Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 19

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

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In August, 1880, the Doctor married Miss Mary Smith, of Gallatin, Columbia Co., N. Y., by whom he had two children: John Isaac, born in August, 1881, and William Henry, born in June, 1885, and died in August of the same year. The mother passed away in July,

1885, and in February, 1888, the Doctor formed a second matrimonial union, this time with Miss Mary Frances Calvey, of Gallatin. They have had two children: Lawrence, born in September, 1891, and Mary Alice, born in February, 1893. The Doctor is a well-in- formed man on general questions as well as on his special line of work, and he is interested in politics as a firm upholder of Democratic prin- ciples. He was health officer for Milan and Gallatin for several years, and at present is postmaster at Jackson Corners. He is a mem- ber of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, and of the Catholic Benevolent League; he also belongs to the Order of Elks, and is a member of the Knights of St. George.

C YRENUS P. DORLAND, surrogate of Dutchess county, and a prominent lawyer of Poughkeepsie, was born February 28, 1848.

The first of the Dorland family to locate in Dutchess county was Enoch, of Holland de- scent, who came from Long Island and bought a farm in the town of Lagrange. He had four children, viz .: Gilbert Dorland, who mar- ried Jennie Hegeman, of Lagrange; Dorcas, who married George Congdon: Anna, who married Treadwell Townsend; and Phebe, who married Joseph Irish. Gilbert Dorland, who was the grandfather of our subject, left the fol- lowing children: Enoch Dorland, who belonged to the Society of Friends, and who for a long time conducted the Nine Partners School at Mechanic, in the town of Washington, in this county; Gilbert, who carried on agricultural pursuits in Dutchess county; John, a farmer of Columbia county; Cynthia, who married Nemiah Place, who for many years was post- master at Fishkill Landing; James, who was a lawyer, and who, during the greater part of his life, lived in the South; Adrian, who in early life followed farming; Dorcas, who mar- ried Moses Alley, an agriculturist; Abby, who married John Tripp, a farmer; Peter, the fa- ther of our subject, is next in order of birth; Zachariah, who was for many years a school teacher, and is now a commercial traveler; Philip, a Quaker preacher; and Phebe, who married John Nelson, a farmer. The father of this family followed farming exclusively as a life vocation, and in religious faith he was an Orthodox Friend.

Peter Dorland, the father of our subject, was born at Fishkill Plains, in the year 1815;

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was reared upon a farin, and in his younger days taught school in his home neighborhood. He married Catherine E. Miller, who was born in the town of Lagrange, March 8, 1821, a a daughter of John and Margaret Miller, farming people of the same town; the former was of Holland lineage, and a native of West- chester county; the latter was a native of Fishkill, Dutchess county. Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Peter Dorland removed to Matteawan, Dutchess county, and he there taught school for some time. He then moved to Poughkeepsie, where he taught school a short time, also studied law, and then returned to Matteawan, finished his studies and was admitted to the bar. He served several terms as justice of the peace of that town. In the fall of 1859 he was elected, by the Republican party, surrogate of the county, when he again moved back to Poughkeepsie, where he lived until 1890, having been honored by his party with the nomination and election for the third time. He held the office for the long term of fourteen years. He and his wife were earnest workers in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Six children were born to them as follows: Emma, who never married; Lettie M., who is now deceased; John M., an attorney at Pough- keepsie; Cyrenus P., our subject, and Myron and Kate, both of whom are dead.

Cyrenus P., the fourth in order of birth of the family, spent his early life at Fishkill Landing, where he attended the district school. After his parents removed to Poughkeepsie he attended the public school some time, and then entered the Dutchess County Academy, where he pursued his studies for three years. At the age of seventeen he went to New York City, and was employed for some time in the wholesale cloth house of S. Hutchinson & Co .; then returned home and went into an office with his father, who was then surrogate.

Mr. Dorland studied law, and was admit- ted to the bar in 1875. He has always been a leading Republican, and in 1879 was elected by that party a justice of the city, in which capacity he served seven years, having been elected the second time. In 1886 he was nomi- nated and elected recorder of the city, and after serving his term was nominated and elected surrogate of the county, serving the term of six years. In 1896 he was again nom- inated and elected by the same party, by a very large majority, leading the whole ticket by a very handsome vote, and is at present

holding the office. He has discharged its re- sponsible duties with ability and faithfulness, and to the satisfaction of the people, and has now the reputation of a man of integrity and high principle.

