Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 38

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

USA > New York > Dutchess County > Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York > Part 38

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Leo. E. Gamer

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

past master of Poughkeepsie Lodge No. 266, and past eminent commander of Poughkeep- sie Commandery No. 53, Knights Templar.

H OWELL WHITE, M. D., a prominent physician of Fishkill, Dutchess county, is a descendant of a family which has been notable for generations for its connection with the medical profession. His great-grandfather was a physician, and had two brothers in the calling, and the same is true of his grandfather and his father, three brothers in each genera- tion choosing the deep researches and arduous labors of the medical practitioner.

Dr. White was born at Fishkill June 12, 1856, the son of the late Dr. Lewis H. White, whose long and successful career as a physician, and excellent qualities as a citizen, won him a lasting reputation. He was given good educational advantages, and, after leaving the public schools of Fishkill, studied two years at Warring's Military School, in Poughkeepsie, and four years in the private school of Hugh S. Banks, at Newburg, and then entered Wil- liston Seminary at East Hampton, Mass., where he was graduated in 1875. A complete course in Bellevue Medical College, New York City, followed, and on his graduation in 1879 he became an interne in the Presbyterian Hos- pital in that city, securing invaluable practical work. He began his professional labors in Fishkill in ISSo, and has been constantly in practice ever since, meeting with marked suc- cess. He is a member of the Dutchess County Medical Society, and of the New York State Medical Society. In politics he is a Repub- lican.

On June 9, 1881, the Doctor married a lady of Huguenot descent, Miss Elizabeth M. Cotheal, whose interesting genealogical record is given below. They have four children: Catherine Elizabeth, Lewis Howell, Richard Rapalje and Helena. Both the Doctor and his wife are members of the Reformed Dutch Church of Fishkill, and take a generous in- terest in all advanced movements.

Doctor White's lineage is a long and hon- orable one, as he is in the eighth generation in descent from Thomas White, of Weymouth, Mass., who was Representative in General Court in 1636-37. He died in 1679, leaving (according to Farmer) five children: Joseph, of Mendon; Samuel, born in 1642; Thomas, of Braintree; Hannah, who married John Bar-

ter; and Ebenezer, born in 1648, died August 24, 1703.

Second Generation : Ebenezer, the fifth child of Thomas, of Weymouth, was the fa- ther of the Rev. Ebenezer White, who was pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Bridge- hampton, Long Island.

Third Generation: Rev. Ebenezer White, of Bridgehampton, was born in 1673, and died in 1756. He married Hannah -, and they had children: Elnathan, born 1695, died 1773; James; Rev. Sylvanus, born 1704, died 1782; Silas, born 1710, died 1742.

Fourth Generation: Rev. Sylvanus White, second son of Rev. Ebenezer White, of Bridge- hampton, L. I., was born in 1704, and went to Weymouth, Mass., in 1715, to attend a classical school. He entered Harvard College in 1719, graduating in 1723. In 1727 he as- sumed the pastoral charge of the Church at Southampton, L. I., which he retained for nearly fifty-five years. He died October 22, 1782. He married Phebe Howell, only daugh- ter of Hezekiah Howell, and had nine children, viz. : Sylvanus, Edward, Hezekiah, Daniel, M. D., Silas, Phebe, Ebenezer, M. D., Eben- ezer (2), Henry, M. D. Except the first Eb- enezer, who died in infancy, they all lived to adult years.

Fifth Generation: Ebenezer, the seventh son of Rev. Sylvanus, after being instructed in the classics by his father, commenced the study of medicine, as did also his brothers Daniel and Henry, availing himself of all the facilities existing in our country, at that time, for acquiring a thorough knowledge of his cho- sen profession. In early life he married Hel- ena, daughter of Theophilus Bartow, of New Rochelle, and granddaughter of Rev. John Bartow, of Westchester, and great-grand- daughter of Gen. Bartow, who tled from France to England in 1685 (on the revocation of the Edict of Nantes). This marriage was a union of Puritan with Huguenot. The young couple commenced life together where they ended it, in Yorktown, Westchester Co., N. Y. The old homestead is still standing, and is occupied by a grandson, Josephus L. White. The Doc- tor soon acquired an extensive practice, and engaged in the cultivation of a large farm. Here, on what afterward became the neutral ground at the commencement of the Revolu- tionary war, found him, and from the first of which struggle to the end he was the zealous, uncompromising advocate of his country's

