncomplain- ing patience.

John Delamater, father of our subject, was reared in the town of Esopus, Ulster county, on his father's farm, and attended the district schools of that locality. He carried on farm- ing there until 1865, when he sold out and re- moved to Lagrange town, Dutchess county, buying the farm on which our subject now re- sides. Here he made his home until the time of his death, which took place April 27, 1891. He was married in Esopus, June 8, 1833, to Sarah Terpening, who was there born Decem- ber 5, 1813. Their children were Israel Van- Keuren, born November 1, 1835, and died May 6, 1868; and Eliphaz, the subject of this re- view. John Delamater was a member of the Reformed Church, and was highway commis- sioner in the town of Esopus. He was a man of fine character, and was universally re- spected.

Our subject spent his boyhood days in Esopus, where he attended the district schools. When twenty-three years old he came with his parents to Lagrange township, and has resided there for the past thirty years, being engaged in farming. He was married October 25, 1882, to Anna M., daughter of Philip Schuyler Andrews, and their family consists of the fol- lowing children: John and Emott (twins), Harold, Mildred, Wilfred and Cornelia.

Mr. Delamater is a member of the Re- formed Church at New Hackensack, and in politics is in sympathy with the Republican

party, although he takes no active part in public affairs, and has never been an aspirant for office. He is a quiet, unostentatious man, and is highly respected by all who know him.

G ILBERT E. VAN WAGNER, one of the representative farmers of the town of Pleasant Valley, is a native of Dutchess coun- ty, born in Hyde Park, January 3, 1838. The kingdom of Holland, which has given to the world one of the hardiest races of people, sheltered the ancestors of our subject, but for many generations they have made their home in the county. The grandfather, Gilbert Van- Wagner, was born in the town of Pleasant Valley, and was a son of Evert Van Wagner, who carried on farming there. The former wedded Catherine Schriver, also a native of Dutchess county, and located upon a farm in Hyde Park, where their seven children were born, namely: Hannah first married a cous- in by the name of Van Wagner, a farmer by occupation, and after his death became the wife of a Mr. Butts, a resident of the western part of the State; Helen married Charles J. Todd, a farmer of Hyde Park; Mary was the wife of Jacob Tillottson, a wagon maker and farmer of Hyde Park; John, who wedded Lettie Humphrey, also engaged in farming in Dutchess county; Isaac married Jennett Beech, and carried on agricultural pursuits in the town of Clinton, Dutchess county; Evert G. is the father of our subject; and James, a farmer, married Ann Beech.

In Hyde Park Evert G. Van Wagner was born, and on reaching inan's estate he married Sarah Humphrey, who was born in the town of Beekman, Dutchess county, a daughter of John Humphrey, who carried on farming there. Her mother, who bore the maiden name of Jane Bregraw, was a native of New- town, Long Island, and by her marriage had six children, of whom Sarah was the eldest. She was followed by Phoebe, wife of George H. Traver, a retired farmer of Saratoga, N. Y .; Elizabeth, wife of Harris McFarland, a farmer of the town of Pleasant Valley; Ellen, wife of George Bates, also an agriculturist of Pleasant Valley town; and Thomas, who mar- ried Ellen Skidmore. After his marriage the father of our subject took his bride to his farm in Hyde Park town. They became the parents of children as follows: George, who died at the age of twenty-two years; John,

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who wedded Mary Mosher; Abram, who mar- ried Sophia Wagner; Andrew, who married Cordelia Wagner; Gilbert, of this review; and Kate. The sons all followed in the foot- steps of their father-engaging in agricultural pursuits as a life work. The parents were both faithful members of the Reformed Church, and in politics Mr. Van Wagner was a Republican. His death occurred July 3, 1884, that of his wife on January 4, 1867.

Gilbert E. Van Wagner received his edu- cation in the excellent schools of Dutchess county, where under the able direction of his father he soon became familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of an agriculturist. On De- cember 24, 1862, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Ann Barnes, a native of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, and a daughter of Edwin and Laura Ann (Van Der- burgh) Barnes, also natives of Clinton town, the former born in 1817, and the latter on April 18, 1818. By trade the father was a machinist, and both he and his wife were Pres- byterians in religious belief. He died April 3. 1842, his wife passing away February 14, 1874. Their only child was Mrs. Van Wag- ner. Her paternal grandfather was Samuch Barnes, and her maternal grandfather was John Van Derburgh, a farmer of Clinton town, and a son of Henry Van Derburgh, also an agriculturist of that township, and an officer in the Revolutionary war.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Wagner began their do- mestic life upon their present farm of 149 acres, which has been in the possession of some member of her family since the year 1800. Three children bless their union: Evert H., who married Ida J. Traver, and engages in farming; Laura Ann; and George E. B., who married Etta M. Young, and lives in Hyde Park. The parents contribute liberally to the support of the Baptist Church, and Mrs. Van- Wagner takes an active part in its affairs. They are highly respected throughout the com- munity in which they live, and he is numbered among the most progressive and enterprising citizens of the township. He devotes his en- tire time and attention to general farming, in which he is meeting with a well-deserved suc- cess, and, though not very active in politics, usually votes for the candidates offered by the Republican party.