In 1872 Mr. Dorland was united in mar- riage with Miss Kate S. Cary, who was born in Poughkeepsie, and whose father, Gilbert Cary, was for many years engaged in the freighting business in that city. Three chil- dren were born to them: Leslie C., Clarence (deceased) and Mary W. Mr. Dorland and his family attended the Washington Street Methodist Church. He is a public-spirited man, and is interested in all matters pertaining to the public welfare.

C APT. JAMES E. MUNGER, a leading business man of Fishkill-on-Hudson, Dutchess county, a wholesale and retail dealer in lumber and building materials, also well known as a contractor and builder, is a native of New York City, born January 29, 1838, the son of James E. and Julia A. (Albee) Munger.

The public schools of his native city af- forded him excellent opportunities for an edu- cation, and at sixteen he began to learn the milling trade, at White Lake, N. Y., with John T. Linson. The business was not con- genial, but he completed his apprenticeship of three years, and then learned the carpenter's trade, and engaged in contracting and building on his own account at Fishkill, N. Y. With the exception of three years during the Civil war, he has followed this ever since, in con- nection with other enterprises. For eight years of the time he owned a schooner, of which he took charge as captain, carrying freight on the Hudson river, and Long Island Sound, and for the last twelve years he has been engaged in the lumber trade at Fishkill- on-Hudson, having purchased the business of Andrew Barnes. His office is on Main street, while his yard is on Elm street, in rear of the "Holland House," where he has a large cov- ered yard well stored with all kinds of builders' materials.

Capt. Munger is extremely popular through- out this locality, where his family has long been well and favorably known, his father having been a native of Dutchess county. As a leading worker in the Republican party, the Captain has been tendered nominations for the best offices in the county; but he does not care

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL BEOOGD.

to go :00 deeply into politics. He has. How- ever. served for many years as trustee of the village of Fishkill-on-Hudson : since the spota 1 1990 has been township supervisor bang re-elected every year in wood was chosen for a term of two years. and is at present chais- man of the board His war record is an hoc-

crable oue. He enlisted in August. 1662. in the restb N. Y. V. I .. and was promoted to the rack of commissary sergeant and was also acting quartermaster for eight months in the absence of S. H. Mase. Although his pi- sitice would have excused him from active service on the feld. he voluntarily took part in every battle in which his regiment engaged. He rose from a sick bed to join in the Echo at Port Hudson, was in the engagement at Pearl River. and served all through the Red River campaign, while later be was in the battles Winchester. Fishers Hill and Cedar Cree's At the latter, when the enemy had all but sur- rounded the Federal forces. Capt. Munger made a dash to secure the commissary and quartermaster recurds: but before he could reach the tent a shell exploded. overturning the tent and scattering its contents in all directions. While gathering ap some of the important papers and placing them in his hay- ersack. another shell exploded near him. 3 piece striking the straps of the haversack and tearing i: oct of his hand. Even at that mo- ment. with the death-dealing shells fiving and bursting all around him. his sense of humor did not desert him. for he turned to his com- rades and exclaimed, while holding up the remnants of the baversack: "Loc's at that. boys: pretty hot. ain't it'" He was at all times the life of his regiment, fall of fun and ambition. as well as courage, and with his vio- jin he cheered many a despondent and home- sick comrade. He remained in the army patil the close of the war, and was mustered out in July. 186 :. He is a member of several fra- termal orders: Riverview Lodge No. : 60. I O. O. F .: Melzingale Lodge No. sos. K. of P. : Beacon Lodge No. : Ss. F. &A. M. : How- land Post No. : S. G. A. R : and is an boncr- ary member of the Lewis Tompkins Hose Company.

