Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 137

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

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Our subject was reared on a farm, and re- ceived his first lesson in agriculture from his father, who was a practical, capable farmer. He was married, October 2, 1843, to Hannah Carpenter, who was born in Hudson, N. Y., May 12, 1822, and died in Wayne county, this State, May 24, 1852. Four children graced this union: Lydia J., born October 12, 1844, died in infancy; Francelia, born July 2, 1846, married William Jones, of Chicago, Ill., and later became the wife of George K. Jones, of the same city; Jason C., born March 13, 1849, is employed in the Adams Express office in New York City; and Alvah B., born April 28, 1857, is a milkman of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. On September 19, 1859, Mr. Reynolds was again married, his second union being with Mary Morey, who was born February 20, 1819, and died December 7, 1881.

On September 19, 1883, Mr. Reynolds was married to Mrs. H. C. Hunt, a native of Ber- lin, Vt., who bore the maiden name of Cor- nelia Bosworth. Her father, Jonathan Bos- worth, was born January 21, 1787, in Lebanon, N. H., and was a son of Nathaniel Bosworth, a Revolutionary hero, and the grandson of Jonathan Bosworth, who came from England and founded the family in this country. All his life the father of Mrs. Reynolds engaged in the manufacture of hoes. By his marriage, on July 2, 1811, with Lovisa Vilona Darling, who was born November 9, 1791, he had thir- teen children, namely: Lovisa V., Mary L., Elisha D., Jonathan E.(1), Sarah D., Jona- than E. (2), Tryphena N., Samuel H. O., Anna M., Lucy D., David B., Joseph S., and Han- nah C. The father died April 7, 1879, and the mother passed away August 13, 1872.

Since 1860 Mr. Reynolds has resided in Dutchess county, where he is successfully en-

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gaged in general farming, and is one of the most progressive citizens in the community, always identifying himself with all matters for the public welfare. His political support has ever been given the Republican party, and he is a member of the Society of Friends, while Mrs. Reynolds is a member of the Presbyterian Church of Amenia.

J AMES H. LOVELACE. Among the lead- ing and representative agriculturists of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, stalwart and sturdy tillers of the soil, there is none who stands a more prominent figure than the gen- tleman of whom this notice is written. He made his appearance upon the stage of life March 26, 1845, in the town of Washington, Dutchess county, at the home of his parents, William and Mary (Bates) Lovelace. His paternal grandfather, Peleg Lovelace, was one of the early residents of Putnam county, N. Y., but his last days were spent in the town of Stanford, Dutchess county. He reared to manhood and womanhood a family of ten children-seven sons and three daughters.

William Lovelace was born in the year 1812, in Putnam county, where his boyhood days were passed, and during his youth he learned the carpenter's trade, but did not long follow that occupation, as he soon began farm- ing in the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, remaining there several years. Ten years were afterward spent in the town of Washing- ton, at the expiration of which time he re- turned to Stanford, where he carried on agri- cultural pursuits for thirteen years. He next located upon a farm on Chestnut Ridge, in the town of Dover, which he still owns, but is now living retired in Millbrook, town of Washing- ton. Although he started out in life with nothing, he has by energy and perseverance become a very successful man. He is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, but has never cared for political preferment, and is a consistent member of the Baptist Church. On November 14, 1835, in the town of Washing- ton, he led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Bates, a daughter of Joseph Bates, and four children blessed their union: Francis, de- ceased; James H .; Richard, of the town of Dover; and Asa, of Millbrook.

Our subject accompanied his parents on their various removals during his younger years, and in the public schools of the local-

ities obtained a fair education. For ten years he engaged in agricultural pursuits on Chest- nut Ridge, in the town of Dover, remaining upon his father's farm until 1887, when he re- moved to the Tonsey farm near Clinton Cor- ners, which he operated until the spring of 1890. He then purchased his present farm in the town of Clinton.

Mr. Lovelace was married in the town of Stanford, March 2, 1870, to Maria E. Wood, daughter of Talmage and Lydia (Mosher) Wood. Previous to the Civil war her father had been a resident of that town, but during that struggle enlisted in the 150th N. Y. V. I., under Gen. A. B. Smith, and while serving with that command was killed at the battle of Gettysburg. Two children were born to our subject and his wife: Alva Wood, and Will- iam R., but the latter died in infancy. Mr. Lovelace attends the Christian Church at Stanfordville, is an upright, honorable gentle- man, who wins friends wherever he goes, and by all who know him he is held in the highest regard.

