Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 139

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

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E AVRITT CONOVER occupies a place in the esteem of his fellow townsmen which is a tribute to that genuine worth and true nobleness of character which are universally recognized and honored. Enterprise and in- dustry are numbered among his marked char- acteristics, and he has been an important fac- tor in advancing the general welfare and secur- ing the material development of the town of Pleasant Valley.

Mr. Conover was born October 10, 1847, in the town of Pleasant Valley. His father, Peter Conover, was a native of the town of Poughkeepsie, and the grandfather, Jacob Conover, was a progressive farmer of Dutchess county. He married Miss Van Kleeck, and took up his abode on a farm in Poughkeepsie town, where they reared a family of five chil- dren, namely: Peter, whose sketch follows; Abram, an agriculturist of the town of Hyde Park; Adrian, a farmer of the town of Pleasant Valley; Barbara A., wife of Merritt A. Mar- shall, a farmer who is now living in Pleasant Valley; and Catherine, wife of Zachariah Van- Wagner, who devotes his energies to agricultural pursuits in this neighborhood. To the same call- ing the grandfather of our subject devoted his life, and spent his last days in Pleasant Val- ley. During the Revolutionary war he was a captain in the home guards.

Peter Conover spent his youth in the usual manner of farmer lads, and after entering upon his business career he chose, as a companion and helpmeet on life's journey, Miss Sarah Van- Wagner, who was born in the town of Pleas- ant Valley, and, like her husband, was of Hol- land lineage. They established their home upon the farm where our subject now resides, and their union was blessed with five children: Evritt; Martha, wife of Frank Lamoree, who operates a tract of land in the valley; Abram, a farmer of the town of Clinton; Emily, wife of Edwin Husted, a resident of the village of Pleasant Valley; and Nellie, wife of Frank Knapp, a farmer of Clinton town. The par- ents have both passed away, leaving many

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warm friends to mourn their loss. They were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church, and Mr. Conover was a Republican in his po- litical belief.

Evritt Conover, whose name introduces this review, early became familiar with all the duties of farm life, for at an early age he per- formed his quota of the work on the old home- stead. He obtained his education in the dis- trict schools, and then entered upon the more responsible duties that come to one on laying aside text-books and commencing a business career. He is to-day the owner of 100 acres of cultivable land, conveniently situated about seven miles from Poughkeepsie, and carries on general farming. He has a beautiful home and substantial outbuildings, which are sur- rounded by fields of waving grain, and are supplemented by all the conveniences and ac- cessories of a model farm of the nineteenth century.

In February, 1878, Evritt Conover was married to Miss Allie Walters, who was born in Cairo, town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y., a daughter of Edward Walters, a farmer, merchant and miller. They now have four children: Ethelyn, Rose, Robert and Har- old. The parents attend the Presbyterian Church, and hold an enviable position in social circles where true worth and intelligence are received as the passports into good society. Mr. Conover is a Republican in political belief, and is deeply and actively interested in those affairs which pertain to the public welfare.

G EORGE S. HALSTED. The subject of this personal narration is one of the suc- cessful and progressive farmers resident within the borders of the town of Hyde Park, and may be termed one of the representative men of his section, where he is engaged in general farming. He has made his special field of in- dustry a success, and is highly esteemed and respected by those who know him best. He was born at Crum Elbow, in Hyde Park town, September 14, 1853, and belongs to a family that for several generations has been identified with the history of Dutchess county.

David Halsted, his great-grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers of the town of Beek- man, where from the primeval forest he de- veloped a farm and reared his family. He belonged to the Society of Friends. He mar- ried, and became the father of seven children:

Stephen, Samuel, David, Jerusha, Prudence, Phebe and Eunice.

David H. Halsted, the grandfather, was born in the town of Beekman, where he spent his boyhood days, and there owned two farms. He married Miss Letitia Haviland, daughter of Thomas Haviland, of Pawling, Dutchess county, and the following children were born to them: Thomas, Amy, Moses and Eliza- beth, all deceased; David S., father of our subject ; and Letitia, wife of Isaac Hewlett. In 1832, the father of this family removed to the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, where he died two years later. In religious belief he was a Friend.

