Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 163

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

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On October 16, 1894, in the town of Clin- ton, Mr. Birdsall was united in marriage to Miss Mary G. Griffen, daughter of William I). Griffen. In his political affiliations he is an inflexible adherent of the doctrines'and prin- ciples of the Republican party, and he is an earnest member of the Friends Church. He enjoys the esteem and confidence of his neigh- bors, and, with his excellent wife, is a valued addition to the society of the township.

W ILLIAM J. BROOKS, one of the promi- nent and reliable business men of Hi- bernia, Dutchess county, was born in Ancrain, Columbia Co., N. Y., August 19, 1861. His father, who was born in England, in 1831, bore the name of Henry Brooks, and was the youngest of the six children that comprised the family of John and Mary (Ross) Brooks, the former also a native of England, and the latter the daughter of Alexander Ross, of Pough- keepsie.

When Henry Brooks was about eight years of age, his father brought the family to Amer- ica and located in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., where he established himself in business. After com- pleting his education in the schools of that city, Henry Brooks took up farming, and was also employed as watchman at the Livingston Rolling Mill in Poughkeepsie, in 1870. At Millbrook, Dutchess county, he was united in marriage with Rachel Butts, a daughter of James Butts, and five children were born to them: Lydia, who was born August 19, 1856, and is the wife of Jay White, of Wassaic, N. Y .; William J. comes next; Amy, wife of George Siegler, of Ancram, N. Y. ; Fred; Susie, wife of Thomas Mccarthy; and Eddie. For many years the father has now made his home at Ancram, Columbia county, where he is en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. His religious views are those of the Methodist Church, and in politics he is a stanch Republican.

The education of our subject was obtained in the schools of Ancram and Poughkeepsie, and on laying aside his text books to take up the more arduous duties of life, he was first en- gaged either in farming on the old homestead or being employed by others. In 1890, how- ever, he came to Hibernia, Dutchess county, where he purchased land and erected his pres- ent house and store. He at once began the coal and livery business, but February, 1, 1895, he opened his general store, where he carries a complete assortment of general merchandise such as can be found in a first-class store of the kind. He is a wide-awake, energetic business man, honorable in all his dealings, thus win- ning the confidence and esteem of all with whom he comes in contact, either in a business or social way.

On June 12, 1889, in Troy, N. Y., Mr. Brooks married Miss Cora B. Duncan, daugh- ter of Cyrus Duncan, of the town of Washing- ton, Dutchess county, and to them was born a son, Henry. Mr. Brooks is a warm advocate

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHIICAL RECORD.

of Republican principles, although he has very little time to devote to politics, and he is a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

J AMES REYNOLDS. Among Poughkeep- "sie's most active and progressive business men of to-day is the subject of this brief review, whose successful career of twenty-five years in business in that city has been such as to recommend him for the presidency of one of the leading and substantial business interests of Poughkeepsie-James Reynolds Elevator Com- pany.

Mr. Reynolds was born at Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, June 7, 1858. He attended school in his native city, and in 1873 was graduated from Riverview Military Academy. After his graduation he at once began his busi- ness career as a clerk in the wholesale grain and feed store of Reynolds & Co., which was located oposite the depot of the Hudson River railroad. He remained with this firm thirteen years, then purchased a retail business in the same line, the location of which was in Union street. Under the judicious management and popularity of Mr. Reynolds the business in- creased so that more room was required, and in November, 1888, he purchased the Parker mill and the surrounding property, and con- verted the mill into a complete grain elevator. Large and commodious warehouses were erected in connection with the elevator, and largely increased switching facilities added; and also another retail store opened on Main street. This business so increased that in February, 1896, it was incorporated under the name of James Reynolds Elevator Company, and has so continued to the present, our subject being the president of the company. The other officers are: George E. Cramer, of Reynolds & Cramer, vice-president, and Willard C. Vail, secretary. The main office, elevator and warehouse are on the corner of North and Garden streets, and the retail stores at Nos. 226 and 228 Union street, and No. 17 Cath- erine street. The company does an extensive business in flour, feed, grain, hay, straw, salt and fertilizers; also in poultry, kennel and bee- keepers' supplies.

Mr. Reynolds is not only one of the sub- stantial business men of Poughkeepsie, but one of the popular and esteemed citizens.

W ILLIAM B. DINSMORE 'deceased).

