Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 162

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 162

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Chapel Robinson, the grandfather, was born in Putnam county, where he married, settled on a farm and reared a large family of children.

W ILLIAM H. ALLEN, a wide-awake and industrious farmer of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, was born upon the old family homestead in that township, No- vember 27, 1856. The town of Pleasant Val- ley, Dutchess county, was the birthplace of the grandfather of our subject, William Henry Allen, who served as captain of the State mili- tia, and in later life engaged in the cultivation and improvement of a farm in the town of Clinton. He married Sarah Marshall, and to them were born five children, all of whom have

$79

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

now passed away, namely: William Henry, Catherine, Julia, Henry and James D.

The last-named, who was the father of our subject, was born in the town of Clinton in 1810, and on reaching manhood wedded Mary Clapp, daughter of James Clapp, the ceremony being performed in the town of Pleasant Val- ley. Their family circle included four chil- dren: Julia, wife of Marshall Herrick; Will- iam H .; Mary Emily, wife of Elmer Van- Vliet, of Hudson, N. Y .; and James C. The father continued to operate the old family homestead until his death; politically, he was one of the warmest adherents of the Republic- an party.

William H. Allen grew to man's estate upon his father's farm in the town of Clinton, attending the school of the neighborhood, and supplemented the knowledge thus acquired by a course in the Poughkeepsie Military Institute. When his schools days were over he continued to follow the pursuit to which he had been reared, and for four years after his marriage had the care and management of the old home- stead. He then removed to his present farm, whose neat and thrifty appearance indicates his progressive spirit and industrious habits.

In the town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, Mr. Allen married Susan Barnes, a daughter of David Barnes, and to them was born a daughter, Annette E. For his second wife he wedded in the town of Pleasant Valley, Miss Cora A. Van De Water, a daughter of William Van De Water. Two children bless their union: James Henry, born February 6, 1893; and William Marshall, born January 3, 1895.

Mr. Allen uses his elective franchise in sup- port of the men and measures of the Republic- an party, but takes no very active part in po- litical affairs. His energy and industry are proverbial, and he is numbered among the men who have been instrumental in promoting the progress and prosperity of his town and county.

Rhinebeck Academy, thus obtaining a practical education, which well fitted him for the duties of life. After laying aside his text books he operated the home farm until the death of his father, which occurred in 1868, having charge of that place for twenty-four years, as he con- tinued its cultivation for some time later.

For twelve years Mr. Herrick then super- intended the Dutchess County Gold farm, owned by Dr. Martin G. Freligh, which was sold during that time for a large sum. In the fall of 1888 he purchased his present hotel at Rhinecliff, which he has conducted very suc- cessfully since, and the place well merits the liberal patronage accorded it. The house is well fitted up, is convenient and comfortable, and the cuisine is unexceptionable.

In 1872 our subject was joined in wedlock with Henrietta Hermance, daughter of Joseph Hermance, of Salt Point, in the town of Clin- ton, Dutchess county. Our subject is a stanch adherent of the principles formulated by the Democratic party, and is one of the most pro- gressive and public-spirited men of the com- munity, where he is widely and favorably known.

B AILEY WHEELER, a well-known and prominent citizen of the town of Dover, belongs to a family that has long been con- nected with the history of Dutchess county. He is the son of Henry, and grandson of John B. Wheeler, an account of whom is given in the sketch of Perry Wheeler.

The birth of our subject occurred May 3. 1825, in the town of Dover, and his education was received at South Dover. After leaving school, he engaged in farming for about forty years, and then turned his attention to specu- lating in tobacco, cattle and stock generally, with good success. Although he takes no active part in political affairs, his ballot is al- ways cast in support of the principles of the Republican party, and he ever faithfully dis- charges his duties of citizenship.

In 1860 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Wheeler and Miss Juliet Hungerford, daughter of Delazon and Hannah Hungerford, of Connecticut, and two children came to bless their union, a son and daughter. George B., the former, was born in Dover township, in 1866, and obtained an excellent education in Eastman Business College, and in 1887 at

E PHRAIM HERRICK, the genial and pop- ular proprietor of " The Rhinebeck," one of the best and most pleasant hotels along the Hudson, was born May 17, 1848, on the old family homestead in the town of Milan, Dutch- ess county, a son of Ephraim Herrick. His primary education was received in the district schools, and he later pursued his studies in the | Fort Edward. The six months following his

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

graduation were spent in California, and on his return to the East he was for two years em- ployed in the " Plaza Hotel " of New York City. He was then offered the position of teller in the Plaza Bank of that city, where he is now located. The daughter, Nellie A., was born in the town of Dover, in 1869, and attended school at Poughkeepsie. She is now the wife of William S. McKean, a wholesale confectioner of Al- toona, Penn., and has one child, William Wheeler, born April 2, 1894.