The birth of David Sands Halsted, the father of our subject, occurred in the town of Beekman, March 28, 1819, and he obtained his education in the schools of the neighbor- hood. He accompanied the family to Clinton town, and remained upon the home farm a few years after his father's death. In his twentieth year he purchased a farm in the town of Hyde Park, on which he located after his marriage, September 9, 1846, with Caroline W. Hew- lett, who was born in that town, November 14, 1830, and died May 15, 1866, in the town of Lagrange, same county. Two children graced their union: William D., born August 5, 1848. and George S., of this review. In the town of Pleasant Valley he was again married, June 10, 1868, his second union being with Mar- garet J. Allen Marshall, who was there born March 6, 1832. He engaged in farming in Hyde Park from 1839 until 1859, during which time he was elected inspector of elections for the town on the Democratic ticket. Since the latter year, however, he has made his home in the town of Lagrange, where he has filled the same position. On starting out in life he re- ceived about $1, 500, and being very successful in his business undertakings has been able to assist his children. He has always attended the Friends Church at Poughkeepsie, and is a gentleman worthy the commendation of all.

For four years George S. Halsted attended the Dutchess County Academy, under Stewart Pelham, after which he pursued his studies for two years in the Cary Academy, but completed his education with Mr. Pelham, finishing the entire course in 1872. On leaving school he took up farming, and for many years worked for his father, but in 1880 purchased the old Sidney Livingston farm, removing upon the place in the spring of that year. It comprises

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sixty-five acres of rich and arable land, which he has converted into one of the best farms of the town. In 1880 Mr. Halsted was mar- ried to Miss Esther E. Dickinson, of West- chester county, N. Y., daughter of Henry Dickinson, and they have become the parents of three children: Ruth, Caroline W., and George D.

Politically, Mr. Halsted affiliates with the Democratic party, and he is ranked as a man of ability and enterprise, on account of which he holds a good position among the people of the community. In 1884 he was elected justice of the peace to fill a vacancy, and in 1888 and 1892 re-elected to the same office. He has also been school trustee and assessor of his district. and has done much toward getting the postal facilities improved in his section. He is prominently identified with the Dutchess County Farmers Club, and is a charter mem- ber and one of the directors of the Farmers Town Co-operative Insurance Company of Hyde Park, while religiously he belongs to the Hicksite Branch of the Society of Friends, at- tending meeting at Crum Elbow.

J AMES BLAIR. Among the most success- ful horticulturists, or gardeners, in this country, there are few that are the peers of the representatives of the Scotch-Irish race. In the village of Grange, County Tyrone, Ire- land, our subject's birth occurred January 29, 1853, and he is a son of David Blair, who was born in Ayrshire, Scotland, in 1804. His grandfather, Robert Blair, was also a native and farmer of the latter country, belonged to one of its oldest families.

For twenty-five years the father followed teaching at Cloughhag, County Derry, Ireland, and continued to follow that profession until seventy-five years of age. He was a man of more than ordinary ability, highly educated, and proved a competent instructor. He was a particularly fine mathematician, and was one of the representative men of the locality in which he lived. He married Agnes, daughter of James Foster, who was born in Ireland, but was of Scotch descent. The parental house- hold included five children: Robert, a gar- dener, who died in 1889; James, of this sketch; David, who is connected with a boot and shoe house in Ireland; Margaret, who died at the age of six years; and William, who died in

1889. In 1889 the father was called to his final rest, but the mother still makes her home in Ireland.

Under his father's instruction, Mr. Blair, of this review, received a good education, and on leaving school at the age of seventeen had charge of his father's farm for a year. Dur- ing the following four years he served an apprenticeship at gardening at Killymoon Cas- tle, and then began as a journeyman with Dickson & Co., of Edinburgh, Scotland, with whom he remained a year. Sixteen months were then passed on the estate of Lord Lam- ington, in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and the fol- lowing six months he was again with Dickson & Co. Going to Calendar Park, near Fal- kirk, in Stirlingshire, owned by William Forbes, he remained there a year, after which for a year and a half he worked for Earl Grey, at Howick Hall, in Northumberland. For six years and a half he was then foreman for Lord Belper, of Kingston Hall, in Nottinghamshire, and on leaving his service returned to Ireland for a short time, later gaining his experience in fruit culture in Selkirk, Scotland, at The Tweed Vineyard, where he remained two years.

