Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 172

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

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The maternal grandfather of our subject, David F. Feller, was a native of Columbia county, where his education was obtained in the common schools, and hethere followed the vocation of farming throughout life. By his marriage with Miss Elizabeth Mink, of the same county, he had six children: William, Ezra, Lena, Helen, Jane and Emma Eliza. The last named, Emma Eliza, was born and educated in Pleasant Vale, Columbia county, and became the wife of Abraham Henry Phil- lips, a native of Columbia county, N. Y., where he was educated in the common schools

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and followed the occupation of farming. By this union were born seven children, namely: Romelia married Rennselaer Moore; David F. is next in the order of birth; William II. wedded Mary McClure; Martha is unmarried; George A. married Daisy M. De Forest; Elizabeth became the wife of William Wol- cott; and Alice died at the age of four years. The brothers and sisters of Abraham Henry Phillips, father of our subject, were: Anthony, who married Catherine Lasher; Nicholas, who married Catherine Feller; Jacob, who also wedded a Miss Feller; John, who married Elmira Decker; Catherine, who became the wife of Edward Teator; and Elizabeth, who married Philip Hapeman.

Mr. Phillips, of this review, is also a native of Columbia county, his birth having occurred in 1845, but when quite young his parents re- moved west, locating in Michigan, where he attended the public schools and there acquired a fair education. He followed agricultural pursuits in that State until 1861, when he returned east, and has since made his home in the town of Red Hook, Dutchess county. In 1879, he married Mrs. Lottie De Forest, widow of Harry C. De Forest, by whom she had three children: Augustus R., born in 1852; Daisy M., born in 1868; and Wallace, born in 1876. Our subject and his wife have one daughter -- Ruby L., born September 6, ISSO.

The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Phillips, William Carter, married Miss Charlotte Far- ner, daughter of Douglass and Elizabeth Farner, of New Brunswick, and to them were born two children: William, the father of Mrs. Phillips; and Elizabeth, who became the wife of Samuel Montgomery. William Carter, Jr., was born and educated in New Brunswick, where he later engaged in the manufacture of cigars. He married Miss Maria B. White- man, and to them were born three daughters: Julia W., wife of James II. Cortelyou; Josie, wife of John P. Shafer, of Red Hook; and Lottie, wife of our subject. Her maternal grandfather, John P. Whiteman, was a prom- inent farmer of the town of Red Hook, Dutch- ess county, and there married Miss Annie Shook, daughter of John Shook, of the same town. By this union seven children were born, of whom, the mother of Mrs. Phillips was the eldest. She was followed by Eliza A., who became the wife of Robert Leete; Jane L., who married John Lambert; Sarah

M., who wedded George Deipignac; Sophia F .: Aaron W .; and John, who died at an early age.

F RANK TEATS, one of the reliable and progressive young men of Red Hook, Dutchess county, is connected with the firm of Curtis & Benner, hardware merchants. He is a son of Electrice Teats, a prosperous farmer of the town of Red Hook, where our subject received his literary education. He is a nat- ural musician, the master of many different kinds of instruments, and is also quite a vocal- ist, being at the present time a member of the choir of the Methodist Church of Red Hook. On April 16, 1894, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Traver, also a native of Red Hook, where she obtained a good education, and one child, Elmer, blesses this union.

Edgar Traver, the grandfather of Mrs. Teats, born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, March 20, 1829, was educated in the district schools of the neighborhood, and received his early training as a farmer at that place. He continued to follow that vocation, in connec- tion with stock raising, throughout life, and was quite a prominent man in the community, serving as assessor and supervisor of Red Hook town for many years. He was twice married, his first union being with Anna M. Snyder, and for his second wife he married Catherine Benedict. He became the father of two sons: Arthur and Ransom. The former's birth oc- curred at Rhinebeck, January 12, 1851, and, after completing his studies in the common schools of the locality, he took up the occupa- tion of farming, and now conducts the old Tra- ver farm at Red Hook. He occupies the old homestead of his father, a substantial brick structure, over one hundred and fifty years old. He married Miss Martha Westfall, whose father was a native of Canada, and to them have been born three children: Mabel, born June 20, 1884; Edna, born April 26, 1886; and Edgar, born February 1, 1887.

Ransom Traver, the father of Mrs. Teats, was born at Rhinebeck, September 21, 1852, and his education was such as the common schools of the locality afforded. On starting out in life for himself he learned the drug business in the village of Rhinebeck, which he there followed for a few years, and then estab- lished a drug store at Red Hook, conducting the same very successfully for many years.

