Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 31

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

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The Pearl of Pearls, or the " Wild Brunswicker" and his " Queen of Hearts," a novel, founded on facts, 1865. - Mary Stuart, a Study, 1882; James Hepburn, Earl of Both- well, a Vindication, 1882; Bothwell and Mary Stuart, an Enquiry and a Justification, 1883. Bothwell, an Histori- cal Drama, 1884 .- The Life and Military Services of Sir John Johnson, Bart. 1882 .- Notices and Correspondence of Col. A. S. de Peyster and Brig .- Gen. Sir John Johnson, Bart, during and after the American Revolution, 1776, &c. 1884.

State Sovereignty. 1861 .- Life and Services of the great Russian Field-Marshal Suworrow. 1842 .- La Roy-

ale, the Grand Hunt [or Last Campaign of the Army of the Potomac) Nos. 1., 11., 111., 1V., V., V1., 1872; VIL. 1878; VIIL., 1-$1. Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancel- lorsville and Gettysburg in Ourrard, a monthly. 1869-70. -And Gettysburg and Williamsport, in the Soldiers' Friend, a weekly, 1870. - Col. J. Watts de Peyster, jr., U. S. V. A. Threnody. 1874 .- Sir John Johnson, Bart .: An Address delivered before the N. Y. Historical Society, 6th Jan., 1880, with two voluminous Appendices of author- ities .- Address before the Historical Society of New Brunswick, 1883 .*- Benjamin Fletcher, Colonial Governor of the Province of New York-Address before Oneida (N. Y. ) Historical Society,*

Centennial Sketches of the American Revolution, which appeared in the N. Y. Times, and especially in the N. Y. Ereniny Mail and Mail and Express. 1776-82. De- cisive Conflicts of the late Civil War or " Slaveholders' Rebellion:" 1. Shiloh, Antietam, &c., 1867; 1I. Murfrees- boro to Chattanooga, &c., 1866; 111. Gettysburg, 1867; ·IV. Nashville, 1876 .- Biographical notices of Major-Gen- erals Philip Schuyler-Address delivered before the N. Y. Historical Society, 2d Jan., 1877; Geo. H. Thomas, (likewise two Addresses delivered upon the same subject before the N. Y. Historical Society, 5th Jan., 1875, and Jan., 1876); also of Bancroft, Burnside, Crawford, Heint- zleman, Hooker, Humphreys, McAllister, Mahone, Meade, Edwards Pierrepont, Pleasanton, Sickles, Tre- maine, &c., &c.

The Battles of Monmouth and Capture of Stony l'oint; a series of voluminous and exhaustive articles pub- lished in the Monmouth Enquirer, N. J., 1879. Eclaireur (The), a Military Journal, Vols. Il. and 111., edited 1854-5.

History of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac, 1861-65. This title, though not technically, is virtually correct, for in a series of elaborate articles in dailies, werklies, monthlies, monographs, addresses, &c., every- thing relating to this Corps, even to smallest details, from 1861 to 1865, was prepared with care and put in print. These articles appeared in the Citizen, and the Citizen and Round Table; in Foley's Volunteer, and Soldiers' and Sailorx' Half-Dime Tales of the late Rebellion; in Mayne Reid's magazine Onward; in Chaplain Bourne's Soldiers' Friend; in " La. Royale or Grand Hunt [or the last cam- paign] of the Army of the Potomate, from Petersburg to Appomattox Court House, April 2 9, 1865," illustrated with engraved likenesses of several of the prominent Generals belonging to the corps, and careful maps and plans; in the life of Major-General Philip Kearny; in the "Third Corps at Gettysburg; General Sickles vindicated" Vol. 1., Nos. x1., xii, xii. The Volunteer; in a Speech de- livered before the Third Army Corps Union, 5th May, 1875, profusely illustrated with portraits of Generals who commanded or belonged to that organization, &c. These arranged and condensed would constitute a work of five or six volumes &vo., such as those prepared by Prof. John W. Draper, entitled the "Civil War in America," but were never given as bound volumes to the public, because the expense was so great that the author, who merely writes for credit and amusement, was unwilling to assume the larger outlay, in addition to what he had already ex- pended on the purchase of authorities, clerk-hire, print- ing, &c., &c.