Thomas Hungerford, the maternal grand- father of Mrs. Wheeler, was a native of Con- necticut, and by his marriage with Miss Diana Hungerford was the father of six children. 1 |Harriet married George Shove, by whom she has three children; Eliza, Henry and Ed- ward. (2) Edwin married Susan Geddings, and had five children: Martin, who married Julia Jackson; Phoebe, who married Charles Hine; George, who married Emily Babcock; Lewis, who married Elizabeth Treat; and Anna, who married John Duncan. (3) Emily married Carlisle Smith, and was the mother of four children: Clark; Susan, wife of Asa Camp; Harriet, who died in infancy; and Oliver. (4) Thomas married Rachel Smith, and they had six children: Mills, who was three times married, his first wife being Allie Hendricks, his second a Miss Cable, and the third Mary Stewart; Sophia, who married Edward Teedwell; Ophelia, who married Dan- iel Mallory; Jay, who married Sarah Hoag; Neilson, who married Lucy Durfey; and Allen, who died unmarried. (5) Orin married Wealthy White, and had two children: Fran- cis and Charles. (6) Hannah is the mother of Mrs. Wheeler.

Hannah Hungerford was born in Connecti- cut, and married Delazon Hungerford, a farmer, who though bearing the same name was. no relative. They became the parents of seven children. (1) Angeline, born in 1832, married Jonathan Haviland, and has four children: Elsie, wife of Abram Henley; Lillian; Lottic, wife of George Rice; and Walter. (2) Watson, born in 1835, died in infancy. (3) Juliet, born in 1838, is the wife of our subject. (4) Sarah, born in 1841, married George W. Squires, and has four children: Robert, who married Jennie Stevens; Lewis, Walter and Bell. (5) Beach, born in 1844, married Fannie Hoag, and has three children: Nettie, wife of Frank Cable; May and Eva. (6) Mary, born in 1848, wedded Lafayette Joyce, and has one

son, Howard. (7) Frederick, born in 1852, married Lucinda Sprague, and has three chil- dren: Ward, Bessie and Grace.

D E WITT C. KETTERER, the well- known proprietor of the " Ketterer Hotel" at Pine Plains, Dutchess county, was born March 7, 1858, in the town of Milan.

The family originated in Baden, Germany, where his grandfather, F. Ketterer, passed his entire life. Of his two sons. Charles, our sub- ject's father, was the first of the family to come to America. Charles Ketterer was born January 3, 1828, and received a good educa- tion in the schools of his native land, where a strict compulsory system prevails, and after- ward learned and followed the weaver's trade. In 1853 he emigrated to this country, locating first at Milan, in Dutchess county, and later in the town of Clinton. He married Margaretha Dorothy Mindline, also a native of Germany, who came to Dutchess county in the same year on account of ill health. Being thrifty and energetic, Charles Ketterer made rapid progress in business, and before the breaking out of the war had bought a farm in the town of Clinton, In 1862 he enlisted in the 128th N. Y. V. I., and served as a private until the Rebellion ended, taking part in the Red River campaign and in the operations in the Shenan- doah Valley, and although he was in all the principal engagements in which his regiment participated he was not injured in any way. On his return home in 1865, he removed to Pine Plains and opened a barber shop, the first in the town, having learned the business by shaving his comrades in the army and tak- ing a one month's course of instruction in New York City. For seven years he followed this trade successfully at various locations in the town, and, in 1872, exchanged the business for the hotel now owned by his heirs. He owned this property until his death which occurred December 28, 1888. He was the first to in- troduce beer into the village, ale having been the only drink known previously. A self-made man and a hard worker, he was also generous, and public-spirited, showing a hearty interest in the improvement of the village. He was an enthusiastic Republican, and one of the lead- ing members of the Lutheran Church, with which he had been connected from early child- hood.

5,81

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPIIICAL RECORD.

