Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 14

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

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Dr. Bird was married, in 1871, to Alice E. Jones, of Hyde Park, daughter of Rev. J. W. Jones, a Baptist minister, and to them were born two children: John Sterling, at home; and Alice E., who died when about a year old. Although the Doctor is a stalwart Republican, he has taken no active part in political affairs; but he is a public-spirited citizen, at all times

willing to aid in promoting the welfare of his adopted county. He has served as health officer, and is a prominent member of the Dutchess County Medical Society. An earnest, Christian gentleman, he is connected with the Reformed Dutch Church of Hyde Park, in which he has served as one of the officials. Though of a retiring disposition, the Doctor has gained many warm friends in his locality, and by all he is held in the highest regard.

ENRY A. HOLMES, a prominent busi- ness man of Pawling, Dutchess county, is the treasurer of the Pawling Savings Bank, and the sole proprietor of one of the oldest and most substantial business enterprises of that vicinity, the firm having been founded by the well-known pioneer merchant, J. W. Stark.

Mr. Holmes can trace his descent from two patriots of Revolutionary times, one being his great-grandfather, John Holmes. His paternal ancestors were among the early set- tlers of Westchester county, N. Y., the family homestead being at Pound Ridge, where our subject's grandfather, John Holmes, was born during the Revolutionary war. He followed farming there until he was about fifty years old when he came to the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, accompanied by his son Samuel, our subject's father, who was born at Pound Ridge in 1808, and at the time of the removal was about eighteen years old. Sam- uel Holmes remained with his father, who was a farmer by occupation, until 1836, when he went to New York City, and was for twelve years engaged in the trunk business, in which he was but moderately successful. He was married in 1834, to Hannah L. Peck, daughter of Henry and Betsey (Dean) Peck, grand- daughter in the maternal line of Elijah Dean, an officer in the Revolutionary war. Of their three children, the subject of this sketch was the eldest: Caroline L. married J. C. Merritt, of Putnam county, and died in 1868; and James G. died at the age of twenty-two. The mother died in 1854, and the father, soon afterward, returned to Dutchess county and bought a farm southwest of the village of Pawling. He met with success as a farmer, and was accounted a man of good business judgment. In later years he was extensively engaged in the business of furnishing lumber

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and ties for the Harlem railroad. Although not a politician he was always a Democrat in principle, and took an interest in all measures for local improvements. He was reared a Presbyterian, and contributed generously to that Church until his death in 1885.

Henry A. Holmes first saw the light at Pat- terson, Putnam county, February 13, 1836. His education was obtained in Public School No. 4, Rivington street, New York, and at Mr. Benedict's select school at Patterson, these advantages and his subsequent reading giving him a good store of knowledge. On enter- ing business life he spent one year as a clerk in a retail feed store in New York, and a year and a half in clerking for his uncle, R. J. Dean, of Patterson. He then went home and worked upon the farm for a year, when he formed a partnership with his uncle in the lumber and Íced business under the firm name of Dean & Holines. After three years he sold his interest to Mr. Dean, and February I, 1865, he bought a one-third interest in the general mercantile store of J. W. Stark & Co., the firm consisting of Mr. Stark, William J. Merwin and Mr. Holmes. In 1877, Mr. Stark withdrew and the firm became Merwin & Holmes, and so continued until the death of Mr. Merwin in 1892, when Mr. Holmes purchased his interest. This business, now one of the largest in the southeastern part of the county, had its origin in a small store opened by Mr. Stark in 1848, near the railroad at Pawling, and with the exception of a few years which Mr. Stark spent in New Milford it has been continued ever since. In addition to this enterprise, Mr. Holmes has given much attention to the affairs of the Pawling Savings Bank, which was organized under the act of May 7, 1870, the charter being accepted September 10, 1890. This is one of the most carefully managed banking institutions in that locality, J. I. Wanzer being the president. Mr. Holmes is one of the trustees, and succeeded Mr. Merwin as treasurer, the office having been held by him from the first. In all his enterprises, Mr. Holmes has displayed con- servative judgment, combined with energetic execution of plans once decided upon, and to these qualities his success may be attributed. In politics he is a Republican, and on all national issues he has voted for the candidates of that party at every election, since his first ballot was given for Abraham Lincoln, but in local affairs he is independent. He has held

the office of commissioner of highways for one term.

