Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 23

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

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D AVID A. KNAPP, M. D., an eminent physician and surgeon of Dutchess county, has for many years successfully engaged in the practice of medicine in the town of Unionvale. In his profession he takes a genuine and de- voted interest, making a study of . the ills that flesh is heir to, " and is one of the most capable and conscientious men in his profession.

His father, Isaac Knapp, also a medical practitioner, was a native of Greenwich, Conn., where he obtained his literary education, and

later began the study of medicine, graduating at the New York Medical Institute in 1795. He commenced the practice of his chosen pro- fession in New Fairfield, near Danbury, Conn., and also conducted a select school. In relig- ious belief he was a Presbyterian. He married Miss Amy Brush, a daughter of Squire Brush, a prosperous farmer of New Fairfield, and they became the parents of eight children, one of whom died in infancy, the others being as fol- lows:

(1) Theressa Knapp was born in the town of New Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Conn., and se- cured a common-school education. She mar- ried Hubbel Platt, but had no children.

(2) Isaac Knapp, also a native of New Fairfield town, engaged in teaching after the completion of his own education, and also fol- lowed farming. During the old training day's he held the commission of captain in the militia. He married Miss Maranda Hall, and they had one son-Smith, now deceased, who was born in Connecticut, and for a time was engaged in the real-estate business. He was twice married, the first time to a Miss Briggs, by whom he had two children, Lula and George F .; later he wedded a Miss Taylor, and they had three children.

(3) Enoch Knapp was born and educated in Connecticut, and also taught school. During the training days he served as major. He married Rachel Barnum, of New Fairfield, Conn., and to them were born seven children: Almira, who married Daniel Wood, a farmer of Redding Ridge, Fairfield Co., Conn., and has five children; Sarah, who married Waite Brush, a farmer of Rome, N. Y., and has three children; Mary, who died in infancy; Charlotte, an artist by prolession, who is now studying in France and other parts of the Old World; Isaac S., an agriculturist, who married Lula Dayton; Mary, who wedded a Mr. Clegett, and has a son, Clifton; and Fred, a farmer, who married a Miss Howe.

(4) Sarah Knapp, who was born in the town of New Fairfield, married Ephraim Leach, a farmer, and they had three sons: David (now deceased). a machinist, who mar- ried a Miss Bennett; Isaac, an engineer; and Henry O., who married a Miss Roberts, of Peekskill, N. Y., and has six children: Fannie, Hannah, Mabel, Myra, Clara and Theressa.

(5) Ezra Knapp (deceased) was born in the town of New Fairfield, received a common- school education, and followed the pursuit of

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farming. He married Miss Rachel Meade, of Greenwich, Conn. ; they had no children.

(6) Dr. David A. Knapp, of this review, is next in order of birth, and like the other mem- bers of the family, was born in the town of New Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Conn. He at- tended the district schools near his home, and later pursued his studies in a select school of that township, in the Danbury Academy and in the Middletown Academy. For two years he was then a student at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., prior to which he engaged in teaching for a time. At the age of twenty- two years he entered the University of New York, graduating from the medical department in the spring of 1845. He soon after began practice in the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, where he has since made his home and has met with excellent results along his chosen line of endeavor. He is one of the prominent as well as original members of the Dutchess County Medical Society. In social circle he also holds a leading position, and has been called upon to serve in a number of township offices.

In 1846 the Doctor was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Vincent, who was born in 1827, and is the daughter of Jonathan G. and Loretta (Williams) Vincent, prosperous farm- ing people of the town of Unionvale. Two sons bless their union: (1) David Vincent. born in 1863. was educated at Wilbraham, Mass .. and Hackettstown, N. J., and also studied medicine. He married Miss Anna Dean, daughter of Cromaline Dean, of the town of Lagrange, Dutchess county, and they had one child that died in infancy. The wife and mother is also now deceased. (2) Ezra V. M., the Doctor's younger son, was born in the town of Unionvale, February 14. 1875. Fle also attended school at Wilbraham, Mass., and the High School at Meriden, Conn., later taking a course at the Eastman Business Col- lege, Poughkeepsie. He is now carrying on farming with his father. In 1895 he took a trip to the Pacific coast, remaining there six months.

(7) Euphemia Knapp, the youngest child of Isaac and Amy Brush) Knapp, married Willian: H. Morse, an agriculturist of Mass- achusetts; they had no children.

