Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 158

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

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S MITH J. SACKETT is one of the most prosperous and successful farmers of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, owning 300 acres of valuable land there. He is num- bered among the self-made men of the county, his accumulations being the result of his own industry, obtained by self-denial and economy. and the exercise of a naturally good judgment, both in regard to agricultural pursuits and business matters. Stanford town has always been the field of his operations, and the cen- ter of his hopes and interests, for since his birth, which occurred March 19, 1844, he has there made his home.

His father, Leonard Sackett, was born in the town of Stanford, September 7, 1797. In the schools of the neighborhood of his boy- hood home he obtained his education, and he remained upon the home farm until his mar- riage. He married Ruth Gildersleeve, a na- tive of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, and they had the following children: Joel, born June 29, 1828, is now deceased; Cor- delia, born April 28, 1830, is the wife of Elias Thompson, of l'ine Plains, Dutchess county; Eunice was born March 8, 1832; Jane Eliza- beth, born August 10, 1834, has passed away; Hiram L. was born August 15, 1837; Emily, born August 13. 1839, is the wife of Theron Knickerbocker; Sarah M., born February 17, 1842, is also deceased; Smith J. is next in or-

Smith & Jacken

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

der of birth, and Henry, born in December, 1847, has departed this life. The father's death occurred May 17, 1866, that of the mother on July 25, 1878. Most of their married life was passed on a farm near Stissing, Dutchess county, which Mr. Sackett operated. With the Baptist Church of Bangall they held mem- bership, and in his political views the father was first a Whig, later a Republican.

The education of Smith J. Sackett was such as the district schools of the town of Stanford afforded, and on reaching his major- ity he left his parental roof, starting out in life with no capital. For some time he operated farms on shares, but in 1880, in connec- tion with his brother Henry, he purchased his present farm, and the following year bought another. With him, his brother Hiram and sister Eunice find a pleasant home.

Mr. Sackett has never taken an active part in politics, although keeping himself well in- formed on matters of general interest, and uni- formly votes the straight Republican ticket. To enterprises calculated for the general wel- fare of the people around him he has ever been a cheerful and liberal contributor.

SAMUEL LYNCH. This capitalist is living at his ease in Pleasant Valley village, Dutchess county, his only occupation being the care of the property he in his younger days accumulated by untiring industry and judicious economy.

Mr. Lynch was born September 18, 1823, in the town of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Camp- bell) Lynch, both natives of Ireland, where they married. On leaving the Emerald Isle they sailed for Nova Scotia, where the father was engaged in the lumber business for about a year, and then removed to Long Island, there following farming during the next three years. Removing thence to Dutchess county, he be- came a resident of the town of Pleasant Val- ley, where during the remainder of his life he devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits. He died about 1880, his wife several years be- fore. They were earnest and consistent mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in his political affiliations Mr Lynch was a stanch Whig and Republican. They had the following children: Martha married Henry Phillips, a tanner of Dutchess county; Samuel comes next; Betsy Jane became the wife of

Silas Ward, a shoemaker; Leah married a Mr. Gardiner, a merchant; Margaret wedded Ebenezer Whitney, a carpenter; Harriet mar- ried John Delany, a car conductor; Hanna be- came the wife of a Mr. Gardiner, a milkman; Alexander went to California when young, and nothing is known of him; and George was a carpenter and wheelwright.

The subject of this memoir received the education common to farmer's sons, his boy- hood being passed in the town of Pleasant Valley, but after his school days were over he went to Unionvale, where he learned the car- penter's trade with Joseph Wait, by whom he was employed for about six years. He then began business for himself in the town of Pleasant Valley, but in 1849 went to New York City, where for forty years he was engaged in contracting and building with good success, erecting many houses in that city. On laying aside business cares he returned to Pleasant Valley, where, since 1889, he has lived retired, having accumulated sufficiently of this world's goods to enable him to pass his remaining days in ease, surrounded by the comforts of life, and enjoying the respect and confidence of his fellow men in the highest degree.

In 1852 Mr. Lynch was married to Miss Anna M. Wyles, who was born and reared in Philadelphia, Penn., and is a daughter of Joseph Shaw Wyles. Four children blessed this union: Clara; Anna, wife of George E. Stuart, of New York City; Frank, a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y .; and Emma. Mr. Lynch is a true-hearted man, an earnest believer in the doctrines of Christianity, and both he and his wife are faithful members of the Presbyterian Church. Politically he is a stanch Republican. and in 1895 was elected supervisor, serving one year. He is a public-spirited, enterprising man, and in all matters tending to benefit the people of his community, morally, socially or financially. he has ever been an earnest and cheerlul worker.

