Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 152

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

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At the age of two years David C. Drislane accompanied his parents to the town of Esopus, Ulster county, where the following fifteen years of his life were passed mostly in attendance at the district schools of the neigh- borhood. After their removal to Orange county, he continued his studies for some time, and for about eight years assisted in the cultivation of the farm. On leaving home he went to Newburg, N. Y., where he entered the grocery store of his brother, William E., with whom he remained for about a year and a half, when he went to Tarrytown, being there em- ployed by a brother for three years. He then went to Sing Sing, and formed a partnership with Robert Lynford in the grocery business, under the firm name of Drislane & Lynford, which connection was continued for a year and a half. Going to Peekskill, N. Y., he and his brother, William E., carried on a grocery store under the style of Drislane Brothers, and in 1882 they also started another store in the

same line at No. 249 Main street, Poughkeep- sie, owning at the same time an establishment at Albany. This partnership lasted until 1887, when it was dissolved, our subject taking the store at Poughkeepsie, and his brother the one at Albany; the one at Peekskill had previously been sold.

In 1885 David C. Drislane was married to Miss Matilda M. Gregg, who was born in Poughkeepsie, a daughter of William Gregg, a contractor. In politics our subject is a rad- ical Democrat, and in religion a member of the Roman Catholic Church. In 1889 he purchased his pleasant residence at No. 211 Mill street, and a year later bought his store building. His fair dealing and systematic methods of doing business have won him the confidence and respect of all with whom he has had occasion to transact business. His property has been acquired through the exer- cise of sound judgment, good business talents and industry.

J OHN M. JULIAN, M. D., an eminent phy- sician and surgeon, of the town of Pleasant

Valley, Dutchess county, is a native of New Jersey, born at Hoboken, April 25, 1854. He traces his ancestry to John M. Julian (his great-grandfather), a native of France, who spent his entire life there engaged in the silk business, an occupation that was followed by many of the family.

John Marius Julian, the grandfather of our subject, was born at Avignon, France, in 1766, and by profession was a physician. He was with Napoleon Bonaparte all through his vari- ous wars, and was a member of the " grand old guard." being six feet, seven inches in height; was at Moscow, Russia, also on " the fatal field of Waterloo," and was wounded several times-in fact his military career was a brilliant one. At its close he came to America, locating in New Jersey, where his death oc- curred in 1864, when he had reached the patri- archal age of ninety-eight years; he had mar- ried Maria Francisco Eunri, by whom he had fourteen children: Maria, Francisco, Cecelia, Matilda, Antoinette, Adrian, Jenia, John M., Thomas, Felis, and four who died in infancy. All have now passed away with the exception of Adrian, who, like most of his ancestors, is following the silk business.

At Avignon, France, February 13, 1811, was born John M. Julian, Sr., the father of

Gli. 2005 Julian MS ١٠

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our subject. In the common schools of his native land he obtained his literary education, and with his father began the study of medi- cine. He was the only child of the family to come to the New World, arriving in 1828, and making his home in New Jersey. Entering the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, he graduated from that institution with the class of '31, and became a member of the Medical Society of the city and county of New York, also of the State Medical Society of New Jersey. Shortly after his graduation he en- tered a hospital in New York City, securing much practical knowledge in his profession, and in 1838 he settled at Hoboken, N. j., where he successfully engaged in practice up to his death, January 1, 1879. His wife, Cor- nelia A. (Mount) was born in New York City. November 22, 1815, and was a daughter of John D. P. Mount, also a native of that city, where he was engaged in the banking business. The Mount family was originally from Holland, as were also the maternal ancestors of Mrs. Julian, though her mother, who bore the maiden name of Christian Stagg, was born in America. In the large family of fourteen children born to the parents of our subject only three reached adult age, namely: Mary B., wife of Stephen E. Brown, a lawyer of New York City; John M .; and Claude E., a dentist and farmer of Flemington, N. J. In religious belief the members of the family have either been Catholics or Episcopalians, and in politics the father was a stalwart Republican. His widow, who is still living, has now reached the age of eighty years.