Gilbert Vincent, the grandfather of Mrs. Dr. Knapp, was a native of the town of Union- yale, and married Miss Phoebe Vail. In their family were twelve children, namely: Isaac,

who married Martha Duncan; Absalom, who married Hannah Duncan; Jonathan G., the father of Mrs. Knapp; Thomas, who married Eliza Arnold; Richard, who married Helen Fowler; Margaret, who married John T. Potter; Betsy, who married Jonathan Hus- tead; Rebecca and Levina, who never mar- ried; Michael, who married a Miss Carey; Phoebe A., who married Morris Germond; and Hepsobeth, who married Edward Wheeler.

Jonathan C. Vincent was born in the town of Unionvale, and was united in marriage with Miss Loretta Williams, daughter of Squire Williams, a surveyor, of the same town- ship. Seven children were born to them, as follows: (1) Elizabeth married Reuben L. Coe, and had six children. (2) Rebecca is the wife of Dr. Knapp, subject of this sketch. (3) John, ex-county clerk, married Rhoda Butler, and had four children-Ella, who married Obed Vincent; Minnie, who married Charles Andrews; Walter; and Elisha B. (4) Gilbert married Kate Uhl, by whom he had a son, Ralph, who married Hannah T. Under- hill; for his second wife Gilbert wedded Eliza Ham, and they have a daughter, Loretta. (5) Lewis never married. (6) Michael married Estella O'Neil, and has five children -Nellie, Minnie, Jonathan, Thomas and Rebecca. (7) Mary A. wedded Orin Able, and has two chil- dren-Elanita, who married Oscar Shaffer; and Claude O. L.

AMES G. PORTEOUS, M. D. (deceased).

In the romantic annals of Scottish history, and made immortal in the romances of Sir Walter Scott, is the name of Porteous, ever linked in the struggles for freedom, and worthy a place at the side of a Forbes, or a Mar, fol- lowing under the leadership of the matchless Wallace, or Bruce. In direct line of descent from Capt. Porteous, famous in the "Porteous mob" at Edinburgh, comes Andrew Porteous, a native of that city, born in 1815 or 1816, a son of Andrew Porteous, Sr. ; he emigrated to this country in 1837 or '38, and helped to lay out Jersey City. He later went to Essex county, New York, and worked in the mines as a civil engineer, afterward going to Glens Falls where he engaged in the cement business, and thence to Luzerne where he followed agricultural pur- suits. He married Jane Blair, also of an ancient Scotch family, and they became the parents of eight children, as follows: James

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G., Helen, Mary, Jane, Charles, Maggie, An- nie and Scott, only two of whom-Jane and Scott-are yet living.

James G. Porteous, whose name opens this review, was born at Moriah, Essex Co., N. Y., January 3, 1839. While in Essex county his educational training was under the guidance of a private tutor, and his academic education was received at Glens Falls. In 1861 he entered the medical department of Harvard College, graduating in 1865. During the four years he was enrolled as a student at Harvard, he was absent two years in the army. Prompted by the same spirit that animated the breasts of his ancestors he offered his services to his country. to do his part that no star might be missed from the field of blue. He enlisted as first as- sistant surgeon of the 18th N. Y. V. I., and later was promoted to surgeon of the 46th N. Y. V. I., where he served during the bal- ance of the war. After being mustered out he returned to college and passed " perfect " in all of his examinations. In 1865 he began practice at Luzerne, in Warren Co., N. Y., and for fifteen years he successfully followed his chosen calling-to which his large sympa- thies so well adapted him-there; but May 1, 1880, he bought out the practice of Dr. Carter, of Poughkeepsie, and removed to that city, greatly to the regret of his patients at Luzerne. His career as a physician in Poughkeepsie was one of remarkable success, and he remained there until his death, one of the best known physicians in this part of the State.

In 1865 Dr. Porteons was married to Miss Sarah F. Wilbur, daughter of Samuel and Sarah Wilbur, of Boston, Mass., and three children were the result of this union: Effie; Flora, who became the wife of Allen H. Craft, of New York City; and Lizzie, who married Dr. E. E. Hicks, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Soci- ally, the Doctor was a member of the Mystic Shrine, Knights Templar, and of the Loyal Legion and the G. A. R., and was also a mem- ber of the Dutchess Club. In religious belief he and his wife were faithful attendants of the Episcopal Church. The Doctor was very strong in his political views, and was an active and influential worker in the ranks of the Re- publican party. Though for seven years su- pervisor of Luzerne, and a member of the As- sembly in 1873, he could in no way be regarded as an office seeker. His interest was only what every public-spirited and patriotic citi- zen's should be-"to promote the general

welfare"-and in this our subject did not fail to do his duty, for he was in the fore of any movement that tended toward the advance- ment of the community. He was one of those typical self-made men, whose struggles with adverse circumstances broadened the mind, and his natural kind-hearted and unselfish nature, together with his sincere regard for his brother man, made him a man among men, a friend to humanity. His heart responded to every call, and he could laugh with them that laughed, and mourn with them that mourned. No ap- peal to his aid was ever made in vain, and though he ranked among the foremost of his profession in Poughkeepsie, no home was too humble for him to enter if thereby he could relieve the suffering of mind and body of some unfortunate fellow-being. In proof of the high regard in which he was held, his patients have collected quite a sum of money for the purpose of erecting a monument over his grave, that there might be in chiseled marble a fitting tes- timonial of the life and character of one of na- ture's noblemen.

