Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 159

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

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Eleven children graced the union of Mr. and Mrs. Hoffman, namely: Orison G., born October 25, 1854; Elizabeth H., born October 2, 1856; William M., born May 31, 1858; Allen H., born January 19, 1861; George E., born January 14, 1863; Horace A., born Oc- tober 23, 1864; C. Otis and Otto, twins, born November 14, 1866; Robert M., born June 29, 1868; Maggie J., born May 5, 1872; and Hat- tie C., born August 27, 1873. The youngest son, Robert M. Hoffman, was born in Red Hook, and in 1881 entered the De Garmo In- stitute of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, which school has since been removed to Fishkill-on- Hudson. He later attended the Holbrook Military Academy at Sing Sing, N. Y., and in 1888, became a student at Yale College, from which he was graduated with the class of 1891. After his graduation he went to Chicago, Ill., where for a few years he practiced mechanical engineering.

On December 26, 1883, the earthly career of Mr. Hoffman was ended, his death being deeply regretted by many warm friends as well as his sorrowing family. His personal integ- rity both in public and private life, was of the highest order, and both he and his estimable wife enjoyed the friendship and acquaintance of a large number of the best people of Red Hook and vicinity.

A RTHUR H. BOLLES. Although the subject of this sketch has resided at Pawling, Dutchess county, but a few years, he has won an enviable position in business cir- cles, the trade of his marble and stone cut- ting establishment extending beyond the limits of his immediate locality into Putnam county, N. Y., and Fairfield and Litchfield counties, Conn. He is a native of the last-named coun- ty, having first seen the light at New Preston, November 11, 1857, and two previous genera- tions have been prominent there in the same line of business. His grandfather, Reuben Bolles, was born in Colebrook, Conn., in 1790, but about 1813 went to New Preston and learned the trade of engraving marble and granite, which he followed for sixty years, or until his death, February 1, 1874. He be- came one of the principal marble dealers of that region, owning a quarry of what is known as New Preston marble, much in demand for cemeteries. A man of great energy, his activities were not confined to the manage- ment of his business, as he took an active share in the work of the Democratic party, and held numerous official positions. In religious faith he was a Congregationalist. He married a native of New Preston, Miss Amanda Meeker, and had seven children, four sons-George W., Noble, Henry N. and Andrew J., all of whom engaged in the stone and marble trade-and three daughters-Caroline, who married Will- iam Dowler: Maria, the wife of Henry Peck; and Jeanette, who married Julius A. Glover, of New Preston.

Henry M. Bolles, our subject's father, was born at New Preston, in 1825, and since 1843 has carried on at the same place his extensive marble works, now the only establishment of the kind in the neighborhood. His trade covers a radius of forty or fifty miles, and he is one of the substantial business men of the town. He is an active member of the Congregational Church, and in politics has always been in- fluential as a Democrat, holding the office of assessor and justice of the peace for many years. His partner in life was Miss Sophia Kinney, daughter of Gilbert Kinney, a well- known resident of New Preston, and they have had three children, of whom, our subject, the youngest, is the only survivor. Edward H. died in infancy, and William in his boy- hood.

Arthur H. Bolles was educated in the Con- necticut Literary Institute at Suffield, where

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he received excellent training with the view of pursuing a more advanced course; but at the age of nineteen he left school to engage in busi- ness. His first employment was as a travel- ing salesman, and in this work he was very successful, handling some large contracts in various localities, and superintending their completion. After eight years with his father, he spent six years with firms in Springfield and Hartford and then returned to New Preston, where he remained two years. In 1891 he went to Pawling, purchasing the business formerly owned by George W. Turner. This was an old and well-known enterprise, estab- lished about thirty-five years ago, and Mr. Bolles has enlarged the plant and increased his trade greatly. He makes a specialty of granite work. Like all of his family, he is public-spirited and loyal to the best interests of his town; he attends the Baptist Church, and takes a generous interest in all pro- gressive movements. In politics he is a Dem- ocrat, but has not sought office or taken a prominent part in political strife.

Mr. Bolles was united in matrimony with Miss Christina Richards, daughter of James Richards, of London, England, but no chil- dren have blessed their union.

TSAAC VERMILYEA BILLINGS (de-

ceased). In the intensified energy of the successful man fighting the every-day battle of existence there is but little to attract the idle observer, but to the mind fully awake to the realities of life and their meaning, there are noble lessons to be learned from the history of a man who without other aid than a clear head, a strong arm, and a true heart, conquers adversity, and while securing an honorable competency leaves to his family the priceless memory of a good name.