In 1867, Mr. Holmes was united in matri- mony with Ruth A. Shove, a native of the town of Pawling. Her father, Daniel Shove, a carpenter by trade, was born in Dover, but for many years was a resident of Pawling, and now lives at Wellsboro, Penn. Three sons were born of this marriage, and their educa- tion has been carefully conducted at Bisbee's Military School at Riverview. George S. is now assisting his father in the store; Frederick W. has just completed his course at school; and Henry A., Jr., is still a student. The family attend the Methodist Church, and Mr. Holmes is a generous supporter of its work.

R OBERT K. TUTHILL, M. D., of Pough- keepsie, Dutchess county, is of English ancestry. His great-grandfather, Samuel Tut- hill, came from England, and settled on Long Island; but after a time removed to Orange county, N. Y., where he remained the rest of his life. Our subject's father, whose name was also Samuel, was likewise a member of the medical profession, and for many years was a leading practitioner in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to which place he came in 1848.

Dr. Robert K. Tuthill was born in New- burgh, N. Y., January 18, 1835. Early in life he showed an inclination to follow in the foot- steps of his father, and was thoroughly edu- cated, with the view of making the practice of medicine and surgery his life work, graduating at the New York Medical College in 1859. After receiving his degree, he began his pro- fessional career in Poughkeepsie, and was en- gaged in active practice there, at the breaking out of the Rebellion, in 1861. With charac- teristic patriotism, he offered his services to his country, and was appointed assistant surgeon of the Twentieth .N. Y. S. M. For faithful- ness in the discharge of his duties in this ca- pacity he was in April, 1863, promoted to the position of regimental surgeon of the 145th In- fantry, and in June of the same year was made brigade surgeon of the First Brigade, First Di- vision, Twelfth Corps. Early in 1864, he was appointed surgeon-in-chief of Division. He had charge of the Fredericksburg hospital in 1862, was in all the chief battles of the "army of the Potomac," and also did duty in the "army of the Cumberland."

After this service to his country, the Doctor

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again resumed private practice in Poughkeep- sie, and was a member of the Surgical Staff of St. Barnabas Hospital, from the time it was organized, in 1870, until it was closed, in 1887. He was then selected by the Founders of Vas- sar Brothers' Hospital on its opening, in 1887, to be one of its surgeons, which position he is still filling. He is considered a skillful sur- geon, his experience while serving his country being of great advantage to him. He has served three times as health officer of Pough- keepsie; for two terms in succession was presi- dent of the Dutchess County Medical Society, and has been a permanent member of the New York State Medical Society since 1880. He also belongs to Hamilton Post No. 20, G. A. R., Poughkeepsie, and is a member of the Loyal Legion of America. Dr. Tuthill is also a Knight Templar. Politically. he is a stanch Republican, but has never run for an elective office. In the year 1864 he married a Pough- keepsie lady, and has one daughter.

Constant, untiring work in his profession has made periods of rest and recuperation a necessity to him, and these he has found in quite extensive travel in this and other coun- tries. Twice, accompanied by his family, he has spent several months abroad visiting the principal places and nearly all of the capitals of Great Britain and of the Continent. And while he was there gaining physical strength, he also embraced the opportunity of visiting many of the hospitals and attending clinics in the Old World, thus seeking new methods and better knowledge for his great work at home. His residence is at No. 313 Mill street, where he has a capacious office, an extensive and well-selected medical and general library and a beautiful home. He is a member of the First Reformed Church, and has hosts of friends, who believe in him, because he has proved himself a true and sincere man and a conscien- tious, faithful and vigilant physician.

R EV. FRANCIS BROWN WHEELER, D. D., who has been for more than half a century a minister of the Gospel, and for thirty-six years the honored pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Poughkeepsie, is de- scended from several families whose names are conspicuous in the early history of this country.

The ancestors of the Wheeler line came from Wales about 1650, and settled at Dun-

barton, N. H. William Wheeler, our sub- ject's great-grandfather, was born in 1728, probably in Salem, N. H., and died March 1, 1804. His home was at Dunbarton, where he was a prominent citizen in his day. He served through the French and Indian war, and throughout the Revolutionary war, being mus- tered into service for the latter struggle by Gen. Washington. He took part in the battle of Bunker Hill under Gen. Stark. In the earlier war he was a member of the N. H. Rangers at Fort Ticonderoga, in 1755, com- manded by Capt. Robert Rogers, and was captured by the Indians, but escaped by his wit and agility as they were about to tom- ahawk him. His wife, Sarah was born in 1735, and died March 15, 1803. Their son William, Jr., was also a soldier in the Revolutionary war, taking part in the bat- tles of Bennington, Vt., and White Plains, New York.