J OHN J. BROOKS [deceased) was born in Haverstraw, N. Y., April 1, 1821, and was the son of Capt. William Brooks, a native of Stony Point, New York.

John Brooks was a farmer by occupation, and was a prosperous man. He married a Miss Cooney, and their children were: Oliver, Brewster and Samnel (deceased); Nathaniel, a blacksmith by trade, living at Stony Point, N. Y .: John, William, Lavinia, and Mary, the latter now living in Marlborough.

William, or "Capt. Billy," as he was gen- erally known, by trade a ship builder, spent his entire life in Haverstraw, where he was well- known and highly esteemed. He was a man of unusual ability, and was prominent in all affairs of the county. He was a brave soldier in the war of 1812, and a captain in the State militia, whence he obtained his title. He was a Democrat and a leading man in political cir- cles, as well as in the Methodist Church to which he and his wife belonged. He was mar- ried in the summer of 1817 to Miss Nancy De- Groot, whose father was a large land owner at Tompkin's Cove. Eight children were born of this union, as follows: William D. is a prominent citizen of Rochester, now retired from business; John J. comes next; Oliver has resided in Detroit, Mich., for a number of

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years; Walter was a sailor, and was lost at sea; Sampson, a builder, lives at Hyde Park; Ed- ward is in the carriage business in Syracuse, N. Y .; Sybil died July 3, 1890, unmarried; and Jane M. married Hewlett Baker, a promi- nent builder in New York City. The father of this family died at Haverstraw in the sum- mer of 1846; the mother passed away in Pough- keepsie, in November, 1881.

John J. Brooks was reared to manhood in Rockland county, obtaining only a common- school education, but being possessed of much natural ability and a retentive memory he be- came a well-informed man. He was very fond of reading, and was one of the best mathema- ticians in his locality. He was a good business man, thorough in everything he undertook, and became a leader in all public enterprises as a Republican.

Mr. Brooks was apprenticed when quite young to learn the carriage-trimming business, and worked for two or three years in Rahway, N. J., and New York City, then when he was nineteen years old he bought his time, and later started a shop of his own on the corner of Broadway and Walker street, New York. After moving to Poughkeepsie he started on the corner of Crannell and Main streets, soon afterward opening a factory at Nos. 424-426- 428, on Main street, which he carried on until about 1870. His first partner in business was Marshall, and, later, Thomas Wyatt. This factory employed from eighteen to twenty men, and was the largest in the county. In 1870. in company with A. T. Kear, Mr. Brooks went into the livery business, which he carried on until 1876, when he retired from active work. In 1880 he was elected chief of police, Poughkeepsie's first chief, which im- portant position he held for nine years. He was also at one time alderman for the Third ward, and again for the Fifth ward, performing the duties connected with this office to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He was su- pervisor one term, also a member of the ex- cise board, and always held a prominent place among the public-spirited men of the city of Poughkeepsie, being a born leader and full of enterprise. Religiously, he was a member of the Congregational Church, and was ever ready to assist in any good work. In his death, which occurred July 17, 1891, the com- munity lost one of its best citizens, and his family a tender, loving husband and father.

Mr. Brooks was married June 18, 1845, to

Elsie A. Hermance, daughter of John Her- mance, who was a shoemaker by trade and a great temperance advocate. Four children were born of this marriage: Herman and Char- lie, both of whom died young; Norman J. ; and Emma C., who married Charles A. Van De- Water, of Poughkeepsie, and their children are Irving B., Elsie May and Lena M.

Norman J. Brooks, only surviving son of our subject, was educated in the public schools of Poughkeepsie, and in Dutchess County Academy. When fourteen years of age he left school and went into the dry-goods store of William Broas, for a time. He then was in his father's office for awhile, after which he learned the wagon-maker's trade, and subse- quently engaged in the livery business for two years. In 1874 he was employed as clerk in the New York post office, where he remained two and a half years. For several years after this he was in no particular business. In 1877 or 1878 he was appointed, by B. Platt Car- penter, as a clerk in the Custom House, which position he held for eight years. After this he became salesman in the clothing house of M. Schwartz, where he remained four or five years, and then went into the grocery business, the firm name being Brooks & Van De Water. In 1895 he bought out his part- ner, and at present is conducting the store himself. He has been successful in this en- terprise, and is looked upon as an able busi- ness man.