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cause. Many were the advantages and thrill- ing incidents he would relate to his listening grandchildren of Tory raids and persecutions, and many of the wounds received in these af- frays came under his professional care and treatment. [See Dr. Thatcher's Military Jour- nal-Boston, 1823, page 307; also Bolton, in his history of Westchester Co., Vol. II , page 384, relates one of many incidents in Dr. White's experience during the war. ] He was elected to the State Senate, and afterward as Presidential elector. He was born in South- ampton in 1746, and died in Yorktown in 1827, after more than half a century's success- ful practice of his profession. His wife sur-

vived him only a few years. Their children were: Catharine, Bartow, Ebenezer, Henry, Lewis, James and Theodosius.

Sixth Generation: Ebenezer, the second son of Dr. Ebenezer, of Yorktown, also made choice of the profession of medicine, as did his brothers Bartow and Henry. He was a pupil of his father, and finished his studies by at- tending medical lectures in the City of New York. He married Amy, daughter of the late Samuel Green, of the town of Somers, West- chester county, and located there in the house now owned and occupied by his son Samuel. After a practice of more than sixty years, he died March 18, 1865, at the advanced age of eighty-five. He was surrogate of Westchester county, and represented Dutchess county in the State Legislature. In politics he was a Republican; in religion a Presbyterian; and in theory and practice an ardent temperance man. He had nine children, of whom three sons adorned the profession which their father so long followed.

Seventh Generation : Bartow F., M. D., married Ann Augusta Belcher, of Round Hill, Conn., and located there; Stephen G., a mer- chant of Somers, died unmarried, aged twen- ty-three; Helen A., married James Brett, of Fishkill; Lewis H., M. D., married Helena Van- Wyck, of Fishkill; Oliver, M. D., who settled in New York, married Catharine O. Ritter; Phebe married Robert Calhoun; John P., a merchant of New York, married Margaret Bry- son: Euphemia married James W. Bedell, of Somers; Samuel married Emma Jackson, and is now living in the old homestead at Somers, Westchester county.

Dr. Lewis II. White, the father of Howell, was born in Somers, March 17, 1807. He studied at Yale College, New Haven, in after

years receiving an honorary medical degree from the University Medical College of New York. He settled in Johnsville, Dutchess county, and after several years of practice re- moved to Fishkill, where he resided the re- sided the remainder of his life. He practiced his profession in Fishkill and Johnsville for fifty-eight years, occupying a position in his profession equalled by few and excelled by none. He was a member of the Dutchess County Medical Society, and for eleven years its president; also a member of the New York State Medical Society. On June 7. 1853. he married Helena, daughter of John C. and Delia Van Wyck, of Fishkill. They had three chil- dren: Howell, born June 12, 1856; Catharine, born June 1, 1859, died July 16, 1862; Kate, born October 3, 1865, married Hasbrouck Bartow, of Hackensack, N. J., and now resides there. It is a noteworthy fact that Dr. Lewis H. White, his father and grandfather each practiced his profession for over half a century.

Mrs. White is a daughter of Isaac E. Cotheal and his wife, Catherine E. (Rapalje), and on the maternal side is a descendant in the eighth generation from Joris Jansen de Rapalje, one of the proscribed Huguenots, from "Rochelle in France," and the common ancestor of all the American families of this name. He came to this country with other colonists in 1623, in the " Unity," a ship of the West India Company, and settled at Fort Orange (now Albany), where he remained three years. In 1626 he removed to New Amsterdam, and resided there until after the birth of his youngest child. On June 16, 1637. he bought from the Indians a tract of land computed at 335 acres, called Rennegacouck, now included within the city of Brooklyn, and comprehending the lands occupied by the U. S. Marine Hospital. Here Mr. Rapalje finally located, and spent the remainder of his life. He was a leading citizen, acted a prom- inent part in the colony, and served in the magistracy of Brooklyn. He died soon after the close of the Dutch administration, his widow, Catalyntie, daughter of Joris Trico, surviving him many years. She was born in Paris, and died September 11, 1689, aged eighty-four. The original family record, pre- served in the library of the New York Histor- ical Society, gives the names and dates of birth of their children, as follows: Sarah, born June 9, 1625, was married (first) to Hans Hausse Bergen, and then to Tennis Gysberts

