Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 16

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

USA > New York > Dutchess County > Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York > Part 16

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On December 16, 1879, he was married, at Lawyersville, Schoharie county, to Katha- rine T. Davis, born December 16, 1854, daugh-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ter of Rev. William P. Davis. Their children, the thirty-sixth generation of the ancient line, are LeRoy L., born October 6, 1880; Joseph D., May 22, 1882; Lawrence C., January 31, 1885; Ralph M., December 31, 1887; Free- man Dewitt, March 11, 1890; and William D., March 22, 1893.

Mr. Odell is a member of the K. of P., Poughkeepsie Lodge No. 43, and of the F. & A. M., Triune Lodge No. 782, Poughkeepsie Chapter No. 172, R. A. M .. King Solomon's Council No. 31, R. & S. M., Poughkeepsie Commandery No. 43, K. T., Mecca Temple No. 1, A. A. O. N. M. S., and Poughkeepsie Lodge B. P. O. E.

A LLISON BUTTS, a well-known member of the Dutchess County Bar, is especially distinguished for his knowledge and skill in real-estate law and the different questions in- volved in trusts. He is descended from one of the old pioneer families of New England. The first American ancestor, Thomas Butts, came from Norfolk, England, May 18, 1660, and settled at Little Compton, R. I., which was then a part of the Plymouth Colony. He mar- ried, and had three sons and one daughter. One of the sons, Moses, who was born July 30, 1673, married, and had seven children, among whom was a son John, born August 31,1707.

John Butts married Alice Wodell, October 26, 1727, and with his family came to Dutch- ess county, locating on the " Little Nine Part- ners Patent," in the town of Washington, where he purchased a farm of 200 acres from Isaac Thorn. The original deed, dated Octo- ber 4, 1748, is now in the possession of J. De- Witt Butts, of Rochester, N. Y. John Butts died about 1797, leaving a large estate, which was distributed in accordance with his Will, probated in the office of the Surrogate of Dutchess County, July 25, 1797. He had nine children, of whom one, Moses, had died about 1780, leaving two young children, Daniel and Hannah. Daniel Butts, our subject's great- grandfather, was born in 1768, and died in 1817. He married Isabella Gardner, and about 179- mnoved to a farm in the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, where he built a large and substantial mansion, which is still standing. Daniel and Isabella Butts had eleven children, the eldest being Moses (our subject's grand- father), who was born December 16, 1786,

and, like most of this family, passed his life in agricultural pursuits. He was married, March 22, 1806, to Mary Waltermire, of the town of Stanford, and his death occurred in the same township, June 4, 1851. He had eight children: David W., William, Hiram, Angeline, Daniel, Walter, Alfred, and George F., the father of our subject.

The late George F. Butts was born De- cember 13, 1823, in the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, and had his home throughout his life near Cold Spring, in that town. On December 16, 1851, he married his first wife, Eliza D. Case, by whom he had three sons: Allison, our subject, born October 2, 1852; Charles H., born February 5, 1855, now mar- ried and living on the old homestead; and Elias N., born August 10, 1865, now in the Department of the Interior at Washington, D. C. By a second wife, Cornelia Alling, there were no children; she is still living at the homestead, where the father died, September 3, 1893.

Allison Butts spent his boyhood upon the farm occupied by his father. He was edu- cated in the common schools and academies of Dutchess county, and at twenty began teach- ing, but continued for a short time only. On January 1, 1874, he came to Poughkeepsie as a clerk for Andrew C. Warren, then county clerk, and soon afterward was appointed dep- uty county clerk, which office he held through both Republican and Democratic administra- tions, until January 1, 1881, when he re- signed. He had in the meantime read law and been admitted to the bar, and the large circle of friends gained during his long term in the county clerk's office made his entrance upon his chosen profession a most promising ven- ture. He immediately began a general prac- tice at Poughkeepsie, and has been intimately associated with the law firm of Hackett & Williams, occupying offices in connection with them. His business is an extensive one, trusts and real-estate practice being now the leading features. He is often appointed by the courts to administer trusts, and has frequently served as executor and attorney for large estates. While he has conducted many important cases, his office practice comprises the larger portion of his work, and in his specialties he is recog- nized as an authority by his fellow lawyers as well as the laity.