C HARLES H. GRIFFEN. Prominent among the more intelligent, active and enterprising citizens of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, is the young man whose name introduces this biography. His reputa- tion for integrity and industry is second to none in the county, and he is a man devoted to farming and fine stock. He was born on the farm which is still his home, May 27, 1868, and since the early age of fifteen years has had the entire management of the place, which attests his progressive spirit, energy and perse- verance.

William D. Griffen, the father of our sub- ject, was born at White Plains, Westchester Co., N. Y., and at the age of ten years ac- companied the family on their removal to Dutchess county. He attended the Nine Part- ners Boarding School in the town of Wash- ington, and later became a student in a school at Westtown, Penn. He remained upon the home farm until 1857, when he and his brother Jacob purchased the farm now owned by our subject. This they operated together until 1875, when the brother returned to the old homestead in the town of Clinton, but the father continued its cultivation up to his death in 1877.

On February 1, 1865, in the Friends Church

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of Standfordville, N. Y., William D. Griffen was married to Phobe Jane Haight, daughter of Zebulon Haight, of the town of Clinton, and three children blessed their union: Daniel, of Millbrook, Dutchess county, who was born in December, 1865, and by his marriage with Esther A. Purdy has two children-Ira and William; Charles Haight, of this review; and Mary G., wife of F. E. Birdsall, of the town of Clinton. The parents were both sincere and faithful members of the Society of Friends, and the political support of the father was given the Republican party, whose principles he stanchly advocated. Ele was always a pro- gressive, upright citizen, respected by all his neighbors and friends. His father had given him a good start in life, and as he had made the most of his opportunities he secured a comfortable competence. His wife survived him for some years, and was called to her final rest in 1891.

On reaching a sufficient age, Charles H. Griffen entered the district schools of the town of Clinton, later attended Hoags Board- ing School at the head of Upton Lake, was then a student in a private school kept by Miss Tousey, near Clinton Corners, and fur- ther continued his studies at Westtown, Penn. His education, however, was completed in the Leslie School, on Academy street, in Pough- keepsie, N. Y. On laying aside his text books he entered upon the more difficult lessons of life, and his time is now fully occupied with the labors and duties which fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He is identified with the Republican party, and his religious connection is with the Society of Friends.

R ICHARD L. VALENTINE, a leading undertaker of Millerton, Dutchess coun- ty, was born December 9, 1851, in Nassau, Rensselaer Co., N. Y. His family is one of the oldest of that locality, his ancestors having settled there during the Colonial period. They came from England, but it is probable that the family originated in France. His great- grand- father, John Valentine, was born February 28, 1761, and was married December 29, 1791, to Amy Brockway, who was born January 30, 1770, and they had nine children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Lucy, Sep- tember 12, 1792; William, March 30, 1794; Richard, November 11, 1795; Abraham, July 6, 1797; Isaac, August 19, 1799; Jacob, April

19, 1801; Jerusha, April 21, 1806; Elizabeth, April 25, 1808; and Eunice, June 1, 1810.

Richard Valentine, the grandfather of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, and pos- sessed limited means. He was quiet and re- tiring in disposition, extremely kind-hearted, and was highly esteemed for his many admira- ble traits of character. April 3, 1811, he mar- ried Anna Hoag, a native of the same county as himself, and had thirteen children: Anna, born August 31, 1816, died February 24, 1841; Permelia, born February 15, 1818; William H., born September 11, 1819, died March I, 1820; Hiram B., born January 21, 1821; James A., born October 3, 1822, died March 4, 1855; Jerusha Jane, born June IS, 1824; Lorenzo, born February 16, 1826, died July 21, 1881; Phobe A., born February 19, 1828; Charles F., born April 22, 1830, died August 29, 1878; John W., born August 5, 1832, died March 5, 1854: Alfred, born July 31, 1834, died August 27, 1835; Henry, born July 24, 1837, died November 28, 1837; and Sylvester, born De- cember 8, 1838, died May 2, 1839.

Lorenzo Valentine, our subject's father, was a farm laborer, and, except for five or six years passed in Columbia county, his life was spent in his native place. Although he was not blessed with much of this world's goods, he was a good citizen, a kind and affectionate husband and father, and his upright and con- sistent conduct gained him the respect of all who knew him. He married Amanda Her- mance, a descendant of a well-known Colum- bia county family and the daughter of John R. and Elizabeth (Haightman) Hermance. Four children came of this union: Anna, born Au- gust 30, 1850, who married Willis Clark, of Nassau; Richard L. (our subject), born De- cember 9, 1851; Frank, born April 20, 1860, died July 30, 1861; and Edwin E., born Au- gust 3, 1862, now residing near Brainard Sta- tion, Rensselaer Co., N. Y. The father died July 21, 1881; the mother is now living in Berlin, New York.

