Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 40

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

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IX) Josiah Du Bois Carpenter, one of the leading and oldest grocers of Poughkeepsie. was born at New Paltz, Ulster Co., N. Y.,

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March 14. 1833. When one year old he was taken to Poughkeepsie, where he attended the district schools until fourteen years of age. and then studied with his uncle. Josiah C. Du Bois, after whom he was named. Mr. Carpenter entered a general store at Highland conducted by his uncle Josiah C. Du Bois, where he stayed for five years; then returned to Pough- keepsie and clerked in a dry-goods store for John W. Miller one year; then clerked for Cornwall & Heath for the same length of time. Subsequently he engaged in the grocery busi- ness with his brother. William J., which he con- tinued from 1854 until 1861, when he left the grocery business for freighting; but in 1863 he resumed the grocery trade. On May 28, 1857. Mr. Carpenter was married to Miss Elizabeth R. Southwick, who was born August 25, 1835, in Napanoch, Ulster Co .. N. Y .. daughter of Adna H. Southwick. The following children were the result of this union: Stella B., born April 10, 1858; Alice M., born December 31. 1863: Mary A .. born January 28. 1866: died March 16, 1866: Lydia S .. born October 10, 186 ;: and Du Bois, born March 22, 1873. Of these, Alice M. was married April 2, 1886, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., to Clinton D). Park- hill, son of Mortimer and Eleanor Shultz) Parkhill, of Canisteo, N. Y., and children as follows have been born to them: Clinton D .. Jr., born August 2, 1887; J. Du Bois, born May 24. 1892. died September 28, 1892: Mortimer S., born December 10, 1894: and Reynolds S .. born February 13. 1896, died July 17, 1896.

(IX) Josiah Du Bois Carpenter is a Repub- lican in politics, a member of the Royal Ar- canum, and he and his wife belong to the Methodist Church. He has always taken an active interest in all public matters pertaining to the welfare of Poughkeepsie: was first presi- dent (for two years) of the Merchants Associa- tion, and has served on several committees for the improvement of the city. His place of business is on the corner of Main and Acad- emy streets, opposite the .. Morgan House."

G EORGE K. TABER, a leading agricult- urist of the town of Pawling, Dutchess county, and a director of the Pawling National Bank, is a descendant of one of the oldest and most distinguished families of that vicinity. His ancestors were originally from England.

Thomas Taber, great-grandfather of our

subject, was born in New Bedford, Mass .. in 1732, came to Dutchess county in 1760, and bought a ların at Quaker Hill, where he passed the remainder of his life. He was a Quaker in religion, and most of his descendants ad- hered to the same faith. His death occurred September 18, 1783. when he was aged fifty years: his wife. Anne Theresa Taber, was born in 1,34. and died August 29. 1805, at the age of seventy-one years. They had eleven chil- dren, whose names, with dates of birth and death, are as follows: Hannah i wife of Edmond Ferris. November 12, 1753 - December 4. 1777; Salome, June 11. 1755-1766; Nathaniel (son), April 26, 1757: Meribah, March 23, 1759-June 4. 1850: William, November 6. 1760-November 3. 1836: Jeremiah. August 26. 1762 -May 8, 1834: Anne Therese, April

2. 1766-1856: Ruth. April 1. 1768-1789: Salome ( wife of Charles Hurd , August 29.

1771-1827: Almy. August 28, 1773: Mary, November 18. 1775-May 27, 1852. Of these, William, grandfather of our subject, married Martha Akin, who was born March 1, 1761. and children as follows came to this union. names and dates of birth being given: Isaac, Oc- tober 11, 1782: Hannah, November 25, 1783: Thomas, May 19, 1785; George P., June 25. 1787: Phebe, January 13, 1,90; Sybilla, June 27, 1791; Abigail, December 21, 1793: Jona- than Akin, March 7. 1797: and Ann, February 15, 1799. Of these, Thomas married, Febru- ary 2, 1820. Phebe Titus, daughter of Stephen Titus and his wife Elizabeth Holmes), and their children were: Stephen, born March ;, 1821, and Samuel Titus, April 13, 1824. died at Roslyn. Long Island. February 4, 1871. The father of these died March 21, 1862. at Roslyn, Long Island, the mother on August 13, 1824, at Chestnut Ridge, Dutchess Co .. New York.

Stephen Taber, son of Thomas and Phebe Titus Taber, married Rosetta M. Townsend May 27, 1845, and their children were: Sam- uel T., who was lost at sea in October, 1865: William T., married to Sarah Canton: Ade- laide, married to Walter R. Willets their chil- dren - Rosetta. Elsie. Gertrude and Edna : Gertrude, married to Benjamin Kirk; and Thomas T .. married to Katharine Brooks (have one son-William T .. The father of these died in New York City April 23. 1886. the mother on March 4. 1883.