His genial manners make him popular with all classes. In municipal affairs he is active

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

and influential. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat. He served two terms as police commissioner of the city of Poughkeepsie, and from 1887 to 1890 was a member of the board of education. In July, 1890, he was appointed by the board of managers of the Hudson River State Hospital to the office of treasurer of that institution, which office he now holds, and he has discharged the duties with characteristic fidelity.

Mr. Butts was married December 14, 1876, to his first wife, Miss Phebe D. Mosher, of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county. She died December 15, 1882, leaving one son, Ralph F., born April 6, 1878, who is now a student in the Sophomore class at Harvard College. Mr. Butts' second wife, Miss Arrie E. Mosher, to whom he was married September 16, 1885, was cousin to his first. There are three chil- dren by this union: Norman C., born August 8, 1888; Allison, Jr., born April 26, 1890, and Wilbur Kingsley, born September 7, 1895. Mr. Butts resides in a handsome home on Academy street, Poughkeepsie, erected in 1895.

J UDGE D. W. GUERNSEY, for twelve years past the judge of the County Court of Dutchess County, is one of the most distinguished members of the legal fraternity in this locality. He is descended from an old and honored pioneer family, one of the early settlers being John Guernsey, his great-great- grandfather, who was born in 1709 in Con- necticut, either at New Milford or Woodbury. He had a son, John Guernsey (2), born in Amenia in October, 1734, who had a son, Ezekial H. Guernsey, born in the same town April 19, 1775, who had a son, Stephen G. Guernsey, the Judge's father, who was born September S, 1798, in the town of Stanford."

Judge D. W. Guernsey entered upon his earthly career March 27, 1834, in the town of Stanford, and his early education was obtained in the district schools of that neighborhood, with one year at Rose Hill Academy at New- burg, under Rev. Baynard R. Hall. On leaving school, at the age of seventeen, he taught for two years in Dutchess county, and then began the study of law with George W. Houghton, of Buffalo, N. Y., who was a judge in the superior court, and a member of the legal firm of Houghton & Clark. The choice ot Buffalo as the place for study was influenced by the fact that many relatives lived there,

and a cousin, Guernsey Sackett, was also pursuing a course in law. In March, 1856, our subject passed his examination, was ad- mitted to the bar, and in 1857 he and his cousin went to Leavenworth, Kans., and en- gaged in practice. At that time Gen. Sher- man and Gen. Ewing were practicing law there. The Kansas-Nebraska bill was an ex- ceedingly live issue, and as the Judge was a Democrat he met with opposition from many people, but, notwithstanding, he had a good business, consisting mainly of cases before the land' commissioners, involving questions of title. He argued cases before E. O. Perrin, Shannon and Matthews, of the Interior De- partment. As the time drew near when the opposing forces of the Union appealed to arms to settle their differences, the place became uncomfortable for a man of the Judge's polit- ical views, so in January, 1861, he returned east. During that year he was managing clerk for Ira O. Miller, of New York City, and in the spring of 1862 he enlisted as a private in Company D, 47th N. Y. V. I., which was recruited in Stanford and Pine Plains. The 47th made a part of the 10th and later the 18th Corps, and was assigned to the army of the James. The Judge took part in many engagements, and was at the seige of Fort Wagner, at Morris Island under Gilmore, the seige of Petersburg, and the mine explo- sion, Drury's Bluff, Chapin's farm, Chester Station, Cold Harbor, Florida, Fort Fisher, Wilmington, Bentonville, and Raleigh, serv- ing until mustered out at Washington. At Cold Harbor, his corps, the 18th, lost three thousand men in two hours. The Judge was promoted to the rank of commissary-sergeant, Col. Allen giving him his commission, and later was made second lieutenant, his com- mission being given by Col. Fenton, then pro- moted to first lieutenant, and finally to cap- tain, Gov. Seymour being the giver of the last commission.