A complete list, comprising almost as many more titles, not included in the foregoing presentation, was drawn up by the writer, but mislaid, and was omitted for want of time and space.

The General's latest series of works were a succession of monographs on the Wars of

*Noticed in Annual Report of the American Historical Associa tion. 1895

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Buonaparte. One, a translation of the records of Colonel Pion des Loches in 1812, then be- longing to the Artillery of the Imperial Guard, which ran through five numbers of The Golden Magasine (January. February, March, April and May, 1895): with copious notes and a long commentary upon the whole campaign and upon Buonaparte as a commander by the Gen- eral himself.

2. Waterloo, "The Campaign and Battle," a bird's-eye view. (1893).

3. Waterloo. (1894).

7. Prussians in the Campaign of Water- loo; in which it is conclusively shown that, although too much credit cannot be conceded to Wellington and his Anglo-Allied Army for the heroism of the command and the intrepid- ity of the commander, the rescue of Welling- ton from defeat, and the annihilating victory over the French, was assuredly due to Blucher and his Prussians. (1895).

5. Authorities treating of the last cam- paigns of Buonaparte-1812-13-14-15; being critical reviews of numerous authorities on the Buonaparte wars, especially of 1814 and 1815. (1894-5).

6. A translation of Vermeil de Conchard's Life of Blucher, from his correspondence ; with massive notes from the best authorities, in English, German and French, filling double the number of pages occupied by the transla- tion. (1896).

7. The Real Napoleon Buonaparte. (1894- 1895).

8. Napoleone di Buonaparte. Two series; a sequel to No. 7, which the noted sportsman, writer, lawyer and railroad man, Charles E. Whitehead, wrote, "read like volleys of mus- ketry," just equivalent in force of expression to Adj .- Gen. Pruyn's letter, "the courage to divide a hornet's nest.

FRANK ALLABEN.

J OHN P. RIDER was born in Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, N. Y .. January 28, 1835. His father, Albert .A. Rider, was born in Rhinebeck in 1807, and his mother, Caroline ( Jennings), was born in the same town in 1808. His paternal grandparents were Philip Rider, born at Dartmouth, Mass., in 1781. and his wife, Catherine (Van Fredenburgh, born at Rhinebeck, N. Y., in 1786. His ma- ternal grandparents were John Jennings, born

in 1773, at Windham, Conn., and Aurelia (Bard). his wife, born in 1778, at Sharon. Conn. His paternal great-grandparents were Thurston Rider and Hannah (Cummings), both of Dartmouth, Massachusetts.

It will thus be seen that our subject traces his lineage back on one side to genuine Yankee blood, and on the other to the stalwart Dutch of New York. His primary education was re- ceived in the district schools of his native town, and later he attended the old Rhinebeck Academy, one of the best schools of that day, where he easily took a leading position among the students from his exceptional ability. His classmates often recalled, in later years, his quiet, unobtrusive ways, his sterling qualities of mind and character, his fine progress in his studies, and his clean, manly record through his school-days. When sixteen years old, he took a clerkship with his uncle. John F. Jen- nings, at Kingston, N. Y., where he began his successful business career. He remained there two years, and then returned to Rhinebeck to act as deputy to his father, who had been ap- pointed postmaster by President Pierce. In I855 he accepted a position in a wholesale dry-goods establishment in New York City, and has, therefore, a very vivid recollection of the great financial panic of 1857, for, though but just of age, his employers furnished abundant proof of his ability .and trustworthiness by sending him on a collecting tour through the far Western States.

