Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 146

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

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Politically, Mr. Carroll is a Democrat on State and National issues, and he takes great interest in the welfare of the party. He is active and influential in local politics, having served in 1873-74-75 on the Waterworks board, and in 1893 and 1894 as alderman from the Third ward. While on the board of alder- men he was chairman of the committee on . streets. His well-proven integrity, no less than his ability, has been the source of his popularity. He is a member of the Order of Good Fellows, of the Queen City.

D R. JOHN FAUST, a prominent veteri- nary surgeon of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, is widely recognized as an authority upon the nature and treatment of the diseases of that noble animal, the horse. He is a na- tive of Hessen-Cassel, Germany, which has been the home of the family for many genera- tions, and there his grandfather, Barhold Faust, and his father Conrad Faust, were also born, the latter in 1807.

Dr. Faust was born July 19, 1835, and while acquiring a good education in the schools of his native place he began to consider. the vital question of self-support. He decided to come to America, where, to use his own phrase, he could " secure a bigger piece of bread, " or in other words better opportunities. On Au- gust 12, 1852, he landed in New York City, and soon after began to learn the cooper's trade, which he followed there until 1859, when he and his brothers, Tobias and Otto, went to

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Poughkeepsie. In 1860 they started in busi- ness there under the firmn name of John Faust & Bros. The Doctor was an active worker in this enterprise until 1865, when he became a silent partner, so continuing until 1875, when the partnership was dissolved.

In 1881, our subject went before the ex- amining board of the New York Veterinary Society, and passed the examination, receiving the degree of V. S. He is one of the most careful and studious of the veterinary surgeons of his county, and has done much to elevate the profession by his scientific researches. A number of valuable treatises give evidence of his learning and ability, among them an essay on Hernia read before the N. Y. State Veterinary Society; one on the History of Contagious and Infectious Diseases, Ancient, Medieval, and Modern: and one read in 1894 on the Practical part on Tuberculosis. He also prepared an article on the Darwinian Theory for the " Medi- cal Record " in reply to Prof. Bolenhomer, of New York. At present the Doctor is writing a work on Homeopathic Practice on Domestic Animals. He is a leading member of the U. S. Veterinary Medical Society, and has for two years been the cattle inspector for tuber- culosis in this State. He was credited in 1886 with being the first to vaccinate successfully against Anthrax fever, that treatment provid- ing the only means now known for arresting the disease. He has a large practice, and is frequently called in consultation in important difficult cases. In 1854 Dr. Faust married Miss Maria Frietag, also a native of Hessen- Cassel, Germany, and has six children: Louis, a physician at Schenectady; Frederick A., a physician in Poughkeepsie; Otto, a veterinary surgeon in the same city; William P., a physi- cian in Schenectady; Mary, the wife of F. C. Krueger, of that place; and Christina H., who is at home. The Doctor is a Republican in principle and a public-spirited citizen, but takes no part in political wire pulling. He is a member of the K. of P., and is one of the most prominent supporters of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he has been Sunday-school superintendent for several years, and a steward since 1859.

T HOMAS EMERSON, head gardener for William Densmore, of the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, is a native of Scot- land, born at Thornhill, December 25, 1842, a

son of William Emerson, who was also born in that village, in I811, a son of Thomas and Janet Emerson.

Thomas Emerson, the grandfather of our subject, belonged to one of the old and highly respected families of southwestern Scotland. For many years he served in the British army, being one of the veterans of Waterloo, and after leaving the service he lived in retirement. In his family were five children: William, the father of our subject; Robert, who lived in Scotland until 1860; John, a resident of Glas- gow; George, superintendent of an estate in Dumfriesshire; and Elizabeth, who married a Mr. Hope, and lived in Edinburgh ("Auld Reekie"), Scotland.

By occupation the father of our subject was a gardener, was engaged in the Stirling nurseries for many years, and was also em- ployed by the Montgomery family. Though he was a general gardener, he gave a great deal of attention to the culture of grapes. He was an honest, trustworthy and reliable man. In 1832, at the age of twenty-one years, he married Isabella McQueen, who was born in 1812, and was of Scotch descent on the pa- ternal side, while her mother belonged to an old Scotch family. Seven children blessed this union: Elizabeth, living in Edinburgh, Scotland; Mary, in Glasgow; Thomas; Janet, also in Edinburgh; David, a blacksmith, in Birkenhead, England; Johann, in Ayrshire, Scotland; and William, who died at the age of three years. The father passed away in 1880, at the age of sixty-nine years, and the mother in March, 1893.

