Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 2

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

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bers of the Dutchess County Bar, who attend- ed the funeral in a body, passed the following resolutions of condolence and respect :

WHEREAS, The members of the bar of the County of Dutchess have learned, with great sorrow, of the death of the llon. Charles Wheaton, and have met in co incil to publicly express their appreciation of the man and their sympathy with his family:

Resolved, That in the loss of our well-beloved associate and friend, ever upright, courteous and generous, pure of character, honest of purpose, filling every position with sagacity and courage, never faltering or hesitating in fol- lowing his convictions of duty, a profound lawyer and learned man, an impartial and clear-minded judge and a wise counsellor, always ready to aid the younger and less experienced of his associates, and a firin and steady friend, we desire to place on record an expression of our conimon loss, and to his family our condolence and our sympathy in their bereavement.

On further motion it was resolved that, out of respect for the deceased brother, the mem- bers of the bar attend the funeral.

Judge Wheaton was married in Pough- keepsie, October 26, 1859, to Miss Caroline Barculo, who survives him. They had five children: Barculo, born September 24, 1861, died at the age of thirteen; Louisa, born Au- gust 6, 1863, is a sister in the order of The S. H. C. J. at the convent at Sharon Hill, Penn., near Philadelphia; Isaac Smith, born December 13, 1864, resides at Lithgow, and is married to Helen Marguerite Fairchild, of New York; Frank died at the age of fourteen months; and Agnes, born January 19, 1870, is in the convent at Sharon Hill. A few years after his marriage Judge Wheaton built the brick mansion in North Hamilton street, which faces Mansion square near the intersection of Mansion street. There his children were born, and there he accumulated his library. He was rarely absent from home, and never for a long period of time. He made an extended trip through Europe in 1880 in company with his family, and returned with probably acuter and more appreciative knowledge of what he had seen than most travelers gain. Extensive reading had prepared his mind for the scenes and objects he was to visit; therefore, sight of them was had with a relish that was keen and intelligent. He loved to talk of his experi- ences; those that were vital with humor or exhibited striking phases of human nature were narrated by him with bright phrases and a verbal coloring that indicated his many-sided apprehension. His amusements were all of an intellectual character; outdoor diversions seemed to have but little attraction for him. In his younger manhood his physique was

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

almost perfect, his sound health imparting a ruddiness to his skin and a brightness to his eyes that set him forth one of the handsomest of men. These qualities, added to his native bonhomie, made him especially attractive. His courtesy toward women, and good fellowship with men, assured him a lasting popularity. It can be said with literal truth that Charles Wheaton was one of Nature's noblemen. His intellect was a noble gift; his perceptions were of the keenest, his powers of expression supe- rior; he apparently lacked nothing of a thor- oughly-equipped mind. His knowledge of his- tory was wide and exact; perhaps few men in this State exceeded him in the wealth of mid- dle-age and modern history. Polite literature was a favorite study in his younger years, and as he approached the end of half a century of life his literary tastes and reading were una- bated. He was especially informed concern- ing the literature of the Elizabethan, the Queen Anne and the Georgian eras of English drama, oratory and belles lettres. The law seemed to possess more attractions for him in his early manhood than in his later years, and while such attractions receded from him, the allure- ments of modern and coetaneous literature exerted their spell upon his receptive mind.

Hon. Seward Barculo, the father of Mrs. Charles Wheaton, was the son of Rev. George Barculo, who, at the time of his son's birth, September 22, 1808, was pastor of the two churches at Hopewell and New Hackensack, Dutchess county. Seward was a favorite of his uncle, Jacobus Swarthout, with whom he spent much of his time in boyhood, and who adopted him and provided for his education. As a boy he was remarkable for the active and mischievous turn of his mind, while he was at the same time truthful, generous, fearless, and firm. He began his academic course in De- cember, 1826, at the academy in Fishkill vil- lage, then under the charge of Rev. Cor- nelius D. Westbrook. He prepared for col- lege at Cornwall, Conn., and entered the freshman class at Yale in September, 1828, remaining until August, 1830, when owing to some difficulty with the Faculty he received an honorable discharge and went to Rutgers College, N. J. He was a year in advance of his class there, and after three months he re- turned home; the Faculty being displeased at this step, expelled him, and this ended his college course. He commenced the study of law with S. Cleveland, Esq., of Poughkeepsie,

