Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 50

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

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at this work, he rented his present farm of 664 acres near Pawling from Hooker & Ham- merlies. He has thirty-seven cows and is largely interested in dairying.

His sterling qualities of character and the indomitable perseverance that has enabled him to make his way without the aid which helps so many men to a prosperous career, have won for Mr. Pinckney the respect of all who know him. He has so far passed his life in single blessedness. He is a member of the Methodist Church in Pawling, and supports the principles of the Democratic party without taking an active share, however, in political work.

P ETER MILLER. This gentleman worthi-

ly illustrates the commonly-accepted view of the character of the enterprising German citizen, who has made his own way in this country, and is now at the head of a good re- tail boot and shoe business. A native of Westphalia, he was born September 28, 1848, and is the son of John J. Miller, who was also born in the same place, in 1815, and by trade was a shoemaker, which occupation was fol- lowed by his father and grandfather.

In his native land John J. Miller was united in marriage with Miss Anna C. Heller, also a native of Westphalia, and to them were born five children, namely: John, a shoemaker of Germany; Peter, of this sketch: Regina, wife of Mathew Zeigen, of Poughkeepsie; Cather- ine, who died in infancy; and Carl, a shoe- maker, of Germany. The father never left the Fatherland, where he continued to follow his trade until he was called from this earth in 1861. His wife had passed away in 1850. They were devout members of the German Catholic Church.

Mr. Miller, of this sketch, was an enter- prising, ambitious boy, and after working at the shoemaker's trade in Germany until he had reached his majority, he determined to seek his fortune on this side of the Atlantic. Accord- ingly he set sail in 1871, and has since been one of the worthy citizens of Poughkeepsie, where he was first employed at shoemaking, and also as a clerk in the store of Frank Marks for about a year and a half. After filling a similar position with Michael Timmins fornine years, he in 1883 started in the shoe business on his own responsibility at No. 123 Main street, where he carried on operations for five

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years, and then purchased his present store at No. 131 on the same street.

In January, 1876, Mr. Miller led to the marriage altar Mrs. Mary C. Muckenhoupt, a widow lady who had nine children by her first union, and they became the parents of one son -Charley T. Both our subject and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic Church, and in politics he gives his allegiance to the Democratic party. He is a progressive, wide-awake business man, enjoying a liberal patronage and is held in high esteem in both business and social circles.

S IMON J. KELDER, one of the leading young merchants of Poughkeepsie, N. Y .. and a most respected and useful citizen of that city, is a native of the town of Rochester, Ulster Co., N. Y. His great-grandfather was a resi- dent of Marbletown, Ulster county, he being one of the leading farmers of his day. His grandfather was a resident of the same place, he also being a farmer, and he held several public offices. To him and his wife, Susan Christian, were born seven children, one of whom, George Kelder, was the father of Simon J., the subject of our sketch.

George Kelder was born in the town of Rochester, Ulster Co., N. Y., January 15, 1840. On October 9. 1861, he was married to Miss Martha A., daughter of Jacob and Nancy Roosa, of the town of Rochester, Ulster county, and they had one child, Simon J. The father was a bright and capable young man, with a promis- ing future, but whose life was taken at the early age of twenty-four years-when but at the threshold of his active career-he dying from brain fever in 1864. His widow subsequently married Edward L. Rymph, of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, this State, of which place she is still a resident.

Simon J. Kelder passed his early boyhood in Ulster county, and at the age of five years, on his mother's re-marriage, went with her to Hyde Park and there lived, making his home with his parents until seventeen or eighteen years of age, working on a farm; in the mean- time he attended the common schools, and for a period the seminary at New Paltz. He then went to Poughkeepsie and engaged in the hat and cap business, being located at No. 283 Main street, which business he continued to follow some six years, when he disposed of it and purchased the grocery business of J. Craft,

at No 521 Main street, in the same city. In 1894 he removed to No. 396, on the same street, from which house his retail business is done, and the wholesale department is at No. 391. Mr. Kelder began his business life at an early age, and with small means, but from an humble beginning and in a limited way he has steadily forged ahead until to-day he stands among the foremost young business men of Poughkeepsie. He is one of the self-made men of our times, and by close application to business, coupled with wise judgment and busi- ness tact, he, though yet a young man, has made for himself a position in business circles of which he may well be proud. In politics Mr. Kelder is a Republican, and has served in several official relations. He is now one of the aldermen of Poughkeepsie, serving from the Sixth ward, to which office he was elected in 1897. He takes an active interest in all movements looking to the advancement of morals and religion in the community; is a member of Trinity M. E. Church, of Pough- keepsie; also is identified with the K. of P.