In 1860, a few months before the breaking out of the Civil war, he was married to Cor- nelia A. De Forest, who is a lineal descend- ant of Col. Johannis Snyder, of the First Regi- ment of Militia in Ulster county, which was formed at New Paltz on the 19th of January, 1776.

In 1863 he was appointed secretary of the New York Rubber Co., and held that position in New York City until 1883, when the com- pany expressed their further confidence in him by making him vice-president of the company, and putting him in charge of their affairs at Matteawan, N. Y., where their extensive man- ufacturing works are situated. He then be- came a resident of Fishkill-on-Hudson, and has ever since been identified with the best in- terests of the historic town of Fishkill. In 1886, while absent on a visit to Florida, the people honored him with an election as supervisor for the town, and the following year he was re- elected, and was, moreover, chosen chairman

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of the board of supervisors of Dutchess county. Here he displayed the same marked ability and unswerving integrity in presiding over their deliberations that he had shown in managing the business of the town. He was subsequently elected president of the village of Fishkill Land- ing, in which capacity he served one term with signal success. He was afterward Democratic candidate for member of the Assembly for the First District of Dutchess County, and although there was a Republican majority of 1,200 in the district, his popularity brought him such a flattering vote that the usual majority was re- duced one third. But Mr. Rider is not quite the kind of a man to make an all-round poli- tician. He has too fine a sense of right ; too keen an appreciation of his duty to the people; too firm a determination to do that duty on all occasions; and too much self-respect to make him a subservient tool of the leaders in practical politics. . Whatever political offices he held came to him unsought, and all their obligations were faithfully fulfilled. His sterl- ing worth, his business integrity, and public confidence in his sound judgment caused him to be elected vice-president of the recently in- corporated Matteawan National Bank, to the success of which he has largely contributed.

Mr. Rider is a Free and Accepted Mason of forty years' honorable standing, a member of Palestine Commandery, Knights Templar, of the famous Mecca Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and has attained the exalted position of the Thirty-second degree in the Ancient Ac- cepted Scottish Rite Masonry in the Valley of New York, Northern Jurisdiction of America. These facts serve to emphasize the esteem in which he is held by his fellow-citizens and by the Masonic craft. He is a man of quiet, un- obtrusive, retiring manners, yet always a pol- ished gentleman and man of the world, apt at business, cool, calm and reticent, yet endowed with a cultivated insight into men and business which makes him a wise administrator of af- fairs, public or private, a successful employer of labor, and a valuable citizen. He is a fine specimen of such as carve out their own careers in this free land. Not a college graduate, he is still a well-read man, not only in commercial matters, but also in polite and elegant litera- ture, and in the various departments of science. Genial and entertaining among his friends, en- dowed with a fund of wit and humor always at his command, he is respected and loved most by those who know him best.

ASSIUS M. C. SMITH, the enterprising

and popular proprietor of "The Woron- ock," at New Hackensack. Dutchess county, one of the best hotels in this region, is a native of Columbia county, but his family has been identified with Dutchess county for several gen- erations.

David Smith, his grandfather, was born in the town of Clinton, and spent his life there, following agricultural pursuits. He had nine children: Lewis, Thomas, Stephen, Henry, Joseph, Solomon. Sarah, Eliza and Carrie. Lewis Smith, our subject's father, was born March 14, 1818, and passed his early years at the old homestead. He married Elizabeth Hicks, a descendant of one of the pioneer fam- ilies of the town of Pleasant Valley, where her great-grandfather, Joseph Hicks, and his wife, formerly Miss Filkins, located in Colonial times, obtaining a grant of land from Queen Anne. Her grandfather, Samuel Hicks, a prominent resident of that locality, married Margaret Doty, and reared a family of three children: Ben- jamin, Mary (Mrs. Samuel Halstead) and Sam- uel S., Mrs. Smith's father, who enjoyed fine educational privileges owing to his inability to perform the hard labors of the farm. He be- came a teacher in Poughkeepsie, but after his marriage to Miss Mary Peters returned to the old home to reside. Mrs. Smith was one of the following children: Margaret, who mar- ried Thomas Smith, a farmer of the town of Washington; Hewlett P., a resident of the town of Clinton; Elizabeth (Mrs. Smith); Ed- ward S., a retired farmer of Pleasant Valley; Elias, a merchant in Rochester, N. Y. ; Burtis, a farmer in the town of Clinton; Hannah, the widow of Asa Smith; and Mary (deceased), who married Solomon Merritt, a carpenter at Rochester.

