Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 169

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

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His paternal grandfather was born in Hol- land, and after coming to the New World was married and located on a farm in Westchester county, N. Y., where he reared a family of several children, among whom was Samuel Hewlett, the father of our subject. The lat- ter's birth occurred in Westchester county, where he married Charlotte Kipp, and for some time operated a farm there. At length he de- cided to come to Dutchess county, and his wife made the trip on horseback, carrying her baby in her arms. They first located on a farm in the town of Pleasant Valley, in the midst of the wilderness, but later removed to the town of Hyde Park, where the father car- ried on farming until his death in 1825. The mother passed away in 1866. In the family were ten children, namely: William, a farmer of Hyde Park town, who died at Poughkeepsie; Elizabeth, widow of Johnson Baker, a farmer of the town of Hyde Park; Hiram, deceased,

who was also an agriculturist of the same town; Phobe, who is the widow of Stephen | D. Briggs, a farmer of the town of Pleasant Valley, and now makes her home in Hyde Park; Hannah, who became the wife of George Holmes, a farmer of Pleasant Valley town, but both are now deceased; James, deceased, who was a farmer of Hyde Park; Caleb C., de- ceased, who carried on agricultural pursuits in the West: Zyprah, who became the wife of Isaac Wood, a farmer, merchant and railroad man, and both are now deceased; John K., de- ceased, who engaged in merchandising in Hyde Park; and Isaac S., of this sketch.

The last-named spent his boyhood days in Hyde Park, and when large enough began working for neighboring farmers. He grew to be an active, ambitious young man, and early established a home of his own. He was mar- ried in 1845 to Letitia Halstead, a native of the town of Beekman, Detchess county, and a daughter of David Halstead, an agriculturist. After their marriage they lived for about eight years on a farm in the town of Hyde Park, which Mr. Hewlett then sold, and in 1854 lo- cated on his present fine farm of 105 acres. Two children were born to them, namely: Samuel D., a farmer of Pleasant Valley town ; and W. Irwin, who for several years operated a farm, but is now engaged in the milk business in Poughkeepsie.

To general farming Mr. Hewlett now de- votes his attention, and the well-cultivated fields indicate to the passerby the thrift and enterprise of the owner, who is numbered among the most progressive agriculturists of the locality. His first ballot was cast for the Whig party, but since its organization he has been a stalwart Republican, and always takes an active part in politics. Mrs. Hewlett is a Hicksite Quaker, and her husband, though not a member, gives liberally toward the sup- port of the Church.

E MERY COLE, a prominent business man of the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, is the founder of the village at Coles Mills, and the proprietor of the manufacturing estab- lishments there. A man of great energy and fine mechanical ability, he has been unusually successful in the varied business enterprises, and has contributed largely to the develop- ment of that locality.

Ile is of English descent on the paternal

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side, and was born April 19, 1811, in the town of Wilton, Fairfield Co., Conn. His great- grandfather, Alexander Cole, was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and was with Wash- ington at the time New York was taken by the British forces. His grandfather, Thomas Cole, was a lifelong resident of Wilton, where he owned a farm and sawmill, and took a leading part in local affairs. He was probably a Pres- byterian in religious faith. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Riggs, are dead. They reared a family of seven children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: Thomas, October 22, 1780, was a farmer at the old homestead; Ira. February 10, 1782, lived near Binghamton, N. Y. ; Timothy, Au- gust 28, 1784; Sally, February 9, 1788, mar- ried David Nichols; Curtis, May 10, 1790, lived in Stepney, Fairfield Co., Conn .; Sam- uel, October 22, 1791, was a resident of Wil- ton; and Sherman, June 4, 1804, lived at Norwalk, Conn., and had a large family of children, several of whom became prominent in different lines of effort. Timothy Cole, our subject's father, was a farmer and wagon maker by occupation. He married Eliza Sterling, a daughter of Thaddeus Sterling, a leading resident of Wilton, and soon after- ward removed to Southeast, Putnam coun- ty, where he carried on his trade success- fully, employing his brothers in his shop. He and his wife attended the services of the Presbyterian Church, of which our sub- ject is also an adherent, and they were highly esteemed in the neighborhood. Of their nine children the subject of this sketch is the eld- est, the names of the others being as fol- lows: George, born in 1813, was a wagon maker; Mary, 1815. died at the age of twenty; Sally, 1817, was the second wife of Warren Collamour, of Saratoga, N. Y .; Jane, 1819, married Charles Marsh, and died in Rockford, Ill .; Eliza Ann, 1821, was the first wife of Warren Collamour; Minerva died in childhood; Angeline is still living; and Edwin is a resi- dent of Chestnut Ridge.

