Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 15

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

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John & Plot

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and Connecticut in 1860, and during the Civil war he served as provost marshal of the Con- gressional district, making the first draft. In local affairs he always took a keen interest; he was a warm friend of the public-school system, and as a member of the board of education helped to introduce many reforms in the city schools. He was a pioneer advocate of a rail- road along the river from New York City to Albany, and wrote a series of articles in the interests of that project, which were published in a New York paper, signing himself "Civil Engineer." All phases of progress command- ed his sympathy, and he was a leader in social life and in religious work as a member of the Episcopal Church. He died June 5. 1872, leaving a widow, Mrs. Harriet ( Bowne) Platt, and five children: John I., James Bowne, Edmund Pendleton, Henry Barnes (now a resident of New York City) and Harriet Bowne. Mrs. Platt, to whom he was married in 1836, was born in 1804. and died in 1892, aged eighty-eight years. She was a daughter of Obadiah Bowne, a well-known citizen of Dutchess county.

HON. JOHN I. PLATT, editor of the Pough- keepsie Eagle, is a man whose work in the de- velopment of this section has won for him a place among our leading citizens, and the fol- lowing history, in its brief resumé of his useful career, furnishes an example which is well wor- thy of emulation.

Mr. Platt is a native of Poughkeepsie, born June 29, 1839 (his father, Isaac Platt, being referred to in the preceding sketch). He ob- tained an education in the schools of his native place, and as a young man learned the printer's trade in his father's office, being advanced later to responsible positions in the office of publi- cation. On April 1, 1865, he purchased Mr. Schram's interest, and became a partner in the conduct of the paper with his father, the firm being Isaac Platt & Son. In 1869 James B. Platt, another son, took an interest in the concern, and at the death of Isaac Platt the two brothers continued the business, the firm of Platt & Platt being founded. The Eagle is still published under this firm name, though in 1893 our subject's son, Edmund Platt, became a member of it. The plant was moved to its present quarters in 1867. At the time the Daily Eagle was started, Mr. Platt was tele- graph editor, and during the war he held this position, taking charge of what was then the

most important news. In 1865 he became manager, and since 1872 he has been the editor-in-chief.

Political questions interested Mr. Platt from an early age, and as soon as he attained his majority he entered into active work as a supporter of Republican principles, stumping the county for Abraham Lincoln, and making eight or ten speeches. He is a talented speaker, and his services have been called into requisi- tion in each succeeding Presidential campaign. In 1865 the city of Poughkeepsie was organ- ized in four independent departments, causing great irregularities in administration, and a new charter being desired a committee of twelve was appointed to secure it. Mr. Platt, as a member of this body, drew up the char- ter as it was presented to the Legislature and passed. In 1895 he was among the commit- tee chosen to revise the charter; but as the amendments did not pass, it was again remod- eled, and in 1896 received legislative sanction. Mr. Platt served three years on the water board, being its president for the year suc- ceeding the completion of the works, and he did much to shape the action of the board on a business basis. In 1886, '87 and '88 he was a member of the State Assembly, but declined to run for another term. He served on the committee on public education, and for two years was chairman thereof. For three years he served on the committee on appropriations, and during his last year he was chairman of the committee on revision, each bill, before its third reading, being sent to this committee for correction. Mr. Platt did much effective work while in the legislature, serving ably and faith- fully his constituency and the interests of the State at large. From April, 1891, to April, 1895. he was postmaster of Poughkeepsie, and for eleven years he was one of the board of managers of the Hudson River State Hospi- tal, having been appointed by Gov. Cornell.

Mr. Platt is connected with several busi- ness enterprises. He has been a member of The Poughkeepsie Board of Trade since its or- ganization, has served three years as president, and is now vice-president. He was one of the incorporators of the Poughkeepsie City Rail- way Co. (horse-power), and was president for one year. His earnest advocacy of a bridge across the Hudson at Poughkeepsie was a notable service to that section, and the enter- prise will always reflect honor upon him as the original projector and active promoter. He