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On disposing of his business there he removed to Watertown, N. Y., where he now resides. The lady who now shares his name and for- tunes was in her maidenhood Miss Edith Hoff- man, daughter of B. B. Hoffman, vice-presi- dent of the National Bank of Red Hook. They are the parents of four children, namely: Will- iam, born December 28, 1870; Herbert, born June 2, 1872; Addie, born March 26, 1875; and Anna, born September 15, 1876.

M YRON BARLOW (deceased) is remem- bered by the people of the town of Unionvale as a most valued and highly re- spected citizen. A native of Dutchess county, he was born in the town of Stanford in 1808, and was the son of Braman and Mary ( Engla- sol) Barlow. Thomas Barlow, his paternal grandfather, passed his entire life in Dutchess county, following the occupation of farming during his mature years. He married a Miss Braman, and to them were born two sons- Braman and James.

The birth of Braman Barlow occurred in Stanford township, and in the common schools he secured his education. Like his father, he engaged in agricultural pursuits, and he died on his farm in the town of Stanford. In his family were four children: James never mar- ried; Cyrus, who was a member of the Masonic order, married Minerva Welling, and had three children-Myron, who married John Crokite; Caroline, who married Benjamin Palmer; and Frances, who married Dr. Thorn. Myron, of this review, is next in order of birth. Maria became the wife of James Germain, and had nine children-Edward; Talmadge; Cyrus, who married Viola Hicks; Mary; Sarah; Elizabeth; Frances, who married William Creede; Nettie, who married Robert Halstead; and Julia, who married Isaac Winance.

The educational privileges of our subject were such as the public schools of Stanford afforded at an early day, and as a life work he also followed the vocation of farining, to which he had been reared, and with which he was familiar. He was a straightforward, reliable man, courteous, genial, alert and enterprising, and his actions during life were such as to dis- tinctively entitle him to a place in a publica- tion of this character. Socially he affiliated with the Masonic fraternity.

Mr. Barlow was united in marriage with Miss Martha Van Vlack, who was born in

Pleasant Valley township, Dutchess county, in 1834, and there received a good common- school education. Seven children blessed their union, namely: (1) Emerson is by profession a dentist, but is also engaged in the brokerage business in Poughkeepsie and Kingston, N. Y. He married Engenie Du Bois, and they have. one daughter, Susie. Like his father he is identified with the Masonic order. (2) Alfred is a buyer of stock for the Union Stock Yards of Chicago, Ill. (3) Myron married Miss Jennie Carpenter, and is now engaged in the furniture business in Poughkeepsie. (4) Alice married Frederick Hall, a carpenter of Patterson, Put- nam Co., N. Y., and they have three children, Anna, Myron and Clayton. (5) Jennie is follow- ing the profession of teaching in Lagrange town, Dutchess county. (6) George turns his at- tention to agricultural pursuits. (7) Etta, who completes the family, is a teacher of New Hamburg, Dutchess county. With the ex- ception of the two youngest children, whose births occurred in the town of Unionvale, all were born in Stanford town. They were pro- vided with good educational privileges, and have become intelligent and useful citizens of the various communities where they make their homes.

Andrew Van Vlack, the grandfather of Mrs. Barlow, was a native of Dutchess county, and a farmer by occupation. By his marriage with Catherine Jewell he had seven children: Al- fred, the father of Mrs. Barlow; Abraham, who married Phoebe Devine; Cornelia, who married John Stewart; Martha, who married Cornelius Ingraham; Eliza, who married Nicholas McMann; Catherine, who married Jonathan Devine; and Reuben, who married Catherine Johnson.

Alfred Van Vlack was born in 1814, in the town of Pleasant Valley, where he was edu- cated and learned the milling business, which he successfully followed throughout life, pur- chasing and conducting a mill in Unionvale town. He was a stalwart Democrat in poli- tics and quite an active politician, but never cared for the honors or emoluments of public office, while socially he was connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Foster, daughter of Martha (Welling) Foster. Five children were born of this union, as follows: Amelia married Lewis Ward, by whom she had a daughter-Minnie. Martha is the sec- ond of the family. Jennie married Henry

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Burton, and has two children- Estella, now the wife of Edward Van Keuren; and Lewis, who married Hattie Duncan. Mary wedded Benjamin Van Wyck. Louisa died in infancy.