In the year 1887, Mr. Blair determined to try his fortune in America, and coming to Paw- tucket, R. 1., he there served as head gardener for Mr. Sales for about a year; but, owing to the death of two brothers and his father, returned to Ireland. In 1889, however, he came again to the New World, this time locat- ing at Yonkers, N. Y., where he was head gardener for Mrs. Lillenthal, at Belvour Park. It was in 1890 that he came to Staatsburg, and he has since been head gardener for Ogden Mills, giving the best of satisfaction.

In 1889 Mr. Blair was married to Miss Eliza Lloyd, of Shropshire, England, and they have four children: David Edward, Agnes Margaret, William James and Hilda Eliza. Our subject belongs to St. Margaret's Episco- pal Church. He has the respect and confi- dence of all who know him, and January 2, 1895, was elected first president of the Dutch- ess County Horticultural Society ..

W ILLIAM HERRICK, an old-time agri- culturist of large experience, is now numbered among the most enterprising and prosperous farmers of the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, by whose people he

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is held in that reverence and respect tacitly accorded those whose lives have been distin- guished by integrity and usefulness.

The Herricks under consideration come of a prominent family of England, and the descent of our subject is traced as follows: Sir William Herrick, of Beau Manor Park, Leicestershire, England; Henry; Ephraim; Samuel; Stephen; Elijah, who was a captain in the Revolutionary war; Ephraim (our sub- ject's grandfather), who was born at Amenia, Dutchess county, married Anna Dixon, and located in the town of Milan, where he estab- lished a Church; Ephraim, our subject's father ; and William (our subject). The first of the family to come from England to America located at Beverly Farms, Massachusetts.

Ephraim Herrick, father of William, was born and reared on his father's farm in the town of Milan, Dutchess county. He married Phoebe Albertson, a native of the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, where his father, John Albertson, a Hollander by descent, was a farmer. After their marriage Ephraim Her- rick and his young wife located upon a farm in the town of Milan, where children as follows were born to them: John is a farmer in the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county; William is the next in order of birth; Walter was a practicing physician, and died January 13, 1895; Gurdon, who was an agriculturist in the town of Milan, died April 28, 1894; James is a speculator of that town; Elizabeth is the widow of Isaac Sherwood, at one time a grocer of the village of Rhinebeck; Susan died in infancy; and Caroline married Henry Butts, a farmer of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county. The mother of these died, and four years later, about 1835, Ephraim Herrick married Susan Ann Andrews, by which union there were four children: Anna, George, Edward and Ephraim. The father continued to follow the occupation of farming until his death, in 1867. He was a faithful member of Christ's Church; politic- ally he affiliated with the Democratic party, and served as supervisor of his town, and county superintendent of the poor.

William Herrick, the subject proper of this sketch, was born September 28, 1818, in the town of Milan, Dutchess county, and was reared to manhood on the home farm, where at an early age he became familiar with agri- cultural pursuits. In 1841 he married Eliza- beth Brown, who was born in the town of Washington. Dutchess county, a daughter of

Charles Brown, a native of Pawling, same county, and a farmer and wagon maker by oc- cupation. They began their domestic life upon his father's place, whence at the end of five years they removed to the present farm of our subject, where he has now resided for over half a century. Four children blessed that union: (1) Charles B., in his day a prominent lawyer of Poughkeepsie, married Ada Van- Benschoten, and died July 29, 1896; they had no children. (2) Phœbe A. married Albert P. Smith, a miller of Salt Point, Dutchess county (now deceased), and they had one son, Eugene Herrick Smith, who is in business in New York. (3) Sarah is a school teacher in Penn- sylvania. (4) Marshall, one of the leading furniture dealers of Poughkeepsie, married Julia Allen, and they have one son, Harold Allen Herrick. The mother of this family died in 1860, and October 26, 1865, William Herrick married Mary Harris, a daughter of Col. Israel Harris, of the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county, to which union has been born a daughter, Mary Elizabeth.

Mr. Herrick has an excellent farm of 190 acres, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and for many years has followed general farming, including the raising of blooded cattle, in which he makes a specialty of Jersey cows, having at present a fine herd of some thirty head of this breed. He also sells cream to the Co-operative Creamery. By industry and good inanagement he has made his farm one of the most highly culti- vated and improved in the locality.