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Bogart; Marritie, born March 11, 1627, mar- ried Michael Vandervoort; Jannetie, born Au- gust 18, 1629, married Rem Vanderbeeck ; Judith, born July 5, 1635, married Pieter Van- Nest; Jan, born August 28, 1637, married, but died in 1662 without issue; Jacob, born May 28, 1639, was killed by Indians; Catalyntie, born March 28, 1641, married Jeremias West- erhout; Jerominus, born June 27, 1643; An- netie, born February 8, 1646, was married (first) to Marten Reverse, and then to Joost Fransz: Elizabeth, born March 28, 1648, mar- ried Dirck Hooglandt; Daniel, born December 29, 1650.

Second Generation: Jerominus Rapalje became a man of some prominence, a justice of the peace, and a deacon of the Brooklyn Church. He married Anna, daughter of Tennis Denys, and had nine children born, as follows: Joris, born November 5, 1668, married July 27, 1694, Nellie, daughter of Jan Conwenhoven, died at Cripplebush, in 1697; Tennis, born May 5, 1671; Jan, born December 14. 1673; Femmetie, born October 5. 1676, married Jan Bennet; Jacob, born June 25, 1679; Jerominus, born March 31, 1682; Catalina, born March 25, 1685, married Peter DeMond, of Raritan, N. J .; Sarah, born November 4, 1687, married Hans Bergen; and Cornelius, born October 21, 1690.

Third Generation: Jan Rapalje, son of Jerominus, married Annettie, daughter of Coert Van Voorhees, and was a farmer on a portion of the family estate in Brooklyn, which at his death in 1733 he left to his son George. They had three children: George C., Jeromus, and John, who married Maria Van Dyke, in 1737. Fourth Generation: Jeromus Rapalje, son of Jan, inherited a farm at Flushing, where he died in 1754. He was twice married, and left six children: John, Richard, Stephen, Ann, Ida and Elizabeth.

Fifth Generation: John Rapalje, son of Jeromus, was born in 1722, and died at Jamaica at the age of about fifty years. He was twice married, and by his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of Abraham Brinckerhoff, had five children: Catherine, who married Tennis Brinkerhoff; Jeromus; Abraham Brinkerhoff, born 1761, died ISIS; Aletta, who married James Debervoise; and Richard. The sons settled at Fishkill, N. Y., where some of their descendants remain.

Sixth Generation: Richard Rapalje, son of John, was born on Long Island August 30,

1764, removed to Fishkill during the Revolu- tionary war, and died September 2, 1825. Ile was married three times, first on January 31, 1795, to Letty, daughter of Isaac and Eliza- beth Van Wyck. She was born November 21, 1775, and died September 11, 1800. They had children: Elizabeth, born March 21, 1796, died September 13, 1796; John Van- Wyck, born August 18, 1798, died Septem- ber 13, 1798; Eliza Van Wyck, born Feb- ruary 28, 1800, died January 17, 1801. Mr. Rapalje married December 2, 1801, for his second wife, Jane Van Wyck, a sister of his first wife. She was born March 15, 1782, and died November 23, 1806. They also had three children. viz .: William Edward, born October 11, 1802, died and was buried at sea while on his return from Europe June 2, 1833: Isaac Van Wyck, born Novemn- ber 8, 1804, died December 7, 1809: John Augustus, born October 6, 1806, died same day. On September 1, 1810, Mr. Rapalje married Ann, daughter of Archibald and Cath- arine Currie, of New York (born September 13. 1777. died January 31, 1860), and they had children as follows: Jane Ann, born June 18, 1811, died July 4, 1825 ; Isaac Van Wyck, born March 14, 1813, died August 2, 1824; Richard, born March 16, 1815, died December 26, 1846; Archibald Currie, born January 16, 1817, died July 28, 1831; Catharine Elizabeth, born July 8, 1819, died January 8, 1864.