John Van Derburgh, the maternal grand- father of Mrs. Van Wagner, married Ann Mott, a daughter of Ebenezer Mott, who

was appointed lieutenant of the Fifth New York Regiment, December 22, 1779, and valiantly aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence. He had been commissioned second-lieutenant by John Hancock on the 21st of November, 1776, and was appointed by John Jay as ensign of the same regiment in June, 1779. At West Point he was taken prisoner, and being placed on board an old battle ship was taken to New York City and incarcerated in the old sugar house. He be- came very prominent in public affairs, and served as a member of the General Assembly from 1792 to 1793, and from 1798 to 1801. On March 1, 1781, he was married at Rhine- beck, Dutchess county, to Mary Van Vlack, a daughter of Jacob and Ann (Stoutenburgh) Van Vlack, and to them were born the follow- ing children: Jacob E., who married Mar- garet Stoutenburgh; James, who died unmar- ried; Ann, who became the wife of John Van- Derburgh; Mrs. Sallie Sammis; Maria, Cather- ine and Ebenezer, who all died unmarried; and John, who wedded Maria Culver.

Mrs. Van Wagner can trace a relationship back to Anneke Jans, the owner of the prop- erty in New York City, where Trinity Church now stands, which is worth many millions of dollars. Her daughter, Sarah, married Hans Kiersterd on the 29th of June, 1642, and their daughter, Rachel, became the wife of William Teller, whose daughter, Margaret, married Jacob Stoutenburgh. Their daughter, Ann, was the wife of Jacob Van Vlack, and to them was born a daughter, Mary, who wedded Eb- enezer Mott in 1781. Their daughter, Ann, was united in marriage with John Van Der- burgh, March 1, 1812, and to them was born a daughter, Laura, who, on the 15th 'of June, 1841, wedded Edwin Barnes, the father of Mrs. Van Wagner.

W RIGHT B. ODELL, a prominent and representative agriculturist of the town of Beekman, Dutchess county, was born in the town of Unionvale, same county, June 17, 1860, and is a son of Luman B. Odell, also a native of that town. The latter was educated in the district schools, and remained upon the home farm until attaining his majority. In his native township he married Mary Abel, by whom he had three children: Daniel, of Okla- homa, Okla. ; Wright B. ; and Flora M., wife of Charles Brill, Jr. After residing upon the

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Abel farm for a time, Mr. Odell removed to Arthursburg, where he engaged in clerking for about two years, and then removed to a farm in the town of Fishkill, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was killed while helping to raise a barn for a neighbor in that town, in 1876. His career was one of honor and respectability, and won for him the high regard of all who knew him. He was a con- sistent member of the Christian Church in Unionvale town, and a stalwart Republican in politics.

The early school days of Wright B. Odell were spent at Arthursburg, in the town of La- grange, Dutchess county, and at Poughquag. In 1880 the family removed to the present residence of our subject in the town of Beek- man, and two years later Mr. Odell assumed control of toe farm, which comprises 200 acres of rich and arable land, and which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He is a most successful and enterprising farmer.

In Chicago, November 25, 1892, was cele- brated the marriage of Mr. Odell and Miss Inez A. Brill, a daughter of George Brill, a native of the town of Beekman, Dutchess county, and they have one daughter, Mary Frances. Mr. Odell supports the principles of the Republican party by his ballot, and he is deeply interested in the welfare and advance- ment of his native county. He and his wife are widely and favorably known in their local- ity, and their home is a favorite circle for many friends.

J OHN H. COX, a valued and esteemed agri- culturist of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, has his residence upon a farm of most superior land, which is under excellent culture and improvement. The buildings upon the place are of a neat and substantial charac- ter, and betoken thrift and prosperity. He is meeting with well-merited success in his farm- ing operations.

Mr. Cox is a native of New York City, and traces his ancestry back to Isaac Cox, who was born in 1735, and in Kent county, Del., April 7, 1763, was united in marriage with Susanna Hanson. He died December 28, 1773, at the age of thirty-eight years. His son, Isaac, was the grandfather of our subject. He was born at Baltimore, Md., November 10, 1768, and on reaching manhood he there worked at the hatter's trade; but most of his life was passed in

Pennsylvania. By his marriage with Sarah Hanson he had five children: Eliza, Samuel Daniel, Mary, Henry R. and Rachel.