The boyhood days of our subject were passed at Hoboken, N. J., where he attended the city schools and the gymnasium. At the age of fifteen he was sent to Paris, France, to the Polytechnic Institute, where he remained for two years and a half, and then began the study of medicine in that city, graduating in 1870. On the breaking out of the Franco- Prussian war, the Doctor served as orderly in the hospital corps of the 105th Regiment of the line for three years, during which time he traveled over a great deal of Europe, and gained much valuable experience in his chosen profession, and was honorably discharged in October, 1873. He then took a course of lect- ures at Heidelberg, Germany, while the re- mainder of the year was spent at Bonn, Prus- sia, and the next year at Zurich, all of which time he spent in the study of medicine, while

the following two years were spent in visiting many hospitals of the Old World. In Decem- ber, 1875, he returned to the United States, and for a time practiced at Hoboken, N. J. ; but in 1877 he went to Brooklyn, N. Y., en- tering the out-door department of the Long Island College Hospital, where he graduated.

On January 31, 188o, Dr. John M. Julian was married to Miss Katie A. Powderly, a na- tive of Dublin, Ireland, and on the 7th of the following October, they located at Moores Mill, Dutchess county, where he continued practice until 1892, in which year he came to Pleasant Valley. Politically, the Doctor has always been a Republican; socially he is a member of the F. & A. M. As a physician he enjoys the honor of being the peer of any in the county. His life has been characterized by energy, perseverance and labor, and to these principles his success is due. He is prom- inently identified with the Dutchess County Medical Association, and with the New York State Medical Association.

S TORM H. CONKLIN for a number of years has been prominently identified with the business interests of Poughkeepsie. From 1891 to January 1, 1894, he was connected with John Leeming in the undertaking busi- ness, and since has been associated in the same line with Frank B. Van Dyne.

For one hundred and fifty years the Conk- lin family have been residents of Dutchess county, living upon a farm at Van Wagners, in the town of Hyde Park, where the father of our subject, William Conklin, was born Janu- ary 2, 1800. He was a son of John and Susan (Storm) Conklin, farming people. The grandfather was born on August 15, 1762, and his death occurred February 3, 1803. In Poughkeepsie was celebrated the marriage of William Conklin and Maria Mott, and they became the parents of two sons, john, and Storm H., of this review. The father was reared to agricultural pursuits, but later learned the hatter's business with Tunis Van Kleeck, of Poughkeepsie, and carried on the manufac- ture of hats at Lyons and Geneva, N. Y. He died at Bridgeport, Conn., in 1837.

The birth of Storm H. Conklin occurred at Sharon, Conn., September 17, 1833, but was only five years of age when brought to Pough- keepsie, where he began his education and at- tended the Lancaster and Cornish schools.

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During his early life he was apprenticed to J. P. Nelson to learn the cabinetmaker's trade, and remained with that gentleman about twenty-eight years. He was also employed in the same business with Nelson, Seward & Mc- Gregor and Charles F. McGregor. However, since 1891 he has engaged in his present busi- ness, being an undertaker and funeral director. For twenty years he has engaged in undertak- ing, so that he thoroughly understands his business in all its details.

In 1850 Mr. Conklin joined the Phoenix Hose Company, with which he has since been prominently connected, serving as its secretary and representative in the Board of the Associ- ated Fire Department for twenty-six years. He is to-day the oldest active member on Phoenix's roll. He has served on about all the important committees that have had the wel- fare of the company at heart, and Phoenix takes great pleasure in claiming him as a mem- ber to-day. For twenty-eight years he has been an active member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Poughkeepsie, being the treasurer of the lodge for thirteen years. He is a stanch supporter of the men and meas- ures of the Democratic party, and has served as supervisor from the Fifth ward, and police commissioner under Mayor Ellsworth. His success in life is attributable to his own in- domitable energy, and the close and assidnous attention he has paid to the minute portions of his affairs.

A LBERT F. BOOTH, a prominent resi- dent of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, and a well-known dealer in tea, coffee and spices, is one of the substantial self-made men of that city. Like many other successful busi- ness men he comes of an ancestry which had been for several generations devoted to agri- cultural pursuits.

His grandfather, Daniel Booth, a farmer, was an early settler near Mooresville, Dela- ware Co., N. Y. John H. Booth, our sub- ject's father, was born and reared at the home- stead there, attending the district schools of the neighborhood. In early manhood he lo- cated on Green Island, between Albany and Troy, where he was engaged in gardening for many years. His later years were spent upon a farm near Albany, where he died in 1880. He was married in Watervliet, N. Y., to Miss Sarah Bigelow, who survives him and is hale

and hearty at the age of seventy-eight. They were leading members of the First Reformed Church at Bethlehem. Six children were born to them: Oscar, Albert F., Edward (deceased), Andrew (now living at the old homestead), Emma and Theresa.