Seventh Generation: Catharine Rapalje married October 22, 1856, Isaac E. Cotheal, born August 12, 1817, died May 8, 1884, of New York City, son of Henry and Phebe Ber- rian Warner) Cotheal. They had three chil- dren: Elizabeth M., born February 25, 1858, the wife of our subject; Anne Rapalje, born De- cember 13, 1860, who married Charles 1). Sher- wood; and Catharine Elizabeth, unmarried.

The old homestead, known as "Robinia," where Mrs. White was born, contained be- tween 500 and 600 acres, and was originally part of the Madame Brett Patent, transferred at first to the Van Wyck family, from them to the Southards, from them, in the year 1795, to Richard Rapalje (Mrs. White's grandfather), who built the present residence in 1800. At his death the estate came to Catharine Coth- eal, his daughter; and, at the death of her hus- band, to Mrs. White. After her marriage to Dr. Howell White they lived there for eight years, when they sold it in 1893 to its present owner, William T. Blodgett.

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H ON. AUGUSTUS B. GRAY, the able and popular representative from the Sec- ond Dutchess District in the New York Assem- bly, was born April 2, 1861, in New York City, of New England ancestry, being a descendant of Henry Gray, one of two brothers, John and Henry, who settled at Fairfield, Conn., in 1643. Hiram B. Gray, father of our subject, was born at Fairfield, Conn .. March 22, 1801, and lived when a child at Pawling, Dutchess county, and Paterson, Putnam county. At the age of twenty-one he went to New York City and engaged in mercantile business. On December 20, 1847, he was married in Schny- ler county to Miss Nancy Hager, a native of that county, and of their children two are now living: John Hiram, born August 20, 1852, who is engaged in the building and real-estate business in New York City; and Augustus B., our subject. Hiram Gray, who was a strong supporter of Lincoln's administration, was burned out during the draft riot in New York City, in July, 1863, and he then went to Schuy- ler county, where he bought two farms where- on he remained until 1866, in that year dis- posing of them. In 1870 he bought the home- stead now occupied by our subject on the out- skirts of Poughkeepsie; he died in New York City, January 27, 1872; his wife, Nancy (Hager), still survives.

Our subject was born April 2, 1861, and spent his boyhood in New York City, attend- ing the public schools and preparing for col- lege. After his father's death he took up his residence at the homestead which he has man- aged with great ability, gaining a high reputa- tion among farmers throughout the State.

On June 23, 1882, in Tompkins county, N. Y., he was married to Miss Mary Case, daugh- ter of Homer Case, of Schuyler county, a gal- lant soldier of the 103rd N. Y. V. I., in the Civil war, who lost his life in 1862 in defense of the Union. Four children were born of this marriage: George W., January 17, 1885; Nancy Isabel, April 9, 1886; Harry Augustus, February 24, 1888; and Homer B., July 10, 1893.

Mr. Gray is a Republican, and devoted to his party. He has taken a deep interest in town politics, and rendered faithful service on the board of supervisors in 1888, 1889 and 1890, his constituents showing their apprecia- tion by re-electing him the third time without opposition. He succeeded in bringing in a minority report in regard to keeping the pres-

ent site of the State Armory, and gained the good will and support of the military men and taxpayers. In 1893 he was elected to the As- sembly by a plurality of 237 votes over J. W. De Peyster Toler, and has been re-elected in the years 1894, 1895 and 1896, having re- ceived increased majorities, and in 1896 hav- ing received 2, 144 plurality.

In 1896 and 1897 he served as chairman of the Committee on Banks, and has served on the Labor Committee for three years, and his support by the laboring classes shows that he always has the interest of the laborer at heart, and does all in his power to advance their cause. He has served for three years on the Committee on Agriculture, Commerce and Navigation. In fact, his entire record has proved him to be a most efficient supporter of the interests of his district.

