Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 148

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 148

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).

where he occupied the residence at 471 Main street, the present location of the Electric Light Company. From that place he moved to Dover Plains, and spent two years in the business of carriage manufacturing. He was a very benevolent man, a leader in many pub- lic movements, and took an active part in the work of the Masonic fraternity and in military affairs, serving as captain in the old militia. An ardent Democrat, he was a popular candi- date of his party, and held a number of town- ship offices, including that of justice of the peace. In 1892 he was elected to the State Assembly, defeating John B. Dutcher, who had been confident of success. He married Miss 'Adelia A. Geddings, who was born in 18og, the daughter of Buell and Sarah Ged- dings, well-known residents of the town of Dover. Of the four children of this union, the eldest, Hiram W., born in 1834, was a farmer. He never married. Gilbert J., born in 1835, was in the employ of the government. He married Miss Mary Watson, of Ulster county, in 1863, and had one child, who died at the age of six months. The third son is the subject of this memoir, and the fourth, William G., was born in 1848, and after re- ceiving an education in the seminaries of that locality, entered the service of the Harlem railroad as conductor, and was regarded for many years as one of their best and most trustworthy employes. He married Miss Kate S. Swords, daughter of Henry Swords, of Pawling, and had two children: Sarah and Adelia, both of whom died in infancy.

George W. Dutcher was born August 27, 1839, and was educated in the academies at Amenia and Fort Plain. After graduating, he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, which he followed for twenty-five years. He was engaged to some extent in the undertak- ing business during that time, and in 1888 he opened such an establishment at Wing's Sta- tion, where he makes a specialty of that line of work, in which he is a leader, and carries a large stock of materials, having about $2,000 invested. He owns a farm of fifty-two acres in that vicinity. His first wife was Miss Net- tie Hill, daughter of Thomas Hill, a well- known resident of the town of Olive, Ulster county, and of this marriage three children were born: (1) Frederick died when six months old. (2) Eva is the wife of George A. Trowbridge, and has two children, William L. and Nettie; and (3) Luther T. died at the

803

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

age of fifteen years. The mother of this fam- ily died March 5, 1878, and Mr. Dutcher mar- ried Miss Sarah A. Webb, daughter of a prom- ment commission merchant of Wing's Station, Alexander Webb, who was born in Pawling, September 5, 1813, and after receiving his education there learned the miller's trade. He spent some years in that business at Roches- ter before settling at Wing's Station. He married Miss Elizabeth Lane, of Unionvale, and had two children: Sarah (Mrs. Dutcher), and Mary J., who married William S. Jones, and has two children: Nellie E. and Annie M.

On his mother's side Mr. Dutcher is de- scended from the well-known Geddings [am- ily. His grandfather, Buell Geddings, was a native of the town of Sherman, Dutchess coun- ty, where he was educated and learned the trade of a wagonmaker, at which he worked during the greater part of his life. His last years were passed upon a farm in the town of Dover. He married Miss Sarah Reasoner, and has five children: (1) Noble married Harriet Cox, of Crum Elbow, and had three children: Theo F., Nina and Frank. (2) Adelia married Luther S. Dutcher. (3) Jack- son married Debora Hoag, and had four chil- dren: John H., who married Maria Oliver; George W., who married Jennie Villinger; Myra, Mrs. James Reynolds; and Andrew, who is not married. (4) Martin married Mary J. Hoag. 5) William is not married.

In politics Mr. Dutcher has always been a stanch Democrat, and has held a number of offices. He has been inspector of elections in his district for nineteen years, school trustee for the same length of time, and is now serving his sixteenth term as justice of the peace.

T HEODORE S. HORTON is proprietor of one of the most noticeable homesteads in the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, pleasantly situated about eight miles from Poughkeepsic. His pleasant residence is flanked by a good barn and the various other outbuildings required by the progressive agri- culturist. As a tiller of the soil he is thorough and skillful, and has been uniformly fortunate in his investments.

Mr. Horton spent his boyhood days in the town of Esopus, Ulster county, where his birth took place August 19, 1848, at the home of his parents, John and Phoebe (Stoutenburgh) Horton, both natives of Ulster county. His

paternal grandfather, David Horton, was a farmer of that county, where he was married and spent his remaining days. The Stouten- burghs were of Holland descent, formerly bearing the name of Van Stoutenburgh. The maternal grandfather, Herman Stoutenburgh, was also an agriculturist of Ulster county. After their marriage the parents of our subject located on a farm in the town of Esopus, where they reared their two children: Elizabeth and Theodore S. Besides his farming opera- tions the father also conducted a grist and saw mill. His political support was given the Re- publican party, while he and his wife attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was called from this life in 1855, and his wife, who survived him for many years, died January 13, 1895.