and was admitted to the bar in the spring of 1834. He then began to practice under cir- cumstances which, though generally deemed favorable, are in reality a disadvantage to a young man anxious to commence the trial of causes at nisi prius. He entered into part- nership with Mr. Cleveland, whose many cli- ents were always desirous that he should per- sonally conduct their cases. The junior part- ner rapidly acquired confidence, and began to try his skill unaided by senior counsel, and as Mr. Cleveland was in New York much of the time, the young man gradually assumed the business of the office with credit to himself and satisfaction to his clients. He was ap- pointed judge of the county court in April, 1845, by Gov. Wright, on the unanimous recommendation of the Dutchess County Bar. and in 1846 was appointed circuit judge by Gov. Wright. In 1847 he was elected one of the justices of the supreme court for the Sec- ond District, and drew the longest term, serv- ing six years and a half.

Judge Barculo had no negative character- istics; none of the easy and facile utterance of non-committal expressions which mark the weak and mediocre man who aims at political "availability." He was an extensive reader, possessed of fine literary taste, and he took great interest in the public library of the city of Poughkeepsie. Horticulture was a favorite pursuit with him, and his varieties of straw- berries, peaches, pears and other fruits became quite celebrated in his section. To the cul- ture of the grape he paid especial attention, and the manufacture of wine, of which he left some fine varieties. Some valuable papers were written by him for the "Horticulturist," on the varieties and management of fruit.

In 1846, 1850 and 1854, he visited Europe, as much for the sake of being on the ocean as to observe for himself the manners and cus- toms of foreign society, and the machinery of their social and political life. His fondness for the water amounted to a passion. He owned a sail boat, and would occasionally hoist sail and pass down the river to New York City, across the bay, and up the Shrewsbury river, where he would spend weeks in sailing and bathing. During his last trip to Europe his health failed perceptibly while he was in Lon- don and Paris, but he never complained. Al- ways kind and considerate to those about him, he would insist upon going with his young friends to places of interest, that their visit might not be

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

marred by his afflictions. Finding himself growing feebler, in June, 1854, he turned his face homeward, his one wish being to die in h's own home, surrounded by those who were near and dear to him. But that home he never reached, for on June 20, 1854. he died in New York City. His unconscious dust re- posed for a while in its desolate halls, and then-

Gently we laid hun down to rest, With his own white roses upon his breast.

He was buried with the solemn ritual of the Episcopal Church, of which he was a member, on June 22, 1854, in the cemetery which, shortly before his departure for Europe, he was most active in procuring, as if in prophetic knowledge that he would soon occupy it. Eleven weeks later, September 4, 1854, in Poughkeepsie, his only son, Sidney, was killed by an accidental fall, and their remains rest side by side.

On May 12, 1834. Judge Barculo was mar- ried to Cornelia, daughter of John H. and Sarah (Somerindyke) Talman, of New York City. His wife survives him with two daugh- ters Caroline T., born March 1, 1835, and Marion, born June 5. 1836: Cornelia F., born March 31. 1851, died August 6, 1881.

It is one of the consolations of a good man that his memory shall not die; that the re- membrance of his services and virtues shall be preserved as an inheritance to his children, and as an incentive to others who may be treading the ardnous path of public life. The sentiment, which seeks its gratification in the desire for honest fame while we live, may legitimately be extended to posthumous re- nown. It is a premonition and prophecy that we are not all mortal, but that something sur - vives and claims a consciousness of the char- acter it leaves behind. Judge Barculo well merited the epitaph inscribed upon his monu- ment :

In Society, an Ornament;

In the State, a Judge, fearless, dignified and incorruptible; in habit, simple and pure. He died young, but mature In usefulness and fame,

Adorning Jurisprudence by the clearness of his decisions, And illustrating Religion by The Strength of his Faith.

H OMER AUGUSTUS NELSON (de- ceased . The subject of this memoir, a native of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, born August 31, 1829, was at the time of his death

characterized by one of the Poughkeepsie journals as "the first citizen of this city and county." This unusual tribute was deserved. The son of John M. Nelson, a Dutchess county farmer. Judge Nelson achieved a prominent place in State and National affairs, solely by virtue of his inherent abilities. He was edu- cated at the Dutchess County AAcademy. and afterward studied law in the offices of Tallman & Dean, Varick & Eldridge, and Hon. Charles H. Ruggles, all of Poughkeepsie, and at twenty- one years of age was admitted to the bar.