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

assisted H. G. Eastman (then a member of the legislature) and l'. P. Dickinson, in secur- ing the charter authorizing its erection, and did much to raise the money needed. Mr. Platt visited Boston, Philadelphia, and other cities in his effort to interest capitalists and railroad men, and through A. L. Dennis, then a director of the Pennsylvania railroad, secured a large subscription from the directors of that company toward the project. The panic of 1873 interferred with this arrangement, how- ever, and some time elapsed before the matter was revived with a promise of success. The American Bridge Co. undertook it, but failed after the work was begun, and again the enter- prise was halted. In 1886 a new construction company, composed mainly of Philadelphia capitalists, took hold of it and carried it to completion. In 1887 Mr. Platt secured an extension of the charter, after a bitter struggle in the legislature, and then, acting upon the well-proven principle that "if you want a thing done well you should do it yourself," he started the construction of the connecting railroad on the west, making contracts and grading several miles on his own responsibility, before the work was turned over to the company. Mr. Platt is president and treasurer of the Chazy (N. Y.) Marble Lime Co., which manufac- tures about thirty-three tons of lime per day.

The oratorical gifts which have made Mr. Platt's services sought for in political cam- paigns are valued in other fields, and he was chosen to deliver an address on July 26, 1888, at the celebration of the centennial of the Ratification of the Constitution of the United States by the State of New York.

On June 3, 1862, Mr. Platt was united in marriage with Miss Susan F. Sherwood, of Montgomery, Orange Co., N. Y., daughter of Benjamin C. and Abbie A. (Strong) Sherwood. Seven children have brightened their home, of whom one died in infancy; Edmund is his fa- ther's partner; Eliza S. married George L. Hubbell, of Garden City, L. I .; Sarah S. is the wife of G. Arthur Hadsell, of Plainville, Conn .; and Isaac, Francis W. and Edith M. are at home.

Active as Mr. Platt has been in business and political lines, religious and philanthropic work has found in him a generous helper, while socially he and his family hold a high place. For many years he has been a member of the Presbyterian Church, and he was one of the founders of the Y. M. C. A., of Pough-

keepsie, and served as its president for a term. He has been a delegate to numerous State and National conventions of the associations, and was secretary of the international convention at Washington, I). C. At the State conven- tion held at Lockport, N. Y., he was the presi- dent. He was also first chairman of the State Executive Committee, and served in that ca- pacity for several years.

EDMUND P. PLATT, member of the well- known leading dry-goods firm of Luckey, Platt & Co., Poughkeepsie, and one of the successful and representative citizens of the county, is a native of Poughkeepsie, born December 2, 1843, to Isaac and Harriet (Bowne) Platt.

Our subject received his education at the Dutchess County Academy, Poughkeepsie, and at the age of sixteen commenced clerking for W. S. & W. H. Crosby, a well-known dry- goods firm of the city, with whom he remained several years, or until they sold out to J. N. & G. W. Candee, Mr. Platt then continuing with the latter, in the same store, until 1869. On March 22, of that year, he formed a partner- ship with C. P. Luckey, under the firm name of Luckey & Platt, which later was changed to Luckey, Platt & Co., by the association of S. L. De Garmo into the business. In 1896 Mr. Luckey died, and Messrs. Platt and De- Garmo purchased the deceased's interest, still, however, retaining the old firm name The business, which was comparatively smal! at first, has steadily grown until it is to-day the largest in the county, in the dry-goods line. The premises at first occupied by the store were at No. 328 Main street, whence, in August, 1874, it was removed to the present site No. 332 Main street; since occupying which, the firm have found it necessary to enlarge the store from time to time, as business increased. the last addition being made in 1890, and it now occupies the entire building, Nos. 332, 334 and 336 Main street.

In 1870 Edmund P. Platt was united in marriage with Miss Mary Emily Bartlett, daughter of Charles and Emily (Vedder) Bart- lett. of Poughkeepsie, Mr. Bartlett being the founder and owner of the Poughkeepsie Colle- giate School on College Hill, which has since been merged into Riverview Academy. To Mr. and Mrs. Platt have been born four chil- dren, to wit: Emily, Miriam, Howard and Alletta. Mr. and Mrs. Platt are members of the First Presbyterian Church of Poughkeep-

Comund P. Platt

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sie, in which he is an elder, and of the Sunday- school of which he has been superintendent for eighteen years; has also held several other offices in connection with the Church and Sun- day-school in the county and State. In the Young Men's Christian Association he has been very active, holding office as president, treas- urer or director for more than twenty years. For the past eighteen years Mr. Platt has been the chairman of the New York State Executive Committee of the Young Men's Christian As- sociation. He is also actively engaged as an officer or director in many missionary and be- nevolent enterprises both at home and in for- eign lands. He is one of the trustees of the new " Rescue Mission" of Poughkeepsie, and chairman of its executive and building commit- tees. In his political preferences he has al- ways been a stanch Republican, and at the same time is an earnest advocate of the Tem- perance cause.