The early days of Theodore S. Horton were spent upon the farm where his birth oc- curred; but at the age of eight years he came to the town of Pleasant Valley, to live with his grandfather, and here obtained a fair edu- cation. In 1866 he went to Poughkeepsie town, Dutchess county, where he lived on the farm of his uncle, David Stoutenburgh, and there followed farming.

On November 6, 1873, was consummated the marriage of Mr. Horton and Miss Jennie Underwood, who was born on the farm where she now resides, and is a daughter of Gerald Underwood, also a native of the town of Pleas- ant Valley, and of Holland lineage. To them have been born three children, all at home, namely: G. Kendel, Lispnard S. and Flavius. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Horton con- tinued to live on a farm in the town of Pough- keepsie until the spring of 1891, when they removed to their present fine farm of 188 acres of rich and fertile land. He is a progressive and enterprising farmer, public-spirited to a high degree, and an ardent supporter of the Democratic party. Both he and his wife at- tend the Baptist Church, to which they are liberal contributors. They hold a high posi- tion in the social circles of the community.

OHN W. LINK is one of the most promni- nent among the energetic and successful farmers of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county. His life history clearly illustrates what may be attained by faith and continued effort in carrying out an honest purpose. In- tegrity, activity and energy have been the

804

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

crowning points of his success, and have en- abled him to accumulate all that he now pos- sesses.

William Link, his father, was born about 1798 in the town of Milan, Dutchess county, of which locality the grandparents, Philip and - (Cookingham) Link, were early resi- dents and farming people. William was the second in their family of seven children, and in the common schools of the neighborhood received his education. On attaining manhood he was married, in the town of Milan, to Eliz- abeth Pells, a daughter of John Pells, and to them were born six children: John W., the subject of this review; Eliza Ann (deceased) ; Jeremiah; Henry (deceased) ; Helen and Charles. For some time after his marriage the father worked by the day, but later engaged in farm- ing on his own account, and from no source whatever did he ever receive financial assist- ance.

In the town of Milan, December 11, 1817, John W. Link was born, and he there attended school. On starting out in life for himself he first worked as a farm hand, later learning the carpenter's trade, at which he was employed some twenty-five years. His first purchase of land comprised a farm in his native township, which he operated for twelve years; but in 1864 he bought his present farm in the town of Clinton, to the improvement and cultivation of which he has since devoted his time and at- tention with remarkable success.

In Albany, N. Y., November 13, 1851, Mr. Link was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hicks, who was born June 20, 1823, in the town of Milan, Dutchess county. Her father, David Hicks, was born in the town of Pine Plains, in 1797, and in the town of Clin- ton he was married in the Quaker faith to Miss Mary Gildersleeve, who was born in that town- ship in 1798. He died in 1884, she in 1889, and they were the parents of nine children, Mrs. Link being third in the family and eldest of those yet living. Benjamin Hicks, grand- father of Mrs. Link, born in 1751, became an early settler of Dutchess county. He married Deborah Doty, and to them were born eight children, all now deceased. The family were Quakers in religious belief. Mr. and Mrs. Link rank among the oldest living pioneers of Dutchess county, the family having been con- nected therewith about 200 years, and they command the respect and esteem of all with whom they come in contact. Mr. Link has

been a lifelong Democrat, and has served as road master in the town of Clinton. At all times he has taken an active interest in the welfare and prosperity of his town and county.

G EORGE F. PHESAY, a leading watch- maker and jeweler of Matteawan, Dutch- ess county, and one of the most enterprising of the young business men of that place, is the proprietor of an establishment which com- pares favorably for equipment and variety of stock with any of its kind along the Hudson river. His success is the more worthy of note because it is founded upon his own efforts, and his term of apprenticeship was served at the same place which he now occupies as owner.