The first ancestor of the Dinsmore family of whom we have any record was John Dinsmoor, who went from Scotland to Ireland in the seventeenth century, having run away from home at the age of seventeen because his father had compelled him, as the second son, to hold the stirrup while his elder brother mounted a horse. Unwilling to submit to such an indignity, he sought a new home in County Antrim, Ireland, where he lived to the age of ninety-nine years, and was dis- tinguished for his piety. His son John (2) married, and had two children, Robert, born in 1692, and Elizabeth.

America was then receiving many emi- grants of the hardy Scotch-Irish race, and leaving his little family, John Dinsmoor sailed across the Atlantic, landing at a fort at the islands known as " the Gorges, " off the coast of Maine. There he began to build a house, but while shingling it he was captured by the Indians. By making himself useful to the chief he gained his favor; but the other mem- bers of the tribe were not so well disposed, and one day, in the absence of the chief, the captive was accused of holding a conference with some Englishmen on the coast, and was condemned to die by fire. He had already been bound to a tree, and the brush was piled about him, when his friend, the chief, returned and commanded his torturers to cease their preparations until an investigation of the charge could be made, as he said there would certainly be tracks found in the sand if the alleged conference had been held upon the shore. None were discovered by a careful search, and Dinsmoor was accordingly released. Later the tribe left that part of the country, and on coming to a stream which crossed their line of march the chief entered his canoe; but as Dinsmore was about to push it off and step into the stern the chief told him that he must go no further. John pleaded that the Indians would kill him if he lost the chief's protection, but the latter said: "No, you much honest man, John. You walk to Boston," and giv- ing him some nuts and bear's grease he told him where he could conceal himself in a cave until the rest of the Indians had crossed the river. His parting words were: * Indian and French have all this country. You walk to Boston, take English canoe and walk to your own country: you much honest man, John." Dinsmoor found the cave, and waited

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

there for three days watching tribe after tribe pass until all were gone. He then started to make his way to "the Gorges," but nearly perished from hunger, and would have suc- cumbed had it not been for some cranberries which he found in a swamp. He reached the fort in safety, and then took passage by sea to Boston. From there he went to Rockingham county, N. H., where a colony of Scotch- Irish had settled in Nutfield township, now Derry. Here he found old friends from Londonderry, Ireland, and either through sympathy for his sufferings, or as an induce- ment for him to stay there, the proprietors of the settlement deeded to him and his heirs sixty acres of land in Jee. As he was a mason by trade, he built a stone house for himself and sent for his family. After their arrival in 1730 he divided the farm between the two children, both of whom were married and had families, and he and his wife lived in the stone house with his son-in-law. This house was a noted point between Derry and Windham, and until recently the location of the front door stone was marked by an early apple tree in the garden of P. D. Scott, generally known as the Hopkins place. John Dinsmoor, or " Daddy Dinsmoor," as he was called, died in 1741.

His son Robert brought to America his wife, Margaret Orr, and four children, and lived upon what is now known as the Barnet field, the westerly field south of the brook near the Scott house, and by the railroad. It is near or was a part of the land given to John Dinsmoor. The house stood on the top of the hill a few rods west of an old cellar, about fifteen rods north of the railroad, and some forty rods west of the old highway, now dis- continued. Soon after the death of his father he moved to a farm in Windham, N. H., which has ever since been in the possession of some of his descendants, and is now the resi- dence of Edwin O. Dinsmoor. The dwelling house is on or near the site selected by Robert on a fine swell of land, and commands a wide view to the east and south. The town records of Windham show that he was prominent in local affairs. He was one of three commis- sioners appointed to organize the town, March 8, 1742, and was elected a selectman on that day. The next year he served on the com- mittee on lawsuits, formed presumably to pro- tect the actual settlers from claims made by patentees of the Crown. In 1744-45-46-47

and 50 he was moderator at the annual town meetings, which as is well said in the " History of Windham, N. Y.," from which these histo- rical facts have been taken, "not only indi- cates his urbanity of manners, his knowledge of parliamentary law and his tact in governing men, but also the esteem of his fellow citi- zens." He died of fever and ague October 14, 1751, at the age of fifty-nine years. His widow survived him until June 2, 1752. Of their four sons, Samuel died November 12, 1753, aged twenty. The estate was divided by lot among the other three, John, the eldest, drawing the land north of the homestead, comprising the farms lately occupied by John and Daniel Kelly. Robert, the second son, drew the homestead, and William, the west portion lying south and west of " Jenny's Hill" and extending to Cobbett's pond.