Our subject's early education was limited to an attendance at the district schools near his home, and to one year in a select school. He began to learn the wagon maker's trade with his father when very young, and worked for him until the age of twenty-one. He then started in business for himself at Amenia, taking the shop of John A. Allen on shares, the profits being equally divided. He did all

branches of the work except ironing the wagons, and soon built up a fine trade, em- ploying two or three men after the first year. His work being of the most substantial and satisfactory kind, it acquired a high reputation during the eleven years of his stay at Amenia, his trade extending to Poughkeepsie. In Sep- tember, 1842, he moved to Pawling, and built the gristmill and wagon shop at Coles Mills, and established his present extensive business, which affords employment to about fifteen men. He built all the houses at Coles Mills, including the " Chapman House," and still owns three or four of them. He ran a placer mill for some time, and indeed has been en- gaged in a number of business ventures, in which he has been uniformly successful, and his eighty-five years do not seem to diminish his spirit of enterprise. Politically he has always been a Republican, and in local affairs is a steadfast friend to progress.

On May 10, 1841, Mr. Cole was united in the bonds of matrimony with Mary Ann Sut- ton, who was born March 11, 1819, the daugh- ter of Gabriel Sutton. Four children were born to them, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: George E., December, 1843, is a successful business man of Bethel, Conn. ; Francis Eugene, September 19, 1848, is in partnership with his father, and is married to Helen Wanzer: Edward Charles, July 20. 1850, is a traveling salesman for a carriage firm of Buffalo, N. Y .; and Mary Eliza, May 1, 1856, married (first) August Penley, and (second) Myron Andrews. The mother of this family died June 23. 1856, and Mr. Cole subse- quently was married to Mary Frances Stevens, a member of one of the oldest families of South Dover. They have three children: Al- bert Stevens, born May 21, 1863, is a carriage maker by trade; William Wallace, September 15, 1864, is a traveling salesman for a mil- linery firm in St. Louis; and Elida Belle, Jan- uary 27, 1870, is at home.

Mrs. Cole's father, David W. Stevens, was one of the most prominent men of South Dover, a leading farmer and one of the foun- ders and chief supporters of the Baptist Church. He was active in political affairs also, and served one term as a member of the State As- sembly. He married Nancy A. Giddings, a daughter of Gamaliel Giddings, and a cousin of Joshua R. Giddings, who was for many years United States Senator from Ohio. Seven children were born to them, their names with

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dates of birth being as follows: Orrin S., May 4, 1821, is a prominent resident of Ravenna, Ohio; Emma Eliza, March 30, 1823, married Allen Giddings, of Grand Rapids, Mich. : Hiram G., April 9, 1826, was killed by a horse August 8, 1833; Gamaliel B., March 13. 1829; Mary Frances, April 3. 1832; Sarah H., November 12, 1834, married James Moolen, of South Dover: and Hiram G., May 29, 1839, died in South Dover.

V IRTUS H. CORNELIUS, an enterpris- ing and prosperous agriculturist of the town of Rhinebeck. Dutchess county, was born January 5, 1853, in the town of Milan, where his ancestors have been farmers for several generations, the family having come originally from Holland.

His grandfather was born at the old home- stead in Milan, and married a Miss Cooking- ham, also a native of that town. They had the following children: Jephthah, our sub- ject's father; Alfred, a farmer in the town of Stanford; Peter, a farmer; Owen, a farmer in lowa; Emily, a resident of Stanford, who married (first ) Nelson Almendorf, and (second) David Nicholas (both now deceased ) ; Mary B . who married ( first ) Ambrose Smith, and 'second) Jacob Fowler, of Clinton Corners; Phoebe L .. the wife of Elbert Fowler, a farmer; and Thirzalı R., the wife of George Marshall, also a farmer.

Jephthah Cornelius, the father of our sub- ject, was born in 1829. He married Eliza Ann Haines, a daughter of William Haines, a prominent farmer of Milan, and reared a family of six children, of whom our subject is the eldest. Alva N. is a farmer in Otsego county; Lavilla is a physician in Hyde Park; Clark J. is a farmer in Schoharie county; and Milton W. and Emma are at home. The mother of this family died October 1. 1886, but the father still survives, remaining on the old farmn in Milan. He is a Republican, and while he has never been a party worker, he has always taken a keen interest in political questions.