Our subject's educational opportunities were limited in his youth to a few years' at- tendance at the district school. When he was ten years old he began working in a cotton factory at Stuyvesant Falls, and after two years there he went to Valatie with his father, and worked in a cotton factory there some four years. In his eighteenth year he began to learn the trade of wagon making, serving a three-years' apprenticeship with his uncle, Gil-

Richard Lilalen tine

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

bert Hermance, at Nassau. He then went to Mill River, Mass., where he worked as a jour- neyman for eight months, and in 1873 came to Millerton, and for one and one-half years worked at the trade for John Scutt. On March 20, 1875, he bought Andrew Fish's undertak- ing business, which he has since conducted, developing and enlarging it until he is now at the head of the principal establishment in that line in Millerton, and one of the most exten- sive in the county.

Although Mr. Valentine's business success has been won by his own hard work, he has found time to assist in public affairs, as every good citizen should. He votes the Republican ticket, has been corporation trustee for four years, and he is prominent in the various phil- anthropic enterprises of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, of which he has been a member for twenty-six years, and is now a leading offi- cial. He belongs also to the Royal Arcanum, Poughkeepsie Council.

Mr. Valentine has been twice married, first time September 16, 1874, to Miss Libbie J. Kipp, who was born July 21, 1849, a daughter of George and Jane M. (Levy) Kipp, the latter of whom was born in Gallatin, N. Y., and died November 2, 1886, aged sixty-three years.

Mr. Kipp was born at Red Hook, N. Y., was a farmer in the town of Northeast for fifty years, and is now retired. He is a typi- cal self-made man, having begun life a poor boy, but by the aid of his faithful wife became well-to-do. He is one of the township's best men, and is highly esteemed by his many friends. His second wife (for he was twice married, was Mrs. Washington Hubbell. To our subject and wife were born three children, to wit: George L., born January 17, 1876; Willard J., born August 8, 1880; and Henry, born December 2, 1892. The mother of these died January 7, 1893, and for his second wife Mr. Valentine married Miss Jennie V. K. Oliver, a lady of English descent, born July 31, 1865. By this union there was one child, Frank, who died in infancy.

Mrs. Valentine's great-grandfather, Will- iam Oliver, married Elizabeth Seech, and reared a family of eleven children: William, Richard, James, Elizabeth, Jane, John, Ann, Jacob, Benjamin, Joseph and Sarah. Of these, Joseph (Mrs. Valentine's grandfather) was born August 22, 1779, at Parish of Horn Church, County of Essex, England, and in early life came to America, locating near Cats-

kill, Greene Co., N. Y., where he died July 20, 1869. He was a paper maker by trade. By his wife, Sarah (Thornton), he had seven children, named respectively: Mary, Sarah, William, Jane, Elizabeth, Abigail and Cynthia. William Oliver (Mrs. Valentine's father) was born October 4, 1816, and followed wagon- making at Catskill, N. Y. He married Anna M. Jennings, who was born February 1 I, 1828, in Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., and they had a family of four children: William C., born April 5, 1849, is a minister in the M. E. Church, at Hunter, N. Y .; Frank, born April 1, 1852, is in business at Catskill, N. Y. ; Mary, born January 18, 1862, died in child- hood; Jennie V. K., wife of our subject, being the youngest.

A LFRED S. WILEY, one of the well-to- do and prosperous farmers of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, residing near Clin- ton Corners, is one of those men who thor- oughly understands the business which he is pursuing, and by following that vocation has secured a competence. He is the architect of his own fortune, having started in life with but little capital beyond his own industry and laudable ambition to rise in the world.

Mr. Wiley is a native of Dutchess county. born near Schultzville, in the town of Clinton, April 14, 1829, in which town were married his parents, Samuel and Elizabeth (Green) Wiley, who were also born in Dutchess county, and the latter was the daughter of Tobias Green. In their family were the fol- lowing children: Emily, deceased wife of Henry Barnes; Chancellor, who has also passed away; Annie, deceased wife of Mark Wilber; Harriet, who first wedded Griffin Sny- der, and, after his death, Charles Moon; Alexan- der and Martin Luther, who have both de- parted this life; Alfred S., of this review; and Mary, wife of Nelson Sleight. After the death of his first wife Mr. Wiley married Mrs. Eliza Wing. All his life the father engaged in agri- cultural pursuits in the town of Clinton with the exception of fourteen years spent in the town of Milan. He was a sincere and faithful member of the Milan Christian Church, and died at the ripe old age of eighty-six years.