On November 19. 1884, Mr. Kelder was married to Miss Jennie S. Sutton, a daughter of Henry and Louisa Sutton, of Newburg, N. Y., and to the union were born: Florence; George T., who died in the eighth year of his age; Louisa; and Stanley M., who died in his infancy. Their home, one of the comfortable ones of Poughkeepsie, is located on Hooker avenue, designated as No. 5.

N ICHOLAS HOFFMAN. Among the many worthy citizens of German birth who have made their fortunes in this State, and who have been residents of Poughkeepsie. Dutchess county, stood prominent the gentle- man whose name opens this sketch, and who left many friends to cherish kindly remem- brances of him when death called him hence.

Paul Hoffman, the father of our subject, was a native of Aschaffenburg. Bavaria, Ger- many, and was a shoemaker by occupation. He married, and had the following named children: Nicholas, our subject; Frank, living in St. Helena, Cal .; Valentine, who died in Poughkeepsie; Philip, who died in Norfolk, Va .; and Margarett and Caroline, who still live in their native town in Germany.

Nicholas Hoffman was born at Aschaffen- burg. Bavaria, Germany, February 28, 1832. He received a limited education in his native

Melders

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land, and served a three-years' apprentice- ship at the shoemaker's trade. In 1851, when nineteen years of age, he came to this country, landing at New York City, where he worked as a journeyman for a year, and then set up a shop of his own, in a room in the tenement house where he lived, on Third street, near Avenue A. After a year and a half spent in this way he left New York for Whiteport, Ulster county, where he followed his trade for the succeeding two years. He then purchased a team, and was engaged in teaming some ten years, at the end of which time he purchased a canal boat and went to canaling for himself on the D. & H. canal, continuing several years.

In 1866 he sold his canal boat and moved to Kingston, and entered into partnership with a Mr. Sturgis in the brewing business, but soon afterward, owing to his illness, he sold his interest to his partner, and in 1868 came to Poughkeepsie, where he purchased a saloon at No. 403 Main street, remaining there until 1872, when he purchased the building on the corner of Main and Hamilton streets, built by Philip Goldstein, and moved his saloon to a part thereof in 1875. From 1875 until his death Mr. Hoffman was proprietor of the " Hoffman House," which is one of the finest buildings of its kind in Poughkeepsie, and which, under his judicious management, be- came a very popular hotel. In 1878 he opened, in connection with his other business, a shoe store, which was conducted by his two sons, Henry and Nicholas, until 1886, when he sold the shoe business and opened his saloon in the room where it had been, named it the " Hoff- man House," by which name it is at present known.

Mr. Hoffman was a man of considerable business ability, possessed of excellent judg- ment and great perseverance and enterprise. He landed in this country among strangers, an unsophisticated lad, with only ten cents in his pocket, and totally unacquainted with the lan- guage. He taught himself to speak, read and write English, and became a generally well- informed man in English literature, not only became prosperous financially, but succeeded in making friends among the best class of citi- zens who appreciated his generous, whole- souled nature, and admired his sterling quali- ties. Among his business associates he had the reputation of being careful, thrifty and thoroughly honest, and in public matters he was liberal and always ready to assist in any

way desired. A Democrat in politics, he was not a partisan, and in local affairs was willing to see the best men put in office regardless of their party affiliations. In religious faith he was a member of the German Catholic Church, and prominent in its councils. His death oc- curred August 28, 1877.

In 1851, in New York City, Mr. Hoffman was married to Elizabeth Kunney, daughter of Andrew and Margaretta Kunney, and who had come to America on the same ship with him, and seven children blessed their union, namely: Frank and Katherine died in early childhood; Caroline, at home; Henry and Nicholas both deceased); Katherine and Frank, both living at home. The family are highly esteemed and respected by all who know them.

M ULFORD WHEELER, one of the act- ive, prominent and enterprising agri- culturists of the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county, was born April 27, 1840, in the town of Amenia, that county, a son of B. Hampton Wheeler, who was born in the town of North- east, in 1813. Eben Wheeler, paternal grand- father of our subject, was born in 1750, also in the town of Northeast, where he continued to follow farming up to the time of his death, which occurred about 1860. The family was first founded, however, in Connecticut by En- glish emigrants, and the grandfather aided the Colonies in their struggle for independence. He wedded a Miss Conklin, and they became the parents of ten children, namely: B. Hamp- ton, Albert, Edmond E., Emeline, Harriet, Betsy Ann, Julia, Cornelia, Mariette (Mrs. Story) and Alma, wife of Robert Rowe.