Samuel Titus Taber married Katherine C. Hiller, September 2. 1845, and they moved

lico R Talen

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from Dutchess county to Long Island, in 1856. Their children are two in number: (1) Martha Elizabeth, born July 2, 1846, married Will- iam H. Willets, September 12, 1867 (their daughter, Katherine Taber Willets, born ()c- tober 10, 1868, married Alfred A. Gardner, August 22, 1892; they have one son, born November 8, 1896); and (2) Sarah Phebe, born November 4, 1847, married William Willets in 1869 (their children are: Samuel Taber Willets, born October 15, 1872; Stephen Taber Willets, born August 1, 1878; and Robert Henry Willets, born June 24, 1881).

William Taber, grandfather of our subject, became a man of distinction and note. He was a Democrat in politics, was one of the judges of sessions in Dutchess county, and in 1790 was a member of the State Assembly, his strong, upright character and aggressive disposition giving him great influence with all classes. He was an extensive land holder, owning about one thousand acres which he di- vided among his sons. He married Martha Akin (daughter of Jonathan and Lillias ( Ferris) Akin), who died January 3, 1847, in her eighty- sixth year. Of their nine children, the eldest, Hannah, married (first) Mr. Pierson, and (sec- ond) Daniel Rumsey; she left a son, William T., who married (in 1842) Caroline Field, and settled at Fairfax Court House, Va., where he and his family still live. (2) Thomas married Phoebe Titus, of Hempstead, L. I., and they lived at Chestnut Ridge, Dutchess county, un- til, about 1856, the family moved to Roslyn, L. I. They had two sons: Stephen (who went to Congress from there, serving two terms -- 1864 and 1866) and Samuel T. Thomas lived at Chestnut Ridge, and took a prominent part in the political movements of his time, serving as a member of the Twen- tieth Congress. (3) George P. married Helen Akin, and had three children: William (who died February 16, 1859), Oliver (who died September 17, 1878), and Philip (the only one now (1897) living). George P. died in February, 1870, in his eighty-third year, and of his three children, above named, William married Helen Kirby. Oliver married Eliza Irwin, of East Albany, and Philip is a bach- elor residing on the homestead; William and Oliver both died without issue. (4) Sybil married John Pierce, and had one son- George T. Pierce. (5) Abigail married Cyrus Tweedy. (6) Phoebe marricd Thomas Sweet.

(7) Ann married Chesterfield King, and had two children -- William T. and Helen.

Jonathan Aiken Taber, our subject's father, was born in 1797. and with his two brothers inherited the homestead, his share being 260 acres, to which he afterward added until he owned more than 600 acres. His life was passed in agricultural pursuits, and he did not take a prominent part in politics; but he was always interested in public questions, and took a decided stand against slavery, becoming a Republican in his later years. He was one of the most substantial and public-spirited men of his town, and he and his cousin, Jonathan Akin, were among the prime movers in the construction of the Harlem railroad, to which he gave much time and energy. Like his father and a majority of the family, he was a lifelong supporter of the Society of Friends. His first wife, Hannah Kirby, daughter of George Kirby, died December 25, 1832, leav- ing two children, of whom our subject is the elder. The other, Martha Ann, married Will- iam H. Akin, and had two children: Albro

and Amy.

His second wife was Abigail Ayers,

by whom he had Give children: Hannah, who married Edward Wanzer, and has one daugh- ter, Margaret; William T., who married Emma L. Crawford, and has one child, Frederick C., who has been bookkeeper in the National Bank of Pawling some twenty years; James Ayers, who married Virginia Houghton, and has three children- William, James Akin and Gertrude; Mary, who died at sixteen years of age; Abbic, who died in 1880, aged thirty-two years. The father of this family died in 1868, and his second wife survived him until 1889.