Henry R. Cox, the father of our subject, was born in 1809, upon a farm in Lycoming county, Penn., where he spent his boyhood days. When a young man he went to New York City, where he became a dry-goods mer- chant on Greenwich street, and there engaged in business until his death, which occurred May 1, 1851. He wedded Mary Middlemus, and to them were born three children: Joseph M., Henry R. and Eliza H. For his second wife he chose Miss Susan Lake, a native of Lycom- ing county, Penn., who died in 1857, and they became the parents of two children: John H. and Samuel H. After the father's death the family removed to the town of Stanford, Dutch- ess county.

As boys, John H. Cox, of this review, and his brother, Samuel H., lived with their uncle, John Hunn, in Stanford township, and received such educational advantages as the district schools of the neighborhood afforded, though the brother had also attended the public schools of New York City. On February II, 1885, in the town of Stanford, our subject was united in marriage with Eliza H. Striker, a descendant of one of the early settlers of Man- hattan Island. Two children bless this union: Ella, born February 19, 1887; and Eliza, born February 18, 1893. For a year after his mar- riage, Mr. Cox remained upon the Hunn farm, and then for a few months was a resident of Bangall, Dutchess county. Since that time he has made his home upon his present farm on the west side of Hunn's lake. He learned the trade of a machinist in the Roger's axle fac- tory, at Stanfordville, but has always followed farming as a means of livelihood. Success has waited upon the efforts of this gentleman in all his efforts, and the general verdict is that he has well deserved it. Labor and persever- ance, coupled with economy and frugality, are bound to win in the long run, and these virtues he possesses to a large extent. Politically, he votes the straight Republican ticket, and has served as assessor of his township, while, socially, he holds membership with the Knights of Pythias.

Samuel H. Cox has lived with our subject since the latter's marriage, and has devoted most of his time to agricultural pursuits and to the cattle trade. He has served as census- taker in his township. The brothers are

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esteemed and valued members of the com- munity, and possess the entire confidence and regard of their neighbors.

John Hunn, the uncle with whom they lived in boyhood, was born near Dover, Del., September 9, 1785, and was the son of John and Susanna Hunn. He was married in New York City, May 9, 1816, to Sarah S. Willis, and after her death wedded Eliza Cox, February 8, 1837. By trade he was a tanner and cur- rier, and for several years conducted a leather store in New York City, but in 1851 removed to the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, where he made his home until his death, which occurred December 5, 1867. He was a mem- ber of the Society of Friends, and was an earnest Christian gentleman.

W ARREN REYNOLDS. The subject of this sketch, who is a man of more than ordinary intelligence and business capacity, owns two fine farms in the town of Washing- ton, Dutchess county, which aggregate about 400 acres, and is prominent among the agri- cultural interests of the county, contributing largely to its reputation by making his places two of the most desirable homesteads within its borders. Admired and esteemed by his friends and neighbors, he enjoys, as he de- serves, a generous portion of this world's goods.

Mr. Reynolds was born in Chatham, Co- lumbia Co., N. Y., September 19, 1821, and is a son of Titus S. Reynolds, whose birth oc- curred in the same place January 9, 1790. Of that county his grandfather, Solomon Reynolds, was one of the leading agriculturists. The family were members of the Society of Friends.

Titus S. Reynolds was united in marriage with Hannah Brockway, a native of Columbia county, born March 12, 1794, and they began their domestic life in Chatham, where the father followed farming. His political views were in accordance with those held by the Re- publican party, and religiously he was a Hicks- ite Quaker. He passed away April 11, 1862, and his wife on August 3, 1881. Their family circle included twelve children: Horace, born August 11, 1814, died at the age of sixteen years; Lester A., born February 16, 1816, is living retired in Iowa; Sylvester (twin brother of Lester) followed blacksmithing and farming, and died in 1890; Elias B., born September 14, 1818, was a drover, and died May 24, 1880; Mary A., born March 23, 1820, became

the wife of John Goodenough, a wheelwright by trade, and died in ISS9; Warren, of this review, is the next in order of birth; Deborah J., born February 5, 1823, married Erastus Jones, a farmer of Columbia county, and died in 1887; Isaac B., born November 26, 1824, died in infancy; Laura B. (twin sister of Isaac), married a Mr. Brown, and died in 1879; Julina, born October 23, 1828, became the wife of George Williams, a farmer, and died in 1887; Freeman, born April 16, 1831, is an agricult- urist of Orleans county, Vt .; and Alida, born May 5, 1833, was the wife of H. W. Williams, a farmer of Columbia county, and died August 27, 1864.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 136

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