Their son, Daniel Wheeler, the grand- father of our subject, was born in Salem, N. H., in 1763, and died in Warner, N. H., in 1840. He suffered imprisonment at one time for refusing to pay the ministerial tax at Dun- barton. He married Polly Davis, who was born in Amesbury, Mass., in 1772, and died in Warner, N. H., in 1862. She was a lineal descendant of Hannah Dustan, of historical fame.

Hosea Wheeler, our subject's father, was born March 8, 1791, at Dunbarton, N. H., and died January 27, 1823, at Eastport, Maine. He was a Baptist minister, and for many years lived at Newburyport, Mass. He married Sarah Wines, born August 12, 1788, the daughter of Rev. Abijah Wines, an emi- nent clergyman, and the first professor of the- ology in the Theological Seminary at Bangor, Maine. Her grandfather, Hon. Benjamin Giles, was prominent in our Colonial history, the chairman of the Committee of Safety at Newport, N. H., and a member of the State Provincial Congress. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler the following children were born: Elizabeth, Sarah A., Francis Brown, Sarah and Mary.

Dr. Francis B. Wheeler, whose long serv- ice in the Christian ministry has so well sus- tained the honor of this distinguished ancestry, was born at North Adains, Mass., September 9. 1818, and in 1842 was graduated from the University of Vermont with a number of class- mates who have since attained high standing in

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diplomatic and judicial affairs ; among them were ex-Vice-President Wheeler. Hon. John Kas- son, Hon. Robert S. Hale and Hon. E. J. Hamilton. His grandfather, father and four uncles had been clergymen, and from boyhood he had been filled with the desire to follow in their footsteps. After studying at Andover Theological Seminary, and with Rev. J. W. Ward, an eminent theologian of Massachu- setts, he was ordained and installed as pastor of the Congregational Church at Jericho Centre, Vt., January 22, 1845. During his five-years' pastorate there he was for two years superintendent of the common schools in Chit- tenden county, Vt. On May 29, 1850, he be- came pastor of the Congregational Church at Brandon, Vt., and while there was appointed secretary of the Vermont Sabbath School Union, and also one of the examining commit- tee of the University of Vermont. He left Brandon September 7, 1854, and removed to Saco, Maine, where he assumed charge of the First Congregational Church December 6. 1854. His work there was attended with marvelous success, the great revival of 1857-58 being unprecedented in the history of the State. For three months meetings were held every day, at which the pastor officiated, preaching from house to house, and many prom- inent professional and business men with their families were brought into the Church. The vigor of the climate there endangered the health of his family, and Dr. Wheeler was compelled to relinquish this beloved charge and accept a call from the First Presbyterian Church at Poughkeepsie, where he was in- stalled May 12, 1859. It is interesting to note that whenever he has left a charge the congregations were reluctant to sever their re- lations, protesting by unanimons and affection- ate remonstrance against his removal. Dur- ing his pastorate in Poughkeepsie the Church has grown and prospered until it is now one of the largest in the city.

One of the secrets of his success is the ab- sence of cant and stock phrases so often found in pulpit oratory. He is simple and practical in his statements of truth, and bases his ap- peals to conscience and the sense of duty upon reason, calmly leaving the results to appear in time as convictions gradually dawn upon the hearer. He is faithful, also, in the discharge of the arduous duty of pastoral visitation, which may be another secret of his helpfulness and influence. He belongs to the Calvinistic

school. but his sermons are never dogmatic in tone or controversial in manner, dealing rather with the practical problems of spiritual prog- ress. Many valuable treatises from his pen have appeared in the religious and secular press, and he is the author of several Church hymns. He is an interesting and forcible speaker upon general subjects, and has made special addresses on various occasions. Dr. Wheeler is a member of the Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the American Revolu- tion, and of the New York Society of Colonial Wars. Many honors have been bestowed upon him, his Alma Mater conferring the de- gree of A. M. in 1845. and from Hamilton College he received the honorary degree of S. T. D. in 1868. In 1888 the University of Vermont conferred upon him the same degree. In 1878 President Hayes appointed him a member of the Board of Visitors at West Point Military Academy.

Dr. Wheeler has been married three times. first on September 16, 1843. at Williston, Vt .. to Charlotte A. Parmalee, daughter of Rev. Simeon Parmalee, D. D., for many years a leading clergyman of the Congregational Church in Vermont. She died March 1. 1853, leaving no children, and October 26, 1854. Dr. Wheeler was married to Eliza Dana. daughter of Hon. A. G. Dana, M. D., LL. D .. of Brandon, Vt. Her mother. Eliza Fuller. was a lineal descendant of Samuel Fuller, who came over in the "Mayflower." She died September 1, 1865, leaving three daughters: Winifred Dana (now Mrs. Joseph B. Bisbee). Emma G. and Harriet Wickes. On October 25. 1876. Dr. Wheeler married his present wife, Charlotte P. Wickes, daughter of Rev. Thomas S. Wickes, and his wife. Julia Penni- man, who is a direct descendant of Gov. Bradford, of "Mayflower" fame. One daugh- ter was born of this union. Julia Wickes Wheeler, born March 27, 1878.