John Dinsmoor married Martha, daughter of Justice James McKeen, of Londonderry, and passed his life at Windham, where he held many prominent official positions, having been town clerk, moderator of the town meeting, se- lectman, justice of peace, delegate to the Pro- vincial Congress at Exeter in 1775, and elder in the Presbyterian Church. He had thirteen children, of whom, the youngest, William, was born at Windham in 1767. As a young man of twenty years he went to Charlestown, Mass., and engaged in mercantile business. He wedded Catherine H., daughter of Gavin Brown, an Englishman, who resided in State street, Boston, on the north side, at the point now occupied by the Merchants Bank. At

the time of the Boston Massacre the family, hearing the firing in the streets, fled from the house and did not return for two days, when, to their surprise they found it just as they had left it, which speaks well for the honesty of the citizens of that town. Mrs. Dinsmoor died at Boston in 1830, and her husband fol- lowed her six years later. They had three children: Catherine, born in 1805, died in 1857, who married Charles E. Bowers, of the Adams Express Co .; Eliza, born in 1807, died in 1827; and William B.

The late William B. Dinsmore was born in Boston in 1810, and was sent in boyhood to Pinkerton Academy, at Derry, N. H. After completing his course there he returned home, but his father discovered, on testing his ac- quirements, that he was a very poor penman, and knowing the importance of a good hand- writing to a business man he selected a good

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

teacher of penmanship, with whom the young man gained unusual proficiency in the art. In this painstaking attention to detail on the part of both father and son may be found the secret of their success, and the quality was constantly shown in William B. Dinsmore's work in the Adams Express Company, to which the best part of his life was given. It would not be possible to give the history of one without outlining that of the other, so closely are they identified. In 1840 when Mr. Alvin Adams, of Boston, established an express business over the Norwich line from Boston to New York, Mr. Dinsmore was em- ployed as bookkeeper, and soon afterward a partnership was formed between them under the name of Adams & Co. Mr. Dinsmore went to New York to look after the firm's in- terest, and his innate conservatism and caution is evidenced by his statement to his host at the "United States " hotel, that he was by no means sure of the success of the enterprise. In 1842 and 1843 the amount of business jus- tified an extension of the company's lines, and Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Pittsburg were included in the service, and other parties entered the company as proprie- tors. In a few years they covered every rail- way in the Southern States, and had made rapid progress in the West, and July 1, 1854, the Adams Express Co., a joint-stock associa- tion, was organized with Mr. Adams as presi- dent, and Mr. Dinsmore as treasurer, the headquarters being located at New York. The business continued to prosper; but a few years later the difficulties between the North and South made it necessary to sell the South- ern lines to the stockholders in that section. When the disagreements culminated in war, the Adams Express Company rose to the oc- casion, and their agents accompanied the Union armies, establishing their offices wher- ever the tents were pitched, thus giving the soldiers an opportunity to send or receive money or packages. Over five millions of money parcels were forwarded from the sol- diers to their families or friends without the loss of a dollar. The agents were so active and zealous in the discharge of their duties that they often transgressed military rules; and it is said that at the surrender of Vicks- burg the Adams Express agent, in his desire to secure a good location, rushed forward to an unoccupied house, and was about to raise the company's flag, when Gen. Grant rode up

and said in his quiet way, and with a charac- teristic twinkle of the eye, " Will you do me the favor to allow me to hoist my flag first?"

The Adams Express Company now tra- verses 72, 162 miles of railway, and has agen- cies at all places on the various lines, and as the authorized agent of the United States Treasury it has safely transported thousands of millions of its treasures and securities. In 1856 Mr. Dinsmore became president of the company, and for many years he remained at his post in New York City, never permitting himself to engage in any enterprise which would divert his attention from the company's interests; and this devotion was an acknowl- edged factor in the rapid growth of the busi- ness. His sound, conservative judgment led him to firmly oppose any precarious invest- ments, and carried the company through the financial storms of thirty years with less loss than has been sustained under the same con- ditions by any other large corporation. His integrity was unquestioned, and united with his force of character, wealth and ability, placed him among the leading business men of the time. His death was widely deplored.