M ARCUS D. MARCY, a prominent resi- dent of Dover Plains, Dutchess county, who was for many years a valued employe on the Harlem railroad, was born March 29, 1848, in the town of Dover, Dutchess county. He took advantage of the educational oppor- tunities afforded by the schools of his native place, and in early manhood entered the serv-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ice of the railroad company, and remained twenty-five years working first as a brakeman and afterward as a conductor. In the latter po- sition he was unusually successful, a fact which speaks well for his tact, and intelligence. Realizing the value of a clear brain, he is a firm opponent of intemperance, and for fifteen years he has been a member of the order of Good Templars. He married Miss Hattie A. Fero, daughter of John and Adelaide Fero, and has one daughter, Bertha, born in 1886.

His ancestors have been agriculturists in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, for sev- eral generations. His grandfather. Moses Marcy, was a native of the town, and followed farming all his life. He and his wife, Susan Cutler, reared a family of eight children: Rogers went to Michigan, made a hotne in the forest, and became well-to-do; George; Robey married Fred Summers; Abbie married Brigg Tanner; Hannah was the wife of Seneca White: Lucretia never married; Moses married Fannie Addis; and Mary married Orisey Wol- sey, and had one son, Moses Wolsey.

Moses Marcy, our subject's father, was a native of Dover Plains, where he was educated and later engaged in farming and in the butch- er's trade. His wife, Fannie Addis, was a na- tive of New Preston, Conn. They had seven children: Oliver W., who married Alvira Halleck; Griffin C., who married Jane Sher- wood; Andrew A., who never married; Gar- wood G., who married Caroline Summers; Al- vin B., who married first, Emma Lee; Mar- cus D., our subject; and Samantha A., the wife of John Bristow.

Mrs. Marcy's ancestors on both sides were early settlers in Dutchess county. A great- great grandfather, Israel Chapman, was a farmer in the town of Dover, where he and his wife Esther reared a family of three chil- dren: '1) John: '2) William, who married Rachel Cherrytree; and (3) Nathan. John Chapman, Mrs. Marcy's great-grandfather, was a lifelong resident of the town of Dover. where he followed the shoemaker's trade. He married Catherine Briggs, of Connecticut, and had four children : Ann, Mrs. Bishop Smith; Sallie A., Mrs. William H. Fero; Harry, who married Pollie Gregory; and Richard, who mar- ried Sarah Wheeler. Sallie A. , Mrs. Marcy's grandmother, was born in South Dover, in 1807, and married Mr. Fero, November 8, 1827. He was a farmer in Dover town, and a son of Jacob Fero, a well-to-do farmer of

Columbia county. Five children were born of this union: Hattie, Mrs. Jerry Waldron; Oscar, who married (first) Mary Anson, and 'second) Christina Wilcox; John, Mrs. Marcy's father; Akin, whose wife's name is not known; and William, who died in infancy. John Fero was born in South Dover in 1838, and in early manhood engaged in farming, but later was employed for twenty years as a conductor on the Harlem railroad. He now lives a retired life. He and his brother Oscar both enlisted at Poughkeepsie during the Civil war in Com- pany E. 150th N. Y. V. 1. Although he takes an active interest in public affairs he has never aspired to office. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge No. 666, of Dover, and also to the or- der of Good Templars Lodge No. 433. He married Miss Adelaide Leonard, and had four children: (1) Jennie, born in 1859, married Edward Davis, and has had three children: May, born in 1886; Bessie, in 1890; and John, who died in infancy. (2) Hattie, born in 1862, wife of our subject. (3) William, mentioned be- low. (4) lda, born in 1869, died in infancy.

Mrs. John Fero, Mrs. Marcy's mother, is of English descent, her grandparents, Enoch and Elsie Leonard, cousins, having come from the mother country to settle in Dutchess coun- ty. Her grandfather was a soldier in the war of 1812. Their three children were: Joshua; William, who never married; and Maria, Mrs. Joseph Worden. Joshua Leonard, Mrs. Fero's father, was born in Dutchess county in 1810, and after attending the schools of that time, engaged in farming in the town of Pawling. In 1862 he enlisted in Company E. 150th N. Y. V. I., and died in the service in 1864. His wife was Miss Eliza Olivet, daughter of James Olivet, a prominent farmer of Pawling town, and his wife Mary. Three children were born to them: Mary Ann, who died in infancy; William; and Adelaide, Mrs. Fero.