De Witt C. Ketterer was the only child of his parents, and after attending the district school at Pine Plains until the age of fourteen he took charge of his father's barber-shop on his own responsibility. He possesses good natural abilities, and with due preparation would have been successful in almost any undertaking. His early limitations in educa- tion have been largely made good by an exten- sive course of reading upon general subjects. After following the barber's trade for seven years he and his father, in 1879, exchanged work, and he took the hotel which he has now conducted for seventeen years, making exten- sive improvements and keeping well in ad- vance of any competitors. He is prominent in local affairs, an earnest advocate of progress- ive movements, and in politics he is an Inde- pendent. On January 6, 1891, he married Miss Jennie M. Boice, daughter of John Boice, of Ancram, Columbia county, New York.

J JAMES NEWMAN. In this free land of ours many of the inhabitants are of foreign birth, who have come here for the purpose of securing homes, and these valuable addi- tions to the native population have, by their industry, economy and honest methods, be- come essential factors in the growth and pros- perity of the country. They furnish not only needed workmen, skilled and unskilled, but enterprising merchants, manufacturers, artists and apt dealers upon our marts of trade.

Mr. Newman is a native of Germany, born in New Bavaria, July 23, 1845. His father, George M. Newman, was a hotel keeper and groceryman at Herxheim by Landau, in the Rhine Pfaltz, and in 1854 came to America, where he died two years later. He was a man of wealth, had traveled extensively in France, and had also visited Africa. By his marriage with Vermika Seither, who died in Bavaria, he had four children: Frederick, James, Caroline and George, all now deceased with the exception of our subject.

At the age of fifteen years James New- man left his native land, crossing the At- lantic to America to hunt up his brothers, one of whom he found in New York City, and the other in St. Louis. At the former place he bound himself out to learn cigar making with John Paul Ohrt, at No. 113 West Broadway, where he remained about one year. When the war broke ont he 57

enlisted in the Anderson Zouaves, but was prevented from going to the front by Mr. Ohrt, as he was not yet of age. He then ran away, coming to the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, where he soon afterward enlisted in the 150th N. Y. V. I., under Capt. Gilder- sleeve, and was with that regiment until mus- tered out at Poughkeepsie in 1865. He now holds membership with John M. Gregory Post No. 59, G. A. R., Department of Connecticut, of which he has served as commander, and also belongs to the Officers Association of the 150th Regiment, at Poughkeepsie, as he had attained the rank of corporal.

After gallantly aiding his adopted country in her struggle to preserve the Union until he saw the flag once more float over a united nation, Mr. Newman came to Amenia, living with Henry Tripp, his former employer, for a year, after which he worked for A. B. Rice for the same length of time, and subsequently was employed at the "Amenia House " by Morgan Tripp for a year. Since that time he has successfully engaged in the cigar business for himself at Amenia, and is at the head of a large and constantly increasing trade.

At Poughkeepsie, December 20. 1868, Mr. Newman was married to Miss Margaret E. Gaul, a native of New York City, and a daugh- ter of John Gaul, a blacksmith of Amenia. They have four children: Charles H., who married Carrie Whyland; Carrie E. ; Mary; and James Arthur. In his political views, Mr. Newman is a Republican; socially he is a member of Amenia Lodge No. 672, F. & A. M.

D AVID HANNA. Quite a number of the leading and prominent citizens of Dutch- ess county are of alien birth, and have trans- ported to this land of plenty the thrifty habits of their native country. Among these there are none better known, or more widely re- spected, than the gentleman whose name ap- pears at the beginning of this sketch.

Our subject was a native of Mayhaland, County Londonderry, Ireland, where his father, Samuel Hanna, was also born, reared and educated. The latter was a farmer, but also engaged in the operation of a flax and grist mill at that place. He was united in marriage with Matilda Fargerson, and to them were born thirteen children, namely: Jane, who became the wife of James Sergent;

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Thomas, who married Margaret Hutchinson; James and John, who died in infancy; Isabella, who became the wife of James Hutchinson; Nancy, who married William Hanna; John (2), who remained single: Robert, who wedded Matilda Dixon; Eliza, who died in girlhood; Peggy, who died in infancy: David, who mar- ried Eliza Hutchinson: Sarah, who married a Mr. Livingston; and Alex.

During his boyhood and youth David Hanna attended the schools of his native land, and assisted his father in the work of the mills. On March 15, 1852, was celebrated his mar- riage with Miss Eliza Hutchinson, a daughter of Samuel and Abella (Greer) Hutchinson, who lived upon a farm in County London- derry. Her father was one of the seven chil- dren born to Robert and Nancy (Patterson) Hutchinson, who were also agriculturists of the same locality, the others being John, William, James, Bettie, Alex and Thomas.