The education of Thomas Emerson was be- gun in the common school near his boyhood home, and completed at a night school. He has ever been a great reader, making a special study of his " profession, " as gardening is called in his native land. He began to learn that occupation in Scotland at the age of sixteen years, at a place called Blair Drummond, where he served a three-years' apprenticeship. He then went to Dumfries, and wasin the nur- series there some six months, afterward, for a year and a-half, being employed by Sir William Jardine. For the same length of time he was at Eglinton Castle, owned by the Earl of Eg- linton, and from there went to Rozell, Ayrshire, being within a stone's throw of the cottage of Robert Burns, the poet, for a year. After six months passed at the Williams nursery in Lon- don, he secured a position at Hythe, in Kent,

The Emerson

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England, the place of Henry B. Mackeson, which he laid out, and continued in charge of for five years. He then returned to Scotland, but in 1870 came to the New World, locating at first in Philadelphia, where he remained for a month. On April 18, of that year, he ar- rived in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, and became assistant gardener on Mr. Dinsmore's place, under A. L. Black, who, the following year, went to Philadelphia. Our subject succeeded to his position, which he has since most efficiently filled. The place con- tains one of the finest collections of plants to be found in the State, of which he has com- plete charge.

Mr. Emerson has been remarkably success- ful in his chosen calling, and in his present cn- gagement has seventeen men under his charge, during the summer months, while in the winter there are eleven. He is a prominent member of the Society of American Florists, the Florist Club of New York City, and the Free Gar- deners. In his political views he is an ardent Republican, giving his earnest support to the party, and is one of the leading representative citizens of the town of Hyde Park. In relig- ious faith he is a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church.

P ERRY WHEELER, a worthy member of the agricultural community of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, is the grandson of John B. Wheeler, whose birth occurred there. In the common schools of the locality the grandfather received what was considered at that day a very good education, and at an early age turned his attention to farming. H owned and controlled a large tract of land in the southern portion of Dover town, on which lie continued to make his home, and there reared his family. He married Miss Ruth Sampson, and had five children: Sebastian, John, Henry, Belding and Katic.

Henry Wheeler, the father of our subject, was also a native of the town of Dover, Dutch- ess county, and after securing a common-school education, successfully engaged in farming throughout his entire life, accumulating by that means considerable wealth. He married Miss Catherine Wing, a daughter of Thomas Wing, and his wife, Hannah White, who were the parents of three children: Amy, Katie and Hannah. Her father, who was one of the Revolutionary heroes, was born in the

town of Dover, where during manhood he engaged in agricultural pursuits. To the par- ents of our subject were born nine children, namely: Harvey, Thomas and John, all de- ceased; Shandanette; Bailey; Perry; Amy, who married Lathic Brown; Hannah; and Mariette. To the marriage of Lathic Brown and wife was born a son, Alexander (who married Ethel Wheeler, an adopted daughter of Perry Wheeler), who was a policeman in New York City for sixteen years. His death occurred at South Dover in 1873. Lathic Brown was born in Onondaga county, N. Y., and his death occurred in 1866 in the City of New York. He was a farmer by occupation.

Mr. Wheeler, whose name introduces this review, was born in Dover town, May 29, 1819, and after completing his education started out in life as a farmer, but he later learned the wheelwright's trade, at which he worked for eight years. Owing to ill health, he again took up the occupation of farming, which he has since continued. Since its organization he has been identified with the Republican party, and has acceptably served in several township offices, including those of assessor and commis- sioner. His life has been manly, his actions sincere, his manner unaffected, and his exam- ple is well worthy of emulation.

Mr. Wheeler was united in marriage with Miss Ann Ross, a daughter of Zebulon and Rhoda Ross, of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, and to this worthy couple were born two children : Catharine, who was born in 1850. educated in Dutchess county, and is now the wife of Charles Hawes, a farmer of Sher- man. Conn .; and George R., who died at the age of three years. After a long and happy married life, the wife and mother was called to her final rest in 1895.