On January 23. 1895. a notable anniver- sary was held in Poughkeepsie in honor of Dr. Wheeler's fifty years of ministerial labor. Denominational lines were broken down, and representatives of all creeds joined in honoring a career in which the love for and faith in the Master whom all aim to follow has been so abundantly shown. In the afternoon a re- ception was held in the church, followed by a collation which assumed the aspect of a family Thanksgiving Dinner. Rev. Father Nilan, of St. Peter's Catholic Church, was among the

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

after-dinner speakers, and said that in eighteen years of his life in Poughkeepsie he has come to look upon Dr. Wheeler as a friend. They had talked together and fought together-not very bitterly to be sure-and it was evidence of progress that one of their discussions had been about doctrines which in former times caused men to burn each other, yet they had not lost their mutual love and respect. Other speakers were Rev. Dr. Van Gieson, of Pongh- keepsie, and Mr. William W. Smith, who spoke for the trustees; there were present also Rev. Dr. D. J. McMillan, secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions; Rev. Dr. T. Ralston Smith, Stated Clerk of the Synod of New York; Rev. Duncan C. Niven and wife, of Highland; Rev. Edgar Beckwith and wife, of Pleasant Valley; Rev. James Otis Denniston, of Cooperstown; Rev. C. H. Sne- deker; Rev. Wayland Spaulding; Rev. Dr. Strobridge; Rev. Robert Farrier; Rev. Fields Hermance; Rev. William Bancroft Hill; and Mr. Cartland, representing the Society of Friends. In the evening a large public meet- ing was held, addressed by Dr. McMillan and Dr. Smith, which closed with the singing of an original hymn by Rev. John McNaughton, D. D. Letters were read from friends in all parts of the Union, many testifying gratefully to the worth and effectiveness of Dr. Wheeler's labors, one coming from a successful pastor in Ohio, who had been influenced by him to leave the carpenter's bench for the ministry.

A remarkable fact in Dr. Wheeler's life is that in his half-century of work he has never been kept from ministerial duty by sickness more than nine days. This he attributes to a good constitution, strengthened by the simple healthful life of his early years upon the farm, with plenty of work, relieved by wholesome diversions.

On Sabbath morning, September 22, 1895, owing to the weight of increasing years, Rev. Dr. Wheeler presented his resignation, as pastor of the Church to which he had so faith- fully ministered for thirty-six years. He was made Pastor-Emeritus; but as his successor was not chosen, up to the time of his death, but a few months later, Dr. Wheeler remained to the end the pastor of the Church. Very suddenly came the summons for him to enter into life everlasting. "On the 27th of De- cember, 1895, the Angel of Death entered into the household of a beloved disciple, the

Rev. Dr. F. B. Wheeler. Scarcely had the air ceased to vibrate with the joyous Christmas song of the angelic host, when he who has walked in white for thirty-six years through the streets of the city of Poughkeepsie, an epistle known and read of all men, passed into his dismantled home with a scholar's love and care for his books, to arrange for their re- moval to a new habitation. Soon after, the angel, at first unrecognized, touched him: there was a brief season of helplessness, in which it was given his family to gather around him, a quiet child-like sleep, and then the angel took his hand and led him through the group of loving and sorrowing ones, and in a moment his oft-repeated text was verified, and his eyes beheld ' the King in His beauty. '

"A man of wonderful poise, of encom- passing catholic spirit, of broad patriotic views, commanding the respect and love of all classes and conditions of men, he so walked with God in the presence of all the people, that those who knew him feel they will never look upon his like again, while all feel the whole city is impoverished because this gentle spirit is not, for his Lord has taken him."

J JOAQUIM MARILL, M. D., a prominent physician of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess coun- ty, was born at Havana, Cuba, December 21, 1841, son of Joaquim Marill and Eugenia Alvarez, the former of whom was a wealthy planter and sugar grower.