The subject of this memoir, formerly a prominent resident of Billings, Dutchess coun- ty, was a grandson of one of the earliest set- tlers of the town of Lagrange-John Billings, who was a tanner and shoemaker by trade in early life, and later became well known as an auctioneer. He was a Whig in politics, and a member of the M. E. Church at Lagrangeville. His wife, Rachel Jay, was a native of Hud- son, N. Y., and they had four children: Isaac, who lived in Lagrange; Daniel, our subject's father; Rachel (Mrs. Thurston), and Fannie (Mrs. Paul Durando).

Daniel Billings resided during his entire life in the town of Lagrange, receiving his educa- tion in the district schools and, later, followed the occupation of farining. He became a Re- publican in politics when the war issues caused the formation of new party lines. He married Elizabeth Vermilyea, and had four children, of whom the subject of our sketch was the eld- est : (2) Sarah Ann married Hubbard Col- well, and died leaving three children-Chaun- cey P., Elizabeth and Elvena. (3) John D. is now deceased. (4) Catherine (deceased) was formerly the wife of Samuel Colwell.

The late Isaac V. Billings was born Sep- tember 28, 1816, in the town of Lagrange, and spent his boyhood at the old farm attending the district schools and assisting in the work at home. He learned the shoemaker's trade with Edgar Hawkins, at Oswego Village, Dutchess county, and followed it at Billings during the most of his life. In early life he was a Democrat in politics; but the temperance reform seemed to him one of the vital issues of the day, and he became one of the first Prohibitionists in his town. He was a sup- porter of the M. E. Church at Lagrangeville for many years previous to his death, which occurred April 19, 1825. On October 30, 1860, he was married at Billings to Miss Susan Storm, who survives him. No children were born of their union.

Mrs. Billings is a member of one of the oldest and most substantial families. Her great-grandfather, Derrick Storm, was a na- tive of the town of Fishkill, and became a farmer in Pleasant Valley, where his son Peter, Mrs. Billings' grandfather, was born and passed his entire life, engaging in agriculture as an oc- cupation. He married Catalina Van Dyck, and had six children: John P., who married Miss Mott; Margaret (Mrs. Peter Le . Roy), Lena. James, Polly, and Francis, none of whom are now living. James Storm, the fa- ther of Mrs. Billings, was born at the home- stead in Pleasant Valley, and grew to manhood there. He married Miss Johanna Van Voor- hees, daughter of John Van Voorhees, a lead- ing resident of Pleasant Valley, and for four years after his marriage he lived upon a farm in that locality. He then sold his property and moved to Alburg, Grand Isle Co., Vt., where he followed agricultural pursuits for many years; but his last years were spent in his native county, in the town of Lagrange. He was a Whig in politics, and he and his wife

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

were Presbyterians in religious faith. They had nine children, of whom Mrs. Billings was the youngest: (1) Caroline (deceased) mar- ried Benjamin Marvin, and had three children -Albert, Sarah E. and Mary E. (2) John (deceased) married Mary E. Conger. (3) Peter (deceased) married Lucinda Palmer, and had two children Solon and Caroline. (4) Henry (deceased) married Abigail Smith, and had five children James, Mary Jane, Helen deceased , Henry and Minerva. (5) Cather- ine has never married. (6) James, Jr., a res- ident of Stockbridge, Wis., married Emily Prentiss, and has three children-Helen, David H. and Frederick P. (7) Helen (deceased) never married. (8) David (deceased) mar- ried Jennie Dates.

A LBERT CARTER SMITH (deceased). Among those who have been prominently identified with the agricultural interests of the town of Amenia, Dutchess county, and whose perseverance and industry gained for him not only a foothold in the world, but made him one of the largest land holders in the lo- cality, was the subject of this review. He be- longs to that class of men peculiar to this Re- public -- the self-made men-and his property was due not to any lucky speculation, to any inheritance, or to any gift, but to his own con- tinual struggles, and his indomitable pluck un- der adversity.

Phineas Smith, his grandfather, was a lead- ing physician and resident of Litchfield county, Conn., where his death occurred at the age of forty years. He married Miss Clemens, and to them were born four children, all now de- ceased: Whiting, Eleazer, Lorentz and Phineas.