G EORGE NAGENGAST was born in Pough- keepsie, Dutchess county, June 10, 1852, and has already resided in that city forty-five years. His father, Charles Nagengast, was born in Bavaria, Germany, in 1825, and came to America in 1840. He first settled at Honesdale, Penn., from there went to Albany and soon after found his way to Poughkeepsie.

Charles Nagengast was a teamster by oc- cupation, hauling ore for the blasting furnaces where he was also foreman for many years. In the later years of his life he was in the saloon business. He married Mary Hanline, and they had children as follows: George; Caroline married Lindsley Downer; Charles is in business in Poughkeepsie; Elizabeth Louisa married Frederick Bart; John Schwartz. The mother of this family was a woman of strong character and a large fund of common sense. She died June 18, 1873, the father surviving her until 1889.

George Nagengast had but a limited educa- tion as he was only about eleven years old when he went to work in the cigar shop of Joseph Bayard, which a week afterward changed owners, John Schwartz taking pos- session of the business. He remained in this connection for nineteen years, lacking one month, and until March 25, 1881, when he went into the butchering business. In this, however, he remained only a few weeks, and then again took up the work of his trade, this time with Stephen Stafford. He afterward ran a factory for Eastmead & Lewis, and on October 2, 1881, he began keeping hotel in what is now the " Hudson River House." He remodeled the building, and conducted the business for six years and eleven months. Later he bought out the store of Mrs. Conger at 435 Main street, and ran it for a little over five years. On November 1, 1894, he purchased his present stand, and has since been car- rying on a prosperous business. He is a care- ful, conservative man in financial matters, and has invested his money in real estate, owning some valuable property in Poughkeepsie. Mr. Nagengast was married November 2, 1878, to Miss Caroline, daughter of Wilham and Adeline (Martin) Swartout, and two children

have been born to them: Arminta and Lillie May.

Mr. Nagengast is a Republican, but has never been very active in political affairs. He does not belong to any fraternities, but joined the Niagara Company, No. 2, when eighteen years old, four years later joining the O. H. Booth Company, but returning after eight years to his first company, of which he is now treasurer. He is a public-spirited citizen, and is always ready to assist in all worthy enterprises.

D ENNIS WHALEN, a well-known retired agriculturist of the town of Dover, Dutch- ess county, now residing at Dover Plains, was born in 1835 in the parish of Kilteely, County Limerick, Ireland. His family has been prom- inent there for many generations, and his father, the late Jeremiah Whalen, was one of the leaders of his day in the struggle for the liberty of his country, and was twice elected to Parliament. In 1851 the family immigrated to the United States and settled at Dover Plains. Patrick Whalen, one of our subject's brothers, resides there, and his biography con- tains a history of this highly esteemed family.

Mr. Whalen attended the schools of his native parish in boyhood, but on coming to this country he at once sought employment. The Harlem railroad was then in process of constructionr and for some time he worked upon it. He then spent ten years on a farm, and in 1869 he bought a farm of 157 acres at what is known as Illert Hills, and cultivated this while working at times for the railroad company. In 1873 he was appointed baggage master and switch man at Dover Plains, and held those positions until 1894, when an acci- dent disabled him for active business, although he is not at present confined to his bed. He sold his farm in 1893 to S. R. Hanna, and took a pleasure trip to the old country, visit- ing all parts of the Emerald Isle and gathering a marvelous fund of information.

In 1858 Mr. Whalen married his first wife, Hanora Marona, by whom he had three chil- dren: Mary E., born in 1859; Catherine F. in 1860; and Sebastian F. in 1866. His first wife died August 11, 1891, and Mr. Whalen married Miss Delia F. Hogan, a native of County Limerick, Ireland. Her father, Will- iam Hogan, was a gardener by trade, and was one of five children, the others being John,

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Dennis, Mary (Mrs. James Rahilly), and Cath- erine. He married Margaret Lynch, who was also a member of a family of five. James Lynch married Bridget Sherye; Patrick mar- ried Ellen Sherye; Catherine was the wife of William Murphy; and Mary married James Ryan. Mrs. Whalen was the youngest of the five children of William and Margaret Hogan. Mary married John O'Shea; Catherine is at home; Margaret died at the age of thirteen; and Patrick is at home.

H ENRY BOLENBAKER. There is prob- ably not a finer farm in all its appoint- ments in the town of Red Hook than the one owned by the subject of this history, who is still a young man, and of whom, on account of his enterprise and industry, great things are expected in the future. The residence is in keeping with the taste and means of the pro- prietor, and the whole place forms a picture which invariably attracts the admiration of the passing traveler.