Alfred Wiley received his education in the common schools of the towns of Clinton and Milan, and was given the training necessary to a successful pursuit of agriculture upon his

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

father's farm, remaining at home engaged in helping to carry on the labors upon the old homestead until he had attained the age of seventeen. For one year he then lived in the town of Unionvale with his brother, after which he returned to the town of Clinton, and made his home with his brother-in-law, Mark Wilber, for the following two years. IIis father having again married, he then returned to the parental roof, where the next two years were passed.

Thinking it was about time that he should establish a home of his own, and surround his domestic hearth with family ties, Mr. Wiley married March 5, 1851, in the town of Clin- ton, Mary A. Pultz, a daughter of Jacob G. Pultz, who was born in the town of Rhine- beck, Dutchess county. By this union four children were born, namely: Carlinda, de- ceased, was the wife of John Budd, by whom she had one son-William; Ida is the wife of Monroe S. Eckert; Emma F. married Robert Lawrence, who resides near Salt Point, Dutch- ess Co., N. Y. (they have two daughters .- Alice and Maud); and Frank Wiley died at the age of five years.

For the first year after his marriage, Mr. Wiley worked on the farm of Mark Wilber, after which he purchased land near Clinton Hollow, operating the same for three years, and on disposing of that tract bought another farm about a mile east of Clinton Hollow, where he remained for five years. On selling that place he purchased the Clinton Corners store, which he ran for a couple of years, and then bought a farm a mile and a half northeast of Clinton Hollow. After residing upon that tract for about eight years, he sold soon after the close of the Civil war, and has since made his home upon his present farm near Clinton Corners. There he has erected a fine resi- dence, which he now occupies, and the present highly cultivated state of his land has been brought about by the exercise of great industry, perseverance and excellent management. His improvements are of a substantial character, and everything about the place denotes pros- perity and thrift. Though not an office seeker in any sense of the word, Mr. Wiley served for eight consecutive years as justice of the peace, being elected on the Democratic ticket, which he always supports. He has been quite prominently identified with the interests of the community in which he lives, and bears a high character for sterling integrity and genuine

worth. Mrs. Wiley is a member in good stand- ing of the Christian Church at Schultzville. William Budd, our subject's grandson, was married December 19, 1894, to Belle Stewart, of the town of Clinton. He now operates his grandfather's farm, the latter having retired from active work.

N ATHAN FELLER. As a representative of the agricultural class, and one who has met with good success in his independent call- ing, we take pleasure in giving a brief sketch of the gentleman whose name appears at the beginning of this notice. He is pleasantly lo- cated upon a farin of seventy-eight acres in the town of Red Hook, which he purchased of Bartholomew Gray in 1894. It is well stocked and supplied with everything found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century. His birth occurred in Red Hook on August 15, 1840, and in the common schools of the com- munity he acquired his education. He early became inured to the arduous duties of farm life, and his training along that line was under the able instruction of his father, Philip Fel- ler, a prosperous farmer of Red Hook.

On January 3, 1866, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Feller and Miss Emma Mar- tin, who was born April 12, 1847, and is the daughter of Col. Claudius G. Martin. Her father received his title while serving in the ILIth New York Artillery. He was also a na- tive of the town of Red Hook, born February 19, 1799, and was educated in the common schools near his home. He learned the trade of blacksmithing with Fred Barringer, but did not follow that pursuit. He turned his atten- tion to farming, taking the old Martin home- stead on the Post road, which had been the historic residence of the family since the Rev- olutionary war, and there he died March 17, 1875.

Col. Martin was twice married, his first union being with Miss Julia Ring, daughter of Mr. Ring, of the town of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, and to them were born two children, but one died in infancy. John G. was born January 28, 1828. After the death of his first wife, he remained single for about ten years, when he wedded Miss Sarah Webster, daugh- ter of Harry Webster, a shoemaker of Red Hook, June 10, 1835.

