Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 145

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

USA > New York > Dutchess County > Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York > Part 145

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Mrs. Humeston's ancestors were early settlers in the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county. Her grandfather, Jonathan Lee, was born there, and, after profiting by the ad- vantages afforded by the district schools, he engaged in wagon making. He married Miss Mary Ann Slocum, and had twelve chil- dren, all of whom lived to adult age. Their names, with those of their respective partners in marriage, are as follows: Harry, married Amelia Griffin; Harriet, James Smith; Abra- ham, Maria Layne; Martin, Sallie Briggs; George, Mary A. Howe; Alonzo, Zillie Brewer; Eliza, James Howe; Harvey, Marie Van- Haultz; Lucretia, John Brewer; William. Phobe J. Ferris; Charles, Jane Traverse, and Ashel. Nancy Brown. Ashel Lee, Mrs. Hume- ston's father, was born at Harpersfield, in 1806, and attended the common schools there. He learned the shoemaker's trade but followed farming as an occupation. His wife was a daughter of Samuel Brown. They had four

children: James, who married Catherine Dingee; Mary Ann, who died in infancy; Sarah J., Mrs. Humeston; and Montraville, who was born in 1844, and died in Texas during the war while in the service of the government.

Edward Humeston, son of Eli, was born in 1767, in the town of Washington, Dutchess county, and was educated there. He learned the trade of wagon making, and worked at that during his active life. In local affairs he was quite prominent, holding some minor town of- fices. He married Miss Elizabeth Weller, daughter of Jonathan Weller, a farmer of Amenia, and had eleven children: Catherine, Mrs. Thomas F. Watts; George, who is not married; John, who married Miss Stage; Will- iam, who married Elizabeth Austin; David L., who married Levina Howard; Sarah A., who died young; Merritt, who married Sarah Lee; Charles, mentioned below ; Harriet, who died in childhood; Henry, who was twice married, first to a Miss Rodgers, and, second, to a Miss Stev- ens; and one child died in infancy unnamed.

Charles Humeston was born in the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, in 1844, and was educated in Dover Plains. He learned the shoemaker's trade in 1858, and worked at that a short time; then, in 1859, began work- ing at the carriage-making trade, continuing until 1862. In the latter year he enlisted in Company B, 128th N. Y. V. 1. as a private, but was mustered in as a sergeant, and held that commission throughout the war. He was under the command of Col. David S. Cowles, and was with him in many engagements, among which were the following: Port Hudson, La., May 27, 1863, and June 14, 1863; Alexandria, Cane River, Monett Bluff, and Marksville, La .; Berryville, Va., September 3, 1864: Winches- ter. September 19, 1864: Fisher's Hill, Sep- tember 21, 1864; Mount Jackson, September 23. 1864, and Cedar Creek, October 19, 1864. His command participated in two other minor skirmishes, under Gen. N. P. Banks. At one time it served with Gen. Phil Sheridan. This regiment was mustered out of the United States service at Savannah, Ga., July 12, 1865, and from the State service at Albany July 26, 1 865. In 1870 Mr. Humeston married Miss Abbie Dennis, and had seven children: Mary E., Mrs. Frank Talladay; Emma, Mrs. Pat- rick Kelley; and Joseph. George, Frederick, Bessie and John, who are not married. Mrs. Humeston is a descendant of an old family of the town of Dover, and her grandfather, Solo-

787

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

mon Dennis, was born there and passed his life in that locality, following agricultural pur- suits. He married, and had five children : Thomas, Joseph, Henry, one sister (name not known), and Reuben, Mrs. Humeston's father, who was born in the town of Dover and edu- cated in the common schools of that vicinity. He was engaged as a farmer throughout his active years. His wife, Miss Mary Ann Lane, was a daughter of Daniel Lane, of Balls- bridge, Conn. They had the following chil- dren : Almira, Mrs. Oliver Potter; Solomon, who married Abbie Cooper; Sarah, Mrs. David Squires; Pollie, Mrs. Albert Flagler; Mary, Mrs. Henry White; Daniel, who is not mar- ried; Amy, Mrs. Charles Millard; Reuben, who has not married; Abbie, Mrs. Humeston; Joseph, who married Rebecca Mullen; George, who married Lena Bauer, and one who died in infancy.