The subject of this sketch was reared in the town of Milan, and December 18, 1878, at the age of twenty-six, he married Eudora Boise, a descendant of one of the old Dutch families of that locality. Her great-grand- father. John I. Boise, her grandfather, Henry I. Boise, and her father, George A. Boise, were all farmers there. For a year after their

marriage Mr. Cornelius and his wife lived on a farm in their native town. and then they moved to the town of Rhinebeck. They lived for eight years on their first farm there, and in 1886 moved to their present home near Rhine- beck. They have had five children: Harry, Vernie, Raymond, and two who died in in- fancy.

Mr. Cornelius is one of the representative farmers of his vicinity, conducting his seventy- three acres, which are devoted to general farming, in a model manner. Politically, he is a Republican, and takes a generous interest in all matters of public concern. He and his , wife contribute to the support of the Christian Church.

C HRISTIAN ALLENDORF (deceased ) had long been identified with the interests of the town of Red Hook. Dutchess county, where he was born June 16, 1819, and where he had spent his entire life. His father, Christian Allendorf, Sr., who was a native of Germany, on crossing the Atlantic to this country, came direct to Dutchess county, N. Y., where he worked at the carpenter's trade for a number of years, but spent the remainder of his life upon a farm which he owned in the town of Red Hook. He was twice married, his first union being with a Miss Fraleigh, by whom he had four children: Philip, who married Eliza- beth Stickle; Ilenry C., who married a Miss Fraleigh: William, who married Miss Stickle; and Maria, who became the wife of Daniel Paults. After the death of his first wife the father wedded Miss Margaret Cole, and to them were born two children: Elizabeth, who mar- ried Daniel C. Perine; and Christian, of this review.

Christian Allendorf developed into man- hood amid the scenes of his native town, re- ceiving his education in the district schools of the neighborhood. He had quite an eventful life. For many years he was engaged in the mercantile business at Upper Red Hook, and filled many public offices in the town. For some time before his death he had a contract for carrying the United States mail from the depot to the post office at Upper Red Hook, a distance of about three miles, and, although he was seventy-seven years old at the time, he attended to the business with promptness and dispatch. He had the respect of all, both young and old, rich and poor, and in his de-

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clining days he enjoyed the reward of a well- ordered life, in which he had been faithful to the trusts reposed in him.

On reaching manhood Mr. Allendorf was united in marriage with Miss Ellen Lown, and five children were born of this union: Eliza- beth, wife of Philip Allendorf; Eugene, who married Anna Smith; John; Caroline; and one who died in infancy. For his second wife our subject married Mrs. Permelia Wheeler, widow of Samuel Wheeler. Her father, Philip Feller, was a prominent farmer of Columbia county, N. Y. He was three times married, his first wife being Hannah Hapeman, his sec- ond Catherine Miller, and the third Mary Ringsdorf, the mother of Mrs. Allendorf, who was a native of Columbia county. Eight chil- dren were born of the third union, namely: Mary became the wife of Randall Judd; Lu- cinda wedded Ephraim Wheeler; Philip mar- ried Cornelia Pulver; Andrew married (first) Mary Hayner, (second: Catherine Allen, and his third wife is unknown; Marilla became the wife of John Stearns; William married Susan Allen, and, after her death, Miss Groves; Permelia became the wife of our subject; and John remained single.

The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Allen- dorf, John Ringsdorf, was a native of the Fa- therland, and on emigrating to the New World located in Columbia county, N. Y., where he married Miss Mary Lasher, and to them were born six children: Mary, the mother of Mrs. Allendorf; Catherine, who married Jeremiah Cronk; Christiana, who wedded John Finger; Elizabeth, who became the wife of Baltis Wheeler; Andrew, who never married; and Simon (or Simeon), who married Elizabeth Coon.

D R. CIAS. H. PERKINS. The subject of this sketch, one of the successful young business men of Dutchess county, was born in the town of Poughkeepsie, said coun- ty, April 27, 1865, and is one of a family of five children born to Alexander W. and Elsie A. (Kay) Perkins, whose homestead was situ- ated on the old Post road, about three miles south of Poughkeepsie. Their five children were as follows: Amelia, wife of Joseph Doughty, of Salt Point, Dutchess county; Ed- ward E., of whom sketch is elsewhere in this volume; Charles H., our subject; Warren J., residing in Brooklyn, N. Y., and Lena E. The

mother of these children died some years ago, and the father, having left the old homestead, makes his home in Brooklyn, New York.