The father of our subject was an extensive farmer and one of the leading citizens of the town of Amenia, his place being located about one mile south of the village of Amenia. He was a strong man, of more than ordinary abil- ity, possessed excellent business judgment and great energy, and accumulated a handsome property, having at one time three large farms in the town of Amenia, all the result of his own enterprise and diligence. He took quite an active part in political affairs, voting the Dem- ocratic ticket and held several offices in the locality, including that of assessor, which he filled for several years. He was prominently connected with the Amenia Fair Association, being its president for several years, and was identified with everything that would promote

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the welfare of his town or county. He mar- ried Emeline Clark, daughter of Dugass Clark, of the town of Northeast, and they became the parents of five children: Mulford; Mrs. Sarah Bartholomew; Elizabeth; Clark D. (of the town of Northeast) and Collin, who died at the age of ten years.

Mulford Wheeler acquired an excellent ed- ucation in the Amenia Seminary, which at that time was one of the first schools of the county, and in later years he supplemented the know]- edge there acquired by extensive reading. After the age of twelve he was able to attend school only in the winter season, as his serv- ices were needed upon the home farm, where he remained until 1865. After operating one of his father's farms in the town of Amenia for some time, in March, 1871, he removed to his present place in the town of Pine Plains, hav- ing purchased it of the Eli Collin estate. It comprises 309 acres of rich and arable land. which he has converted into one of the best farms of the township.

In January, 1867, Mr. Wheeler was mar- ried to Miss Sarah F. Collin, who was born June 24, 1847, a daughter of Eli Collin, who was born February 23, 1805. Her great-great- grandfather, John Collin, was born in France in 1706, and on coming to the New World located at Milford, New Haven Co., Conn., where his son, Daniel Collin, was born Febru- ary 19, 1734. The latter became the father of James Collin, the grandfather of Mrs. Wheeler, who was born April 15, 1777. He was a large land owner of Dutchess county, having at one time about 1,000 acres, and the family was one of the most prominent in the county. Eli Collin was born in the town of Northeast, where he continued to make his home until 1828, when he removed to the farm now owned by our subject, and was one of the most successful agriculturists of the locality. On February 20, 1830, he married Betsy Finch, and they had nine children: Almira, Julia, James and William, all now de- ceased; Henry, living in the town of Northeast; Lydia and Myra, both now deceased; Sarah, wife of our subject; and Bryan, living in New York City. Mr. Collin was originally a Whig in politics, later becoming a Republican. He died in 1861, his wife eight years later.

Mr. Wheeler has always been an ardent Democrat in political sentiment, taking an active part in local political matters, and was elected to office before he had reached his

majority. He served as assessor for three years, and was commissioner of highways in the town of Amenia. Always public-spirited, every worthy enterprise for the benefit of the community receives his support, and he and his wife attend and contribute liberally to the Presbyterian Church, of which Mrs. Wheeler is a member.

J AMES E. WAITE, a well-known conduct- or on the New York Central & Hudson

River railroad, and one of the most trusted employes of the company, was born July 6, 1843, in the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, where his father, Joseph Waite, and his grandfather, Joseph Waite, were also born. The latter engaged in farming there, and mar- ried a Miss Draper, by whom he had seven children: Joseph, George, Patience, Mary, Sarah, Katie A. and Valley.

Joseph Waite, the father of James E., was a prominent citizen in his day. He acquired a good practical education in the schools of his native town, and then put his fine talent and skill in mechanical work to good use as a car- penter and builder. In this business he was regarded as an expert, and his work is to be seen in many of the best houses of that region. He built many of the substantial residences of Dover Plains, including the one now occupied by our subject. He was held in high esteem by all classes and took great interest in town affairs, but he never aspired to political dis- tinction and many times refused to become a candidate for public office, although strongly urged to do so. In early manhood he married Miss Amelia Applebee, of the town of Wash- ington, Dutchess county, and they had ten children, of whom the following five are now recalled: John, who married Catherine Van- Wagenen; William, who married Louisa Ro- zell; Charles, who married Susan J. Bortem; Nehemiah (deceased); and James E.