After their marriage our subject's parents lived upon a farm in the town of Clinton for a short time. and then moved to Columbia coun- ty, and remained twenty years. On returning they settled at Clinton Corners, where Mr. Smith's father was engaged in the cattle busi- ness. In 1859 he bought a farm in the town of Lagrange, where he died June 12, 1884. He was a Republican politically, and he and his wife, who survived him, adhered to the Quaker faith.

Our subject was born February 6, 1848. He was only seven years old when his parents moved to Clinton Corners, and ten, when they established their home on the farm, where he

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grew to manhood. At twenty-two he engaged in the butcher's trade, which he followed twen- ty-three years. In April, 1892, he purchased "The Woronock", at New Hackensack, a "landınark" of the place, formerly known as " Yates Tavern ", and moved there November I, following. Under his business-like manage- ment steam-heat and other modern improve- ments have been added, and it is a favorite resort of tourists. It will accommodate about forty guests, and in the summer season it is well filled. One especially pleasing feature is the cuisine, as Mr. Smith keeps a farm of forty acres to supply his table.

On February 26, 1872, he married Carrie A. Dorland, and they have one daughter, Edith C. Mrs. Smith's ancestors were early residents of the town of Lagrange, and her father, Sam- uel Dorland, was a well-known farmer and blacksmith there. He was a cousin of Peter Dorland, father of Cyrenus Dorland, surrogate of Dutchess county. Mr. Smith is a public- spirited, influential man, his circle of friends extending far beyond local limits. In politics he is a Republican.

W ILLIAM R. MOORE. The subject of this personal narrative, now residing at Upper Red Hook, N. Y., was born at Barrytown, N. Y., in a house standing in Revo- lutionary times. His present residence com- mands one of the finest views of the Catskills from any inland point, its surrounding forty acres combining village privileges with space and comfort.

Mr. Moore's family record runs back to the time when New York State was but a Province. The old stone house still standing near Barry- town Corners was in the family for five gener- ations. The tract of land coming into his possession as he reached his majority, and which he sold in later years to John Aspinwall, was originally a portion of the grant of Col. Peter Schuyler, and deeded to Phillipus Hen- drich Mohr, his great-grandfather, in 1771. He died in 1775, before the Declaration of Independence was declared. Peterus Moore, his son, served in the Revolutionary army, and family traditions picture his wife subjected to the depredations of the British soldiery (as they sailed up the Hudson in their sloops). hiding hier food and begging them to spare her last horse. The line of descent is as follows: Phillipus Hendrich Mohr, born about 1723,

died in 1775, married Engel Dederick. Pe- terus Moore, their son, born November, 1743, died May, 1833, married Christyna Benner. December, 1770. Garret Moore, their son, born March, 1793, died June, 1826, married Lanah Rowe, January, 1815. William R. Moore, their son, was born August 22, 1826, and was united in marriage with Jane Ann Ten Broeck, who was born on the old Ten Broeck homestead in Germantown, Columbia Co., N. Y., April 27, 1830, and was educated in Hudson Academy. To this worthy couple have been born five children, namely: Anna B., William B., Helen R., Hattie E. and Minnie. Hattie E. died when she arrived at Inaturity. Helen R. is the wife of Rev. John Morrison, of Fishkill-on-Hudson, by whom she has two children: Stewart Ten Broeck and Anna Janette, and the family is now loca- ted at Portland, Ore., where Mr. Morrison is pastor of a flourishing Presbyterian Church.