He at once began to attract attention as a lawyer by his keen analysis of legal questions, while in politics he was speedily recognized as a leader of the local Democratic party. In 1855. when but twenty-six years old, he was elected judge of Dutchess county, being the youngest man ever chosen to that office. He served upon this bench with distinction for two terms. In 1859 he was renominated unani- mousły, and re-elected by a large majority, notwithstanding the fact that all the other candidates on the Democratic ticket were de- feated.

At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he was made colonel of the 167th Regiment, N. Y. V. I., and would have accompanied his cominand to the front but for the urgent pleading of his numerous friends, who prevailed on him to take his seat in Con- gress, where they considered his services would be of more value to the country at large. In the fall of 1862 he was elected to Congress, and in the following year entered upon his duties there, having, at the special solicitation of his bosom friend. Mr. Kelly, of Rhinebeck, resigned his commission in the army. It may be here mentioned that Col. Nelson's regiment was among those that suffered most in the great struggle, a large proportion of its officers and men having been numbered among the killed and wounded. In December, 1863, he proceeded to Washington, and on New Year's Day, 1864, he was present at a reception held at the White House, to which all the generals in the army were invited, the first and only occasion of the kind during the war.

During his entire Congressional term Judge Nelson warmly advocated and supported all measures for the vigorous prosecution of the war, and the suppression of the Rebellion. The adoption of the Constitutional Amendments for the Abolition of Slavery was doubtless due in a large measure to his efforts, for he was not

H. A. Nulsa

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

only one of the few Democrats to vote for them, but he also exerted his influence to in- duce others of his party to support them at a time when they could not have been secured without a partition of the Democratic vote in the House of Representatives.

In 1867 he was elected a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of New York State, where he rendered conspicuous service, leading to his nomination and election the same year as Secretary of State. He was re-elected two years later by a majority which at that time was the largest ever given to a Democratic candidate in the State. His success in this po- sition was acknowledged even by party oppo- nents; but he generously declined a re-nomina- tion for a third term in favor of a friend, Died- rich Willers, who was his deputy.

After his retirement in 1871 from the office of Secretary of State, Judge Nelson removed his law office to New York City, where he was engaged in litigations of the greatest impor- tance. He retained his residence at Pough- keepsie, however, and in 1881 was elected State Senator from Dutchess county, serving as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, in which capacity his services were invaluable in the revision of the penal code. His appoint- Inent by the Governor, in 1890, as a member of the commission to prepare and propose to the Legislature amendments to the judiciary article of the Constitution, was a recognition of his distinguished services, and of his learning, ability, and experience as a lawyer. Alto- gether he was one of the most prominent, act- ive, and influential members, and during his career in the House served as chairman of three committees. As a member of the legal profession, he was highly popular, not only with his colleagues, but among all classes, and was universally respected. At the bar he was as distinguished as when he sat in both Con- gress and Senate, and in 1857 Rutgers College, New Jersey, conferred upon him the honorary degree of Master of Arts, in token of the es- teem in which his abilities had thus early won him.

With the young men of his time, and es- pecially with the then struggling law student, or newly-fledged attorney, Judge Nelson's mem- ory will be ever held in kindly reverence. To these he was always considerate and helpful, encouraging and affable, and none ever came to him for advice or counsel that was not cheerfully given. On one occasion, having

delivered an address in the Opera House, a reporter waited on him with the request that he, the Judge, would repeat certain points in his address. The Judge not only immediately acceded to this, but cheerfully repeated the whole of the address to the reporter. In fact. Judge Nelson was one of the most urbane and courteous of men, and possessed the faculty of putting at ease all who approached him. He was also possessed of an extremely gen- erous heart, was charitable to all deserving causes, and the poor at all times had his coun- sel " without money and without price." All these characteristics, and more, the outcome of genuine kindliness of heart, were the com- pletion of his well-rounded character. Physic- ally he was a man of fine presence, handsome, standing six feet in height, and well built in proportion. He was fond of sport, even boy- ish in his tastes and enjoyments, and de- lighted to join with children in their games and sports.

The Judge was married in September, 1855, to Miss Helen J. Stearns, daughter of a well-known attorney, John M. Stearns, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Judge Nelson departed this life at Poughkeepsie, April 25, 1891, the cause of his death being heart trouble, and on the day of his funeral, out of respect to his mem- ory, the entire business in town was suspended. He was a member of the State Bar Associa- tion, and was a Freemason.