Mr. Herrick is not a member of any Church, but has been interested in the one at Salt Point, N. Y. He is prominently identi- fied with the Democratic party, has ably served as justice of the peace, and as assessor and supervisor of his town. Surrounded by loving kindred and friends, he is now nearing the last milestone that marks the end of life's journey. His record has been an honorable one, his years have been fruitful with deeds of usefulness and kindness, with malice toward none and friendliness toward all who have come under his influence, and he has gained the re- spect and honor of the whole community.

BENJAMIN K. WHITE. Among the agri- culturists of Dutchess county who have attained success through their own persever- ance, enterprise and good management, is the

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gentleman whose name is here given. He is now engaged in general farming in the town of Stanford, and is complete master of the calling which he is following. His sterling integrity and honorable, upright manhood fully entitle him to the position which he holds in the esti- mation of the people of the community.

Mr. White is a native of Dutchess county, born October 3, 1859, near the village of Beek- man, in the town of Beekman, and is a son of Leonard and Mary (Wright) White, who died when our subject was but an infant, the mother in 1859, and the father the year following. They were earnest members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the father followed the occupation of farming in the town of Beekman up to the time of his death. Our subject was taken by Dr. D. A. Knapp, of North Clove, in the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, with whom he continued to live until reaching his majority, and attended school at that place. At the age of twenty-one he went to Fremont county, Iowa, and later took up 160 acres of land at Beatrice, Neb. On disposing of this he went to St. Louis, where he was employed in the stockyards with his brother Thomas for two years and a half, when, being taken ill, he returned to Dutchess county, and operated a farm in the town of Unionvale for a year. He then purchased his present place, to the culti- vation and improvement of which he devotes his time and attention, and during the twelve years of his residence there has made it one of the most highly productive farms in the lo- cality.

On January 13, 1880, Mr. White was mar- ried to Miss Frances M. Traver, daughter of Philo and Mary Traver, and a son-Frederick -was born to them August 2, 1890. They are devoted to the interests of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which they are members. In his political views Mr. White coincides with the principles of the Republican party, but takes no active part in politics, preferring to give his time to his business affairs, and has never accepted office.

A LBERT J. BUDD is a reliable and in- telligent farmer of the town of Pleasant Valley, where his birth occurred August 16, 1830. His father, James Budd, was one of the twelve children of John Budd, and our sub- ject is the youngest in a family of twelve. One

of his brothers, Joseph, is the father of James H. Budd, the Governor of California. while another brother, Joel Budd, is a prominent resident of Hyde Park. The primary educa- tion of our subject was obtained in the district schools, and he later pursued his studies for some time in Amenia Seminary, also at Rhine- beck and Amsterdam, N. Y. After leaving the school room he turned his attention to agricultural pursuits.

On October 16, 1853, Mr. Budd was united in marriage with Miss Kate S. Stoutenburgh, who was born in the town of Pleasant Valley, in 1837, and is the eldest child of Tobias and Maria (Albertson) Stoutenburgh, the former born in the town of Hyde Park January 29, 1806, and the latter in the town of Pleasant Valley, July 18, 1809. Her sister, Mary, is the wife of Dr. Merritt Dutcher, a practicing physician of Owego, N. Y. Religiously, her father was a Baptist, and his political support was formerly given to the Whig party, he later becoming a stanch Republican. Her grand- father, Isaac Stoutenburgh, was the son of Will- iam Stoutenburgh, one of the Nine Partners who came to this country and took up a large tract of land, thus becoming one of the earliest settlers of this locality.

After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Budd began their domestic life upon their present farm, and their household was brightened by the presence of eight children: James T., a farmer of Pleasant Valley town; Frederick, who was a lawyer and farmer, and died in Pleasant Valley; Caroline, wife of Oliver Wood, also a farmer of the same township; Lillian, deceased wife of Byron Conklin, an agriculturist: Isaac A., a farmer of Clinton town, Dutchess county; Mary A., wife of David S. Van De Water, a farmer of Pough- keepsie town; Walter, an agriculturist of Pleasant Valley town; and Willard, who died in infancy. Mr. Budd has been successful in his life work, and owns a fine farm of 108 acres, where, in connection with general farm- ing, he makes a specialty of the manufacture of butter. He is progressive in his methods, and on his place are seen all the conveniences and accessories of a model farm of the nineteenth century. His political views are in accordance with those of the Republican party, and he has served as justice of the peace. To the Baptist Church he and his wife contribute lib- erally, and they enjoy the esteem of the entire neighborhood.