In 1852, Mr. Hanna, with his bride, sailed from the Emerald Isle for the New World, and made their first location at Paterson, N. J., where they remained for some time. On leaving that city, they went to New York, and for forty-three years our subject was in the employ of the Harlem railroad, being fire- man for seven years and five months, and was then given a position as watchinan, which he held until his resignation a short time ago, owing to his age. His long continued service well indicates his faithful discharge of duty, and the implicit confidence which his employ- ers placed in him.

Mr. and Mrs. Hanna became the parents of seven children, of whom, Arabella is the eldest. Samuel, who is a conductor on the Harlem railroad, married Minnie McLassen, and they have one child, Herbert J. Matilda is now deceased. John married Miss Ada Preston, by whom he has one daughter, Julia; he is a prominent Republican, and in 1894 was elected a member of the General Assem- bly, and has also filled the position of super- visor of Poughkeepsie for three terms. David wedded Mary Hutchinson, and is also a con- ductor on the Harlem railroad. Dorly is now deceased. Lizzie A. completes the family.

J JOHN D. BARNUM, now living retired at Amenia Union, Dutchess county, was for many years one of the most energetic and wide-awake business men of Dutchess county,

where his entire life has been passed, his birth having occurred August 7, 1834, at South Amenia, in the house now owned by Franklin Cline.

Andrew Barnum, his father, was born at Danbury, Conn., January 3. 1790, and was the son of Daniel Barnum, a chairmaker of Bethel, Conn. Here Andrew attended school. On reaching years of maturity he engaged in farming and lime-burning at Ridgefield, that State. He married Miss Sally Chapman, who was born at Redding, Conn., February 8, 1792, a daughter of Phineas Chapman, and died in July, 1852. Eight children were born of this union, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Milo, February 29, 1816; Joshua, September 15, 1818; Daniel, September 27, 1820; Lucinda, September 2, 1823; Sarah, November 28, 1825; Mary, July 3, 1828; An- drew, August 27, 1829; and John D., August 7, 1834. All are now deceased with the ex- ception of our subject, and Mary, the wife of Daniel Sharpsteen, of Battle Creek, Michigan.

In 1830 the father removed to the town of Amenia, purchasing the place at South Amenia now occupied by Franklin Cline, and there conducted a flouring-mill. In 1839 he sold to Philo Cline, giving possession the following year, and then went to Cortland county, N. Y., where he purchased a farm of 300 acres, which he continued to cultivate for ten years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Amenia Union, and there lived retired until his death, which occurred December 31, 1869. He was again married, his second union being December 8, 1852, with Mrs. Eliza Stevens, who was born April 12, 1801, and died April 10, 1870. In politics he was first a Whig, later a Republican.

The early education of our subject was ob- tained in Cortlandville Academy, and at the age of sixteen years he started out in life for himself, being engaged in the pump business with his brother at Danboro, Penn., for two years. The following summer he spent at Lit- tle York, Cortland Co., N. Y., while the win- ter was passed by him in the village of Cort- land. He was then employed in selling tin for Cicero Beach, of Kent, Conn., for a year.

Subsequently, Mr. Barnum, with his brother Andrew, established the firm of Barnum & Co., and engaged in the stationery business, traveling by wagon with paper supplies, and gathering material for the manufacture of paper. This they continued from 1853 until the death

$83

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

of Andrew in 1865, after which our subject conducted the business alone until 1885, run- ning five peddling wagons on the road as far east as Hartford, Conn., west to Oneonta, N. Y., north to Utica, N. Y., and south to Bridgeport, Conn. He was also engaged in the manufacture of cigars at Amenia Union, which he sold to the retail trade from his wagons, a business he continued to carry on after he had stopped the paper trade. Later he went on the road for Morgan L. Potts, to whom he had sold out, and while thus employed he, in 1891, contracted gangrene, which grew rapidly worse, and resulted in his losing both legs. Since that time he has necessarily led a retired life.

Mr. Barnum was first married September 1, 1857, to Anna J. Stevens, who was born October 12, 1840, and was the daughter of his stepmother. She died September 18, 1866, leaving one son, William S., now of Tarry- town, N. Y., who was born November 23, 1859, and married Caroline Andrews. At Livingston Manor, N. Y .. September 2, 1868, Mr. Bar- num was again married, this time to Harriet Ann Potts, who was born August 11, 1833, and they have two children: J. Edmund, who was born November 20, 1869, and is now with the Wagner Palace Car Co., in New York City, and John Dibble, Jr., born July 21, 1871. In political sentiment, Mr. Barnum has always been an ardent Republican, and he is devoted to the best interests of his town and county, being numbered among the most public-spirited and progressive citizens of the community.