All in all, Mr. Platt has proved himself to be one of the most useful men in the commu- nity, being assisted in all his works of philan- thropy by his amiable wife, who is also very active in works of charity. Personally, Mr. Platt is a gentleman of sterling integrity, inter- ested in everything that is for the good of the community and the best interests of mankind. His friendships are of that lasting nature which close only with the final summons.

J JOHN CALHOUN OTIS, M. D., is without doubt one of the best known and most suc- cessful physicians of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, and to any one familiar with the high character of the fraternity in that city this will at once convey an idea of merit far beyond the ordinary.

Dr. Otis is a native of Dutchess county, having been born in the town of Stanford, Jan- uary 4, 1847. He is descended from an old English family, and from James Otis, of Bos- ton, a noted personage in the early days. The Doctor's grandfather, Henry Otis, was born in Massachusetts, and passed the greater portion of his active business life as a contractor in Boston, where he died in 1812. He had two sons and seven daughters, none of whom are now living.

Hon. John H. Otis, our subject's father, was born in 1809 at New Brunswick. N. J., where the family resided for a short time. He learned the carriage maker's trade, and at eight-

een years of age went to Charleston, S. C., to engage in business in the firm of Otis & Rou- lane. In 1846 he disposed of his interest and came to Dutchess county, where he purchased about 700 acres of land in the town of Stan- ford, three miles from Bangall. This he sold in 1855, and then moved to Poughkeepsie, where for some time he was interested with E. B. Osborne in the Telegraph, now merged into the Vores Press. For many years he was a di- rector of the Merchants Bank. and at the time of his death was the oldest member of the board. He was a man of strong character and positive views, an Old-line Democrat in poli- tics, and an active participant in the movements of his tine. During the Nullification troubles of 1832 he was a member of a company of "Northern Volunteers " in Charleston, S. C., and he served in Florida during the Seminole war. as a sergeant under Andrew Jackson. When the Civil war broke out, he supported the Union cause, and raised the first company of soldiers sent from Dutchess county-Com- pany E, 30th N. Y. V. I. He had expected to go to the front as their captain, but gave way to Capt Harrison Holliday, who was killed in the service. This regiment saw some hard fighting, and made an honorable record. Later Mr. Otis was offered the colonelcy of the 150th Reg. N. Y. V. I .. but declined it; he went to the front, however, in 1863 as captain of Com- pany K, 16th Heavy Artillery, their first en- gagement being at Yorktown. His health failed after about nine months' service in the field, and he returned home.

As a citizen he possessed great popularity and influence. While in the town of Stanford he served seven terms as supervisor, and dur- ing the war he once came within seven votes of being elected mayor of Poughkeepsie, then a Republican stronghold. For several years he served on the board of health and the board of education, and in 1852-3 he was elected to the State Senate, but after one term of two years he declined a re-nomination on account of ill health. He was an active member of St. Paul's Church, and for twenty years held the office of vestryman. In 1842, while on a visit to the North for the summer, he met and married Miss Ann B. Buckman, a member of a prominent family of Dutchess county, daughter of Seneca Buckman, and granddaugh- ter of Dr. Amasa Buckman, of the town of Stanford, a graduate of Oxford University, En- gland. She died in Poughkeepsie, in 1860, at

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPENAL RECORD.

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etv. and for a number of years he was surgeon of the old Twenty-first Militia, which was dis- banded when the Nineteenth Separate Com- pany was organized. Notwithstanding his activity in professional lines he is connected with several business enterprises, and is the president of the Delamater Carriage Company of Poughkeepsie. a director of the Farmers & Manufacturers Bank, and a trustee bi che Poughkeepsie Cemetery Association. Politic- aty. he is a Democrat: for ten years past he has served as a member of the board of health. and for seven years was vice-president of that Socially. he is connected with the Ameta and Detchess Clubs, the K. of P .. and several beneficiary orders. He is a lead- ing member of Christ's Church. in which he is a Vestryman, and also one of the trustees of S: Barnabas Fund, disbersing the income of che :and in behalf of the committee.