George K. Taber, the subject proper of this sketch, was born February 5, 1822, at the old homestead about two miles below the village of Pawling. He received a common-school education, which was supplemented with a three-seasons' course at Dutchess County Academy, Poughkeepsie, where he graduated when about twenty-one years old. He has been engaged in farming all his life, and for twenty-four years lived on the Ravinewood farm, about three miles southeast of the vil- lage. In 1869 he bought his present property, and built the house in which he now resides. As a business man he is successful, and he is one of the most influential men of the locality. In October, 1845, he married Charlotte Field, who was born January 16, 1826, in the town of Pawling, only child of Comfort Field, and

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granddaughter of Gilbert Field. The family is one of the oldest in this region, and her ancestors were early settlers at North Salen, Westchester county, where the old homestead is still in the possession of lineal descendants. Of the five children of this union, two are liv- ing : Gilbert Field, the eldest child and only son, born September, 1846, died August, 1889. He married Mary B. Allen, and had three daughters-Hattie A., Hannah and Mary, all yet living: he was a farmer and cattle raiser, importing the first Red-Polled cattle ever brought to this country. Hannah K. died at the age of twenty. Martha A. and Alicia are at home. Lottie died in 1880, at the age of eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Taber are Bap- tists in faith, and have always taken great in- terest in the work of the Church, and in all measures for the public welfare. In politics he was formerly a Republican, but of late years he has affiliated with the Prohibition party, taking a strong stand in the cause of temperance. His father was one of the first to prohibit the use of stimulants in the harvest field and on other occasions, as the custom then was.

E UGENE S. CRAFT, one of the most straightforward and energetic business men of Poughkeepsie, Dntchess county, spent the first ten years of his life in Port Chester, Westchester Co., N. Y., where his birth took place February 14, 1867. He is a son of John W. and Phoebe ( Merritt) Craft, who were married in that city; but when he was only three years of age his mother died, leaving eight children, namely : Graham, Earls, Phoebe, John, Manford, Louis, Engene Sloat and Washington. The father, who was a native of Putnam county, N. Y., became a highly-educated man, and for seven years fol- lowed the profession of teaching. By trade he was a stone mason, and while following con- tracting in that line was employed as overseer on the masonry of the West Shore railroad passing through Newburgh, N. Y., where he is now engaged in the grocery business. For his second wife he married Eliza Terwilliger.

In the public schools Eugene S. Craft obtained his education, and was ten years of age on going to Newburgh, where he remained eight years. On the expiration of that time he came to Poughkeepsie, first being in the employ of Mr. Griggs, at the " Morgan House,"

where he remained some three years. He next entered his father's grocery store as clerk, and two years later the business was sold to S. J. Kelder, for whom he also worked two years. In 1892 he entered into partnership with J. G. Bloomer, under the firm name of E. S. Craft, but at the end of six months he purchased his partner's interest. In January, 1894, he bought his present store at No. 466 Main street, from Mr. Bloomer, and admitted that gentleman to a partnership in the store at No. 521. Nine months later he sold his interest in the latter establishment to his partner, retain- ing the store at No. 466, of which he is sole proprietor. He has been quite successful in his business ventures, and now receives a liberal patronage.

While a resident of Newburgh. Mr. Craft held membership with Trinity Church, and now belongs to Washington Street Methodist Episcopal Church, while he is also assistant superintendent of the Cherry Street Chapel. Socially he is connected with the Knights of Pythias Lodge, and in politics is an earnest and strong advocate of the principles of the Prohibi- tion party. He is a conscientious, Christian gen- tleman, an active worker for the temperance cause, and upright and honorable in all the walks of life.

M AJ. WILLIAM HAUBENNESTEL, of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, senior member of the well-known firm of Hauben- nestel & Son, dealers in boots and shoes, is one of the representative men of that place. He has been identified with the city since his childhood, for, although he is a native of New York City, born in 1843, he was taken to Poughkeepsie six years later by his parents.

After leaving school he learned the shoe- making trade, and in 1867 started for himself in the shoe business, which he has conducted ever since. Mr. Haubennestel is a stanch Re- publican, and has served his party faithfully on many occasions. He was assessor in 1872- 74-76, and was elected supervisor of the Sec- ond ward in Poughkeepsie in 1887. In that body he did valiant service, and it was through his instrumentality that the matter of caring for the insane was amicably arranged, saving the city thousands of dollars. In 1894 he was elected treasurer of Dutchess county with a majority of 2,290.

In military circles Mr. Haubennestel is

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known throughout the entire State. On May 2, 1860, he joined Company D, 2 Ist Regiment, N. Y. V. I. (now the Nineteenth Separate · Company), as a private, and received rapid promotion as follows: July 2, 1861, second sergeant; July 3, 1862, first sergeant; Novem- ber 3, 1862, second lieutenant; April 6, 1866, first lieutenant; November 12, 1866, captain; and on January 2, 1876, by virtue of long service, he was promoted to the rank of brevet- major. During all these years he had served his country faithfully without a furlough or even a leave of absence. At the front his rec- ord is bright. In June, 1863, when the Na- tional Capital and the whole North was threat- ened by the victorious army of Gen. Lee, the command left Poughkeepsie, reported to Maj. Gen. Schenck at Baltimore, and was assigned quarters at Belgier's barracks. It was at this critical juncture that the history of Company D and Maj. W. Haubennestel became closely linked. He was then a lad of only eighteen years, and was with them in all the exciting times until mustered out of service in August, 1863. He was repeatedly offered the position of post adjutant, but his age prevented his ac- ceptance. On February 20, 1897, he was ap- pointed battalion commander of the Eleventh Battalion, embracing the territories of West- chester, Putnam, Dutchess and Columbia counties.