AMES HERVEY COOK, of Fishkill-on- the-Huison. Dutchess county. is a promi- cent member of the legal fraternity. He is one of the busiest of men. devoted to his

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the birthplace of Berian the Ter- Best of all the great Leaders temadomates the stare, of whom Horace Greeley autres = Fail sketch in the Erst v. the war of the Rebellion. It is to the muds: of a picturesque region. there betat a succes- sich of hits richly coltivated. extending ince the Allamuchy Mountain, on the east to the Blue Mountain range, on the west, and = fall view some ten miles away. is Delaware Water- Gap, which has been for a long time a fashion- able resort, being surrelased by will and charming scenery. Tobasonbarg bad an earir signifcance, and was known as Los Gael. be- ing the county seat of Sussex down to ff_s. and taking its name from the did ing house that served jail purposes Sussex was divided in IS __ , and that part became the upper por- ton of Warren county, named in honor of the patriot who fell at Bunker Hill. and nightly. as the majority in those two counties were active in battling for freedom in the Revidatos.

Mr. Cock is of Pilgrim ancestry. H:s

great-grandfather Elisha Cooke, migrated tom the old town of Plymouth. in Massachusetts. about the year Ines. having the dauntless spirit of those fathers of New England. locat- ing at Erst at Mendham, bear Morristovm. The oldest tombstone in the old Presbitenas churchyard there is that of Dariel Cooke was was mos: "kely a relative. A Little later. cz :- 45. Elisha Cooke became one of the Ers: settlers arbend Johns. nbare N j., and per- chased some Eve hundred acres of land, which has been largely occupied by his ======== descendants. He was of sturdy intellect. in- Sexible in the religious faith of his fathers and be loved to cell of their virtues He was the

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fourth in direct descent from Francis Cooke. who came with Bradford and Brewster in the "Mayflower." and was one of that historic company who went with them for conscience sake to Holland, where he married a French Protestant. a Walloon, a people that had suf- fered from so-called religious persecutions. He was one of the most respected members of that heroic band. He felled trees in their first winter alongside of Miles Standish; his house was among the first seven that were built, and was next to that of Edward Winslow, after- ward Governor: as a surveyor of highways he was associated with Winslow and Bradford. It is said that he did much to advance the growth of the colony, and was one of the most thrifty of the settlers. He was on intimate terms with those leading families, his children marrying into them. One son married a daugh- ter of Richard Warren, as did also the father ci the famous Capt. Church, and another son, in direct line with our Mr. Cook, married Da- maris Hopkins, whose father was the ancestor of Stephen Hopkins, Governor of Rhode Island. and a signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. A daughter married a Capt. Thompson. Grandsons were with Capt. Church in the King Philips war. and their families, being connected, were brought near to him, and were conspicuous when the chieftain fell, one ci them ordering the friendly Indian at his side to Ere the fatal shot, his own fint missing fire. Mr. Cock's birth was in a farm home, upon one of the estates of his grandfather, James Cocke, the honored head of a large family. with the strict religious views of his New Eng- land ancestry. and who had been from the Erst establishment of the Presbyterian Church a revered elder. His oldest son, Frederick S., the father of him whom we are sketching. was of an chescally good and clear under- standing. intelligent, of the strictes: integrity. and could not be otherwise than religious. Living a quiet life. he was only known fully by those immediately around him. He thought the letter . . in the Cooke name superfluous. and dropped its cse. as others of the family have d.ce Edward Cocke the great Eng- Ish lawyer. was of this family, and struck out as we are told by his biographer to please his second wife. In the earlier days there was no regularity in spelling, and in that way many family names have ondergone changes in spelling. Mr. Cock's father died in 16- moch respected by all who knew him.

His grave is in the family burial plot at Succa- sunna, N. J., in the old churchyard of the Presbyterian Church. Among other tombs. there is that of Mahlon Dickerson, who was Governor. United States Senator. and Secre- tary of the Navy in Jackson's administration.

Mr. Cook speaks with great affection of his mother, as being a woman of very superior mould, and as directing her children with her wise counsel. She was endowed with the finest qualities of a Christian mind and heart, and was always an inspiration to them. She died a few years ago deeply mourned. Her father was Gershom Bartow, a leading man in northwestern New Jersey, and a lineal de- scendant of Francois Barteau, a Huguenot, who came with other Huguenots to Long Island. Her mother was an Ogden, a name conspicu- ous for ability and patriotism in the annals of the State. A noble brother, who did patriotic service in the Civil war, died in 1894. Two sisters, who have his warm affection, are in the old homestead.