His parents, John and Ellen (Rhine) Phe- say, were both born in England, his father at Kidderminster, his mother in London. On coming to America in 1856, his father, who was a gardener by occupation, located first at Matteawan and except for some years at Troy, N. Y., the greater portion of his time was spent there. Our subject was one of eight children, of whom two died in childhood. The survivors are Carrie Emma (Mrs. Albert Yates), John K .. James K., Ellen Nora, George F. and Mary Elizabeth (Mrs. Fred- erick Way).

George F. Phesay was born at Lansing- burg, N. Y., September 13, 1864, and was educated in the public schools of Matteawan, his parents having returned from Troy when he was about five years old. After leaving school he entered the employ of Capt. Fair- banks of the steamer " Martin," plying between Newburg and Albany, and took charge of his conservatories, the fine collection of orchids being his especial care. He remained there about a year, and then spent a few months in the Matteawan Manufacturing Company's works, but finally found thoroughly congenial employment in the jewelry store of the late A. Townsend, where he learned the business in all its branches. After the death of Mr. Townsend in 1894. Mr. Phesay remained in charge of the store for a time, and in Novem- ber of that year he bought the fixtures from the heirs and started in business on his own account at the same location, opening on De- cember 1, 1894, with an entirely new stock, his choice selection displaying artistic taste as well as sound business judgment.

Mr. Phesay married Miss Louise Ticehurst,

805

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Tomlins) Ticehurst, prominent residents of Matteawan, and has two sons, Charles Frederick and George Simms Phesay. He and his wife at- tend the Episcopal Church, and are among the leaders in the various social and charitable activities of the Church. In politics Mr. Phe- say is a Republican, and he is a member of Hudson River Lodge No. 57, of the fraternal order of Knights of Pythias.

E .GBERT DOTY. We are now permitted to touch briefly upon the life history of one who has retained a personal association with the affairs of Dutchess county since his infancy, and one whose ancestral line traces back to the Colonial period. His life has been one of honest and earnest endeavor, and due success has not been denied him. He is a native son of the county, his birth having occurred in the town of Pleasant Valley, Jan- uary 23, 1827; but his entire married life has been passed in the town of Clinton, where he owns a valuable farm, highly cultivated and well improved, with all the accessories to be found upon a model farm of the nineteenth century.

Samuel Doty, father of our subject, was also born in the town of Pleasant Valley, and was a son of Stephen Doty, an early resident of that locality. On reaching maturity Sam- uel was married in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, to Elizabeth Briggs, and eight children were born to them, in order of birth as follows: George, Henry and Martha (all deceased): Stephen, of Brooklyn, N. Y .; Egbert, of this sketch; Joseph, of the town of Pleasant Valley; Mary, wife of Paul Flagler; and Hiram (deceased). In his native town- ship the father continued to follow farming until his death, which occurred in 1872; his wife died in 1845. He was a self-made man, who by sheer force of will and untiring effort worked his way upward until he has secured a comfortable competence.

Egbert Doty grew up on the home farm. receiving his primary education in the district schools, and later was a student in the Amenia Academy. On November 19, 1856, he was united in marriage, in the town of Hyde Park, with Mary B. Wood, a daughter of George R. Wood, and was called to her final rest March 24. 1892, leaving a loving husband and two children, besides innumerable friends, to

mourn their loss. The daughter, Josephine W., is the wife of Abram J. Conover. The son, Norman J., acquired his education in the public school of the town of Clinton, and the Poughkeepsie Military Institute. He still re- mains upon the home farm with his father, and on November 5, 1891, in Clinton town, he wedded Carrie M. Hicks, a daughter of George S. and Emma (Foster) Hicks. They have a son, Foster W., born August 24. 1893.

A man of unswerving integrity and honor, one who has a perfect appreciation of the higher ethics of life, Mr. Doty has gained and retained the confidence and respect of his fel- low men, and is distinctively one of the lead- ing citizens of the town of Clinton, with whose interests he has always been identified.

F RANK P. MEAD. Among the wide-awake young farmers of the town of Amenia, Dutchess county, there is probably none more energetic and reliable than the gentleman whose name begins this sketch. He has made many valuable and useful improvements upon his place, and has the land under a high state of cultivation.