B ENJAMIN H. RUSSELL has for more than half a century resided in the town of Pleasant Valley, and to-day is living retired, enjoying the fruits of a well-spent life. He was born in the town of Fishkill, December 24, 1816, and is a son of William Russell, a native of Putnam county, N. Y. The grand- father, John Russell, was also a native of that county, and was descended from English an- cestry. Upon his marriage he located upon a farm in Putnam county and reared a family of five children, namely: Abijah, Lee, Robert and David, all of whom became farmers of that locality, and William, father of our subject. The agricultural pursuits of the grandfather were interrupted by his service in the Revolu- tionary war, for when the Colonies attempted to obtain release from the yoke of British op- pression, he joined the Colonial troops and valiantly aided in that struggle for independ- ence. The religious views of the family have generally been in accordance with the doctrine of the Baptist Church.

William Russell was reared on the old famn- ily homestead, and as a companion and help- meet on life's journey chose Theodosia Town- send, also a native of Putnam county, and a daughter of Elijah Townsend, who in that lo- cality followed farming. He was descended from English ancestry, but when the war of the Revolution broke out he manifested his loyalty to the Colonies by his opposition to the

mother country, and in the service rose to the rank of general.

Shortly after their marriage, William Rus- sell and his wife located on a farm in the town of Fishkill, where they spent their remaining days. They were Baptists in religious belief, and in his political proclivities Mr. Russell was a Republican. They had eight children: James, who was a farmer of the town of Fish- kill: Anna, deceased; Austin and John, who were also farmers of Fishkill; Elijah, who car- ried on that pursuit in Dutchess county for some years, and is now living at Matteawan; William, deceased, who was a farmer of the town of Fishkill; and Elizabeth, who was mar- ried, and lived in the town of Dover, and both she and her husband are now dead.

Our subject was sixth in order of birth, and he spent his boyhood days on the parental farmstead, aiding in the labors of the field through the summer months, while his winters were mostly spent in attendance in the district schools of the neighborhood. On attaining his majority he began working as a farm hand for others, and later he becameowner of a farm of his own, which he cultivated for many years. He still owns 150 acres of rich and arable land, and also had ninety acres which he gave to his son. He placed upon his farm many excellent improvements in the shape of buildings and machinery, and transformed his land into pro- ductive fields.

When twenty-eight years of age, Mr. Rus- sell was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth, a daughter of Everett De Groff. She was born on the farm Mr. Russell now occupies, and here died about 1836. Our subject afterward mar- ried Hester J. De Groff, a relative of his first wife, and by this union were born four children: Everett, a farmer of Pleasant Valley town; John J. and James, both deceased; and Ben- jamin, who is also a farmer of that locality. The mother having passed away, Mr. Russell was again married, Miss Helen Stoutenburg becoming his wife. She is a native of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, and a daughter of William Stoutenburg, a farmer of Hyde Park. They have one son, Harry A., who is still at home.

Mr. Russell formerly gave his political sup- port to the Democracy, but now votes with the Republican party. He has served as trustee of the schools, and is deeply interested in the cause of education, and in all matters pertaining to the general welfare. He is a

78>

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

member of the Presbyterian Church, in which he is serving as elder, and is a most venerable and highly-respected old man, having the re- gard of all who know him.

G EORGE H. BRIGGS, the genial and en- terprising partner of Charles A. Shurter, is a member of the firm of Shurter & Briggs, hardware dealers of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, where our subject was born May 23, 1842. His father, George G. Briggs, was a native of England, and was one of the three children of Isaac Briggs, a tailor of that coun- try, his two sisters being Mary, who married Benjamin Briggs, a hardware merchant of Poughkeepsie, and Sarah. The grandfather came from England to America when his son was about thirteen years of age, and located in Poughkeepsie, where he carried on the tailoring business until his death. He was a straightforward, upright man, and a faithful member of the Baptist Church.

George G. Briggs, the father of our sub- ject, also learned the tailor's trade, which he has made his lifework, and is one of the most highly respected citizens of Poughkeepsie, where he has made his home since crossing the Atlantic. He was married to Miss Mary Kipp, a native of Poughkeepsie, and to them were born nine children, but three died in infancy. The others are George H., of this review; John, who is working in the store of our sub- ject; Albert, also a resident of Poughkeepsie; William, who is employed in the rolling mills; Mary, wife of George Marshall, a carriage maker of Danbury, Conn .; and Kate, wife of Charles Wilson, of Poughkeepsie. The father gives his political support to the Republican party, whose principles he earnestly advocates.

On completing his education in the city schools of Poughkeepsie, George H. Briggs entered the hardware store of his uncle, at the age of sixteen, to learn the tinner's trade, and served an apprenticeship of about five years. He then worked in the store until, in connec- tion with Mr. Shurter, he purchased the busi- ness. They are conducting a very large and prosperous business, and the credit of the firm stands high in financial circles.