F RANK E. BURNETT, one of the leading business men of Red Hook, Dutchess county, the senior member of the firm of Bur- nett Bros., is a descendant of a family which has long been prominent in that place.

His father; Stephen R. Burnett, was born there in the year 1829, and from that time to the present has had his residence there. Early in life he learned the carpenter's trade, and fol- lowed it successfully for some years, and in 1865 he engaged in the furniture and under- taking business, conducting it with increasing trade and profit until 1886, when he transferred it to his two sons. He is a man who stands high in the esteem of the community, and al- though he has never sought public office he wields an influence in a quiet way in every pro- gressive movement. He was a charter mem-

ber of Christian Lodge No. 379, I. O. O. F., organized January 28, 1874, and he is now a Past Grand of the Lodge and Past Deputy Grand Master of the District of Dutchess. He was married in 1853 to Miss Sarah Eighmy, a daughter of George Eighmy, a prominent resi- dent of Rhinebeck. The two children of this union are Frank E., our subject, born April 27, 1855, and William E., born March 12, 1860. Both were educated in the common schools of their native place, and after com- pleting the course Frank E. Burnett entered the employ of his father and learned the de- tails of the business. The younger brother en- gaged in mercantile business for different parties until the time of the father's retirement from active life. Under the able management of the two the firm has maintained its prestige, and its growing business gives evidence of their energy and judgment.

On October 30, 1879, Frank E. Bur- nett married Miss Estella C. Lasher, a daugh- ter of Jacob Lasher, a well-known citizen of Madalin. William E. Burnett is also married, his wife being formerly Miss Ella Hermance, a daughter of Edward Hermance, of Red Hook. Neither couple have had any children.

Our subject takes an active part in local affairs, giving his influence to all movements which promise to aid the community. At the age of twenty-one, he became a member of the I. O. O. F., Christian Lodge No. 379, and is a Past Grand and Past District Deputy Grand Master of the order. He is also one of the charter members of Shiloh Encampment No. 68, and has the distinction of being Past Chief Patriarch, and was District Deputy Grand Pa- triarch for the year 1896.

F RANK E. BIRDSALL, one of the reliable and progressive young farmers and rep- resentative men of the town of Clinton, Dutch- ess county, is actively engaged in general farming upon the place which he purchased in the spring of 1895. A native of Dutchess county, he was born August 6, 1867, in the town where he still resides.

On coming to America the founders of the family first located in Westchester county, N. Y., whence they removed to Orange county, where Solomon Birdsall, the grandfather of our subject, located on a farm granted by King George of England to Mr. Lepton, from whom the great-grandfather purchased it.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

There Solomon spent his entire life in agri- cultural pursuits, and was a faithful member of the Society of Friends. He was married in Ulster county, N. Y., to Phoebe Young, and to them were born seven children, Abram Y. Birdsall, the father of our subject, being third in order of birth. He was born March 19. 18 -- , at Leptondale, Orange Co., and there on a farm his boyhood days were passed. After attending the district schools for a time he entered Union Springs Boarding School in New York State, and was then a student in the Friends Boarding School at Providence, R. 1. After graduating from the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., he secured a position as bookkeeper in New York City, and later was a commission merchant. For fifteen years he carried on the feed business, but is now living upon a farm in the town of Wash- ington, Dutchess county, and devotes his time to its cultivation.

In that township he married Elizabeth Haight, a daughter of Lewis Haight, and two children graced their union: Frank E. and Gertrude. The parents both hold member- ship with the Friends Church, and the father always casts his ballot with the Republican party.

The childhood of Frank E. Birdsall was spent in Brooklyn, N. Y., until he was seven years of age, when he accompanied his par- ents to Orange county, where the following sixteen years were passed. He secured an excellent education in the district schools, at the Union Springs Boarding School, and com- pleted his literary training with an academic course in the New Paltz Normal. For four years he remained upon his father's farm at Millbrook, Dutchess county, thus becoming familiar with farm life in all its details. His practical knowledge of agriculture, combined with his sound judgment and good business ability, no doubt wins him success in his chosen calling, and we predict for him a brilliant future.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 162

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