H ON. LEVI PARSONS MORTON, ex- Vice-President of the United States, and ex-Governor of the State of New York, claims descent from an old French family, one mem- ber of which (supposed to have been Robert Comte de Mortain) joined William the Con- queror, in Normandy, in his famous expedition to England. This Count Robert had a son, William, Earl of Moriton and Cornwall, and from these first of the name in England sprang many men of renown both in Church and State.

Prominent among the English Mortons who early came to America were Thomas Morton, Esq., Rev. Charles Morton, Land- grave Joseph Morton, and (I) George Morton, the ancestor of our subject. He was born about 1585, at Austerfield, Yorkshire, Eng- land, and about 1622, accompanied by his wife and five children, he set sail for America, as one of the "Pilgrims," in the "Ann,"

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

reaching Plymouth in June, 1623. He did not long, however, survive his arrival, dying in June of the following year. He married Juliana Carpenter, and by her had five chil- dren: Nathaniel, Patience, John, Sarah and Ephriam. The mother married a second time, and died at Plymouth, February, 18, 1665.

(II) Hon. John Morton, second son of George and Juliana Morton, was born in 1616-17, and came with his parents in the "Ann." From Plymouth he removed to Mid- dleboro, in the same county, and there died, October 3, 1673. He married Lettice ", who married again, and died, February 22, 1691.

(III) John Morton, eldest surviving child of Hon. John and Lettice Morton, was born at Plymouth, December 21, 1650, and died at Middleboro in 1717. He married, about 1680, Phæbe -, and after her death wedded, about 1687, Mary Ring.

(IV) Capt. Ebenezer Morton, fourth child of John and Mary Morton, was born at Mid- dleboro, October 19, 1696, and died there in 1750. He married, in 1720, Mercy Foster, born 1698, died April 4, 1782.

(V) Ebenezer Morton, fourth child of Capt. Ebenezer and Mercy Morton, was born at Middleboro, August 27, 1726, and married there, July 23, 1753, Mrs. Sarah Cobb.

(VI) Livy Morton, fourth child of Ebe- nenzer and Sarah Morton, was born at Mid- dleboro, February 4, 1760; removed to Win- throp, Maine, where his children were born, but subsequently returned to Middleboro, where he died July 19, 1838. He married (first) March 13, 1788, Ilannah Dailey, born No- vember 15, 1760, died in 1807; married (sec- ond) in 1808, Catherine Richmond, who died in 1849.

(VII) Rev. Daniel Oliver Morton. A. M., eldest son of Livy and Hannah Morton, wasborn at Winthrop, Maine, December 21, 1788, and died at Bristol, N. HI., March 25, 1852. At Pittsfield, Vt., August 30, 1814, he married Lucretia Parsons, daughter of Rev. Justin and Electa (Frary) Parsons; she was born at Goshen, July 26, 1789. died at Philadelphia, January 11, 1862. Children of Rev. Daniel Oliver, and Lucretia Morton, all born at Shore- ham, Vt., were Daniel Oliver, Lucretia Par- sons, Electa Frary, Levi Parsons, Mary and Martha.

(VIII) Hon. Levi Parsons Morton, fourth child of Rev. Daniel Oliver and Lucretia (Par-

sons) Morton, was born May 16, 1824. Early in life he became a merchant's clerk, and later was a merchant in Hanover, N. H., where he continued until 1850, in which year he entered the firm of Beebe, Morgan & Co .. then one of the leading dry-goods houses in Boston. In the following year the firm opened a branch house in New York, to which Mr. Morton was detailed as resident partner and manager. On January 1, 1854, he withdrew from the firm to form the dry-goods commission house of Morton & Grinnell. In 1863 he established the banking houses of L. P. Morton & Co., in New York, and L. P. Morton, Burns & Co., in London. In 1869 the firm be- came Morton, Bliss & Co., in New York, and Morton, Rose & Co., in London, where his principal partner was Sir John Rose, formerly Minister of Finance, Canada. It was through this house that the United States Government paid Great Britain the Halifax fishing award of five million five hundred thou- sand dollars. Mr. Morton was one of the noted American bankers whose advice and as- sistance were sought by the Treasury Depart- ment in the movements of specie payments.