On his return in 1865, Judge Guernsey be- gan the practice of his profession at Pough- keepsie as a general practitioner, and has con- tinued it successfully ever since. In November, 1893, he was elected judge of the county court for six years, and in 1889 was re-elected for another term. Some time ago he was ap- pointed by the supreme court to act as com- missioner for the City of New York, in the matter of the appraisement of the value of lands taken by that city.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

The Judge has always maintained his home in the town of Stanford. In June, 1870, he was married to Miss Emily Millard, daughter of Seneca Millard, a well-known resident of Dutchess county, and they have an interesting family of seven children: Eleanor G., at home; William, a student at Wesleyan Uni- versity; Lydia, studying at Vassar College; and Daniel W., Millard, H. Newport and Ruth are all at home. In matters of religion the family incline to the Baptist faith.

Judge Guernsey has shown his public spirit in many ways, being always ready to encourage a forward movement. He is a member of the F. & A. M., of Poughkeepsic, and also belongs to the Sons of Temperance, Division No. 9.

W ILLIAM A. BLISS, M. D., who was for many years a leading physician and surgeon in Brooklyn, N. Y., is now living in well-earned leisure at his beautiful country seat on Spy Hill, near Fishkill-on-Hudson, Dutchess county, his residence commanding a charming view of the river with the bay and the city of Newburg.

The Doctor is a descendant of a family which has long been distinguished for nobility of character and devotion to principle, and is of the tenth generation in direct descent from one of the heroic Non-conformists of England who upheld their faith in the face of the fiercest persecution. His genealogy is of great interest, his earliest known ancestor being Thomas Bliss, of Belstone parish, Devonshire, England. It is recorded of him that he was a wealthy land owner, and belonged to the class which was stigmatized as Puritans, on account of the purity and simplicity of their forms of worship. He was persecuted by the civil and religious authorities under the direc- tion of Archbishop Laud, and was maltreated, impoverished. imprisoned, and finally ruined in health (as well as in finances) by the many indignities and hardships forced upon him by the intolerant Church party in power. He was born about 1550 or 1560, and died about 1635 or 1640.

Second Generation: Jonathan Bliss, son of Thomas Bliss, was born at Belstone about 1575 or 1580, and like his father he was doomed to bitter persecution on account of his non-conformity and opposition to the iniqui- tous practices that had assumed control not only of the government, but also of the con-

sciences of the people; he was subjected to heavy fines, much ill-treatment, and a long imprisonment, during which he contracted a fever from which he never recovered. His death occurred about 1635 or 1636. He mar- ried, but his wife's name is not known.

Third Generation: Thomas Bliss, of Re- hoboth, Mass., son of Jonathan, was born at Belstone, England, and on the death of his father in 1636, he emigrated to America, land- ing at Boston, whence he removed to Brain- tree, Mass., thence to Hartford, Conn., and from there back to Weymouth, near Braintree, from which place he removed in 1643 with many others, and commenced a new settle- ment, which they called Rehoboth. He died there in June, 1649.

Fourth Generation: Jonathan Bliss, son of Thomas and Mistress Ide (or Hyde), was born in England about 1625, was married about 1648 to Miriam Harmon, and died about the beginning of the year 1687. He followed the occupation of a blacksmith at Rehoboth.

Fifth Generation: Samuel, of Rehoboth, Mass. (son of Jonathan Bliss and Miriam Har- mon of Rehoboth), was born at Rehoboth June 24, 1660, and married April 15, 1686, to Mary Kendrick, who died February 8, 1705-6. He died August 28, 1720. They had nine children. Sixth Generation : Abraham Bliss, son of Samuel and Mary Bliss, was born October 28, 1697, at Rehoboth, and on July 11, 1728, married Sarah Ormsbee, of the same place. He died in 1787. Twelve children were born of this marriage.

Seventh Generation : Abraham Bliss, Jr .. our subject's great-grandfather, was born April IO, 1735, in Rehoboth, Mass., and was a lieu- tenant in the Revolutionary army. He mar- ried Miss Polly Scudder, and had four children: Abraham, John, Samuel, Polly.