Peter P. Bolenbaker, the father of our subject, is one of the prosperous farmers of Red Hook town, and on reaching man's estate he was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Traver, who is one of the nine children of Henry H. Traver and wife, also agriculturists. This worthy couple became the parents of five children, namely: Daniel, who died in in- fancy; Martha, who became the wife of The- odore Traver; Sarah, who remained single; Henry J., of this review; and Luella C., who also remained single.

In 1886 Mr. Bolenbaker, whose name in- troduces this notice, was married to Miss Emma E. Fraleigh, a native of the town of Clermont, Columbia Co., N. Y., where she was educated in the common schools. One child blesses this union-Roger Fraleigh.

Peter P. Fraleigh, the father of Mrs. Bol- enbaker, was born in the town of Clermont, Columbia county, and in the district schools of the neighborhood he obtained his educa- tion. As a lifework he also followed farming. Early in life he was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary Lasher, daughter of Jonas Lasher, of Clermont town, and to them were born the following children: Peter F. married Jennie Saulpaugh; Jonas L. married Margaret Gard- ner; Helen married Montgomery Finger; Will- iam H. married Addie Van Horn; Barbara mar- 61

ried Charles Moore; Margaret married Willis Hermance; Emma E. is next in order of birth; Edward W. married Kittie Francis; and Mar- tin and Mary both died in infancy.

W ILLIAM AUGUSTUS MOSHER, a prominent agriculturist of the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county, is well known along the Hudson, having spent many years in the transportation business before settling down to the quieter life of a tiller of the soil.

His family is of English origin, and his great-grandfather, William Mosher, crossed the Atlantic as a soldier in the British army during the Revolutionary war, but on landing he deserted and joined the forces under Gen. Washington, serving as a captain throughout the struggle. His son, Amos, married Jane Rhinehart, and their son Miles, our subject's father, was born at Breakneck, Dutchess coun- ty, and became a boatman on the Hudson, being engaged in carrying brick between Fish- kill Landing and New York City, until his death. He married Louisa Smith, a native of Dutchess county, daughter of Elijah and Mar- garet Smith, and is still living. Of their eight children, the youngest, Frances, died in child- hood, and the others are: William Augustus, Amos, Margaret Jane, Annie, Ida, Henry and Charles.

William A. Mosher was born at Burnsville, Dutchess county, in 1841, and, after acquiring a common-school education, left home to take a place on a boat with Capt. Virgil Coleman, who carried coal from Rondout to Fishkill Landing. He remained with him two years, then spent three seasons on a brick boat run- ding from Fishkill Landing to New York City, passing the winters at home. In 1861 he went to Long Island and worked on a farm for his uncle, Charles Mosher, and on returning spent four months as fireman on the steamer " Rip Van Winkle." In 1862 he served on the government transport, "Gen. Meigs," for several months, carrying troops and provisions for the army between New York City and southern ports; he also enlisted in Company E, 19th N. Y. S. M., and was sent to Balti- more, Fort Delaware and Havre de Grace, receiving his discharge at Newburgh, N. Y., on the expiration of his term of enlistment-one hundred days. He then went on a canal boat with Capt. Daniel Howell, and on leaving him

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worked in the Fishkill Landing Machine Shop for a year, when he took another place upon a government transport running from St. Louis to DuVall's Bluff, Memphis, Cairo and New Orleans. He was on this boat at Du Vall's Bluff when the news of Lincoln's assassination reached him. On his return home he was married to Miss Hannah Hickman, danghter of William and Martha (Purdy) Hickman, and granddaughter of Michael and Rachel Hick- man. On the maternal side, her grandparents were Francis and Mary (Shaw) Purdy. Six children were born of this union: Amos, Ida, George, Matthew, Nettie and Blanche.

After his marriage Mr. Mosher worked for two years in the Fishkill Landing Machine Shops as a blacksmith and machinist, and two years on the Newburgh and Fishkill ferry as fireman, and then went to Kansas and spent five years in farming. On returning to the East he worked on the construction of the N. Y. & N. E. R. R., aboard a mud scow, and, while thus employed, saved from drown- ing two men, named John Cook and a Mr. Mitchell. His next employment was on the ferry boats "City of Newburgh " and " Fish- kill-on-the-Hudson," as engineer, but after three years he gave up this work to take charge of the brickyard of William H. Aldrich, where he remained six years. He then purchased his present farm of 270 acres, which is bounded by the lands of William H. Cary, George Ire- land, Alfred Miller, James Daniels and Reuben Knapp. His main crops are hay and grain, but he gives considerable attention to horti- culture, having many grape vines and a num- ber of apple and peach trees, with other fruits. Part of his land is as yet uncleared, and he sells a large amount of wood and hewn timber. His son George assists in the management of this estate. In politics Mr. Mosher is a Re- publican, and he is a member of the G. A. R.