In 1864 Mr. Briggs married Miss Georgia Macall, who was born in Ireland, but came with her parents to this country when quite young. She was the daughter of Edward Macall, a gardener by occupation, and by her

marriage she became the mother of one son, Edward T., who wedded Miss Deavens, and now clerks for his father. Mrs. Briggs was called to her final rest in 1893. In September, 1894, our subject was again married, his second union being with Hattie Williams, a native of Newburgh, New York.

In politics, Mr. Briggs favors the Demo- cratic party with his cordial support, was elected alderman of the Fourth ward, of Poughkeepsie, in November, 1892, and is now satisfactorily serving his second term. Socially, he is a member of the Odd Fellows Society, and the Order of American Firemen. He is a public-spirited, enterprising man, taking an active part in everything that tends toward the promotion of the welfare of the city or county, and is held in the highest regard by all who know him.

C HARLES N. STOWE, who was called from this life February 4, 1893, when in the prime of life, was one of the leading and representative farmers of the town of Beek- man. His grandfather, Eliachim Stowe, was a native of Ohio, whence in early life he came to Dutchess county, his last days being passed in retirement in the town of Dover. There he married Deborah Maxim, and they had a family of three children: Vivant, Levi and James.

The last named was the father of our sub- ject. He was born in the town of Dover, De- cember 16, 1817, and was a first cousin to the husband of Harriet Beecher Stowe. There his boyhood was passed, and his education was received in the district schools of the locality. He continued to engage in agricultural pur- suits in the town of Dover until the last year of his life, which was passed in the towns of Beekman and Unionvale. In religious belief he was a Methodist. In the town of Dover, he married Susan Schemerhorn, and they became the parents of four children: Lois, who mar- ried Nelson Cook, of the town of Unionvale; Lodema, wife of Charles Whitney, of Scars- dale, N. Y .; Charles N., of this sketch; and Mary, widow of Lewis Burton.

Charles N. Stowe was born in the town of Dover, February 14, 1846, and spent his school days in that township, in Kent, Conn., and in the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county. Until attaining his majority he re- mained with his father, and was married in Unionvale to Miss Phebe Emigh, an adopted

789

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

daughter of Henry Emigh. Four children graced their union: Susan R., who married Andrew G. Pray, of the town of Beekman, by by whom she has two daughters-Mary and Margaret: James H .; Vincent E. and Will- iam C.

After his marriage, Mr. Stowe removed to the town of Beekman, where he engaged in farming up to the time of his death; he served as assessor there for four years. His political support was ever given the Republican party, and socially, he affiliated with Shekomeko Lodge, F. & A. M. His influence was great and always for the good; while his sympathy, his benevolence, his kindly greetings, will long be remembered. His duties were performed with the greatest care, and throughout life his personal honor and integrity were without blemish.

G ILBERT TABOR, one of the most prom- inent agriculturists of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, is connected by descent or marriage with some of the leading families of that locality. He is a native of the town, and has passed his life there, acquiring his education in the public schools, and, later, engaging in agriculture. His present farm, near Dover Furnace, contains about two hundred acres of fine land, and was purchased in 188 1 from H. W. Preston. Mr. Tabor's able management has made it one of the best farms of the neighborhood. He is a leading worker in the local Republican organization, and has held several official positions of the town.

In 1863, he married Miss Nora Hoag, daughter of Philip Hoag, a well-known farmer of South Dover, and his wife, Mary Hoag. Four children were born of this union: George, July 2, 1865, was married in 1894 to Miss Mary Stevens, daughter of Hiram Stevens, of South Dover; William F., December 26, 1 867. Wright P., July 2, 1871, and Mary H., June 1, 1876, are at home.

The Tabor family has been prominently identified with the town of Dover for several generations and our subject's great-grandfa- ther, Job Tabor, came from Rhode Island to that locality at an early period to engage in farming. He married, and had the following children: Noah, who married Miss Carpenter; Thomas, who married Fallie Belding; John, our subject's grandfather; and the wife of Joseph Belding. John Tabor was born at

Chestnut Ridge in 1778, was educated at Dover Plains, and became a farmer by occu- pation. His wife, Jane Belding, was a daugh- ter of Silas and Dorcas Belding, her father being a well-to-do farmer of Dover. John and Jane Tabor had six children: Oscar, Charles, William, Emeline, Maria and Ann.