Mr. Brooks was married September 25, 1872, to Hilah A. Burger, daughter of W. C. Burger, of Ulster county, and four children have been born to them: Lulu S. (deceased when six months old), Arthur N., Clarence J. and Elmer Frank. Mr. Brooks is a Repub- lican, and has at times taken quite an active part in politics, although he has never been willing to accept office; he attends the services of the Congregational Church. A public-spir- ited citizen, he is interested in any movement looking to the growth and welfare of his com- munity.

R OBERT G. COFFIN, the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Wash- ington, on what is now called the Altamont stock farm, February 12, 1823. His father was Robert Coffin, of whom see a biography in the sketch of Hezekiah R. Coffin.

Our subject spent his boyhood on the farm,

R&Coffee.

Eliza Goffin

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attending the Nine Partners Boarding School, and later the Dutchess County Academy. After finishing his education he resumed his life on the farm of his parents where he resided until 1887, when he sold the place and bought his present property in South Millbrook.

On April 9, 1851, Mr. Coffin was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Sackett, who was born in the town of Washington, a daugh- ter of Artemas E. Sackett, a farmer in that town. The Sackett family was an old one of the town of Stanford, where the father of Ar- temas E. was born. Nine children were born to our subject and his wife, namely: Kate died young; Ida L. married Dr. J. O. Pingry; Clarence died at an early age; Laura married Beverly W. Howard, a farmer in the town of Washington; Edwin married Miss Elizabeth Tomlinson, and is a farmer in Stanford; Robert married Miss Elnora Lattin, and lives in Ma- maroneck, N. Y .; Artemas S. married Julia Lattin, and is a merchant at Oak Summit; Helen M. became the wife of Dr. I). H. Mac- Kenzie, a practicing physician at Mabbetts- ville; John L. married Miss Emily Crossman, and lives in Washington. Mrs. Coffin died November 28, 1894.

Mr. Coffin is a Democrat, and has been quite a prominent man in his community. He was instrumental in building the church in South Millbrook; was also an active promoter of the building of the Newburg, Dutchess & Columbia R. R. He was the first bona fide sub- scriber to its stock; was one of its first direct- ors, and is still one, having served as such about thirty years. He suggested calling meet- ings along the entire line, at which he and others addressed the people in favor of its con- struction, which efforts resulted in an almost unanimous subscription to itsstock. After much more hard work the road was completed, and its benefits secured to the people. Millbrook has now a fine church, a railroad, and has de- veloped into a beautiful little village. Mr. Cof- fin is greatly admired for his public spirit, and possesses the esteem and respect of all who know him.

G UY CARLETON BAYLEY, M. D., of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, second son of Richard and Mary (Dietz) Bayley, grandson of Dr. Guy Carleton Bayley, and great-grandson of Dr. Richard Bayley, was born at Poughkeepsie, October 16, 1850.

Our subject was educated at the Dutchess County Academy, and in Mr. Churchill's school at Sing Sing, N. Y. In 1867 he entered Dr. Jacob Bockee's office as a student of medicine, and, in 1869, the office of Dr. Henry B. Sands, New York City, by whose advice he took three courses of lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, in the City of New York, where he graduated in 1872. In the same year he commenced the practice of his profession at Poughkeepsie, where he was appointed visit- ing physician at St. Barnabas Hospital, and physician-in-charge of the Orphan Home and Home for the Friendless. In 1884 Dr. Bay- ley accepted an appointment on the visiting surgical staff of the Womans Hospital of the State of New York, New York City, and asso- ciated himself in business with Dr. Nathan Bozeman, in that city. In 1887 Dr. Bayley was appointed resident medical officer of, and visiting surgeon to, Vassar Brothers Hospital at Poughkeepsie, and was given charge of the details of the organizing and carrying on the work of the splendidly-equipped and richly-en-

dowed institution. Dr. Bayley is an original member of the New York State Medical Asso- ciation, of the American Medical Association, and of the New York State Medical Society.

In 1875 the Doctor married Angelica Cros- by Wyckoff, who died in 1876; for his second wife he, in 1885, married Ellen Lorraine Bulkeley, of New York City.

L AWRENCE C. RAPALJE, a retired agri- culturist and business man of the town of East Fishkill, Dutchess county, has been for many years a leading citizen of that locality, his varied interests identifying him with many of the most important progressive measures there.