Nine children graced the second union: Claudius R., born July 28, 1836, was married

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

May 27, 1863, to Esther A. Stall, daughter of John Stall, of Clermont, Columbia county; Julia F., born May 13, 1838, became the wife of David V. Traver, of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, January 1, 1861; Lucy M., born May 22, 1840, married Alonzo Wood, of Pough- keepsie, November 19, 1862; Clarence W., born September S, 1842, was educated in the common schools, and learned the trade of a cooper, at which he worked for a time, but afterward was employed on a steamer on the Hudson until 1892, when he returned home and is now living retired; Aurelia W., born January 4, 1845, married William H. Dedrick, of Rhinebeck, December 25, 1866; Emma, wife of Nathan Feller, is next in order of birth; Isabella, born October 6, 1849, died March 25, 1852; Henry A., boru: April 30, 1852, was united in marriage with Elizabeth M. Traver, daughter of Nelson Traver, of Rhinebeck, Jan- uary I, ISSO; and Frank, born November 29, 1855, died April 2, 1861. The entire family were born on the old Martin homestead on the Post road. The house is still standing, and is now occupied by Sarena Martin, niece of Ed- ward Martin, deceased.

To Mr. Feller and his estimable wife was born a daughter-Isabella M., whose birth oc- curred September 22, 1871. She was married June 20, 1895, to William R. Carroll, son of Andrew J. Carroll, of Rock City, Dutchess county. Mr. Feller and his wife are worthy members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, at Red Hook, and endeavor to carry out in their lives its moral teachings. They are straight- forward and reliable, industrious, energetic and progressive, and are highly esteemed and re- spected by all who know them. Their daugh- ter, Mrs. Carroll, and her husband are both also members of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Red Hook.

H ENRY MYGATT, who is one of the prominent agriculturists of the town of Amenia, Dutchess county, has spent almost his entire life in that township, his birth hay- ing occurred on his father's farm near Sharon Station, August 1, 1846. As a man of in- flence, public-spirited and liberal, this brief record of his history will be more than ordi- narily interesting to those who are identified in any way with the interests of Dutchess county.

Thomas Mygatt, his grandfather, came

from New Fairchild, Conn., in 1772, and purchased land near Sharon Station, in Amenia town. He was a descendant in the sixth gen- eration of Deacon Joseph Mygatt, one of that company of Puritans who landed on the shores of New England in 1633, and three years later went with Rev. Mr. Hooker to start a settlement at Hartford, Conn. He became a wise counsellor in that new Com- monwealth. The father of Thomas was a citizen of Danbury, Conn., and was distin- guished for his enterprise and thrift. After coming to Dutchess county, Thomas Mygatt married Miss Annie Watrous, a native of the town of Amenia, by whom he had two sons, Ambrose and Abram. As a life occupation he followed agricultural pursuits.

In Amenia town, in 1811, Abram Mygatt, the father of our subject, was born, and he was educated in the district schools near his home. He was united in marriage with Miss Louisa Rundall, a daughter of Jacob Rundall, and to them were born four children: Julia, wife of Dr. I. N. Mead; Anna; Henry; and Laura, wife of H. B. Murdock. The father carried on farming near Sharon Station until 1851, when he removed to the present residence of our subject, and there lived until 1869. The remainder of his life was passed in the village of Amenia, where he passed away in 1892. In politics he was identified with the Demo- cratic party, and religiously was one of the active members of the Presbyterian Church at Amenia, being a liberal contributor when the house of worship was erected.

The boyhood and youth of our subject were passed in much the usual manner of farmer lads, his home being at his present residence, while his primary education was obtained in the district schools of the neigh- borhood. Later, for four or five years, he at- tended the Amenia Seminary, and then spent one year at the Poughkeepsie Military Insti- tute. On October 30, 1868, Mr. Mygatt mar- ried Miss Alice M. Frost, of Connersville, Ind., and they have two daughters, Louisa and Laura, twins.

In October, 1876, our subject removed to Connersville, where he engaged in farming until April, 1886, when he returned to the old home farm in the town of Amenia, and there has since resided. For six years he accepta- bly served as assessor of his township, being elected on the Democratic ticket, which party he always supports.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

D AVID V. MOORE, one of the reliable and progressive young business men of the town of Beekman, Dutchess county, is success- fully engaged in general merchandising at Clove Valley. A native of Dutchess county, he was born in the town of Unionvale, August 4. 1869. The Moore family, to which our subject belongs, came to this country from County Antrim, Ireland, and they derived their name from living on or near a boggy heath. The first to locate on the Emerald Isle came from Maernen, and from Thomas de Moore, who went to the British Isles in 1066, the year of the Conquest, are descended the Earls of Mount Cashel and Drogheda. In this country the family have principally belonged to the Society of Friends.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 137

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