Oscar Tabor, our subject's father, was born in the town of Amenia, Dutchess county, Au- gust 4, 1809, and completed his education in Poughkeepsie. After his graduation he taught school in Dutchess county for a short time, and then engaged in farming and stock dealing, in which he was rewarded with success. He was an influential Republican, and held a number of township offices, including that of assessor. In religious faith he was a devout Baptist, and he was an active worker in the Dover Plains Church. On March 3, 1836, he married his first wife, Miss Hannah Preston, daughter of John and Amy Preston. Her father was a well-known farmer and hotelkeeper at Dover Plains. She died June 18, 1862, aged forty- four years, and in 1863 Mr. Tabor married a second wife, Mrs. Martha Giddings, née Mer- win, who had one son by a former marriage. By Mr. Tabor's first marriage there were four children: Mary E., Gilbert, Myron and Amy J., all of whom lived to adult age, and of the second, one child was born who died in in- fancy. Mary E. was born in the town of Dover, December 30, 1836, and married Or- ville Sheldon, a merchant in Dover, and a son of Egbert Sheldon, a cattle dealer. She died October 19, 1861, leaving no children. Myron, who was born in October 9, 1850, is a well- known farmer in the town of Dover; Amy J. was born March 27, 1852, and married Gerry Dennis, a conductor on the Harlem R. R., who has since moved to the West. She died Au- gust 12, 1889, and left one son, Fred Dennis. Oscar Tabor had one child by his second mar- riage, but it died in infancy.

William Tabor, second son of John Tabor, was born in Dover, Dutchess county, in 1820, and was educated in the common schools. He engaged in farming, and was also a great trav- eler. He married Miss Ann Eliza Chapman, and had eleven children: John and Louisa never married; Jennie died young; Florence married Frank Van Auken; Frank and Harriet did not marry; Mary is the wife of Everet Travers; William died at an early age; Harry and Haddie (twins) died in infancy; and Jennie (2) married Mr. Sepring.

790

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Charles Tabor, third child of John Tabor, was born in Dover, 1817, and after attending the common schools of the town during boy- hood he engaged in farming. He married Miss Caroline Vincent, daughter of Absolom and Abigail ( Duncan) Vincent, farmers of Dover. Charles Tabor and wife had ten children: Mary married Josiah Elting, a merchant, formerly of Poughkeepsie, now of Mt. Kisco, and they have one son, Charles, unmarried, who is in the feed business in Colorado; Helen married Charles Brower, an electrician of Boston, but has no children; Jennic died at the age of seventeen years; Emma, at the age of thirty-two; Maria, at thirty; Ida, who married Rev. Edwin Rusk, died at twenty-eight; Carrie, Charles and A. Vincent are not married; and Harry died in infancy.

Ann Tabor, fourth child of John Tabor, never married; Emeline, fifth child of John Tabor, married Harvey Preston, a farmer of Dover; they had two children-Charles Preston, who married Annett Sherman, and John, who married Augusta Marcy, and had one child-Fannie, now Mrs. Lines. Maria, sixth child of John Tabor, did not marry.

M YRON P. TABOR, an enterprising and successful agriculturist residing near Dover Plains, Dutchess county, is a member of one of our old and highly-esteemed families. His grandfather, John Tabor, and father, Os- car Tabor, were both well-known residents of Dutchess county, the latter being especially active and influential in public affairs. The accompanying biography of Gilbert Tabor, our subject's brother, gives an interesting history of the family.

Myron Tabor was born October 9, 1850, and has always made his home in the town of Dover. He married Miss Sarah Elizabeth White, a lady of unusual mental endowments, by whom he has had two children: Cora E., born in 1878, and Harry M., born in 1885. Mrs. Tabor, who is a descendant of old pioneer stock, was born in the town of Lagrange in 1856 and was educated in that locality. Her grandfather, Henry White, was a native of Unionvale, where he became a prominent farmer. Ile married Miss Sarah Doolittle and had six children: (1) Egbert married Irene Losee, and had four children: Emeline, Mrs. Walter Smith; Sarah, who never married; Harrison, who married Addic Lec, and Mary,

Mrs. Richmond Fort. (2) Henry married Catherine McCord, and had three children: William, Leander and Mary. (3) Charles, Mrs. Tabor's father, is mentioned below. (4) Esther married Nicholas Baker, and had five children: Abbie J., the wife of William Cronk; Levina, who married first James Scott, and second James Cronk; Nicholas, who married Elizabeth Allen: Sarah, the wife of Albert Cole, and William. (5) Jane married Israel F. Duncan, and had three children: George; Egbert, who married Annie Houghteling, and Charles. (6) Lizzie married Mr. Van Cott, but had no children.