He has served on the Republican County Committee for twelve years, and chairman of the Town Committee, and is treasurer of the Dutchess County Agricultural Society. He is a member of Poughkeepsie Chapter No. 172, R. A. M., and Triune Lodge No. 782, F. A. M., and Armor Lodge No. 107, K. of P.

P HILIP CLAYTON ROGERS. Among the leading citizens of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, none hold a higher place in the estimation of the public than the gentle- man whose name introduces this sketch, and who comes of a long line of distinguished and worthy ancestors.

Moses Rogers (the grandfather of our sub- ject), born in 1750, died November 30, 1825, was one of the merchant princes of New York City. He was engaged in the West Indies' trade for many years, and was a wealthy man for those early days, being one of the fifteen merchants in the city who could afford to keep horses and carriage. He was one of the found- ers of Grace Church, and was much devoted to Church work. He was a brother-in-law of Archibald Gracie, who was even more cele- brated than himself. He was a man of ex- treme sagacity, and was very successful in all his enterprises. The family is of English de- scent, and came, probably, from Yorkshire. They are connected with President Dwight, the first president of Yale College, and by mar- riage with the Woolseys and Governor Fitch, first Colonial governor of Connecticut ; the Ver- plancks, the Winthrops, Van Rennselaers, and

Cup B. Away

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Pendletons of Virginia. Moses Rogers mar- ried Sarah Woolsey, and they had four chil- dren: Benjamin Woolsey, Archibald Rogers (our subject's father); Frances married Frank Winthrop; and Julia became the wife of Sam- nel Hopkins, of Geneva, N. Y. Mr. Rogers died in 1825, and his wife passed away in 1820.

Archibald Rogers, the father of our subject, was born in 1791 at Shippan Point, Stamford, Conn., where his father had his summer home. He was educated in Yale College, and in about 1 8 16 took a trip abroad at the suggestion of his father, whose favorite son he was, in company with Tom Moore, nephew of Bishop Moore, of Virginia. He spent three years in traveling, and among other places visited the field of Waterloo, where he secured some interesting relics. He was married in 1821 to Miss Anna Pierce Pendleton, only daughter of Judge Na- thaniel Pendleton, of New York City, who was on the bench before Judge Emmott. To this union eight children were born, and the follow- ing record of seven is given: (1) Nathaniel Pendleton, who was born April 29, 1822, was for many years a prominent lawyer in New York, and was associated with Alexander Hamilton, a grandson of the famous Alexander Hamilton of history, and Francis Reeves, son of Francis Reeves, minister to France, the firm name being Hamilton, Rogers & Reeves. In his later years he lived at "Placentia, " Hyde Park, until his death, which occurred at his town residence in New York City, April 22, 1892. (2) Julian, born February 12, 1824, died when six months old. (3) Edmond Pendle- ton, born in 1827, father of Col. Arch'd Rogers, of Gov. Morton's staff, and died at Hyde Park, February 9, 1895, married Virginia Dummer, of Jersey City, in 1850. (4) Archibald, born August 10, 1825, died March 21, 1831. (5) Philip Clayton, our subject, was born August 13, 1829 (he was named after Major Phil Clay- ton, of the Catalpas, of whom he was a lineal descendant, who settled in Culpeper county, Va., in 1643). (6) Archibald (2), born November 12, 1832, died in New York City, December 20, 1836. (7) Susan Bard, born November 4, 1834, married Herman T. Liv- ingston, only son of Herman Livingston, of Oake Hill, opposite Catskill, and lives in New York. Anna P. Rogers, their mother, died at Hyde Park, December 26, 1873, in the eighty- seventh year of her age. After his marriage our subject's father passed the remainder of his life in the quiet pursuits of a country gen-

tleman. He was a great hunter and fisher- man, and enjoyed these sports to their full ex- tent. Ile was a man of great generosity of character, and was universally esteemed.