Mr. Cook was taught in his home and in the neighboring schools in early boyhood. He speaks of his first teachers as being good in- structors. and says that he had a love for study. His thirst for learning led him to seek it in every way. and the home had often late study hours. During his boyhood his father moved to the site of Ledgewood, a mountain- encircled plain, near Schooley's Mountain, and a few miles to the southwest are the famous Schooley's Mountain Springs. The Morris canal runs along the farm, and near by is one of its locks, and a short distance of are two of the famous inclined planes. About three miles to the northwest is the romantic Lake Hopatcong, visited for its great natural beauty. Upon the farm is a deposit of valuable Infuso- rial Earth, which has attracted the attention of learned scientists, and is regarded as being in quality equal to the best German beds, in which he is interested.

It was there that Mr. Cook grew to man- hood. The public schools were good, and he says that he owes much to one of those teachers who had a large acquaintance with literature, aside from instructing well in math- ematics and introducing them to the study of Latin. He was a superior elocutionist. and his pupils became good readers and declaimers. being taught to read electively the best liter- ary productions. He took great pains to have them practice in composition and debating.

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and Mr. Cook says he has never known better readers and declaimers than there were in that country school. They were made familiar with the writings of the best authors. Not in the neighboring academy did he have better teaching. But he tells mos: proudly of his later Principal in the Chester Institute, Will- iam Rankin. as being one of the Ènes: scholars he ever knew. Of rich natural endowments. indeed great. he was richer in his scholastic attainments, being a rare linguist, a scientis: and a historian, with the Master's degree from Yale. He was a born teacher. and many went out from his school into advanced college classes. There Mr. Cook read both Latin and Greek, and made himself familiar with the classic authors. He admires Virgil. Horace and Cicero greatly, and frequently pores over them. and studies the pages of Homer and De- mosthenes. That Principal was his most inti- mate friend, and gave him every encourage- ment. Another close friend was a teacher in that school. who loved to argue as well as did Goldsmith's schoolmaster, and who became a leading legislator in New Hampshire. With him he had many friendly contentions in de- bate.

Mr. Cook was early interested in politics. and listened with deep and even passionate interest to political discussions. He would go far and near to listen to eloquent speakers. and heard the foremost orators. In political meetings he would frequently take part in speaking, and would report speeches for his party paper, to which he was an occasional con- tributor. Those political contests were warm, just preceding the Civil war, and at the Insti- tute, and later. he firmly planted himself on the side of the old fag, and offered to give his services in the great struggle. His brother en- listed. and he could not go, but the whole family contributed largely from their means to give aid. About that time he began reading law, under the direction of Jacob Vanatta. a leading lawyer at Morristown, an eloquent ad- vocate, and afterward one of New Jersey's ablest attorney generals. In the fall of Iso: he entered the Law Department of the Uni- versity of Albany, graduating in November. 1866. Two of those professors were Ira Harris, then United States Senator. and Amasa J. Parker, both distinguished jurists. Judge Parker was a stanch friend. Among those classmates were a number who have risen to distinction. William Mckinley, now

President. being the most widely knows. M .. Coc's was a member of two classes, which numbered many talented young men, and was chosen President of the Saturday Evening Congress, a society for general debate, num- bering the foremost of these ambitious law students. although a majority differed trim him in politics.

After graduating at the Law School, Mr. Cook was urged to spend the winter of 15"6 and I86; at Dover. N. J .. to attend to the law practice of a prominent lawyer, who had just been elected to the Legislature, and who ==- sisted on his remaining with him as a partner: but having resolved to locate along the Hoi- son, Mr. Cook settled in May. iSor. a: Fish- kill-on-the-Hudson, where be bas since been actively engaged in all the coc .: s He is widely known in the profession. He is both counsellor and advocate, and has had many cases of more or less importance, in which he has met with a marked success. He bas al- ways been painstaking and laborious in oh- taining fully the facts from his clients, and has been untiring in his efforts to look up the law. with a determination to state his cases in clear arguments to judge and jury.