Charles White was born in the town of Unionvale in 1834, was educated in the schools there, and became a farmer by occupation. His wife was Miss Caroline Van Wyck, daugh- ter of a well-known farmer of Dover, Robert S. Van Wyck, and his wife, Caroline. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. White, of whom Mrs. Tabor was the second in order of birth. Nettie, the eldest, was born in Union- vale in 1854. She married Edwin Velie, a farmer of the town of Lagrange, and has two children-Carrie and Frederick. Hattie, the third daughter, was born in 1859, and is now the wife of Elmer Preston, the proprietor of a hotel at Dover Plains; they have one son -. John C. Preston. Wellington White, the youngest child and only son, was born in the town of Washington in 1862, and is engaged in business as a stock speculator in the town of Fishkill. He married Miss Sarah Vollmer, and their only child died in infancy.

J AMES CARROLL, a successful business man of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, is one of the most progressive and public- spirited citizens of that thriving municipality.

He was a native of County Louth, Ireland, and a son of Michael C. Carroll, who was born in that county in 1816, and was one of three brothers, namely: Michael, our subject's fa- ther; James, who enlisted in the English army at sixteen years of age, and went to the West Indies, where he was employed as a horse- shoer and farrier; and Luke.

Michael C. Carroll learned the blacksmith's trade in his youth, and in about 1835 came to America, locating first in New York City, where he was employed in the Alum Works for some years. Later he went to Flushing, L. I., and then to South Brooklyn, carrying on the black-

791

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

smith, wheelwright and wagon-manufacturing business, making many milk wagons. He was a first-class mechanic, and also possessed marked skill as a horse doctor.

He married Margaret Savage, who was also a native of County Louth. Ireland, and to their union were born ten children, viz. : Mary, deceased; James, our subject; Thomas, a master mechanic, who met his death from an accident in the Roche Iron Works; Luke, a machinist in New York City; Mary Ann, the wife of Joseph Crolley, of Wappingers Falls; Mike, deceased; Mike (2), a machinist, who joined the United States Navy, and died in South America, in 1857, from an accidental injury. In politics he was a Democrat. The father of this family died in 1851.

James Carroll, our subject, was born in the Emerald Isle in 1835, and as his parents came to America in the same year, his educa- tion was obtained in this country. He at- tended the Bishops' Church School in Brook- lyn, the School of the Nativity in Concord, and later the public schools, making good use of his advantages. As he was always fond of reading he has gained much additional knowl- edge since he left school, at the age of eight- een, by private study, and can hold his own in an argument on the questions of the day. During boyhood he worked for a short time in a factory at the corner of Elizabeth and Mott streets, New York City, for $3.50 per week, and later sold fluid light for Mr. Conklin. He then served a full apprenticeship of five years in the iron moulder's trade at a shop on Third avenue, where he continued to work for two years after the completion of his term. Or leaving this place he worked on Water street, near Ruckster, and then with the McCulloms on Elder street, between Canal, Hester and Eldridge streets. Here he spent fifteen years, being foreman during the last few years. In September, 1865, he came to Poughkeepsie and entered the employ of Thompson and part- ner. At the end of two weeks he was called to the office and made foreman of the shop. He worked for this firm and their successors, Dudley & Thompson, and Dudley & Bullard, until 1879, at $4.00 per day, having from twenty-two to twenty-eight men under his charge. He left this business reluctantly, and, as he had some funds to invest, he at once engaged in the butcher's business in Union Square. Later he sold out that establishment and located at his present place of business,

which he remodeled and improved. For about seventeen years he has enjoyed an ex- tensive patronage, and is regarded as a sub- stantial business man.

.In 1864 he was married to Miss Ann Eliza Belton, a daughter of William Belton, whose family is one of the oldest in the city. To them were born the following named children: Mary married a. Mr. Clark, of Orange, N. J .; Margareti is a professional nurse at Honolulu, having completed a course in the Post-Gradu- ate School of New York; Eleanor is at home; Annie married John Blynn, of Wassaic; Grace is a trained nurse from the Post-Graduate School: Jennie B .; William Thomas, a gradu- ate of Eastman Business College, of Pough- keepsie, is employed in a dry-goods house in New York: James is in school with a view to studying law; Robert is a graduate of East- inan Business College; and Thomas is at home.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 145

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