William Fero, the third child and first son of John and Adelaide Fero, was born in 1865, and is now an engineer on the llarlem railroad. He married Minnie Rider, by whom he has had four children: Addie, born in 1875, died young; Ida, born in 1885; John, born in 1890; and William, in 1893. Mrs. William Fero is a descendant of one of the old families of Bangall, and her grandfather, Thompson Rider, was a native of that place. He was a carpen- ter by trade, and was an active member of the Masonic Lodge of Bangall. His first wife, Sarah Bailey, was a daughter of Joseph Bailey,

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a well-known resident of that village, and his second wife was a Miss Davis. There were five children by the first marriage. (1) Emma married George Tompkins, a carpenter, and had six children: Annie, George, Jennie, and three others whose names are not known. (2) Landon died in the army. (3) David, a carpenter by trade, married Miss Eliza Platt, and had one son, Harry. (4) Legrand died at the age of twenty-two. Albert, Mrs. Fero's father, was born at Bangall, in 1843, and after receiving a common-school education in his native village, he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for many years. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife, Sarah Sackett, was a daughter of George and Rachel Sackett, and her father was a leading farmer in the town of Washington. Eleven children were born of this union: Emma married Harry Hardstay, and has had four children; Anna is at home; Lillie married George Coolman, and has had one daughter, Anna; Agnes is not married; Minnie married Mr. Fero; Josie died in infancy; and Bert, Charles, John, William and Albert are not married.

M ARTHA T. WING. Among the suc- cessful agriculturists of the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, Miss Martha Wing is noted for her scientific and progressive management. A constant reader of agri- cultural journals, as well as general literature, she keeps well informed on the latest and best methods in all branches of her work, and her farm shows the results of her practical in- vestigations. She is especially interested in horticulture.

The Wing family has long been prominent in the town of Pawling. Jedediah Wing, Miss Wing's great-great-grandfather, came from Rhode Island at an early period and set- tled upon a farm north of Quaker Hill. He was a man of quiet tastes and a leading mema- ber of the Society of Friends. Their son, Elihu, Miss Wing's great-grandfather, was a millwright by trade, and lived upon a farm east of the old Friends meeting house. He and his wife, Keziah Wing, reared a family of eight children: Abigail, Sybil, Phoebe, Eliza- beth, Sarah, Lydia, Keziah and Abram.

Abram Wing was only seven years of age when his father died. He became a farmer, locating about one-half mile south of the pres-

ent homestead, and was very successful, own- ing about 500 acres of land at the time of his death. He was prominent in local affairs, al- though not especially active, and was always interested in religious progress. He married Rose Irish, who was born July 4. 1789, and had four sons: Elihu, born August 20, 1806; Charles, April 6. 1808; Daniel, September 23, 1809; and David 1., March 22, 1811. Abram Wing died in 1846, but his widow survived him many years, passing to her rest in 1888. Of the sons, Elihu and Daniel spent their lives at the old home farm. They never married. Charles married Eliza Deuel, and had three children: Sarah H., Abram D. and Elibu S.

David 1., Miss Wing's father, lived at the old home until his marriage to Mary Irish, daughter of David Irish, when he settled upon the present homestead, which contains 120 acres. Thrifty and successful in business, he was also active as a citizen and as a member of the Friends Society. Like the majority of his family, he was a Republican and took much interest in the success of his party. He died November 27, 1888, and his wife followed him September 25, 1893. They had four children : Elizabeth, the wife of Edward Rider, of Peach Pond; Martha T., our subject; Phoebe, who married Edward Henry Wilcox, of Pawling; and Carrie, who died in 1894.

R OBERT CASS, a prominent educator, whose professional work has covered a period of over a quarter of a century, is a leading resident of the town of Pawling, Dutch- ess county. A man of fine culture and liter- ary ability, he has found time aside from the exacting duties of the school room to use his pen effectively, and as a correspondent of the American Agriculturist, the Poughkeepsie Eagle, the New Milford Gasette, and other papers, he has done valuable work. He comes of a brainy, energetic family. His grandfather. Richard Cass, was one of four brothers who came from the central part of Scotland and settled in different parts of the United States: one in Ohio, two in Illinois, and one in Mich- igan, the latter being the father of Gen. Lewis Cass, so well known in military and political affairs.