Eighth Generation: Samuel Bliss, of Schodack, N. Y., farmer, son of Abraham Bliss, Jr., and Polly Scudder, was born in Schodack, August 19, 1771, and died Decem- ber 14, 1846. He married Elizabeth Pem- broke, who was born in Schodack August '26, 1774, and died there April 16, 1852 or '53. They had ten children: Polly, .Rebecca, Abraham, Betsey and Anna (twins), Sandford, John S., Sally, Clarissa and Christina.

Ninth Generation: John S. Bliss, of Sand Lake, Rennselaer Co., N. Y., son of Samuel Bliss and Elizabeth Pembroke, and father of our subject, was born in Schodack,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

N. Y., May 3, 1809. He was married Janu- ary 11, 1831, to Polly Hunt, born at Sand Lake January 11, 1810; she died at Sand Lake Jan- uary 8, 1863. He was a farmer at Sand Lake, and died at North Nassau, N. Y., September 15, 1873.

In the Tenth Generation of this line there were six children: (1) William Anson, born at Schodack March 14, 1833, died May 15, 1835; (2) Sophronia F., born in Schodack Fcb- ruary 17. 1836, died July 17, 1880; (3) La- rissa C., born in Summit, N. Y., March 26, 1838, was married March 17, 1869, to George G. Merrifield, a farmer at Nassau, N. Y., who died August 24, 1895; (4) William A., our subject, was born at Nassau May 5, 1841; (5) Mary Frances, born at the same town May 21, 1846, died April 20, 1895 (she was married September 14, 1874, to Edward T. Norton, of Greenbush, N. Y., a timekeeper on the B. & A. R.). (6) Solon F., born at Sand Lake Sep- tember 7, 1849, was graduated from Albany Medical College in 1873, and after spending two years at Tung-Chou, near Chee Foo, China, as a medical missionary, returned to this country, took up his practice at No. 646 Herkimer street, Brooklyn, N. Y., and died here July 24, 1896. He never married.

William A. Bliss was educated at Sand Lake, attending the common schools for some years, and later taking a full course at the Sand Lake Academy. He then entered Al- bany Medical College, and while there he had the good fortune to secure a position in the office of Dr. Alden March, in his day the greatest surgeon of northern New York. On graduating, in 1866, the Doctor began his pro- fessional career in Brooklyn, and continued for twenty-eight years, building up a large practice, from which he retired in 1892, re- moving to Matteawan, and two years later he built his present residence, which can hardly be surpassed for beauty of situation. His wife, to whom he was married March 28, 1866, was formerly Miss Jennie Jaques, of Albany, N. Y. She was born in the village of Nassau, N. Y., June 3, 1848, daughter of Edward and Emily (Lewis) Jaques, and she is now the only surviving member of her immediate family, as are the Doctor and his sister Larissa and her daughter (Frances) the only surviving members of their immediate family. In poli- tics Dr. Bliss is a Republican, but his arduous professional labors have prevented him from taking an active part in public affairs.

Genealogy of Mrs. Jennie Jaques Bliss, be- ginning with Henry Pawling ( First Generation), said to have been an officer in the British army. He had a grant of five thousand acres of land in Philadelphia, Penn., from William Penn before he emigrated to America. He was about having a patent of Pawling's purchase, now Staatsburgh, Dutchess Co., N. Y., when he dicd. This patent was afterward made to

his widow and children, He settled in Ulster county, and died in Marbletown about 1692, leaving a widow and seven children living, one other having died. His will dated January 26, 1691 (1692 new style), and proved March 26, 1695. His widow was living as late as 1745. Henry Pawling married, in Kingston, N. Y., Neeltje Roosa, daughter of Albert Heymanse Roosa. Children: Jane, married Jan Con, Kingston; Wyntie, married John Brodhead; John, baptized 1681; James, baptized 1683, died young; Albert, married Catherine Beek- man, widow of John Rutsen, and died in 1745; Anne, baptized 1687, married Tjerck DeWitt, Kingston; Henry, married Jacomyntie Kunst ; Mary, baptized 1692, married Thomas Van- Keuren. Marbletown.