To this gentleman the city of Poughkeepsie is indebted for the beautiful armory on Market street; for almost alone, for seven long years, he fought for its erection, making at least three hundred trips to Albany before he secured his purpose. In May, 1891, on Decoration Day, the corner stone was laid with imposing cere- monies, and now the grand structure is a mon- ument to his energy and perseverance.

Our subject was married October 10, 1867, to Alice Buys, and two children have been born to them: Ella L. and Louis P.

Major Haubennestel's friends are legion, and he is active in fraternal society work. In 1866 he joined the 1. O. O. F., at Poughkeep- sie, Lodge No. 21, in which he has passed all the chairs, and he has been a representative to the Grand Lodge several times. He is also an old member of Poughkeepsie Lodge No. 266, F. & A. M., having joined same in 1868. In 1880 he united with Hamilton Post, G. A. R., and he is a member of the Veteran Fireman Association. The Nineteenth Separate Com- pany Fife, Drum and Bugle Corps, the crack

drum corps of the State of New York, was or- ganized in the fall of 1888 by Mr. Haubennes- tel, assisted by his son Louis P. Haubennestel, who is leader of the corps, and was the promo- ter of the organization.

Louis P. Haubennestel, the junior member of the firm of Haubennestel & Son, was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .. August 16, 1870, and his education was completed at Riverview Academy, where he held the position of drum major. He was the commanding officer of St. Paul's Co., Knights of Temperance, in 1890, when they won the prize banner for drill, in New York City. On April 11. 1894, he was married to Minnie Avis Barton, daughter of Edward and Mina (Fern) Barton, of Salisbury, Conn., where she was born. Her grandfather, who was a prominent Democrat, in 1842 de- livered a political address in Poughkeepsie, and in 1852 he carried the official vote of the State of Connecticut to Washington. From 1852 to 1856 he was a member of the Assembly, and in 1873 was State senator. He is still living at Salisbury, Conn. Mrs. L. P. Haubennes- tel's father is also prominent in Democratic circles and has held several positions of trust.

OSE MANUEL GODINEZ, of the firm of C. H. Gallup & Co., is as his name would in-

dicate, of Cuban origin, born August 1, 1853. on the island of Cuba, where his father, Fran- cisco J. Godinez, was the owner of a large sugar plantation.

Jose Manuel Godinez passed his boyhood in his native land, and received his education in the lower schools, from which he took the degree A. B., and in the University of Havana. When yet quite young he was made one of the guards of the Captain-General of Cuba, and stationed at Havana. He served three years, receiving the rank of lieutenant, and then ob- taining a furlough, came to the United States, and at once declared his intention of becoming a citizen; he remained here until after his final papers were signed, and then went home on a visit. In 1876 he entered the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, and took a full business course. During all this time he made frequent visits home to see his parents. Even now, while Poughkeepsie is his home, he still retains a large plantation of several thou- sand acres in Cuba, though this has been laid waste and the buildings all burned in the prog- ress of the present Cuban war, In 1890 he

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entered partnership with Mr. Gallup in the photograph business.

In 1877. in Poughkeepsie, Mr. Godinez was married to Miss Ella Gallup, daughter of Charles H. Gallup, and sister of his present partner in business. To this union one child has been born, Francisco Laurent, now at- tending Riverview Military College. Mr. God- inez is a member of the Masonic fraternity Ancient Scottish Rite-which he joined in Cuba. He is also a member of the Pough- keepsie Gun Club.

I SAAC W. SHERRILL, who has twice served as county treasurer, and who is one of the most prominent citizens of Poughkeep- sie, was born in New Lebanon, Columbia Co., N. Y., May 16, 1849, a son of Walter and Amy ( Fowler) Sherrill.

The Sherrill family is of English ancestry, and the first of the name in this country set- tled on Long Island, whence some of them came to Dutchess county. Isaac Sherrill, the grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, where he carried on farming. On June 18, 1809, he married Betsy Jackson, and they had five chil- dren, of whom the following record is given: Jeremiah is a farmer in the town of Washing- ton, Dutchess county; Walter is the father of our subject; Hunting is a farmer in Columbia county, N. Y. ; Eliza M. married Lewis Adsit, also a farmer, and now deceased; and Marga- ret married George Fowler, now deceased.