Albert F. Booth first saw the light Feb- rnary 21, 1841, on Green Island, where he spent his boyhood, attending the schools of Bethlehem. At the age of eighteen he went to New York City and clerked in a store for two years, returning afterward to his father's farm. In February, 1861, when he was twenty years old, he was married to Miss Sarah Bender, a daughter of Wendel Bender, a well-known citizen of Bethlehem. He pur- chased a farm for $8,000, for which he went in debt, and in four years he cleared off the obligation from the proceeds of the farm and the increase in value of the land. His health having become impaired he sold the farm, and for two years did no business except looking after his interest in a tea business, toward which he had advanced some money. In 1865 he took charge of a tea store in Albany for Mr. Cunningham, of Troy, becoming well- posted in the details of its management, and when the store was sold a year and a half later he determined to establish a similar enterprise for himself, In 1867 he came to Poughkeepsie, and through the influence of Robert Slee, located at No. 270 Main street, where he opened the first tea, coffee and spice store in the city. In 1872 he moved to his present store at No. 368 Main street, and for twenty-five years has enjoyed an extensive patronage. He conducts the business on a " cash " principle, and his able management has brought him well-deserved success.

Mr. and Mrs. Booth have had two children: (1) Wendell, who married a daughter of J. S. Vandorn, and is now in the advertising com- mission business with his father-in-law; and (2) Satie, who died October 8, 1885, at the age of twenty-one years. In politics Mr. Booth is a stanch Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln; socially he is a men- ber of the Masonic fraternity, Triune Lodge.

G EORGE DAKIN, one of the most promi- nent agriculturists and real-estate holders of the town of Northeast, Dutchess county, was born February 13, 1817, at Mount Riga (Harlem R. R. Station), town of Northeast.

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The Dakins have been among the leading families of that vicinity for several generations, and are related by marriage to a number of other old families. George Dakin, our sub- ject's grandfather, owned a large farm at the site of the village of Mt. Riga, west of the depot. He had three children: Jacob, our subject's father, born in 1775; Hannah (Mrs. John Culver), and Charity (Mrs. Driggs).

Jacob Dakin inherited this farm and set- tled there, and afterward increased his poses- sions until he was the largest land holder in that locality. His first purchase was the Haywood farm, where the family now lives, and later by buying the Lucas Hotchkiss property, fore- closing on the Simon Dakin farm where the Maltby iron mine is, and buying the Birch and the Tankery farms, he acquired in all over 1, 800 acres. He was a man of unusual ability and wide information, an independent thinker and a strong believer in the doctrines of the Universalist Church. In politics he was a Whig, and took an active and influential part in local affairs. He married Miss Olive Clark, a descendant of one of the oldest families, and daughter of Elijah Clark. He died July 9, 1836, followed four years later by his wife. They had eleven children: Harriet, Orville, Joshua, Maria, Mary Ann, Myron, De Witt C., Emneline, George, Cornelia and Caroline.

George Dakin has always lived upon his present farm, having inherited 200 acres from his father. He has, however, added to this . nucleus until he owns 520 acres, and he is known as one of the most enterprising and successful managers. He was married Sep- tember 22, 1847, to Eliza M. Kelsey, daugh- ter of William Kelsey, a well-known resident of Salisbury, Conn., and a representative of one of the leading families there. Six children were born of this union, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: William, July 23, 1848; George, January 18, 1850, deceased, who married Fannie Bishop; Julia, December 18, 1852, the wife of Alexander Griffin; John D., May 1, 1856; Carrie D., May 21, 1861, the wife of Oliver Burr; and Jennie, January 18, 1867, the wife of Peter McGill, whose farm adjoins the homestead on the north.

for W. B. Gray. He has been very success- ful in his management of the farm, which is next to the largest in the town. He married Miss Jennie Pulver, daughter of Jacob Pulver, but has no children. Although he has never cared for office, he is at times active in the local work of the Republican party. He and his wife attend the Methodist Church at Mill- erton, and he has taken a generous interest in many important movements for the good of the community.