Second Generation: Henry Pawling, Jr., lived in Ulster county, N. Y., until about 1720, when he removed to Philadelphia, Penn .. to lands granted to his late father. His brother John also removed to the same place. Henry Pawling, Jr., married, in Kingston, Jacomyn- tie, daughter of Cornelius Barents Kunst and Jacomyntie Sleight. They had children bap- tized in Kingston: Henry, 1714: Sara, 1716; Elizabeth, 1719; and others born in Pennsyl- vania, as follows: Levi, afterward of Marble- town, colonel in the army of the Revolution; John (Major), afterward of Staatsburgh; and doubtless others.

Third Generation; Major John Pawling married (first) Neeltje Van Keuren (a cousin), daughter of Thomas Van Kenren and Mary Pawling. Children: Henry, baptized Novem- ber 30, 1755; Cornelius, baptized January 27, 1758; John, baptized October 24, 1760; Mary, baptized November 11, 1764. Major Pawling married (second) Maria, daughter of Jacob Van Deusen and Alida Ostrander. Children: Levi married (first) Gertrude Knickerbocker, (second) Hannah Griffin; Jesse married Leah Radcliff; Jacob married Martha Russell; Elea- nor married Peter Brown; Rachel married Christopher Hughes; Alida married Peter Os- trom; Elizabeth married William Stouten-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

burgh; Jacomyntie married Wait Jaques (grand- father of Mrs. Jennie J. Bliss); Catharine mar- ried Jacob Conklin; and Rebecca married Fred- erick S. Uhl.

" Major John Pawling was an officer in the French and Indian war, also in the Revolu- tionary war, and was a leading man in his day. His- remains lie in the cemetery of the Re- formed Dutch Church in the village of Rhine- beck, N. Y." [From Smith's History. ] "In 1761 he built the stone house on the post road, now owned by the heirs of Edwin Berg. It bears the inscription of J. P. N. P. July '4, 1761. He took an active part in the Revolu- tion and was personally acquainted with Wash- ington and many of the prominent men of the time." [From History of Rhinebeck. ] This stone house is on the post road between Staats- burgh and Rhinebeck, still standing in nearly its original condition, beautifully located with fine river views. This was Jemima Pawling's (grandmother of Mrs. Jennie J. Bliss) birth- place.

"Levi Pawling, brother of Major John Pawling, was a delegate from Marbletown, Ul- ster county, to the provincial convention held in the City of New York, April 20, 1775, to elect delegates to the Second Continental Con- gress of the Colonies, and on October 25, 1775, was commissioned colonel of the Third Regiment of Ulster county militia, which had an excellent record in the war. His son, Col. Albert Pawling, born in Dutchess county in 1749, was the first mayor of Troy, and first sheriff of Rennselaer county. He died No- vember 10, 1837, and was buried in Mount Ida Cemetery, near the banks of the Poesten- kill." [Here follows the inscription on the monument]:

Albert Pawling joined the Revolutionary army as second lieutenant June, 1775; in 1776 he received the commission of brigade major, and in 1779 that of lieu- tenant-colonel. He took a conspicuous part in the assault on Quebec, at the taking of St. John's, at the Battle of White Plains and Monmouth. He was the first sheriff of Rensselaer county, and the first mayor of the city of Troy. In 1831 he united himself to the Second Presbyterian Church, laid his honors at the feet of Jesus, gave up his earthly in hope of an heavenly inheritance. Col. Albert Pawling died November 10, 1837, aged eighty-seven years.

Fourth Generation: Jacomyntie (Jemima) Pawling (grandmother of Mrs. Jennie J. Bliss), daughter of Major John Pawling and Maria Van Deusen Pawling, was born in Staatsburgh, Dutchess Co., N. Y., March 12, 1782, and died at Nassau, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., March 22, 1867. She married December 18, 1803,

Wait Jaques, a farmer, born at Groton, New London Co., Conn., April 27, 1762, and died at Nassau, November 27, 1857. He was of Huguenot descent. They lived in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, many years, where four chil- dren were born to them: William, born De- cember 4, 1804, died October 26, 1871; Ed- ward, born December 12, 1809, died Novem- ber 4, 1811; Edward (father of Mrs. Jennie J. Bliss), born June 12, 1813, died February 19, 1886; Janet Montgomery, born November 9, 1817, died February 27, 1839.