Walter Sherrill was born in the town of Stanford, and was reared on the home farm. He married Amy E., daughter of Israel Fow- ler, who was born at Unionvale, Dutchess county, and they settled on a farm in Columbia county, where the father died in 1852, and the mother in 1854. They were consistent mem- bers of the Christian Church, and in his polit- ical belief the father was a Whig. They had two children: Isaac W. and Henrietta, the latter being now deceased.

Isaac W. Sherrill was a child of three years when his father died, and his mother's death following two years later, he was taken by his uncle, Jeremiah Sherrill, with whom he lived in the town of Hillsdale, Columbia county, until twelve years of age. His uncle at that time removed to the town of Washington, Dutchess county, and there our subject attended the district school, later taking a course at

the Dutchess County Academy. His educa- tion was completed at Cary's Institute, Pough- keepsie, and when twenty-one years of age he returned to that city and entered the hardware . store of Uhl & Husted, as clerk. With this house he remained two years, and then went into the general store of Budd & Trowbridge. A year later he bought the interest of Mr. Budd, and the firm became Trowbridge & Sherrill. In the following year Peter Adriance was ad- mitted to the partnership, and the name was changed to Trowbridge, Sherrill & Adriance. This connection continued for three years, when Mr. Sherrill sold out his interests, and for a short time was engaged in the manufac- ture of shoes with Bayly & Halsted.

In 1878, Mr. Sherrill was elected alderman of the Third ward. on the Republican ticket, and was re-elected in 1880, serving two terms. He was afterward appointed city chamberlain, by Mayor Ezra White, which office he held four years. In 1886 Mr. Sherrill started as a dealer in investment securities, a business he is yet carrying on, at No. 19 Market street. In 1888 he was elected county treasurer, and at the expiration of his term was re-elected, serving in this capacity until January 1, 1895. In April, 1897, Governor Black appointed him one of the Board of Trustees of the New York State Soldiers' and Sailors' Home, located at Bath, Steuben Co., N. Y., which is an institu- tion of about fifteen hundred inmates. In June of the same year he resigned from that position, and the Governor appointed him to the honorary position of one of the Board of Managers of the Hudson River State Hospital, located at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., which is con- sidered a position of prominence in the State.

On October 1, 1873, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Virginia Halstead, a native of the town of Stanford, Dutchess coun- ty. The Halsteads are of English descent, and her father, Nehemiah Halstead, was for a time a merchant at Bangall, Dutchess county, after- ward following farming. Four children have been born to our subject and his wife: Wil- fred H., Harold W., Virgil C. and Arthur L. Mr. and Mrs. Sherrill attend the Congrega- tional Church. Mr. Sherrill is a Republican in politics, and has always taken a lively in- terest in public matters, lending his influence to all projects for the growth and welfare of his community. His ability as a business man is well-known, and he stands high in the esti- mation of his associates.

GraceMessico

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J AMES HARVEY SWIFT (deceased) was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., April 23, 1825, and was a brother of George H. Swift, a leading citizen of the town of Amenia, Dutchess county. His boyhood days were passed in his native city, attending the Dutch- ess County Academy and College Hill Academy. For two years later he was a student at Yale College, after which he entered Rutgers Col- lege at New Brunswick, N. J., taking the class- ical course and graduating with the class of '44. He then came to the town of Amenia, where, for a year, he lived upon a farm with his brother John, and subsequently purchased the Burton farm, where he lived until his marriage.

On February 4, 1847, Mr. Swift was mar- ried in New York City to Miss Frances Au- gusta Swift, daughter of Thomas Swift, and they became the parents of seven children, namely: Alida Warner, born November 9, 1847, died December 12, 1892; Henry, born December 31, 1849, died January 15, 1865; Frances Augusta, born December 12, 1851, died March 15, 1852; Thomas James, born March 6, 1853; Charles Rowland, born Janu- ary 28, 1858, died April 30, 1860; Freeborn Jewett, born February 11, 1862, died Decet- ber 15. 1864; and John Morton, born October 6, 1865.

In 1857 Mr. Swift purchased the Philo Reed farm, which continued to be his home until his death, on September 27, 1889. Dur- ing his active business life he carried on farm- ing in the town of Amenia, with the exception of when, in connection with his brother, George H., he was executor of his brother Charles' es- tate, at which time he resided in Poughkeepsie.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 40

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