John Ross, the grandfather of Mrs. Wheel- er, was born in Dover town, Dutchess county, where he followed farming and married Miss Hannah White. In their family were six chil- dren : Fannie; Mrs. Eliza Prentice; Mrs. Sallie Butts; William; one whose name is not given ; and Zebulon, the father of Mrs. Wheeler.

Zebulon Ross, an agriculturist, was also born, reared, educated and married in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, Miss Rhoda Wing becoming his wife. Mrs. Wheeler was one of their five children, the others being as follows: John wedded Mary Stark, of Pawling. Dutchess county, by whom he had six children: Katie, Addie, Rhoda, Theodore, Charles and Will-

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iam. George, who married Miss Mariette Wheeler, had no children. Theodore was united in marriage with Miss Sarah A. Ar- nold, and they, too, had no family. Eliza be- came the wife of Harvey Buckingham, of Northville, Conn., and to them were born three children, namely: ( I) Theodore first married Eliza Whitley, and their one child died in infancy. For his second wife he chose Phoebe Rennis, by whom he had four children: Estelle, May, Herman and Frederick. His third wife bore the maiden name of Annie Martin. (2) Ilerman was killed while valiantly serving in the Union army during the Civil war. (3) Aun Eliza married Orville Sheldon, who died in May, 1896, a son of Egbert Shel- don, and they had no children.

M RS. RHODA L. SHERMAN, a most estimable lady, whose home is in the town of Unionvale, belongs to a family that has been prominently identified with the inter- ests of Dutchess county from an early period in its history. Her paternal grandfather, Hiram Rozell, was a native of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, received his educa- tion in its common schools, and engaged in farming during his active business career. By his marriage with Miss Catharine Buck he had three children: Martin, Hiram and Peter. After the death of his first wife he again mar- ried, and to the marriage were born the follow- ing children: Henry; James, who married a Miss Wight; Beekman, who married a Miss Morey; Albro, who married a Miss Rozell; Mrs. Catharine Leroy; Mrs. Helen Van Vleck; Mrs. Mevilie Hewett; Mrs. Mary Whitehead; Mrs. Phoebe Dennis; and Mrs. Cordelia Reed.

Martin Rozell, the father of Mrs. Sherman, was born in the town of Dover, in 1793, at- tended the public schools of the locality, and engaged in farming as a lifework. He was united in marriage with Miss Deborah Cypher, an agriculturist of Beekman town, Dutchess county.

Twelve children blessed their union, name- ly: (1) Peter, born in 1818, married Phoebe Giles, by whom he had five children-Allison, Phoebe, Amelia, Deborah and lda. (2) Thomas, born in 1819, married Sarah J. Cypher, by whom he had one daughter-Harriet. (3) Elizabeth, born in 1823, married James Wes- ley, and they had one son, George, now de- ceased. (4) Jane A., born in 1821, married

Ephraim Hewett, by whom she had six chil- dren- Sarah, Cecelia, William, Edward, Emma and Obe. (5) Maria, born in 1825, married John Doan, and has three children-Samuel, Lewis and Frank. (6) Smith, born in 1827, married Ellen Ball, by whom he has five chil- dren-Charles, Etta, Edith, Ella and Willie. (7) Rhoda L. is next in order of birth. (8) Drusilla, born in 1833, married John Flagler, and has three daughters-Carrie, Arcelia and Alda. (9) 'Wicks, born in 1831, wedded Miss Maria J. Brooks, by whom he had three chil- dren-Edward, Charles and Carrie, and after the death of his first wife he married Mary E. Clark, by whom he had a daughter-Annie. (10) David, born in 1836, married Phoebe Lake, and they had two children-Mamie and Remsen. (11) Caroline, born in 1839, mar- ried Theodore Cypher, and they have a daugh- ter-Cora. (12) Cecelia, born in 1842, died when young.

Mrs. Rhoda L. (Rozell) Sherman is a na- tive of Dutchess county, born in the town of Lagrange, in 1829, and pursued her studies in the schools near her home. On reaching woman- hood she was united in marriage with Samuel Rozell, a farmer of Unionvale town, who died in 1869, at the age of seventy-three years. Later she became the wife of Isaac W. Sher- man, who was by occupation a painter and farmer, and whose death occurred in 1889. Mrs. Sherman enjoys the respect of all who know her, and her many virtues and loving disposition have gained her many warm friends in the community where she has so long made her home.

J TAMES H. RUSSELL, a prosperous and honored citizen of the town of Beekman.