T HERON H. CALDWELL. At the time of the French Crusade, the great-grand- father of our subject was driven out of France on account of his religious views, and went to the north of Ireland, where he was married. Later he came to America. The grandfather was among the first settlers of Poughkeepsie, where he worked as a chair maker for many years.

There the father of our subject, George B. Caldwell, was born, and in the common schools he received his education. He learned the tailor's trade with George Mead, and be- came the first merchant tailor in the city who kept cloth on hand. His store was located at No. 289 Main street, where he conducted busi- ness many years, and in 1860 moved to the store now occupied by J. B. Flagler. There he engaged in the jewelry business with his son, Edward O., who had learned the trade with Van Keuren Brothers. In Poughkeepsie Mr. Caldwell led to the marriage altar Miss Eliza M. Coffin, daughter of Robert Coffin, Esq., and both were called from this earth in 1886. In their family were five children, namely: Helen, deceased; Edward O .; Fred- erick, deceased; Theron H. ; and Malcolm, de- ceased. The father served as internal reve- nue collector, and took quite an active part in political affairs, first voting with the Whig and later with the Republican party, but he would never accept public office. He was cap- tain of the Davy Crockett Hook & Ladder Company, belonged to the Masonic Order, and was a member of the Episcopal Church. Physically he was well developed, and was known as the straightest built man in the city.

WILLIAM DAKIN, the eldest son, is now conducting the entire tract of 520 acres, hav- Thereon H. Caldwell first opened his eyes to the light of day April 24. 1854, at Pough- keepsie, in the same house on Main street which is still his home. Like most boys he ing assumed the responsibility on his own ac- count about fifteen years ago. Previous to that he had spent ten years in clerking in a store at Mt. Riga, five for his father and five | spent his childhood in attending school and

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engaging in youthful sports. After pursuing his studies for a short time in the public schools, he entered a boarding school at Fish- kill, N. Y., and later was a student in the Friends Boarding School at Oswego, N. Y. On laying aside his text books, he worked for two years in a carriage shop at Amenia, and the following year was spent at the same occupation at Pleasant Valley, Dutch-

ess county. He next clerked in a grocery and feed store at New Haven, Conn .. after which he returned to Poughkeepsie and learned the printer's trade with Platt & Platt, for whom he worked for five years. The follow- ing two years he conducted a printing office for George I). Eighmie, and then opened one for himself at No. 363 Main street in 1862. Two years later, however, he went to Pitts- burg, Penn., where for the same length of time he filled different positions on the Western Division of the Pennsylvania railroad.

In 1866 Mr. Caldwell returned to Pough- keepsie, and again engaged in the printing business, being first located at No. 5 Academy street, but later removed to No. 16, where he increased his plant. He formed a partnership with A. H. Hasbrouck, now foreman for A. V. Haight, and the present firm is composed of our subject and William G. Hansman. For a year and a half they have published The Search Light, and also have a large trade in the job department, and are now working on a contract for the Imperial Pattern Company. Their work is all first-class, giving general satisfac- tion, and they are doing an extensive business.

Mr. Caldwell was married in Poughkeepsie to Annie MI. Bolton, daughter of John Bolton, and she died in 1886, leaving three children: Eleanor, Albert and Edna. Mr. Caldwell was again married at Hyde Park, Dutchess county, his second union being with Alice Kelley, daughter of George Kelley. Politically, Mr. Caldwell affiliates with the Republican party, is a member of the O. H. Booth and Veteran Fire Companies, and religiously he is an Epis- copalian. Courteous, genial, well informed, alert and enterprising, he stands to-day one of the leading representative men of Poughkeep- sie-a man who is a power in his community.

H ON. JOSIAH SUTHERLAND was a rep- resentative of that rare element in mod- ern life, which, although an invaluable part of it, yet rests upon a basis of something ideal

and philosophical. In a worldly sense he cer- tainly made h's mark, becoming one of the foremost lawyers and prominent judges of New York City. Whenever he came in contact with men of note. not only was he valued as an equal of practical strength and resources, but also as one whose integrity was beyond question.

The Judge was born in the village of Ban- gall, Dutchess county, June 12, 1806, and was the son of Josiah and Abigal (Duncan) Suther- land, who were the parents of six children, all now deceased: Walter, Sarah, Mary, Han- nah, Josiah and Birch. The father was a na- tive of the town of Stanford, where his father had located at an early day on coming from Scotland-his native land-to America. In that town the son carried on farming until his death. He had served as colonel in the war of 1812, was a strong Democrat in politics, and a Baptist in religious belief.