The early history of the Ten Broeck family, to which Mrs. Moore belongs, dates back to 1626, when Wessel Ten Broeck, a merchant from Munster, Westphalia, came over in com- pany with Peter Minuit (pronounced Menewe ), the newly appointed director of New Nether- lands. He settled in New Amsterdam as a merchant. Ife had three sons, Derick Wessel, Hendrick Wessel and Joachim Wessel. Derick Wessel, the eldest, was born in 1639, and known in history as Maj. Wessel. As early as 1662 he was the largest fur-trader at Beaver- Wyck (now Albany). He was largely engaged in Indian and other public affairs. The his- torical records of New York show that in 1689 he was employed by Gov. Dongan as ambassa- dor to Canada to settle matters of Provincial difficulty. Ile was also major of inilitia, com- inissary first recorder of Albany in 1686, mayor of Albany in 1696, and Indian commissioner. He bought of the heirs of Anneke Jans, in 1662, her residence on the east corner of State and James streets, which became his city dwelling, being the same lot now occupied by the Mechanical & Traders Bank and the Evening Journal buildings. He owned much real estate, and Ten Broeck street in Albany was named for him. By deed of date Octo- ber 26, 1694, Robert Livingston conveyed to him a tract of land on both sides of Roeliff Jansen's Kill, containing about 1, 200 acres, also a tract on the Hudson river of 600 acres, situated 200 paces south of the old Livingston Manor House.

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

In 1663, he married Christyna Van Buren. who died November 23. 1729: his death oc- curred September IS. 171 ;. Their eldest son. Wessel, was Indian commissioner, recorder cf Albany, and lieutenant of militia. From this line descended Gen. Abraham Ten Broeck, of Revolutionary fame. As president of the committee of safety of New York. he carried on an able and patriotic correspondence with Hon. John Hancock. President of Congress. He married Elizabeth, sister of Stephen Van- Renssalaer. the fourth Patroon of the Manor of Renssalaerwyck. Their son. Derrick Ten Broeck. a lawyer. was for three sessions the eloquent speaker of the House of the Assembly. New York State. All these facts are proved true in histories and documents in the State Library at Albany. Up to the present date. the tract of land on the Hudson, at German- town. deeded by Robert Livingston to Derrick Wessel Ten Broeck. in 1694, has descended from eldest son to eldest son, so that. most literally, it may be called " old homestead." having been in the family over two hundred years. There is preserved the oldest known family Bible in the Ten Broeck line, and also a portrait of an ancestor. Jacob Ten Broeck. born in 1700, son of the above Wessel. This ancestor was married in ires to Christyna Van Alen, who died July 28. 1758. His death occurred September 14. 1774.

From the founder in America to the eldest brother of Mrs. Moore, this branch of the Ten Broeck family is traceable through the eldest sons.

IDerrick Wessel married Christyna Van Buren in 1663. 2) Wessel married Cathryna Loermans in 168 ;. (3) Jacob mar- ried Christyna Van Alen, September 29. 1,25. 1) Wessel married Janetje Person, February 4. 1764. Jacob married Christina Schep- mas. (6) Jacob (the father of Mrs. Moore . who married Anna Benner. is the next in direct descent. ( Jacob Wessel. her brother. married Sarah Ann Evarts, May 24. 1848. Andrew J., his son, married Julia Winans, Oc- tober 26, ISS2.

Hon. Jacob Ten Broeck, the father of Mrs. Moore, was born on the Ten Broeck home- stead at Germantown. May 13. ISoo. In 1844 he removed to Hudson, leaving his son. Jacob Wessel. the old homestead: was made a charter director of the Farmers National Bank. of Hudson, at its organization in 1839, and he was the oldest officer of that institution at the time of his death in 1883. During the troub-

lous times of the Civil war he efficiently served as mayor of Hudson. and was . also a member of the Assembly from Columbia county in later years. He married Anna Benner, who was born November 18. 1798. and was a daughter of Hendrick Benner. of the town of Red Hook. Dutchess county. She died March 26. 19te.