Dutchess county, successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits, started out in life poor in everything but pluck and indomitable will power, and is now one of the well-to-do farm- ers of the community.

John Russell, his great-grandfather, in an early day came, along with two of his brothers, from England to this country, one of the three settling in Dutchess county, one in Massachu- setts, and the other, John, in Orange county, N. Y. The last named was twice married, and by his first wife had five sons, one named William (the grandfather of our subject), and three daughters; by his second wife he had but one child, a son. John Russell moved from

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Orange county to Phillipstown. Putnam county, where he passed the rest of his days. He was a lifelong farmer, and during the Revolution- ary war served as major-general.

William Russell, grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in the town of Fishkill, Dutch- ess county, where he passed his entire life in agricultural pursuits. He was thrice married, the names of his wives being Theodosia Town- send, Amy Cronk and Helen Champlain, re- spectively, the first of whom was the grand- mother of James H. William Russell had ten children in all, as follows: Bradford, James, Annie, Austin and John, all five de- ceased; Elijah, father of our subject; William, deceased; Benjamin; Betsey, deceased; and a daughter who died while young.

Elijah Russell was born in the town of Fishkill, June 12, 1813, and attended the dis- trict schools of the neighborhood. He re- mained at home until his marriage with Miss Margaret Wright, daughter of Isaac Wright. Her death occurred June 20, 1892, and she was mourned by many warm friends as well as by her immediate family. The family circle included five children: Ann Jeanette, wife of Gilbert Southard, of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county; George Isaac, who makes his home in Matteawan, N. Y., but is a keeper in the prison at Sing Sing; Alphonza, who married D. W. Haight, of the town of East Fishkill, Dutchess county; James H., subject of this sketch; and Maria Amelia, wife of Will- iam Wolcott, of Matteawan. The father has always engaged in farming upon many places in Dutchess county. After his marriage he located in the town of Lagrange, whence he removed to the town of Poughkeepsie, and later was a resident of Peekskill, N. Y .; then lived in the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, and now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. Haight, in the town of East Fishkill. Until recently he had always supported the Democratic party, but is now a stalwart Pro- hibitionist on account of his views on the tem- perance question. He has never aspired to public office, but faithfully discharges his du- ties of citizenship. When young he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has since been one of its active and faithful members.

In the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county, James H. Russell, the subject proper of these lines, was born June 7, 1845, and his school 1

days were there passed. His educational

privileges, however, were quite limited, a fact which he has always deeply regretted. On leaving home at the age of twenty years, he entered the drug store of Van Valkenburg & Brown, of Poughkeepsie, where he engaged in clerking for a year; then, with his father and brother bought out the Denton restaurant, at No. 270 Main street, in that city, which they remodeled and conducted for a year. On selling out he engaged in the fire-insurance business for two years, representing the Loril- lard Company, of New York City, being lo- cated at Arthursburg, N. Y. He was next employed on the farm of J. W. Van Tassell for a year, and during the following four years operated land for W. S. Verplanck; removing to the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, he rented E. H. Clark's farm for two years, whence he went to the farm of Benson J. Lossing, the historian, on Chestnut Ridge, in the town of Dover, which he worked on shares for three years, and rented during the following six years. In 1886 he purchased a 255-acre farm of W. E. Haxtun, in the town of Beekman, on which he has since resided, and which he has placed under a high state of cultivation. He is ranked among the most progressive agriculturists of the county, and he thoroughly understands his business in all its departments.

In 1864, in the town of East Fishkill, Mr. Russell was married to Miss Hester A. Haight, daughter of Henry Haight, and two children were born to them, the elder being Walter G., now in the grocery business in New York City. He married Lillian Greenthall, by whom he has three sons-James H., Vincent L., and Percy (deceased ).

Mr. Russell has ever taken a prominent part in public affairs, casting his ballot in sup- port of the Democratic party, and on that ticket was elected superintendent of the county poor in the fall of 1883, and again in the fall of 1886, serving altogether six years. For two terms he was commissioner of highways in the town of Dover, and in the town of Beekman has been supervisor one term, and also commissioner of highways one term. Twice he has been the nominee of his party for the Assembly, and came within eighteen votes of being elected in a district which has | usually 1, 800 majority for the Republicans, which fact plainly indicates his popularity and the confidence reposed in him. In all the various relations of life, Mr. Russell has been

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true and faithful in every trust, and justly merits the high regard in which he is held. He is a member of the F. & A. M., Lodge No. 458, Shekomeko, Dutchess county, and also a charter member and master of Sylvan Grange, of the town of Beekman, organized in Decem- ber, 1896.