Early in his business career in New York Mr. Morton evinced an interest in public affairs, and his counsel was frequently solicited in the political concern of the Republican party, especially of New York, but not till 1876 did he enter actively into political life. In this year he was, without his knowledge, nomi- nated for Congress by the Republican party in the Eleventh District, and, although unsuccess- ful, he nevertheless materially reduced the usual Democratic majority. In 1878 he was appointed by President Hayes honorary com- missioner to the Paris Exposition, and in the autumn of the same year he was again nomi- nated for Congress, and after a vigorous can- vass was elected by 6.000 majority, which majority was larger than the number of all the votes of his opponent. This was the first time the district had been carried by the Repub- licans.

Mr. Morton took his seat in Congress the Forty-sixth) March 18, 1879, and he imme- diately secured a high position in the legisla- tive councils. On April 21, 1879, he was ap- pointed on the Committee on Foreign Affairs, where he served acceptably and with distinc- tion. In I880 he was again elected to Con- gress from the same district, by an increased majority.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

When the Convention of 1880 had nomi- nated Mr. Garfield for President of the United States, it turned to New York to find a candi- date for Vice-President, and Mr. Morton was urged to permit the use of his name. He, however, declined the honor, and the choice then fell upon Mr. Arthur. Mr. Garfield of- fered Mr. Morton the choice of the Secretary- ship of the Navy, or the position of Minister Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to France. The latter office he accepted, and in the summer of 1881 sailed with his family for the French capital.

The pre-eminent fitness of the new envoy at once became apparent, and the success of his diplomatic career has probably never been surpassed, if equalled, by any American repre- sentative to a foreign court. Shortly after President Cleveland entered upon the duties of his office Mr. Morton resigned, and May 14, 1885, the retiring minister presented his letter of recall to the President of the Republic.

In January, 1885, while he was yet in France, Mr. Morton's name was brought be- fore the Republican caucus of the New York Legislature as a candidate for the Senate of the United States, the vote being: William M. Evarts, 61; Levi P. Morton, 28; Chauncey M. Depew, 3. Two years later his name was used in the same connection, but after the first ballot in the Legislature Mr. Morton withdrew in favor of Mr. Hiscock, who was elected.

Early in the Presidential campaign of 1 888, when Gen. Harrison was nominated for Presi- dent Mr. Morton was nominated for Vice- President, and both candidates were elected, after a most hotly contested campaign. The successful vote in New York was universally conceded to have been largely due to Mr. Morton's strength and popularity in that State. On March 4. 1889, he entered upon the duties of the Vice-Presidential office, and discharged the same during his four-year term with marked ability; and it may not be too much to say that the United States Senate has never been pre- sided over with greater courtesy, dignity and efficiency. In 1894 Mr. Morton was nomi- nated for and elected governor of the State of New York, his term of office expiring Janu- ary 1, 1897.

Mr. Morton has not only achieved distinc- tion in financial and political circles, but in charitable deeds as well, as witness his munifi- cent donation to the Irish poor during the great famine in Ireland, of 1888, and his gen-

erosity on several other occasions. park to the city of Newport; a house and lotn Han- over to Dartmouth College, that theCollege might be enabled to erect an art galry and museum; $to, ooo toward the foundatn of a professorship of Latin and French inliddle- burg College; $75,000 to Grace Chur, New York, to provide a building for a day arsery, as a tribute to the memory of his fit wife, Mrs. Lucy Kimball Morton, and her inrest in the children of the poor-all these stid out from the list of Mr. Morton's public andrivate benevolences.

From Middleburg College, in ISS the re- ceived the degree of LL. D., also fro Dart- mouth College in 1882. Socially, È is a member of the Union, Union League, letro- politan, Century, and Lawyers Clubs f New York; the Metropolitan Club of Washgton, D. C .; the Historical and America Geo- graphical Societies of New York, and t New England Historic Genealogical Society

On October 15, 1856, Mr. Mort was married at Flatlands, Long Island, t Lucy Kimball (born July 22, 1836, died Jy 1871), daughter of Elijah H. and Sara Wet- more (Hinsdale) Kimball, of Flatland Long Island. On February 12, 1873, Mr. orton, for his second wife, married Anna Lingston Reade Street, born May 18, 1846, dauter of William Ingraham Street, Esq., an Susan Kearney, his wife. The following hildren have been born to Levi Parsons af Anna (Street) Morton: Edith Livingston, orn at Newport, R. 1., June 20, 1874; Le Kear- ney, born at Newport, May 20, 187 Helen Stuyvesant, born at Newport, August 1876; Lewis Parsons, born at London, gland, September 21, 1877, and died therejanuary 10, 1878; Alice, born at New York, Irch 23, 1879; and Mary, born at New York, ine 11, 1881.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 2

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