M RS. CATHERINE E. TAYLOR. the subject of this sketch, spent her early life in the town ci Lagrange. Dutchess county. attending the district schools and Miss Borth's boarding school, besides a private school at Fishkill. She met Edward Preston Taylor in Poughkeepsie, where they were married. He was born in Orange. N. J .. and was a member of the firm of Nelson & Taylor, cabinet makers. with their place of business on the corner ci Main and Crannell streets.

After their marriage our subiect and her husband conducted the ". Forbus House. "which stood where the .. Nelson House " now is, and was where the old stage house was located. a very historic spo :. When Mr. Taylor died. Mrs. Taylor continued to run the . Forbus House" until iss, when she built the new .. Nelsca House. " which was opened April 1. IS76. The house was named in honor of our subject's brother. Judge Homer A. Nelson. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Taylor: Ella Kate. and Nelson deceased). Ella mar- ried F. J. Jewett, of Albany. N. Y .. and they have two children-Rev. F. G. Jewett. rector of S :. Paul's Church at Albany, and Edward Taylor Jewett. of the Albany Engraving Co. The Rev. F. G. Jewett has one daughter. Catherine Pauline, and a son. F. G. Jewett 3

Reuben Nelson. the great-grandfather of our subject, was born in Dutchess county: was drafted for the Revolutionary war. and served as one of the .. Minute men. " receiving a pen- sion for his services. He married Miss Han- nah Morse, a native of Delaware county, N Y. Reuben Nelson. Jr . grandfather of our sub- ject, was born in the town of Lagrange, where he went to school, and later engaged in form- ing. He married Miss Catherine Garzee. whose birth took place in Newport. R. I. She was a daughter of a French sea captain, who owned a vessel and came to America and jured LaFayette's army in the cause of American Independence. John M. Nelson. the only child of Reuben, was born on the old homestead in Lagrange, where his early education was ob-

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tained, and where he was married to Miss Eliza Smith, who was born in Boston of Eng- lish parents. Their children were: Catherine Eliza, our subject; Laura, Homer A., Charles and John, of New York City; and Cora, who married Dr. Vandenser.

J OHN W. SPAIGHT, a prominent resident of Fishkill-on Hudson, Dutchess county,

whose able editorial management of the Standard has made that paper influential throughout the community, is one of the men whose energies and abilities have been con- stantly and consistently devoted to the best in- terests of the town.

He is a native of Dutchess county. having first seen the light in Poughkeepsie, May 26, 1833. He attended the common schools of that city until the age of fourteen, and in 1849 entered the office of the Poughkeepsie Tele- graph as an apprentice, remaining five years. On attaining his majority he took charge of the Highland Eagle at Peekskill, the prede- cessor of the present Highland Democrat. The following year he purchased the paper, and carried it on successfully for three years, when he sold it with the intention of going into business elsewhere; but his plans failing he remained in charge of the office for another year. In the spring of 1859 he returned to Poughkeepsie, and formed a partnership with A. S. Pease and J. G. P. Holden for the pub- lication of the Daily Press; but this venture proved a failure, and he lost all that he had made while in Peekskill. After three years in Poughkeepsie he purchased the Fishkill Stand- ard with the assistance of his brother-in-law, James E. Member, and February 10, 1862, he assumed the control of the paper. The office was a very small one and the paper only a seven-column folio; but by untiring industry and judicious management the enterprise has been made to prosper, and the Standard has been enlarged from time to time until it is now a folio of nine columns.

Mr. Spaight was married January 1, 1856, at Peekskill, to Miss Eliza J. Diven, of that village, and they have four children-three sons and one daughter. The sons are all con- nected with the Standard office in various ca- pacities, and are giving evidence of the same qualities which have marked their father's suc- cessful work in the journalistic field. The family are identified with the Methodist

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 31

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