J OHN GEORGE BODENSTEIN. Among the valued German-born citizens of Staats- burg, Dutchess county, stands prominent in progressiveness, industry and popularity, this gentleman. He was born in Hessen-Cas- sel, Germany, June 20, 1850, a son of John H. and Dorothea (Boerner) Bodenstein, natives of the same place.

By trade the father was a blacksmith, which occupation he continued to follow after coming to America in 1858, first locating at Rockland Lake, Rockland Co., N. Y., where he remained until 1863, when he removed to Pier- mont, N. Y. There he worked at his trade for one year, spending the following seven months as a journeyman in Jersey City, N. J. In 1864 he came to Staatsburg, where for three years he worked for the Eagle Ice Company, and at Athens, N. Y., he was employed by the same company until 1868. In Staatsburg he then opened a shop for the manufacture of ice tools and general blacksmithing, which business he continued up to his death in 1875. He was very successful, and made many improvements in ice tools, though he took out no patents. Among the many implements manufactured by him were ice plows. In his family were seven children, all yet living, namely: Eliza Cather- ine, John George, Henry, Frederick, Sophia, Amelia and Charles. The mother died No- vember 25, 1891.

For four years prior to coming to this country our subject attended school in the Fatherland, and completed his literary educa- tion by two years and a half attendance at the common schools at Rockland Lake and Pier- mont. Although his privileges in that direction were somewhat meager, he has by subsequent reading become a well-informed man. With his father he learned the blacksmith's trade, and from 1866 to 1868 worked as a journey- man in Newburg, Fishkill Plains and Kingston, N. Y. In 1868 he started a shop for his father on the site where his brother Henry now car- ries on business, and although he owned no interest in the shop had full control until two

years after his father's death. He and his brother Henry then formed a partnership, and under the style of J. G. & H. Bodenstein en- gaged in the manufacture of ice tools until March 22, 1890, when the partnership was dissolved. Our subject then established his present shop, where he does a great deal of forging for the Poughkeepsie foundries, and has furnished all the iron work for the Ogden Mills summer residence, which required nearly a hundred tons of iron and steel. However, the manufacture of ice tools is still his main business, in which he has a large trade, ex- tending all over the country, from Maine to the Pacific. He is essentially a self-made man, having been the architect of his own for- tune, and is deserving of the highest commen- dation.

In 1873 Mr. Bodenstein was united in marriage with Louisa Hess, of Staatsburg, a daughter of John George Hess, and to them have been born two sons: Fred. who is associated with his father in business; and John George. Mr. Bodenstein is an ardent supporter of Republican principles, though he takes no very active interest in politics ; socially, he is identified with the F. & A. M. at Rhine- beck. He is a member of the Episcopal Church at Staatsburg, of which he has been vestryman since its incorporation; has been school trustee for many years, and a member of the Staatsburg fire department. He is a member and one of the organizers of the Staatsburg Gun Club, and is a noted crack- shot, having captured many money prizes, and borne away the first prize medal from Al- bany, put up by the Third Brigade of the Na- tional Guard of the State of New York, in a two-days' "shoot," making a score of 48 out of a possible 50, with military arm, off-hand at 200 yards, Creedmore targets. The com- petition was one of the sharpest. Mr. Boden- stein's honor and integrity are unimpeachable, his word being considered as good as his bond.

W ILLIS HAVILAND CASE. The name of this lamented citizen of the town of Clinton, who passed to his rest on Sunday, February 12, 1893, is remembered as that of one of the most prominent and energetic men of the community, one who assisted greatly in its development and prosperity. Besides gen- eral farming he also devoted considerable time to the practice of veterinary surgery, and on

DE Bodensten

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the day of his death all of the family, with the exception of himself and wife, had gone to Church. Feeling ill, he took what he sup- posed to be some medicine, but which the in- stant afterward he knew to be some aconite he had prepared for a sick horse, and he died soon afterward. No man is more worthy of representation in a work of this kind, and there is none whose name is held is more general re- membrance.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 146

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