On October 19, 1842, Mr. Dinsmore was married to Miss Augusta M. Snow, of Brews- ter, Mass., and had two sons: William B., Jr., born in 1844, and CLARENCE GRAY, born in 1847. In ordinary conversation he was some- what reserved in manner, but among friends he was always frank, and genial, and his re- marks overflowed with "mother wit." As a correspondent he was noted for charm of style and inexhaustible humor. His beautiful country seat on the Hudson, at Staatsburg, was the scene of unbounded hospitality, for although naturally economical he always lived in accordance with his circumstances, and made wise use of his wealth instead of hoard- ing it unduly. He had a generous heart, and his assistance was freely given to many an un- fortunate, although his quiet benefactions were never heralded to the world.

C HARLES EDWARD FREDERICK SCHUBERT, a wealthy retired manufac- turer residing at Glenham, Dutchess county, has held for many years a leading place among the modern artists in tapestries, and to his fine taste and rare executive ability much credit is due for the advance of this branch of art in

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

different manufacturing centers both in Europe and America.

Mr. Schubert was born in Berlin, Germany, January 30, 1817, the only child of Charles and Dorothea Fisher) Schubert. The father was the proprietor of a livery stable there, and also ran a line of stages. During the reign of Frederick William he was drafted in the Prus- sian army, and served some forty months un- der Blucher, and on June 18, 1815, at the battle of Waterloo, he was struck in the fore- head by a spent shot, in consequence of which he became blind shortly afterward.

Charles E. F. Schubert, our subject, re- ceived his early education in the public schools of Berlin, and in 1830 entered the Academy of Fine Arts under Prof. Schadouw, remaining four years, and graduating in 1834. He then entered the factory of Louis Fonobert & Truck- ner, India rubber manufacturers, as a designer, and remained with them in that capacity, and also as a manager, for seven years. During this time Mr. Truckner, the junior member of the firm, invented the Mosaic tapestry, and in 1841 sold the patent and machinery to a French firm, Louis Vaison & Porait, and the plant was removed to Paris, Mr. Schubert be- ing appointed as foreman and designer. He continued in their employ until 1847, when the breaking out of the revolution in February, 1848, brought the industry to a standstill, which they never afterward resumed. In con- sequence Mr. Schubert found himself in the market for employment, and was engaged by Recillard Roussel & Clioquil, one of the then largest carpet-manufacturing firms in France, at Tourcoing, Department du Nord, on the borders of Belgium. Here he remained from 1847 to 1851, and then accepted a situation with the firm of John Crossley & Son, Halifax, Yorkshire, England, where he remained as chief designer in the tapestry and Brussels department from 1851 until 1870. In 1855 he had the honor to represent his firm at the Universal Exposition held at Paris, and ob- tained the second prize, a silver medal, as a colorist and designer, which medal is still in his possession; on one side is a bust of Napo- leon III, and on the other are the coats of arms of all nations competing at the Exposition. This firm of John Crossley & Son went into the manufacturing of mosaic tapestry, in con- nection with their other manufacturing, after Mr. Schubert became their manager, as he alone understood the manufacture of this par-

ticular branch. One of the directors of this company, by namne John Leach, gave in his will a great collection of these mosaics (which had been manufactured under the supervision of Mr. Schubert, to the museum at Clare Hall in Halifax, England, where they are still on exhibition to the public.

Prior to 1870 the well-known carpet manu- facturer, Michael Protzen & Son, of Berlin, Prussia, had bought their printed yarns at J. Crossley & Sons; but during that year, they decided to print their own carpet yarns, and secured the services of Mr. Schubert as their superintendent and general manager. Conse- quently, he again removed to Berlin, and from that time date the first printed yarns manu- factured in Prussia. Mr. Schubert remained with this mill three years, filling his term of contract, and then proceeded to Kiddermins- ter, Worcestershire, England, under a three- ycars' contract with John Brinton & Co., as superintendent, to establish a tapestry de- partment. In 1876, when his engagement with the latter firm came to a close, he re- ceived a proposal from the agent of A. T. Stewart, of New York, to superintend their carpet department at their mills in Glenham, Dutchess Co., N. Y. He accepted the propo- sition and conducted the department with marked success until the year 1889, covering a period of fifteen years, when he resigned. In 1890 Mr. Schubert began on his own ac- count to manufacture mosaic tapestry, mats, labels and banners, and followed the business for the three years, when owing to the de- pressed financial state of the country he fore- saw that he was not warranted in continuing, and accordingly he closed his factory. In politics he is an Independent.