C HARLES E. BOWNE. a leading mer- cheat of Poegikeepsie, and founder of the well-KoUwg Ermo si C. E. Bowne & Sur. is a esentative of one of the prominent families of Dutchess coatv.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Poughkeepsie to live with his uncle, James Bowne, who was then a member of the firm of Conklin & Bowne, dealers in merchandise. After acquiring a good education in the schools of the city, and in a boarding school at Whites- boro, near Utica, from which he was graduated in 1832, Mr. Bowne entered his uncle's store as a clerk, and there remained some time after the change in the firm to Bowne & Trow- bridge. In order to perfect his knowledge of the business, he went to New York and served two years in the wholesale house of T. B. & J. Odell, No. 207 Pearl street. In 1844, at the strong solicitation of the firm, he returned to Poughkeepsie and became his uncle's part- ner, Mr. Trowbridge retiring. The partner- ship then formed under the name of J. Bowne & Co. lasted thirty-five years, when the senior member withdrew, and Mr. Bowne continued the business under his own name. About five years ago the firm became Bowne, Valentine & Bowne, the last named being Frederick Bowne, a son of our subject. Mr. Valentine has since retired from the business, and Mr. Bowne intends to give less of his personal at- tention to it in the future, as a stroke of par- alysis, in the spring of 1895, warned him to release himself from care, although his recov- ery has been rapid. Fortunately the business is in capable hands, his son being a worthy successor. Mr. Bowne has been in business on Main street for more than fifty years, and has seen many changes, his early associates and competitors there having all passed away, their places being filled by another generation.

On December 23, 1846, at Staten Island, Mr. Bowne married Miss Mary Haggerty, and of this union five children were born: Emma, who married J. A. Platt, of Providence, R. I .; Charles S., a prominent druggist at Pough- keepsie; Henry Haggerty, a leading attorney at Jacksonville, Fla .; Frank, a commercial traveler; and Frederick, junior member of the firm of C. E. Bowne & Son. On February 27, 1896, the mother of this family passed from earth at the age of sixty-six years, after almost half a century of married life.

F REDERICK BOWNE, junior member of the firm of C. E. Bowne & Son, of Pough- keepsie, and one of the most capable and en- terprising young business men of Dutchess county, was born in the city of Poughkeepsie, April 14, 1862. 6

He was educated in his native place, and after graduating from the high school he took a responsible position in the office of a large jewelry factory at Providence, R. I., where he remained three years. In 1887 he re- turned to Poughkeepsie and entered his father's store as clerk, in 1890 becoming a partner. Owing to the ill health of his father, the busi- ness has devolved mainly upon him of late, and his prudent and energetic management gives promise of the continued success of this long-established house. It is the only store in the city which is devoted strictly to the carpet business, and the firm is in advance of all competitors in that line, holding the bulk of the trade.

Mr. Bowne is an ardent supporter of the doctrines of the Republican party, and is a leader among the younger men in his locality. In social life he holds a prominent place, is a member of the Order of Elks, Knights of Pythias, and was one of the founders of the Poughkeepsie Bicycle Club, of which he is now president.

C ASPER L. ODELL, a prominent attorney of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, and a representative of an ancient and honored fam- ily, was born in the town of Beekman, Dutch- ess Co., N. Y., December 16, 1850.

Mr. Odell's genealogical tree affords an in- teresting study, the line reaching back to Saluart, father of the first Count of Flanders. The family name is variously spelled in the old records-Odell, Woodhull, Wodhull, etc. His descent may be traced by two lines to Edward II of England, and also reaches back to Alfred the Great, and to Charles the Bold of France, and the family was related by marriage to William the Conquerer, and to Catherine Parr, Queen of Henry VIII. The biography of Joseph E. Odell, a brother of our subject, contains additional information as to the re- mote history, which, it is alleged, dates back to Priam, King of Troy. The following record, dating back to 795 A. D. is correct beyond question, being founded upon documentary evidence :