John Franklin Mead, father of our subject, was a native of the town of Amenia, born March 16, 1836, and died there on the home- stead farm, September 1, 1890. His boyhood days were there passed, much in the usual manner of farmer lads, and he attended the district schools and the Amenia Seminary, acquiring a good practical education. His life was devoted to the pursuit to which he was reared, and he also served as director of the First National Bank of Amenia, and president of the Amenia and Sharon Land Co., of North Dakota. He was numbered among the pub- lic-spirited men of the county, and was one of the most interested in its development and progress. A conscientious Christian, he was a member of the Baptist Church of Amenia, in which he served as deacon; politically he was a Republican, and for one term filled the office of supervisor of his township. In the town of Amenia he married Mary Mygatt, daughter of Ambrose Mygatt, and three children blessed their union : Emma, now the wife of Jacob Peters, of Amenia; Edward, of the same place, and Frank Presson, of this review.

The birth of our subject occurred in the town of Amenia, December 13, 1869, and on reaching a sufficient age he attended school at

≤06

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

Perry's Corners, in Northeast, was later a student in the Amenia Seminary and the Reed school at Lakeville, Conn., and completed his education at the Housatonic Valley Institute at Cornwall, Conn. On December 15, 1892, in Amenia town, he was united in marriage with Miss Laura Belle Bartram, only daughter of Barney and Laura G. (Culver) Bartram. Ile has always turned his attention to agricult- ural pursuits, and is now operating the old Bartram farm.

Barney Bartram was born at Redding, Conn., in 1808, and was a cattle broker in New York City the greater part of his business life. . In 1867 he came to Amenia, where he built the present residence of our subject, and resided there during the summer months, but the winter seasons he still spent in New York. At Pine Plains, Dutchess county, he married Miss Laura G. Culver, who survived him some time, dying in 1887, while his death occurred in 1878. In religious belief he was a Method- ist, and he was a most highly esteemed and honored citizen.

T HEODORE WHEELER, a prosperous agriculturist, residing near South Dover, Dutchess county, is one of the substantial citi- zens of the town of Dover.

His father, Thomas Wheeler, was a well- known drover and farmer, residing near Wing Station, and owned about 1,000 acres of fine land. He was born in Dover in 1814, and in 1837 was married to Rhoda Ann Oney, of Ot- sego county, who was born in 1812. They had three sons: Theodore, Obed and William.

Theodore Wheeler was born in 1837 at the old homestead in Dover, and, in 1858, he was united in matrimony with Miss Jane A. Chap- man. They have one son, Thomas S. Wheeler, who was born in Dover, May 22, 1862, and was educated at Peekskill, N. Y. Since his graduation he has been engaged in business in New York City as a broker, and he is a mem- ber of the Produce Exchange of that place. He married Miss Addie Mayer, daughter of Gilford Mayer, a well-known insurance agent of Plainfield, N. J., and his wife, Ophelia. Mrs. Jane A. Wheeler, was born in Dover, March 16, 1837, and was educated in the local schools. She is a lady of unusual ability and force of character, and is descended from an old Connecticut family. Her grandfather, John Chapman, was born and educated in

that State, whence he came to the town of Dover. He and his wife, Catherine (Briggs), reared a family of four children: Henry. Richard, And (now Mrs. Bishop) and Sarah A. (now Mrs. Henry Fiero).

Richard Chapman, Mrs. Wheeler's father, was a native of the town of Dover, born in 1810. He was carefully educated, and as he possessed mechanical ability of a high order he decided to learn the carpenter's trade, which he followed until he was forty years old. He then moved to Pawling, Dutchess county, and engaged in the restaurant business. No desire for political distinction was ever manifested by him, but he ardently believed in the principles of the Democratic party, and never failed to support them as occasion permitted. He mar- ried Miss Sarah Wheeler, daughter of Sebas- tian Wheeler, a prosperous farmer, and his wife, Phæbe (Wing). The five children of Richard and Sarah Chapman were: Francis, Jane A., Sarah L., Perry M. and Emma M. Of these, (1) Francis, born July 11, 1835, was educated in the schools of his native town, and then engaged in the mercantile business in Pawling. After some years he went to New York City as a bookkeeper, and died there. His wife was Miss Jennie M. Bishop, daughter of Rev. Bishop. They had no children. (3) Sarah L., born May 14, 1839, married Will- iam B. Ross, a merchant of the town of Dover, and they have three children: William J., Charles (who married Miss Ida Woodman) and George W. (4) Perry M., born March 27, 1841, engaged in the restaurant business with his father, after he had completed his course of study in the local schools. During

the Civil war he served as a soldier in defense of the Union cause. He married Miss Ann Thomas, daughter of Charles Thomas, a well- known farmer and blacksmith of Dover. Five children were born of this union: Cora T. (now Mrs. George Daniels), Albert, Ross, Fred and Emma. (5) Emma M. married George W. Chase, cashier of the Pawling Bank, and they have had two children: Nellie T. and George.