E UGENE WELLS, one of the leading citi- zens of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, now living in retirement amid the charming sur- roundings of that picturesque locality, was born at Hudson, Columbia Co., N. Y., January 17, IS39

Isaac Wells, the grandfather of our subject, was born in 1770, and among his family of children was Richard 1. Wells, Eugene's father, who was born at Coxsackie, Greene Co., N. Y., September 25. 1795. Richard I. Wells was a

prominent lawyer of New York City, a mem- ber of the well-known firm of Wells & Bush- nell, and was a man of great mental ability and sound judgment. From his office were grad- uated some students who afterward achieved distinction at the bar. In early years he was a Whig and later a Republican, but he was never active in politics. He was an intimate friend of Stephen A. Douglas, and was prominently identified with the landed interests of Chicago, Ill., owning at one time a large amount of real estate there. Wells street in Chicago was named in his honor. On September 28, 1819, he was married to Ann Maria Olcott, daugh- ter of Josiah Olcott, a prominent citizen of Hudson, and had ten children: Anna, the widow of Claudius L. Monell, who was, at the time of his death, chief justice of the Superior Court of the City of New York; Mary, who married Charles Roome, president of the Con- solidated Gas Co., of New York; Caroline (deceased); John H. (deceased); Richard (de- ceased); Ophelia, who married Rev. Henry Dar- ling, late president of Hamilton College; Fred- erick J., who died in infancy; Thomas O., a resident of New York City; Frances M. (de- ceased), formerly the wife of Isaac M. Collins, of Hudson, who is now the surrogate of Colum- bia county; and Eugene, our subject. After many years of successful practice, Mr. Wells, in 1837, retired to Hudson, where he passed his declining years. His death occurred there March 11, 1863. He and his wife were always leaders in the various philanthropic movements of the Church.

The subject of this sketch made choice of the medical profession, and studied for two years with the late Dr. H. B. Sands, of New York City, but was compelled to abandon his books on account of what is called double astigmatismn. Since 1865 he has resided at Rhinebeck, where he has identified himself with the best interests of the community, and has won the esteem of all classes. He has been a director of the First National Bank for many years, and has held the office of president of the village.

On May 31, 1865, he married Miss Mary Thorn Teller, daughter of William T, and Eliza Thorn Teller and granddaughter of Will- iam Teller. They have one daughter-Caroline Thorn Wells. Mr. and Mrs. Wells attend the Reformed Church at Rhinebeck, and have always been among the leaders in the most exclusive social circles of that town.

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F RANK TALLADAY, the well-known host of the "Talladay House," at Dover Plains, Dutchess county, is one of the leading citizens of that pleasant village.

His family has been identified with the town of Dover for many years, and his father, Neilson Talladay, was a native of the town, and, on finishing his education in the local schools, he engaged in business as a carpenter, following that trade throughout his active life. He was a soldier in the Civil war in Company E, 150th N. Y. V. I., and took part in many important engagements. For some time he served as hospital steward at Baltimore, Md. He married Miss Elizabeth Colby, daughter of a leading farmer of the town of Dover, and had five children, of whom our subject was the youngest. The others are: Phœbe (who has not married); Janette (Mrs. C. F. Segelken); Mary (Mrs. John H. Smith); and Elizabeth (Mrs. Archilas Birch).

Frank Talladay was born April 1, 1859, in Dover Plains, Dutchess county. He was edu- cated in the schools of that village, and on completing his course of study, he engaged in business as a butcher at Brooklyn, N. Y. After four years in this enterprise, he moved to Naugatuck, Conn., where he was for some time connected with a rubber manufacturing concern. Later he was engaged in mercantile business at Dover, and in 1893 he rented the hotel now known as the " Talladay House " at Dover Plains, which he has since conducted in a manner to gain and keep the patronage of the public. In 1889 he married Miss Mary Humeston, daughter of Charles and Abbie Humeston, of Dover Plains, and they have one child-Frank W., born in February, 1895.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 172

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