Lorentz, the father of our subject, was born at Mt. Tom, Litchfield Co., Conn., June 29, 1789, and in the schools of that county received his education. As a young man he worked in a woolen-mill, which is still stand- ing on the old home farin, becoming a weaver and spinner, and at the age of thirty years went to Livingston Manor, Columbia Co., N. Y., where he engaged in that business until 1826, at which time he returned to the town of Amenia, having purchased the place contain- ing the mill in which he had worked in his younger days. His return dated from Febru- ary 22, 1826, and until 1840 he manufactured woolen cloth and flannels. He also conducted

his farin of 100 acres until his death, July 18, 1864. At Amenia he had married Miss Sally Fields, a daughter of Jesse Fields, a carpen- ter and builder. Four children graced this union: (1) Albert Carter, of this sketch; (2) George G., of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, who first married Charity Miller, by whom he had four children-Hewitt, Mary. Lawrence and Carrie-and for his second wife he wedded Nellie Haynes, and by this union has one son -- George. (3) Louisa, who is the widow of Nathaniel Hewitt (he died December 11, 1865), by whom she had four children- Mary, wife of Mr. Colburn; Albertina, wife of Herbert Fowler; and Emma and Sarah, both deceased in infancy. Mrs. Hewitt resides on the home farm, where she was born in 1829; and (4) Julia Ann, who died at the age of two years. The mother of this family died in 1848.

Albert Carter Smith was born at Livingston Manor, Columbia county, April 4, 1820, but his early life was passed mainly in the town of Amenia, where he attended the district schools, and was employed in the woolen-mill of his father as long as it was conducted. Ever an industrious, energetic man, he steadily in- creased his estate until he became the owner of one thousand acres of valuable land in Amenia, Stanford and Washington town, all of which property was acquired after he had attained his fortieth year.

Politically Mr. Smith was an adherent of Jeffersonian Democracy, but cared nothing for public office. He stood in his mature years- a strong man-strong in the consciousness of a well-spent life, strong to plan and perform, strong in his credit and in his good name, and for the younger generation a worthy example to imitate, as illustrating that success in life that may be attained by industry and persever- ance. His death occurred October 5, 1896.

RVING FRALEIGH. The subject of this biography is one of the honored sons of Dutchess county, and a prominent resident of the town of Red Hook, where his birth took place February 4, 1837. He began life with a definite purpose in view, worked faithfully, honestly, and with a will for its accomplish- ment, and has now gained a comfortable com- petence.

Our subject is descended from Putnam and Elizabeth (Felder) Fraleigh, whose name ap- pears in the records of the German Reformed

ALBERT C. SMITH.

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Church for the first time July 9, 1780, when their son Johannes was baptized. The names, and dates of the baptism, of three of their other children are as follows: Elizabeth, April 12, 1782; George, September 3, 1784; and Phillippus, December 3, 1786. They also had another son and daughter, Peter and Han- nah.

The primary education of our subject was obtained in the district schools of the town of Red Hook, and the knowledge there acquired was supplemented by a course in the Hartwick Seminary. After completing his studies there he followed farming until twenty-six years of age, when he engaged in freighting between Barrytown and New York City, under the firm name of P. L. Tyler & Co., which, later, was dissolved, and the firm of Carnwright & Fraleigh was organized. The name was changed to Carnwright, Fraleigh & Company; but the firm subsequently assumed the former style, which they retained as long as the busi- ness was conducted. Mr. Fraleigh was also engaged in the milling business with a Mr. Curtis under the firm style of Curtis & Fra- leigh, which connection was continued some six years, or until the death of Mr. Curtis. Our subject then purchased the latter's inter- est, and for two years conducted the Oriole Mills at Rock City, after which he bought of Charles White a one-half interest in the Red Hook Mills, which, together with the Oriole mills, were conducted under the firm name of Irving, Fraleigh & Co., Sheridan Shook own- ing an interest. They now operate both mills, which they have greatly enlarged and im- proved, and are also engaged in the distillery business. Mr. Fraleigh conducts a fine stock farm situated a short distance from the village of Red Hook, which is one of the model farms of the county and a source of great pleasure and pride to him. He is a thorough business man, upright and honorable in all his dealings, and well deserves the success that has come to him.