Allen Cass, oar subject's father, was born in 1806, near Xenia, Ohio, and in early man- hood engaged in his father's occupation of farming, at Danville, Ill., where he owned

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

200 acres of land. He was influential in local affairs, and a personal friend of Abraham Lincoln, and more than once was a juror where Lincoln was conducting cases at the after his marriage, in 1843, to Miss Mary bar. Politically, he was a Whig until the or- ganization of the Republican party, to which he at once gave his allegiance. He was a leading member of the Methodist Church. He married Miss Martha Payton, a descendant of one of the first families of Virginia, whose fa- ther, Valentine Payton, was a pioneer settler at Danville. Eleven children were born to them: William Henry, John Milton, Elisha, Alpheus, Charles, Willis Allen, Robert, Mary Frances, Lucy, Margaret and Caroline.

The subject of this sketch was born at Danville, Ill., April 23, 1845, and was edu- cated mainly in the high school at Homer, Ill., under H. A. Coffeen, now a member of Con- gress from Colorado. After leaving school he engaged in teaching, following the profession successfully in the school at Sherman, Conn., the Farmnont school at Danville, Ill., and in the schools at Pawling. Dutchess Co. N. Y. Ile is actively interested in all that tends to promote the welfare of the community, and takes a leading part in Church work, having served as Sunday-school superintendent for twenty years.

Mr. Cass married a member of one of the most highly respected families of this section, Miss Emma G. Chamberlain, and has two daughters, Carrie Belle and Lillie May.

George H. Chamberlain, the father of Mrs. Cass, was born in 1820, in Kent, Conn .. where his ancestors had made their home for several generations. Flis father, Harvey Chamberlain, and grandfather Chamberlain, were farmers there. Harvey Chamberlain was extremely popular, and held various offices in his town, including that of selectman. In his political affiliations he was a Democrat. He died in 18-, and his wife, whose maiden name was Polly Morgan, passed away in her fifty-third year. They had six children: George H .; John, deceased; Helen, wife of Daniel Vincent; Flora (Mrs. Sterling, of Sha- ron, Conn.); Mary, wife of Smith Stewart, of Kent, Conn .; and Emeline (Mrs. Frederick Bull).

George H. Chamberlain was educated in the district school near his birth place and in a select school at Milton, Conn. Possessing more than average mental ability, he made good use of these opportunities, and in later

years kept well abreast with the times by his reading. He taught for three or four seasons after leaving school, but engaged in farming

Ann Tompkins, daughter of Benjamin Tomp- a leading citizen of Kent, Conn. Their first home was on' a farm about a mile below the old homestead, but after four years he purchased another piece of land in the same neighborhood, where they spent about five years. He then sold that farm, and in 1857 moved to a tract of land which he had previously bought near Cerro Gordo, 111 .; but two years later he returned to his native State, and lived for two years at New Milford. In 1869 he purchased the Sherman Howard farm, in the town of Pawling, Dutchess county. containing 125 acres, where he passed the re- mainder of his days. He had excellent judg- ment, and was successful in business and influ- ential as a citizen, although he invariably de- clined to become a candidate for office when urged to do so by his fellow workers in the Democratic party.

Mrs. Cass was the only child of her parents. Her mother's family, which like the Chamber- lains, was of English origin, was prominent in East Kent, Conn., from early times. Her maternal great-grandfather, Philip Tompkins, was a cooper by trade, and her grandfather, Benjamin Tompkins, was an extensive agri- culturist, and a man of note in local politics. He married Ophelia Blakesley, and had six children: Augustus E .; Mary Ann; Emeline (Mrs. Luke Putnam); Laura (Mrs. Peter Riley); Martha, who married Rufus Lovell, of Washington, Conn .; and Eber W. Of this family only one is now living.

A LEXANDER R. BECKER, a prominent contractor and agriculturist of the town of Red Hook, Dutchess county, is a native of the county, born at Rock City September 13. 1828. His father, Christian Becker, was born in the town of Red Hook October 16, 1800, and there received a common-school education. He learned the trade of blacksmithing, at which he worked in connection with farming. In Red Hook, on November 14, 1824, was celebrated his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Near, who was born June 22, 1802, and they became the parents of four children, namely: Mary A., who became the wife of Myron A. Badgley; Juliet, who married John T. Stall;

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William H., who married Catherine Sagendorf ; and Alexander R., of this review.

In the place of his nativity our subject at- tended the public schools, where he acquired a fair education, and after leaving school he learned the trade of a blacksmith with his fa- ther; but as this was not to his taste, he went to Elizaville, N. Y., where he for a time en- gaged in merchandising. Disposing of his business there, he next conducted a store in New York City. He was also engaged in the brewing business at Brooklyn, under the firm name of Becker & Foster, and for some time ran a brewery at Albany, N. Y. He was next employed as freight agent for a line of steam- ers on the Hudson, and later turned his atten- tion to contracting in New York City. Since returning to Dutchess county he has made his home in the town of Red Hook, where he suc- cessfully carries on contracting and farming. He wins the respect and confidence of all with whom he comes in contact, and occupies a leading position among the influential citizens of the community.