In 1843 our subject was married to an old schoolmate of his, Miss Wilhelmina Berner, whose father was a soldier in the Prussian army, and who was in the siege before Paris in 1814, also in Waterloo with Blucher in 1815. They were wedded in Paris in the Protestant Chapel. Mr. and Mrs. Schubert have had ten children, three of whom died in childhood, the remaining seven being as fol- lows: (1) Charles Eugene, a merchant in Manchester, England, married Emma Tank- ard, and has one child-May. (2) Emil Heliodore, who is a designer and lives at Mat- teawan, married Mary Ann Bingley, daughter of Richard Bingley, of Leeds, Yorkshire, England; they have two children-Edith and

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Ethel. (3) Ernest Walter is in the hotel business at Poughkeepsie. (4) William Albert is with his brother in Poughkeepsie. (5) Kate Louisa lives at home. (6) Louis Hector is a clergyman of the Episcopal Church, University Chapel, Chapel Hill, N. C. (7) Edith Jane married Edward A. Underhill, of Glenham. In their religious belief the family are Epis- copalians.

In 1889, after Mr. Schubert resigned the superintendency of the carpet mill of A. T. Stewart & Co., he felt a desire to visit the scenes of his former activities in Europe. In company with his daughter, Edith Jane (then unmarried ), he left New York July 4, 1889, on one of the Cunard steamers, and arrived in Liverpool after a voyage of nine days. They immediately went from there to Manchester, where they remained with his son for a fort- night, from there visiting Leeds, Bradford, Blackpool, Brixton and Matlock, the famous watering place in Derbyshire; from Manchester they went to London, and from London to Calais, France, and thence to Tourcoing, where they remained a few days before going to Paris, at which city they attended the World's Fair, and then visited other points of interest in France. After a sojourn of three months, they returned by way of London and Liver- pool, taking passage via the Cunard Line again to New York. Although Mr. Schubert is in his eightieth year, he is still hale and hearty, possessing a clear mind and steady hand. His favorite pastime is making designs for industrial purposes, being solicited by carpet manufac- turers in different parts of the country for his handiwork. He is a man of unusual vigor for his years.

W ALTER A. SHERMAN, one of the prosperous and enterprising agricultur- ists of the town of Amenia, Dutchess county, was born on the old homestead at Amenia Union, May 27, 1861, and can trace his ances- try back to Henry Sherman, who died in Eng- land in 1589. Of his five children. Henry, the eldest, removed from the county of Suf- folk to Dedham, in the county of Essex, Eng- land, where his death occurred in 1610. He married Susan Hills, and of their twelve chil- dren, Samuel, the second, was born in 1537. and died at Dedham, in 1615.

Hon. Philip Sherman, the youngest of the seven children of Samuel, was born at Ded- ham, February 5, 1610, and in 1634 he emi-

grated to Roxbury, Mass., being the founder of the family in this country. With Roger Williams and others, he helped to purchase Rhode Island, March 24, 1638, and when the government was established July 1, 1639, Mr. Coddington became governor, with Philip Sher- man as secretary. His death occurred at Portsmouth, R. I., in 1687. By his marriage with Miss Sarah Odding, he had thirteen chil- dren, John being the eighth in the order of birth.

John Sherman was born at Portsmouth, R. I., in 1644, and by occupation was a black- smith and farmer, living on land inherited from his father at South Dartmouth, Mass., where he died in 1734. He wedded Sarah Spooner, and to them were born eight children. Philip Sherman, the eldest, followed farming upon the old homestead at Dartmouth, Mass., and there his death occurred in 1740. His son, Jabez Sherman, born October 3, 1704, at one time served as lieutenant in the navy of Great Britain, but most of his life was passed at South Dartmouth, where he died in 1774. Of his eleven children, Benja- min Sherman, the fifth, was born February 3, 1736, at Dartmouth, and during his boyhood attended the common schools. He was the first of the family to come to Dutchess county, N. Y., arriving at Pawling in 1764, where he worked at the carpenter's trade, building the Hicksite meeting house. He then returned to Dartmouth, Mass., for his wife, who bore the maiden name of Deborah Dilnoe, and he later engaged in farming and wagon making at Pawl- ing, where he died in 1805. In his family of eleven children, Shadrach Sherman was the seventh in order of birth. He was born at Dover Plains, Dutchess county, in 1769, and by occupation was a farmer and drover. He became quite a prominent and influential man of the county, serving as a member of the General Assembly in 1811. His death oc- curred December 11, 1812. He married Dia- dama Howland, and they became the parents of eight children: Amy, David, Howland, Al- fred, Benjamin E., Richard H., Walter and Shadrach.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 163

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