The Pendletons, ancestors of our subject's mother, were of an old English family (the name is mentioned in King Edward's time, " Penniltonns"), members of which came to this country and settled in Virginia in 1628. Edmund Pendleton was the first president of the Virginia State Assembly, and was a close friend of General Washington and Patrick Henry. He was one of the most distinguished of the Pendletons. He lived in Culpeper

county, Va. Martha Washington was a Dan- dridge, and the Pendletons and Dandridges are closely connected. Judge Nathaniel Pendleton became a soldier in the Revolutionary war when only eighteen years old, and by his bravery rose to the rank of major. He distin- guished himself greatly at the battle of Eutaw Springs, serving at that time on the staff of General Nathaniel Greene; the General's pis- tols are still in the family. After leaving the army he married Susan, a daughter of Dr. John Bard, of Burlington, N. J. The Bard family is of good old Huguenot stock, and came to this country after the Edict of Nantes. Dr. John Bard was a distinguished physician of Burlington, N. J., son of Gen. Peter Bard, of the Revolutionary army, afterward settling in New York City, where he lived a number of years. He died at Hyde Park, where he resided the latter part of his life. His epitaph reads: " The longer he lived the more he was beloved."

Judge Pendleton was the second to Gen. Hamilton in the latter's famous duel with Aaron Burr at Weehawken, in 1804. He was a noted lawyer of his day in New York City, and at the time of his death was a judge in the court at Poughkeepsie. He bought a place at Hyde Park which he named " Placentia," meaning " Rest," where he died in 1821, in his sixty-first year. His eldest son, Edmund Henry, who eventually filled his father's place at the bar in Poughkeepsie, and was judge from 1830 to 1840, married Frances Maria Jones, of Jones Wood, N. Y. ; he went to Europe in 1836, and spent the balance of his life be- tween Hyde Park and New York City. He died in 1863 without issue, his large property being left to his only sister's eldest son, Na- thaniel l'. Rogers.

Nathaniel Greene Pendleton went to Cin-

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL KECOLD.

cinnati, when a young man, and practiced law, becoming very successful and being twice sent to Congress. His first wife was Jane Hunt, a daughter of Gov. Hunt, of Ohio, and his sec- ond, Miss Anna Bullock, of Kentucky. He left a large family-his most distinguished son being George Pendleton, of Ohio, who was sent twice to Congress, was a U. S. Senator from that State, was minister to Berlin, and was a candidate for Vice-President on the ticket with Gen. George B. McClellan, in 1864. He married Alice Key, daughter of Francis Scott Key, the American poet who was born in 1780, and died in 1843), author of the " Star Spangled Banner. " James M. Pendleton, M. D., married Margaret Jones, a member of one of the prominent families of New York City: he was a distinguished physician, and having a large fortune spent much of his time in practicing among the poor people of the city, never accepting any money for his services.

Philip Clayton Rogers, the subject proper of this review, was educated in his younger days in the celebrated school of Dr. Huddart, in New York City. In 1840 he entered Columbia College, where he remained until 1845, leaving in the junior year to take a posi- tion in the counting-room of Robert Kermit, of the old Red Star Line. In 1853 he was appointed secretary of the Second Avenue Railroad Co., filling that office for three years. At this time a change took place in the man- agement, and Mr. Rogers removed to Hyde Park. In 1859 he took a trip to China, going out as a passenger and coming back " before the mast," having a strong wish to see strange climes and people. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in the famous New York Seventh Reg- iment (Old 8th Company, Capt. Shumway), and went to Washington, returning in June of that year in company with his brother, Ed- mund P. Rogers, to whom he was devotedly attached. The following August he was made second lieutenant in the 55th N. Y. V., and this regiment, next year after, being consoli- dated with another, he was made first lieuten- ant of Company H, 39th Regiment. He was soon promoted to the captaincy, and was ap- pointed aid-de-camp in the First Brigade, First Division, of the Second Army Corps. In the second day's fight at the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864, he was taken pris- oner and carried to Macon, Ga., whence he was sent to the jail at Charleston. On his way

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 38

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