Mr. Becker was united in marriage with Miss Celinda Mull, a daughter of Captain Mull, a hay merchant of New York City, who is a member of the firm of Mull & Lawton. In 1893 Mr. Becker was called to mourn the loss of his estimable wife.

Mary Ann Becker, the sister of our subject, was born at Rock City, August 30, 1831, was there educated and married Myron A. Badgley, son of Squire and Hannah (Wing) Badgley. By occupation Myron Badgley was a farmer. He was three times married, his first union being with Miss Elizabeth Near. He next wedded Miss Becker, by whom he had one daughter-Minnie L. For his third wife he chose Miss Sarah Haines, and to them was born a daughter-Lizzie E., whose birth oc- curred October 28, 1868. She is now the wife of Willard E. Link, and they have two chil- dren-Ethel and Roy C.

Minnie L. Badgley, the niece of our sub- ject, was born June 15. 1863, in the town of Milan, Dutchess county, attended the schools of the locality, and was united in marriage with William Augustus Lown, who was born at Madalin, Dutchess county, November 9, 1863, and is the son of Richard and Hannah (Grunther) Lown, of Barryto.n. N. Y. Their marriage was celebrated June 27, 1886, and previous to that time Mr. Lown had followed the trade of a mason for several years, but is

now engaged in farming in the town of Red Hook. Mr. and Mrs. Lown have become the parents of three children: Alexander R., born April 10, 1887; Florence, who was born May 25, 1891, and died in infancy ; and Bertram E., born December 19, 1894.

OHN W. HOFFMAN (deceased) was for many years prominently connected with

the history of Dutchess county. His birth occurred in the town of Red Hook, March 10, 1826, where the family is numbered among the very oldest and most substantial in the locality, being among the pioneers. His father, George C. Hoffman, was a farmer and butcher of Red Hook. On June 7, 1807, he was united in marriage with Lydia Beekman, and after her death wedded Maria Waldorf. By the second union were born twelve chil- dren: Gitty Elizabeth, born January 15, 1809; Rebecca M., born February 25, 1812; Helen S., born January 23, 1814; Sarah A., born May 7, 1817; Lydia C., born April 6, 1819; Benjamin B., born March 15, 1821; Margarie L., born April 4, 1823; John W., of this review; George L., born September 11, 1829; Edward M., born January 5, 1831; J. Robert, born August 9, 1833; and Regina E.

The boyhood days of our subject were spent mostly after the manner of farmers' sons, and when he had attained a sufficient age he entered the public schools of Red Hook, where his education was acquired. When he had arrived at years of maturity he was united in marriage with Lydia S. Man- ning, daughter of John and Margaret (Raffen- burgh) Manning. After the death of Mr. Man- ning, her mother was again married, becoming the wife of Thomas Welsh, who died Septem- ter 31, 1841. In her family were nine chil- dren: J. Manning, born in 1781; Margaret, born July 10, 1788; Elizabeth J., born Octo- ber 27, 1805; Sarah R., born October 14, 1807; Sophia, born February 21, 1811; Mary M., born October 9, 1813; John A., born May 7, 1822; Martin H., born June 18, 1827; and Lydia S., born February 18, 1830.

The maternal grandmother of Mrs. Iloff- man, who bore the maiden name of Jennie McGregor, was a native of Scotland, and while quite young, in 1773, came to the United States. Having the welfare of the people at heart, she joined the force of nurses who were at that time caring for the wounded soldiers of

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the Revolutionary war, and while serving in that capacity she met and fell in love with a handsome lieutenant who was wounded and brought to the hospital for treatment. The name of this officer was Peter Raffenburgh, who was born June 17, 1746. They were af- terward married and became the parents of five children, among whom was Margaret, the mother of Mrs. Hoffman.

In early life Mr. Hoffman spent most of his time in freighting on the Hudson, where he owned two steamers-the " R. Donaldson " and the "Clifton"-which he commanded. During the Civil war the United States Government wanted the R. " Donaldson " to fit out as a war vessel. The purchase being completed, he was on his way to New York City to make the nec- essary transfer, when he received word that the steamer had run ashore in a fog, and was burned. The financial loss was very heavy. He then turned his attention to the hotel busi- ness at Barrytown, Dutchess county. which proved very successful. He also engaged in the manufacture of tobacco at Red Hook for some time.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 158

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