Mr. Cook has been deeply interested in the duties of a citizen, and is pronounced in his political views, being attached firmly to the principles of the Democratic party, which he has never failed to urge in public speech: but he has never allowed political questions to be discussed in his office, believing that those who differ from him politically should not be an- noved by fruitless discussions, when business should have undivided attention: with that reasonable tolerance for the opinions of others they have shown a like generosity and the re- sult has been that he has as many clients in the opposite party as in his own. He has never held public office, feeling it is better for a lawyer to give himself wholly to his profes- sional duties. To gratify a number in his patty. he was a candidate, in 1886, for the Legislature, when he made a strong canvass against great odds: but was noi elected. At that time he had a warm letter from George William Curtis, approving of his independent course. Mr. Cartis mentioned him very hon- orably afterward in an editorial in . Harper's Weekly." commending him to the whole coun- try. He has not clung to his party when he has been satisfied that the candidate was unat for office. and he was a delegate to the famous

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Syracuse Convention, when independents met in opposition to leading men among their for- mer political friends, from whom they differed in regard to political action growing out of the contest which resulted in seating Senator Os- borne after the miscount in Dutchess county. Mr. Cook at once disapproved of that course in a public letter, widely published, and also, as to the later candidacy of Maynard for Judge of the Court of Appeals, who became involved in that controversy, and who was overwhelm- ingly defeated. In 1896 Mr. Cook was again a candidate for the Assembly, with no hope of success, being among those in his party who would not support the majority in his party, on account of the financial question, and the un-democratic platformn, as he terms it, and independently gave aid to the Republican can- didate for President, as Mr. Cook did directly for patriotic inotives.

Mr. Cook has always been interested in historical matters, especially those relating to our Colonial and Constitutional history, has corresponded with leading historical scholars, and given many historical addresses and papers before public assemblies. He is now first vice-President of the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highland, is a member (or fellow) of the American Geographical So- ciety, and has been connected with other socie- ties. He has been an occasional contributor to the press. In his own town he has never failed to take an active and decided part in public matters. At one time he was a village trustec, and for several years was President of the Board of Education, and sought most earnestly to have the course of study enlarged, that it might compare favorably with the best public-school instruction in the State, and furnish those children, who could not attend academies and colleges with opportunities to become good scholars, if so inclined. An im- provement in that direction is now seen. He is also an officer of the Reformed Church, with which he has long been connected.

Mr. Cook was married, soon after coming to Fishkill, to an estimable young lady in New Jersey, whom he had known from boyhood. Her father was a bank president, and his brother, himself and two sons were State Sena- tors. She died some twenty years ago, leaving a son, Pierre Frederic Cook, who graduated at Princeton in 1892. He was afterward a student in the New York Law School, and under his father's direction and advice read law in the

office of the late Governor Bedle of Jersey City. He has been admitted to the bar, and has before him very good professional pros- pects.

E LMER DANIEL GILDERSLEEVE, a leading merchant of Poughkeepsie, was born in the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, July 11, 1846, son of Smith J. and Rachel (Alger) Gildersleeve, and is of Scottish descent.

Henry Gildersleeve, the grandfather of our subject, was born February 13, 1765, at Hempstead, L. I., and after his marriage with Eunice Smith (who was born April 16, 1766) he settled on a farm in the town of Clinton, Dutchess county. In politics he was a Whig, in religious faith a Quaker. His family com- prised eight children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Elizabeth, September 5, 1788; Mary, October 5, 1790; Phœbe, Jan- uary 28, 1793; Sarah, September 30, 1795; Henry, October 16, 1797; Ruth, August 27, 1800; Jane, November 29, 1805; and Smith J., August 21, 1809. Of these, Phcebe married a Mr. Gurney, a farmer of Saratoga county, N. Y .; Sarah became the wife of Edward White, a farmer in the town of Chatham, Columbia county: Henry became a farmer in the town of Hillsdale, Columbia county; Ruth married Leonard Sackett, a farmer of Dutch- ess county; and Jane married and went west, where she died.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 19

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