On December 9, 1862, Mr. Fraleigh was married to Miss A. I. Cookingham, daughter of Andrew Cookingham, of the town of Rhine- beck, Dutchess county, and two children have been born to them: Sheridan, born Novem- ber 11. 1868, died July 24, 1876, and Irving, born October 17, 1877. In politics Mr. Fra- leigh is a Democrat.

Peter H. Fraleigh, father of our subject, was born September 2, 1813, in the town of 56

Red Hook, and January 28, 1835, he married Miss Lydia C. Shook, who was born July 31, 1815, and died August 5, 1885. Our subject is their only child. The father was called from earth February 10, 1893. He had been a lifelong agriculturist, and the farm upon which he passed his entire married life is now owned by his son.

W ILLIAM CARROLL, a leading business man of Rhinebeck. a manufacturer of furniture and the proprietor of the oldest un- dertaking establishment in Dutchess county, was born in Rochester, N. Y., August 25, 1821.

John Carroll, his father, married Mary Hauver, of Dutchess county, and had three children: Christian Hauver, Mary Hauver, and William, of whom, the two sons lived to adult age. The father died in Ulster county when our subject was an infant, and the mother removed to Dutchess county, and lived for some years in the town of Cinton, near the slate quarry. Here our subject attended the district school until the age of twelve years, when his mother removed to Rhinebeck. After four years in the schools there, he began clerk- ing for Quick & Traver, and at nineteen went to Poughkeepsie to learn the cabinetmaker's trade with John De Pue. He remained in that city four or five years, working for Taylor & Nelson after his apprenticeship ended, and then returned to Rhinebeck. September 1, 1844, he opened a cabinet-making shop two doors below his present location, but after the fire of 1862, he bought a lot and erected the three-story brick building which he has occu- pied since that time. As his business de- veloped, undertaking and the manufacture of furniture became leading features, and in the former line he is now the oldest worker in the county. He has probably buried more people His than any two of his fellow craftsmen. store is one of the most complete in northern Dutchess county. A careful, conservative manager, Mr. Carroll's enterprises have always been 'successful, and his advice is valued in busi- ness circles and in local affairs. He was one of the incorporators of the Rhinebeck Savings Bank, and has always been a trustee in that institution.

In 1845, Mr. Carroll married Miss Olevia Van Tassell, a descendant of one of the old families of the town of Fishkill, born March 27, 1829, and has had five children, of whom,

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three are living: (1) Henry died at the age of twenty-three; (2) Arthur died in infancy; (3) Julia married Dr. Banker, of Elizabeth, N. J .; (4) William R., now in partnership with his father, married Amelia Davis, of Stone Ridge, Ulster county, and has three children-Grace, William H. and Jessie; and (5) Harriet is the widow of the late Dr. Allen, of Columbus, Ohio.

Although he is a firm believer in Republic- an principles Mr. Carroll is an independent voter in local politics. He has never sought office, his attention being devoted to his busi- ness, but he has served as trustee of the vil- lage, and is always ready to forward any measure for local inprovement. He and his wife are leading members of the M. E. Church, with which he united fifty-five years ago, and has been for most of that time an official. - He is also a member of the F. & A. M.

W ILLIAM A. TRIPP, the well-known forwarding and freighting merchant, of Rhinebeck, successor to the old New York State Co., established in 1812, is descended from one of the pioneer families of Dutchess county, his ancestors having come from Eng- land at an early period. His grandfather, Timothy Tripp, was born in Dutchess coun- ty, but moved to Otsego county in his later years, and engaged in farming there during the remainder of his life. He married Miss White, and reared a family of seven children: John, Alfred, Silas, William, Eunice, Hannah and Ruby, and by a second wife he had another son, Briggs.

Alfred Tripp, our subject's father, was born in 1807, on the present site of Millbrook station, in the town of Washington, and about 1840 engaged in a general merchandise busi- ness at Oak Hill, Greene county, which he carried on until a short time before his death. He was also a stockholder in one of the found- ries at that place, and was one of the leading business men of the locality. His first wife was a Miss Hopson, by whom he had one daughter-Mary Ellen, and his second wife was Maria Utter, daughter of James Utter, a prom- inent resident of Oak Hill. Eleven children were born of this union: Elizabeth (deceased); Alice (deceased); James, captain of the barge "Enterprise " and a resident of Schultzville: Amanda (deceased): Delia (deceased); Will- iam A., our subject; Helen, who lives at Oak

Hill; Edward (deceased); and Isaac, Hattie and Carrie, who are all living at Oak Hill.