C LARENCE E. YOUNG. The subject of this sketch was born in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, August 14, 1851, and is the son of Edward H. and Phoebe (Frost) Young, the former of whom was born in the town of Milton, Ulster county, and the latter in Dutch- ess county.

-07

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Our subject spent his boyhood on the farm and attending the public schools and the Dutch- ess County Academy. After finishing his ed- ucation he worked on the farm, where he is at present occupied in the business of gardener and florist. He was married in 1876 to Miss Rebecca U. Underhill, who was born in Queens county, L. 1. Her father, Jacob Underhill, was a farmer, and came of Irish ancestors. Two children have been born to our subject and

wife: Edith M. and Blanch. Mr. Young has a farm just outside the city limits, where he raises vegetables, garden supplies and flowers. He has a fine residence on the place. He is a progressive citizen, a Prohibitionist, and, with his wife, is a member of the Reformed Church.

Edward H. Young grew up in Ulster county and married Miss Frost, who was the daughter of James Frost, a farmer. They lived for some time in Ulster county, and then moved to Pough- keepsie and purchased their farm in 1850, on which their present house was built in 1851. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Young: Annie, who married William M. Du- Bois, a farmer of Charles county, Maryland; Phœbe, unmarried; Hannah, who died in 1885; and Clarence E., our subject. Mr. Young died in IS78, and his wife in 1887. He was a Republican.

Edward Young, grandfather of our subject, was also born in Ulster county. He married a Miss Cromwell, and they reared the following children: John, a farmer in Ulster county, now deceased; David was a farmer in Pleasant Valley, and is now deceased; Alexander is a farmer in Orange county; William is on a farm in the town of Marlborough, Ulster Co., New York.

J OHN R. BARRETT, the junior member of the well-known firm of Humeston & Bar- rett, leading blacksmiths and wagon makers of Dover Plains, Dutchess county, is one of the prominent young business men of that village. He is a native of the place, born in 1865, and after acquiring his education in the public schools he learned the blacksmith's trade of William Barhite, of Amenia. In 1878 he es- tablished his present shop at Dover Plains in partnership with Meritt Humeston, and his success in this enterprise has given him excel- lent standing in financial circles.

His family is of Irish origin, the home of his ancestors being at Doneraile, County Cork,

Ireland. James Barrett, his grandfather, was born and educated there and became a farmer by occupation. He married Margaret Mahoney and had five children, of whom the youngest died in infancy. The others were: James and Mary, who never married; Ellen, Mrs. James Cullen, and Richard, our subject's father, who, after attending the schools of Doneraile until the age of fourteen, came to America and settled, in 1851, at Dover Plains. For a number of years he was employed by the Belding estate, and then he went to New York City and en- gaged in the mercantile business for one year, and, on returning to the town of Dover, fol- lowed farming during his later years, with J. K. Mabbet. He always took an intelligent interest in public questions, but was not act- ively engaged in politics. He and his wife, Mary Gorings, reared a family of seven chil- dren: Maggie, Mrs. William Donovan; Ellen, Mrs. William Burns; Mary, Mrs. Thomas Whalen; James, who married Della Murray; John, our subject; George, who married Nellie Dahoney; and Richard, who married Annie Donley.

The subject of our sketch found a worthy helpmeet in Miss Anna Quinlan, a lady of frish descent, and their home is brightened by three children: Frank, born December 21, 1885; Arthur, September 22, 1890; and Gertrude, October 6, 1892. Mrs. Barrett's father, Martin Quinlan, was a native of Ireland, but came to America in boyhood with his parents, who located upon a farm in town of Unionvale, Dutchess Co. He attended the schools of that locality for some time, and in early manhood purchased a farm near Burbank, where he still resides. He married Miss Mary McLaughlin, who was also born in the Emerald Isle, and they have eleven children: William, who mar- ried Sarah Quinlan; Maggie, Mrs. Thomas Mullen; Daniel, who married Annie Donley: Martin, Charles, Terrance, Ella and Hattie, who are not married; Delia, the wife of John McKenna; George, unmarried; and Annie, now Mrs. Barrett.

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 148

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