Fifth Generation: Edward Jaques, son of Wait Jaques and Jacomyntie (Jemima) Pawl- ing, was born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y., June 12, 1813. He was married Jan- uary 2, 1840, to Emily Lewis, born September 22, 1820, in Schodack, N. Y., daughter of Jacob Lewis (who was of Holland descent) and Abigail Hughson. For some twenty years he was a merchant in Nassau, N. Y., and ten years in Albany, N. Y., passing his later years in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he died February 19, 1886, and his wife on June 21, 1888. They had five children: Janet Montgomery, born October 4, 1840, died October 30, 1861; Ed- ward Pawling, born September 10, 1842, died May 9, 1873; Irving Phillip, born March 6, 1844, died July 2, 1863; Jennie (wife of Dr. WV. A. Bliss), born June 3, 1848; and Willie Wait, born February 8, 1860, died January 18, 1869.

Sixth Generation: Edward Pawling Jaques, first lieutenant of Company E, 169th Regiment N. Y. V. I., served through the Rebellion, was wounded and captured May 10, 1864, in the battle at Chester Station, near Richmond, and confined in Libby Prison a short time. After the close of the war he settled in Albany, N. Y., and married, February 28, 1867, Laura D. Bingham, daughter of Anson and Laura McClellan Bingham. She died November 15, 1867, and he died May 9, 1873. Irving Phillip Jaques (brother of Edward) was sergeant-major in the ILIth Regiment, N. Y. V. I., and was killed July 2, 1863, at Gettysburg.

B URTON GILBERT (deceased) was born in Warren, Conn., in 1802, and received his education there. The Gilberts were of English stock, and Ezra, the grandfather, was one of the earliest settlers of Warren. Capt. Samuel Gilbert, the subject's father, was a manufacturer of iron, but failed in business

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

when his son was a mere boy, leaving him penniless.

Thrown upon the world at the early age of sixteen, with every discouraging influence around him, our subject soon manifested those traits of industry, perseverance, and truc Yankee pluck, which attracted the attention of business men, convincing them that he had within him the promise of a future. He made himself wanted, which is the first element of success in a young .man. From the humble position of a boy, hired into a merchant's family to do common chores, he soon found himself behind the counter as clerk; and ere long the height of his ambition was realized, as he often remarked in after life, when he caught the first sight of the sign over the store door of " Hartwell & Gilbert." He continued in the mercantile business almost uninterrupt- edly to the close of life, carrying to the end that same energy, industry and decision of character so early manifested in the boy. He died in 1882, aged eighty years. A short sketch, written by a friend shortly after his death, illustrates his life and character:

"The death of Mr. Gilbert removes one of the most familiar landmarks, known to our citizens. For more than half a century he had been engaged in active business, and pur- sued it with untiring energy, and with marked success. Few men in business life have ap- parently loved their vocation more than he, or left a more honorable record of a busy and act- ive career. He was of genial temperament, and always had a pleasant and cordial greet- ing to extend to all his friends. For these he will long be affectionately remembered in this and other communities. He had a wide circle of acquaintances, extending over western Con- necticut, Hartford county, etc. He was also well-known to many merchants in New York, and distinguished for his high commercial standing and credit. He cheerfully bore his share of taxation for civil and religious pur- poses. He was a member of the Congrega- tional Church of Warren, and was its principal supporter. He was three times married: In 1833 he married Maria Carter, of Warren. Their daughter Maria (now deceased) married Frederick Whittlesey, of New Britain, Conn. His second wife was Maria Stone, of New Preston, Conn. They had four children: Two are now living-Laura, who married George S. Humphrey, of New Preston, Conn., and Lester H. Gilbert, who now lives in Colo-

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 16

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