Generation I-Saluart, who married Mac- larne Eringarde. II-Prince Dijon, first Count of Flanders. III-Lideric Le Buc, founder of the family of Foresters. IV-Ingleram. V-Baldwin I, called Audacer and Bras le Fer,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD

who married Judith, daughter of Charles the Bold, of France. VI-Baldwin II, the Bold, married Aelfthry, daughter of Alfred, King of England. VII-Arnulf, who married Adelia, daughter of the Count of Vermandois. VIII- Baldwin IV. IX-Baldwin V. Le Debonair. XI-Walter Flandrensis, the last Count and the first Wodhull or Odell. XII-Simon De- Wodhull, who married Sibill. XIII-Walter de Wodhull, who married Roesia. XIV-Wal- ter de Wodhull. XV .- Saher Wodhull, who married Joan or Alice Whelton. XVI-Wal- ter de Wodhull, who married Helewyse Senes- challe. XVII-John de Wodhull, Baron, who married Agnes Pinkeney. XVIII-Thomas de Wodhull, Baron, who married Hawise de Praers. XIX-John de Wodhull, Baron, who

married Isabella XX-Nicholas Wod- hull, Baron, who married Margaret Foxcote. XII-Thomas Wodhull, Baron, who married Elizabeth Chetwood. XXII -Thomas Wod- hull, Baron, who married Isabella Trussell, daughter of Sir William Trussell. XXIII -- John Wodhull, Baron, whose wife was Joan, daughter of Henry Eastwell. XXIV-Fulk Wodhull, Baron, who married Ann Newen- ham. XXV-Nicholas Wodhull, Baron, sheriff of Northumberland county, who married Eliz- abeth Parr, daughter of Baron William Parr of Horton. XXVI-Fulk Wodhull of Then- ford, whose wife was Alice Colles of Leigh. XXVII-Nicholas Wodhull of Thenford, who married Barbara Hobby of Hales. XXVIII- William Odell, born at Odell, near London, who emigrated to America, and in 1639 was at Concord, Mass. He removed to Fairfield, Conn., about 1644, where his will, disposing of £447, was probated June 12, 1676. He had three children: William, John and Rebecca (Mrs. Samuel Moorchouse).

X.XIX-William Odell, who was born about 1634, and died about 1700, was one of the first settlers at Rye, N. Y., where he owned a large estate. In 1681 he appears on the Fair- field records as owning 362 acres there, and in 1684 he deeded some land at Rye to a "son Samuel living in the same county." Another deed appears in 1697, as resident of Rye, and October 2, 1668, he signed a petition there as William Woodhull. Savage mentions him as " William, of Greenwich, Conn., in 1681. aged forty-seven." He married a daughter of Richard Voles, of Fairfield, a freeholder and representative in the Colonial government in 1665-68-69. They had eight children: John,

Samuel, Isaac, Jonathan, Michael, Hachalia, Stephen and Sarah.

XXX-Isaac, of Eastchester, N. Y., signed the oath of allegiance to King William at White Plains, in 1699. He married Anne Tompkins, and she joined in a deed of lands at Rye in 1705. They had three children: Will- iam, Tompkins and Joshua.

XXXI-Joshua married Sarah Jones, and had three children: Joshua, Joseph and John. XXXII-Joshua married Mary Vincent, and had nine children: John, Joseph, Abraham, Daniel, James, Joshua, Sarah, Abigail and Isaac. XXXIII-John, of Dutchess county, was born January 5, 1762, and died January 26, 1853. He married Esther Crawford, and had eight children: Peter, Daniel, James, Elizabeth, Abigail, Charlotte, William and Ann. XXXIV-Daniel was born in Clinton township, Dutchess county, April 15, 1805. and died October 22, 1875. He was a farmer; he married Malinda LeRoy, and had four chil- dren: Eliphalet P., of Rowland; John D., of Salt Point; Joseph E., of Poughkeepsie, and Cas- per L., our subject.

The thirty-fifth generation of this remark- able family are all worthy representatives, in- telligent, progressive and prosperous. Casper L. Odell attended during boyhood the public schools of Hyde Park, where the family moved when he was only five years old. He entered Union College at Schenectady, but while in the sophomore year his father died, and he was obliged to leave his studies and solve in a practical way the problem of self-support. For a year he was a clerk in the law office of Smith and Jackson, at Schenectady, N. Y., and the next year taught school at Scotia. In 1876 he came to Poughkeepsie and studied law with J. S. Van Cleef and William M. Lee, and was admitted in 1879. For some time he con- tinued with Mr. Lee, and then clerked in the county clerk's office under William A. Fanning and Wilson B. Sheldon. He is an influential worker in the Republican party, and has never been defeated at an election. He was chosen supervisor of the Third ward in IS-, serving two terms, justice of the peace in 1886, and city recorder in November, 1894. In 1885 he opened an office and began the practice of his profession, in which he has been unusually successful.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 15

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