The boyhood days of Judge Sutherland were passed at Bangall, and he prepared for college in New York City under the guidance of Judge Parker's father. After his graduation from Union College in 1826, he studied law for a year in the office of Samuel G. Hunting- ton, at Waterford, Saratoga Co., N. Y., but finished his studies in the office of Bushnell & Stebbins, at Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y. Shortly after his admission to the bar in 1829, he went to South Carolina on account of ill health, and there remained for a year. Re- turning north, he entered into partnership, at Johnstown, N. Y., with Robert H. Morris, a former mayor and recorder of New York City.

In 1831 Mr. Sutherland was appointed dis- trict attorney of Columbia county, which office he continued to fill for about fifteen years, and in 1856 he was elected to Congress to represent the Thirty-second Congressional District, having run against Judge Coles. In 1838 he had removed to Hudson City, N. Y., where he occupied the office of the late Am- brose L. Jordan, who had removed to New York City, where in the spring of 1851 Mr. Sutherland also located, there forming a part- nership with Judge Morrell. He was elected judge of the supreme court in 1857 to fill a vacancy caused by the death of Judge Whit- ing, and held that position for six years. On the resignation of Charles O'Connor from the office of United States District Attorney, he was tendered that position by President Bu- chanan, but declined it. In the fall of 1863,

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he was re-elected to the supreme court without opposition, and continued to fill the position on the bench for the full term of seven years.

By an act of the Legislature, the Judge was appointed one of the three commissioners to decide a certain claim against the City of New York, and though millions of dollars were involved, so impartial were all his decisions, that all parties felt satisfied with their correct- ness. In 1872 he was elected city judge of New York. He retired from the bench on the Ist of January, 1879, carrying with him not only the respect of the entire legal fraternity, but an enviable reputation as a jurist. One of the most extraordinary events was the meet- ing of the New York bench and bar to express their regret at the retirement of the Hon. Josiah Sutherland from the bench, which he had occupied with distinguished rectitude and simplicity of character for over twenty years of a busy and honored life. Few men have lived to experience such a vocation as this from the most critical and scrutinizing of pro- fessional and judicial contemporaries.

That a man born and bred in country life could go to New York City when there was on his arrival, already in existence, strongly in- trenched, a ring of corrupt political tricksters, surrounded by an outer ring of a corrupt and powerful system almost irresistible, and win and occupy one of the highest seats of justice, was a credit to the better sense and intelligence of the people. That a judge could in all these years sit in calin rectitude and severe and in- flexible justice when almost all else was cor- rupt and partial, is a wonder in our day. The honor of Judge Sutherland was never assailed. Enemies may have ridiculed him, and even friends criticised his ways, but no man ever hinted at anything dishonorable or unjust in his character as a man or judge. The consti- tutional limit of seventy years, as the end of judicial service, cut him off, as it did Spencer and Chancellor Kent, in the full maturity of in- tellectual capacity, at the threshold of the beauties of an honorable and venerable old age, but we can still point to his record with pride. From the time of his retirement from the bench until his death he resided in New York City. He died May 25, 1887.

At Johnstown, N. Y., was celebrated the marriage of Judge Sutherland and Miss Jane, youngest daughter of Dr. John McClellan. She was born in the Manor of Livingston. February 22, 1811, and died February 22,

1876. To them were born fourteen children, of whom two are now living-Robert and Mrs. Sarah A. Eddy.

The birth of ROBERT SUTHERLAND occurred at Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y., March II, 1838, and there his early school days were passed. He attended the Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and when the Civil war broke out he was appointed by President Lincoln to the position of ist Lieutenant, 18th U. S. 1., in which he served for three years, when he was discharged on account of physical disa- bility. In New York City in 1866, he was united in marriage with Miss Lucy A. Mills, a native of Ireland, and to them were born four daughters: Jane Douglas, who is now the wife of Rev. D. S. Hamilton, rector of St. Paul's Church, at Paterson, N. J. ; Florence, deceased ; Sarah E. and Blanche. For the past twenty years Mr. Sutherland has lived retired in the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, where he is surrounded by a host of warm friends and acquaintances.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 152

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