Our subject was educated at his native place, graduating from the University of Ha- vana in 1860, and then went to Paris in order to study medicine. In July, 1861, he came to Philadelphia, and in October of the same year he joined the 137th Regiment, P. V. I., as surgeon, and was sent to the front. At the second battle of Bull Run he was taken pris- oner, and was confined in Libby prison until September 24, 1864, when he was exchanged. On reporting for duty, he was ordered to Sickleboro Hospital, at Alexandria, Va., where he remained until receiving his discharge from the service in July, 1865. Returning to Ha- vana, he in 1866, before the Rebellion, joined the Spanish army as surgeon, remaining until 1870. . In that year, on account of his politic- al views being in sympathy with his country- men, he came back to the United States, and began the practice of his profession at High- I land, Ulster county, in 1874 removing to

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Poughkeepsie, where he has practiced ever since, with the exception of eight months he spent in Vera Cruz during the yellow-fever epidemic of 1886, during which period he was commodore-surgeon of the Alexandria fleet. After his return to Poughkeepsie he resumed his practice, and has met with remarkable success.

In 1874 Mr. Marill was married, at High- land, N. Y., to Miss Amanda W. Caire, a daughter of Louis Caire, and they have three children: Minnie, Maria and Pilar. The Doctor is an active member of the K. of P., American Legion of Honor, Knights of Honor, and of the United Friends, while politically, he is a stanch supporter of the Republican party.

Our subject's father, who was a wealthy planter and broker, was descended from an old titled family, known until his death as the Marquez and Count of Palestine. Our sub- ject's mother, Eugenia Alvarez, was a close descendant of the house of Alva and Alvarez, one of the older Spanish titles, dating back to the sixteenth century, in the reign of Philip II.

I SAAC PLATT came of pioneer ancestry in Dutchess county, all of the name in this country tracing their descent from the same source. Eliphalet Platt, his grandfather, came to Dutchess county at an early date, and set- tled northeast of the site of Poughkeepsie, where he followed agricultural pursuits. His death occurred in Dutchess county, and his remains were buried at Pleasant Valley. He married Hannah Causten, and reared a family of children, among whom was a son Joseph, our subject's father, who also engaged in farming. He wielded great influence in his locality, in a quiet way, and was a leader in political and religious affairs. He and his wife, Hannah Barnes. had three children: Isaac, Joseph Causten, and Catharine, who died in girlhood.

Isaac Platt was born in 1803, in Albany county, N. Y., where his parents made their home for a short time, but the greater part of his early life was spent in the town of Pough- keepsie, Dutchess county. He attended school there, and as a young man became a member of a debating club which met in a little school house near his home, and had no small influence upon his education and his subsequent career. One of its members, Horatio Potter, afterward became bishop of

New York; another, Alonzo Potter, was bishop of Pennsylvania, and another, John Kennedy, became prominent in the M. E. Church. These young men were then appren- tices in the printing office and book store kept by Paraclete Potter, publisher of the Pough- keepsie Journal, and being warm friends of Mr. Platt, influenced him to enter the same employment. He served an apprenticeship as a printer, and then began teaching school. About the year 1824 the Democratic party was in need of a new organ in Poughkeepsie, and Isaac Platt and William Sands were em- ployed to publish it under the firm name of Sands & Platt. In accordance with this ar- rangement the Poughkeepsie Telegraph was started, the first issue appearing May 5, 1824. This afterward became the News-Telegraph, and is still the Democratic organ of the county.

During the political discussions of 1828 all the papers in the city favored Andrew Jack- son, leaving the Whigs with no mouthpiece, and to meet this need the Dutchess Intelli- gencer was started. It failed, however, and was purchased by Isaac Platt and Frederick Par- sons, who continued it; but the returns were so small that Mr. Parsons decided to abandon it. Mr. Platt wished to keep on, and offered Mr. Parsons $7.00 per week to remain as his assistant. The offer was accepted, Mr. Par- sons regarding this munificient sum as better than a share in doubtful profits, and gave up his interest as a partner. In spite of discour- agements the paper began to prosper under Mr. Platt's management. In 1833 it was con- solidated with the Dutchess Republican, which had been in existence for some time. The new name-The Intelligencer and Republican -was changed during the following year to The Eagle. In 1843 Mr. Platt bought out his partner, Thomas S. Ranney, who went to In- dia under the auspices of the Baptist Church, and in 1844 the Eagle was united with the Journal, William Schram joining Mr. Platt in the new firm of Platt & Schram. The daily issue was started December 4, 1860. Mr. Platt was a fearless champion of the right as he saw it, and the Eagle denounced the fugi- tive slave law during Fillmore's administra- tion, although Mr. Platt was holding office at the time as postmaster of Poughkeepsie, hav- ing been appointed by President Taylor. He was the chairman of the boundary commission that established the line between New York

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 14

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