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JOHN A. MONFORT. The fine farm owned by this gentleman, in the town of Lagrange, Dutchess county, is a standing monument to his industry, perseverance and good man- agement. He comes under the category of self-made men, having been thrown upon his own resources early in life, and has succeeded only by the exercise of his steady, plodding labors, both mental and physical. At the present time he is one of the prominent repre- sentatives of the agricultural interests of Dutch- ess county.

Our subject was born April 6, 1818, and his boyhood days were passed in the town of Beek- man, Dutchess county, where he attended school. He remained upon the home farm until his father's death, when, at the age of seventeen years, he was obliged to start out in life for himself. Removing to the town of Lagrange, he there worked for S. L. Lockwood until he was twenty-two. On October 6, 1841, he was married to Miss Julia Ann Phillips, who was born August 6, 1824, daughter of Thomas H. Phillips, of the town of Lagrange, and one child graced their union, Mary Louisa, born February 11, 1845, who, on October 10, 1866, was united in marriage with Frederick I. Knapp, by whom she had two children: John M. and Effie Beatrice; but she was called from this life June 9, 1876.

After his marriage Mr. Monfort operated a farm in the town of Lagrange for a year, after which he followed the same pursuit in Fishkill town, Dutchess county, for six years. For nine years he was then engaged in farming in the southern part of Lagrange town, and on the expiration of that time came to this present farm, which he cultivated for ten years, but the following five years were passed in Pough- keepsie, after which he returned to his farm in Lagrange town, where he has resided since 1874. On October 6, 1891, Mr. Monfort and his faithful wife celebrated their golden wed- ding, having traveled life's journey together for fifty years, sharing with each other its joys and sorrows, its adversity and prosperity. They are now well advanced in years, and have reason to feel that their lives have not been spent in vain. They have endeavored to exercise the kindly spirit of charity and benev- olence, to do good as they have opportunity, and proved the friends and sympathizers of those less fortunate.

Henry A. Monfort, father of our subject, was born in the town of Fishkill, June 25,

1778. On December 2, 1801, he married Miss Maria Phillips, who was born November 27, 1780, and they became the parents of six children: Susan, Eliza, Albert H., Aletty Maria, Jane and John Angevine.

Thomas H. Phillips, the father of Mrs. Monfort, was a native of Dutchess county, born in the town of Fishkill, February 4, 1794. He married Miss Rachel Brower, who was born January 7, 1794, and they became the parents of five. children: Mary Ellen, who died March 25, 1836; Cornelius; Julia Ann; and Sylvanius and Susan E., who live on Smith street, Poughkeepsie.

H ORACE JENKS, a prominent agricult- urist of the town of Northeast, Dutchess county, is of English descent on both sides of the family. His paternal grandfather, William Jenks, was born October 5, 1775, and was for some time an iron manufacturer on Staten Island. He came to Dutchess county in 1795. and located at Leedsville, where he became interested in the flax business, supplying that material in large quantities to the North Fac- tory. He was married November 3, 1795, to Sarah Mygatt. They died within a year of each other, Mr. Jenks, May 18, 1824, and his wife, February 14, 1825. They had nine children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: George, June 24, 1798; Myra, September 29, 1800; Miles, July 30, 1802; William, February 29, 1804; Luther Pardec, May 30, 1806; Sally Ann, November 18, 1809; Thomas M., November 30, 1811; Edward, March 29, 1814; and Eli Starr, April 22, 1816.

Miles Jenks, our subject's father, was a man of great energy, and, although he died in early life, he had given evidence of unusual ability. He engaged in the hotel business and in black- smithing at Leedsville, and during the summers he also bought and butchered stock. In 1829 hc went to Michigan, where he remained for a ycar, purchasing, while there, 1,000 acres of land in Oakland county. He died September 18, 1836. His wife, formerly Betsey Conklin, to whom he was married January 1. 1824. survived him until September 30, 1853. Of their four children our subject is the only one now living. William H., born October 26, 1824, was a painter in the town of Northeast, where he died August 22, 1893; Selah N., born Sep- tember 7, 1829, died January 7, 1893; he was a merchant in the village of Millerton, and

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 139

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