Charles H., our subject, spent his boyhood on the old farm and attended the common school at the old Spackenkill school house in the neigh- borhood, and then for four years was a pupil in Poughkeepsie at the old Pelham Institute and Poughkeepsie Military Academy. In 1882 he be- came an apprentice, with the then well-known jewelry firm of Myers & Marble, of Poughkeep- sie, to learn the trade of watch making, and after three years of careful application with them, in which he mastered the business, he became the general watchmaker and engraver for the firm of Quintard Bros., in the same city, and continued in said capacity for three years. While with them he was offered, by the Non-Magnetic Watch Co. of America, a position as their traveling expert and demon- strator, his business being to introduce their non-magnetic watch throughout the United States. He traveled throughout the Union showing and explaining the watch for about a year, when he was offered the position of chief time inspector for the Chicago & North- western railroad and the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific railroad. His duties were to in- spect and superintend changes each month on all the railroad watches and clocks, thus traveling over both roads. This position he filled for two years, giving eminent satisfaction to the managers of both roads. While thus employed he become an intimate friend of Gen- eral Superintendent Tyler of the Chicago & Northwestern railroad, and with him pur- chased some real estate at Montrose, a subur- ban town of Chicago, on the Chicago & North- western. railroad. The then approaching World's Fair in Chicago rapidly increased the value of suburban property, and by the sale of his recent purchases Dr. Perkins made valu- able profits. Just previous to this he had as- sociated himself, as partner, with C. S. Durfee & Co., jewelers at Davenport, lowa, and thus continued three years. At the end of this time, owing to close application to his work at the bench, his eyes began failing, and on the advice of his physician he entered the Chicago Ophthalmic Hospital for treatment. While here he became deeply interested in the study of optics and the optical profession, and selling his jewelry business he at once took up the study of the eye, ear and throat at said hos- pital, and was graduated therefrom in 1892.

Chas H Parkins

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After finishing his studies he was united in marriage with Miss Lydia Stark Day, daughter of John and Katherine M. (Stark, Day, of Tunkhannock, Penn., whom he had met while she was a student at Vassar College. Mrs. Perkins is a direct descendant from old Gen. Stark of Revolutionary fame, and her grand- father. Samuel Stark, of Tunkhannock, was one of the most prominent and wealthy citi- zens of Wyoming county.

After his marriage Dr. Perkins came back to Dutchess county, and forming a partnership with his half brother, J. A. Perkins, opened a jewelry and optical business at 2923 Main street, paying especial attention to the optical branch of the business. Their business rapidly increasing necessitated larger quarters, and the same year (1892) they removed to their com- modious store at 322 Main street, where under the name of Perkins & Company their business has since been conducted. As general jewel- ers and manufacturing opticians their business ranks among the foremost in the county, and their fully equipped plant for grinding compli- cated lenses is, without doubt, the finest along the Hudson river; the skill evinced in this line of work has caused that branch of the business to grow to such an extent that up to 1896 they had examined the eyes and fitted | glasses for over ten thousand people. Among the cases that have come to him for examination and treatment have been many that others had pronounced hopeless, and that yet owing to his skill have been either entirely cured or greatly re- lieved. Cases of epilepsy have been cured by the careful and proper fitting of glasses. In con- nection with his study of optics Dr. Perkins began the study of general medicine, and for several years devoted his leisure moments to advancing himself in that science, and by the advice of some of his medical friends he took the requisite examination at a medical college, passing with a grade of ninety per cent., being considerably above the average, and securing the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He has since become a registered M. D. in several States. But not for a moment has Dr. Perkins relinquished his study of optometry, but in- stead has been greatly aided therein by his added knowledge of the human system, and to still further perfect himself in this branch he frequently attends the New York Opthalmic Hospital, and assists in operations there. Dr. Perkins has also prepared and placed on the market a wash for sore and inflamed eyes,

known as " Dr. Perkins Antiseptic Eyewater, " which is wonderfully effective in the cure of Catarrhal Conjunctivitis, commonly known as " Pink Eye."

Dr. Perkins is a member of the Royal Ar- canum, and is vice-chancellor of Triumph Lodge, K. of P' .. of Poughkeepsie, besides belonging to several optical and medical socie- ties. Dr. Perkins and his estimable wife oc- cupy a prominent place in Poughkeepsie's social circle, and at their modern and commo- dious home, which they have purchased on South Hamilton street, they are always pleased to entertain their many friends.