In his veins there flows the blood of sev- eral of the oldest families of the county, mem- bers of which have distinguished themselves in the past by their devotion to principle, and by their work in public lines. On the paternal side, the first ancestor came from Holland about 1623, and located near Newtown, Long Island, where some of his descendants still live. Martin Rapalje, our subject's grand- father, was a farmer there throughout his life. He married Miss Mary Lawrence, daughter of Col. William Lawrence, and a member of one of the most prominent families in New York.

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They reared a family of children, among whom was Daniel L., our subject's father.

Daniel L. Rapalje was born in January. 1800, spent his early years at the old home- stead, and then engaged in the wholesale dry- goods business in New York City, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in June, 1850. He was a Democrat in politics. His wife, Phabe Cortelyou, born in April, 1800, in Long Island, was a daughter of Peter Cor- telyou, and is also deceased. The Cortelyou family is of French-Huguenot stock, and the first of the American branch came from France during the religious persecutions. lle made the first map of New York City.

Lawrence C. Rapalje was born in New York City, August 26, 1826, the elder of the two sons of his parents; the younger, Adrian, died at the age of twenty-one. The schools of the city afforded excellent educational ad- vantages, of which Mr. Rapalje availed him- self, and at an early age he began to familiar- ize himself with business methods by clerking in his father's store. In 1843 he went to the town of East Fishkill to reside, and October 10, 1855, he was married there to Miss Anna Horton, a native of the town. Her family is of English extraction, and her father, Maj. Coert llorton, was a native of Dutchess coun- ty, and a well-known farmer and merchant. Mr. Rapalje settled upon a farm of 250 acres, which he purchased in 1857, and has ever since resided there; it is now within the wid- ening limits of Hopewell Junction. Here four children were born to them: John, who was formerly the superintendent of a railroad in the West, is now a civil engineer in West Vir- ginia, and interested in the development of coal lands; Lawrence, Jr., who is a farmer at the homestead; Adrian, a civil engineer; and Anna, the wife of Charles Underhill, the agent for the railroads running into Hopewell Junction. The mother of this little family passed from life December 30, 1895.

Mr. Rapalje has not only given much at- tention to agriculture, but he has been a worker in finance as a director and vice-presi- dent of the First National Bank of Fishkill (now defunct), and he has also taken an act- ive part in railroading, having been a director and organizer of the Dutchess and Columbia railroad, and a director of the Poughkeepsie Bridge Co. He is now a member of the board of directors of the Dutchess Mutual Life In- surance Co. In local politics he is influential,

and has been a favorite candidate on the Dem- ocratic ticket. In 186t he was elected super- visor, in which office he has served eight years, and was justice of the peace for nearly thirty years. A born leader, he has taken a promi- nent place among his associates and co-labor- ers in every line of effort. The Rapalje fam- ily adopted the faith of the Reformed Dutch Church at a very early period, and to this Mr. Rapalje also adheres.

L EWIS E. WOOD, of the well-known firm of Wood Brothers, leading nurserymen and florists in the village of Fishkill, Dutchess county, N. Y., has shown rare skill and ability in his calling, having been chosen at the age of twenty to superintend the extensive green- houses of Burrow & Wood (who established the business in 1866), the predecessors of the present firm. Hereditary influences have doubt- less played a part in his success, as he may be said to belong to a family of gardeners, his fa- ther, uncle and two brothers having engaged in the same business.

Mr. Wood is a great-grandson of Isaac Wood, and a grandson of Joseph W. Wood, who was married three times, first to Mariam Odel (mother of Joseph J. Wood, our subject's father). Joseph J. Wood was born May 4, 1828, and in early manhood began his work in the nursery business in the employ of John Burrow, with whom he remained about sixteen years. He then married Rebecca J. Vernol, who was born February 20, 1835, a daughter of Epenetus and Ann (La Due) Vernol, and five children were born of this marriage: Lewis E., Eugene V., Annie J., Isaac J. and Iloward E. The parents are still living at Fishkill. After his marriage the father took charge of the Rapalje estate, where he re- mained some eighteen years. In 1874 he bought an equal interest in the nursery busi- ness of Burrow & Wood, the junior member of the firm being his brother, Isaac C. Wood. On September 6, 1876, the two brothers pur- chased Mr. Burrow's interest, and continued under the firm name of I. C. Wood & Bro., the partnership lasting until July 1, 1889, when our subject and his brothers, Eugene V. and Isaac J .. bought the entire property and busi- ness. They have about fifty acres of land un- der cultivation, with some forty greenhouses which they have remodeled from time to time since they took possession.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 23

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