Mr. Tripp first saw the light May 18, 1851, and received his education in the district and select schools of his native town. His advan- tages in this respect were quite good; he has since been a constant reader, and his informa- tion is varied and extensive. At nineteen he entered his father's store as clerk, and re- mained two years, and April 1, 1872, came to Rhinebeck as clerk for Capt. J. H. Baldwin, who then owned the freighting and commis- sion business which had been founded by the New York State Company sixty years before, and continued without interruption. Capt. Baldwin sold it in 1875 to the Cornell Steam- boat Co., who disposed of it March 1, 1876, to Hoffman & Pitcher. This firm continued the business until March 1, 1884, when it was purchased by Hoffman, Tripp & Co. On April 1, 1895, Mr. Tripp bought out his part- ners, and has since been the sole proprietor of the business, and the barge "Enterprise." He is also engaged in the coal business and has, perhaps, the largest aggregate trade in that locality. In all his enterprises Mr. Tripp has displayed excellent judgment, and he is re- garded as one of the most reliable young busi- ness men of the town.

In politics he is a strong Republican, as was his father before him, and he has been a leading worker in local politics, serving as a member of the Republican County Committee for several years, and he has served also on the Town Committee. He was at one time the party candidate for supervisor. He belongs to the F. & A. M., and is master of the Rhine- beck Lodge No. 432, and he holds the office of master of finance in the K. of P., Rhinebeck Lodge No. 345.

M ICHAEL A. MULDOWNEY. Every- where in our land are men who have worked their own way from humble beginnings to leadership in commerce, the great product- ive industries, the management of financial affairs, and in controlling the veins and ar- teries of the traffic and exchanges of the country. It is one of the glories of our nation that it is so. Prominent among the self-made men of Poughkeepsie is the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Muldowney was born at Madison, Morris Co., N. J., September 15, 1850. His

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father, Edward Muldowney, was a native of Ireland, and came to America when about twenty-six years old, locating on a farm in New Jersey. He was married to Anna Tier- ney, also a native of the Emerald fsle, and they began their domestic life upon a farm, where their six children were born: Michael, of this review; Mary, widow of Frederick Mil- ler, an engineer, who was killed on the rail- road; Martin, who located in the West; Ed- ward, a resident of New York City; John, who died in infancy; and Joseph, who is engaged in the grocery business in Albany, N. Y. The father always engaged in agricultural pursuits, and died in Poughkeepsie. His political sup- port was given the Democratic party, and he and his wife were devout members of the Ro- man Catholic Church. Her death occurred in New York City.

The early life of our subject was passed at Madison, N. J., until thirteen years of age, during which time he attended the public schools, and then went to New York City, where he secured the position of check clerk in the "Hoffman House," remaining there for three years. Going to Newark, N. J., he learned the carpenter's trade with Reeve, Howard & Battin, at No. 8 Walnut street. At the end of three years, however, he returned to New York City, where he followed that occu- pation in various shops until coming to Pough- keepsie in 1876. Entering into the grocery business with his brother Joseph, at No. 54 Union street, that partnership was continued for five years, when our subject assumed com- plete charge. In the winter of 1885-6 he erected his present brick block at the corner of Union and John streets, Nos. 47 and 49 John street, and 50 Union street. After its comple- tion he there removed his stock of groceries, and now does a large and paying retail busi- ness; he also resides in the building.

On November 8, 1871, Mr. Muldowney was married to Miss Mary E. Driscoll, a native of New York City, and a daughter of John Dris- coll, a sailor, who was born in Ireland. Their family circle now includes ten children; one died in infancy. The others are all at home, namely: Mary, Joseph, Edward, Jennie, John, Frank, Hugh, Winnie, Rosamond and William.

Following in the footsteps of his father, Mr. Muldowney casts his ballot in support of the Democratic party, and has been twice elected alderman of the Second ward of Poughkeepsie,

the last time in 1892, being president of the council that term. He has been quite success- ful in his business undertakings, and is now a member of the Board of Trade and the Busi- ness Men's Association. He is one of the most public-spirited and progressive men of the city, and he and his wife are faithful members of the Roman Catholic Church.

G ILBERT FOWLER, one of the most prominent and prosperous agriculturists of the town of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, was born October 15, 1840, in the town of Clinton, where at least three previous genera- tions of the family had lived.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 159

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