BROOKS VERMILYEA, a most highly re- spected citizen of the town of Unionvale, is numbered among the elderly residents of the community, and is held in that reverence and esteem which is accorded those whose lives have been characterized by integrity and use- fulness. A native of Dutchess county, he was born in the town of Beekman, in 1811, and has here passed his entire life.

His father, Isaac G. Vermilyea, was born in what was then Beekman town, but is now Lagrange, in July, 1768, and after the comple- tion of his education engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Catherine

whose birth occurred on the 4th of July, 1776 the day so dear to the hearts of the American people, when they announced to the world their independence.

Nine children were born to the parents of our subject. (1) Elizabeth, born October 23, 1794, married Daniel Billings, a shoemaker, and they had four children -Isaac, John, Sarah and Catherine. (2) Jane, born March 2, 1796, married Alex Homan, a farmer, and they had I two children --. Alexander and Phoebe. (3) Peter, born September 25, 1797, in the town of Beekman, followed farming as a life work, and married Miss Van Nostran, by whom he had two sons George and John. (41 Maria, born April 7, 1799, married Enoch G. Dorland, a farmer, and they had four children Gilbert, Catherine, Vermilyea and Samuel. (5) Gerardus, born in the town of Beekman, January 26, 1801, engaged in farming, but was a shoemaker by trade; he married Miss Van- Nostran, by whom he had eight children -- Cromwell, Isaac, Oscar, Walter, Calle who married Irving Vermilyea), Jane, Minnie and Catherine. The father of these children is

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still living in Lagrange town, Dutchess county, at the advanced age of ninety-five years, and is quite active. 6) John K., born September 16, 1802, was educated at both Williams and Yale Colleges, later studied medicine and en- gaged in its practice in the town of East Fish- kill, near Hopewell Junction. He had four children by his first wife-Dupertrain, Gerar- dus, Anna R. and Lucy. (7) Caroline, born January 29, 1804, died when young. (8) Brooks, of this sketch, was born February 27, 18II. (9) Valentine, born April 4, 1818, at- tended the New York Medical College, and, after his graduation, engaged in practice in Illinois. He married a Miss Davis.

The primary education of Brooks Vermil- yca was obtained in the district schools near his early home, and he was, later, a student in a boarding school. By trade he is a weaver, at which he worked for a time, but his atten- tion has been principally given to agricultural pursuits. On attaining to man's estate he was united in marriage with Miss Charity Shear, whose death occurred in 1851; she left three children, all of whom were born, reared and educated in Lagrange town, Dutchess county: (I) ADDISON, born in 1841, follows farming. (2) Irving, born in 1843, engaged in the same pur- suit at Low Point. He married Callie Vermil- yea, a cousin, and they have one son, Horatio S. (3) Abram, born in 1848, also carries on farming. After the death of his first wife, Brooks Vermilyea was again married, his second union being with Miss Lydia A. Donald- son, who was born August 19, 1827, and died in 1893.

W ILLIAM T. PHILLIPS, one of the suc- cesslul agriculturists of this section, owning a large farm near Red Hook, Dutchess county, is descended from a family which is noted for those practical qualities of thrift and industry which distinguish the tillers of the soil.

His grandfather, Jacob Phillips, was a farmer in Columbia county in his early man- hood, but shortly after his marriage he and his wife moved to Dutchess county and settled upon a farm there. Their son, Theodore Phillips, our subject's father, was born in Co- lumbia county, September 25, 1845, and was only one year old when he was brought to Dutchess county, where he passed his life. He became a prosperous agriculturist, raising grain, hay, and live stock, and in 1878 he purchased

from Gilbert Fraleigh a farm containing 228 acres of fine land, well-stocked, which his en- ergy and enterprise enabled him to improve greatly. Politically he was an ardent believer in the principles of the Democratic party.

He was married ( first) to Rachel Link, and (second) to Matilda Coon, daughter of William Coon, a farmer of the town of Milan. Two children were born to the second union: Will- iam T. and Merrick. The mother of these passed to her eternal rest in 1885; the fa- ther survived her ten years, breathing his last in 1895.

William T. Phillips was born in the town of Milan, Dutchess county, and received excel- lent educational advantages in youth, attending Hartwick Seminary. He was initiated into the details of farm work under his father's able guidance, and remained at the homestead, to which he succeeded in 1895. He married Miss Edna Case, daughter of Socatell Case, a well- known farmer of the town of Milan, Dutchess county. They have no children.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 169

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