The subject of our sketch availed himself of the educational advantages to be found in his native place, and then learned the carpen- ter's trade with his father, for whom he worked for some time. Finding the business uncon- genial, he engaged in farming, but soon after- ward began driving a stage, and continued this business for sixteen years, when he entered service on the Harlem railroad as a brakeman. After eleven years he was promoted to con- ductor, which position he has now held for

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twelve years to the entire satisfaction of his employers and the public. He is an active worker in the Masonic fraternity, a member of the Mutual Benefit Association, and of Lodge No. 666, of Dover Plains, in which he has held most of the offices. He has twice served as junior warden, and is master at the present time. He married Miss Carrie Rozell, who was also a native of the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, where she received an ex- cellent education. Two children were born to them, neither of whom is now living: (1) Clarence J. Waite was born in Unionvale, in 1863, and after acquiring a good education there engaged in mercantile business at Pawl- ing, Dutchess county. Later he entered the service of the Harlem Railroad Co., and re- mained until his death, which occurred De- cember 30, 1890. In 1887 he was married to Miss Kittie Brusie, daughter of Wesley Brusie, a leading farmer of the town of Northeast, and his wife Helen. One child blessed this union, Clarice J. Waite, born March 14, 1891. (2) Irving Waite, the second son of our subject, was born in Unionvale in 1865, and attended the district schools of that vicinity till death terminated his bright and promising life at the age of twelve years.

The Rozell family has been prominent in Unionvale for many years. Albert Rozell, Mrs. Waite's grandfather, was born and edu- cated there and later became a leading farmer of the town. He married Miss Betsy Horton, of the same place, and had twelve children, of whom only five are now known: Beekman, Albro, James, Mary and Albert (Mrs. Waite's father). Albert, like his father, was educated in the common schools of the town, and then engaged in farming. As a politician he wield- ed great influence in town and county affairs, and he held the office of sheriff for many years, as well as various positions in his township. He and his wife, Tamar Orton, reared a family of eight children, all but one of whom mar- ried. The names, with dates of birth and their respective partners in matrimony, are as fol- lows: Emma, 1837-John Schafer; Henry, 1838-Lizzie Van Black ; James, 1841-Annie Green; Carrie, 1843-James Waite; Rhoda, 1845-Rennselaer Lane; George, 1852, is not married; Celia, 1854-Elias Fleet; and Alice, 1856-Benjamin Squires. The younger chil- dren of our subject's grandfather Waite all married and settled in Dutchess county.

George Waite was born in Unionvale,

Dutchess county, in 1789, and received a com- mon-school education there. He then learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for some thirty years, when he engaged in farm- ing. He was a Democrat in politics, and held numerous town offices, serving as justice of the peace for a number of terms. He married Miss Lucinda Bently, daughter of William Bently, a farmer of Beekman, and his wife, Susanna Spencer. Eight children were born to George and Lucinda Waite: (1) Joseph died in infancy. (2) George W. Waite was born in 1812, in the town of Beekman. After his school days were ended he learned the carpen- ter's trade, at which he worked all his life. He married Almira Van Wike, daughter of Theo. Van Wike, a farmer of Unionvale, and had four children: Frank Waite married Mary Hayte; Fred O. married Annie Frier; Corne- lius married Ida Waite; and Kate married William Voce. (3) Neilson was born in the town of Beekman in 1816. and engaged in farming, teaching and merchandising. He married Miss Annie White and had two chil- dren: Dwight and Emma J. (4) Cornwell Waite was born in the town of Beekman in 1818, and was educated in the common schools of Unionvale. Early in life he engaged in farming in that town, and continued until he was thirty-five or forty years old, when he moved to South Dover, purchasing the Harri- son Sheldon farm, containing 160 acres of land, where he has now resided for a number of years. His first wife was Miss Silby Corn- well. daughter of James and Cloey (Sherman) Cornwell, farmers of the town of Beekman, Dutchess county. By this marriage he had one child, Harriet A., who married Mr. Ald- ridge, of Pawling, and had three children: Allie and Cornelia (who are not married), and Morton (the latter dying in infancy). The mother of this family died in 1850. Mr.

Waite afterward married Mrs. Hannah ( Ward) Sheldon, widow of Harrison Sheldon, of Do- ver. They have had four children: Minnie Waite, who was educated in the Poughkeepsie Normal School, is not married. Henry C. Waite, who was born in Dover town, and was educated at Mt. Union (Ohio) College and at Wilberham, Mass., graduating at the latter place. He taught school for a few years, and is now connected with the Erie railroad, in the mail department, in New York City. He mar- ried Addie Kingsbury, but has no children. Irving P. was educated at Prangs, Dover

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Plains, and De Garmo Institute, at Rhinebeck. He has always been engaged in farming, and is not married. William A. was educated at Wilberham, Mass .. and at Mt. Union Ohio) College. He taught school for a number of years, and then took a clerical position at New York with the Erie railroad: he is now en- gaged in the express business in New York City. He married Anna Davis, and has two children: Stewart D). and Eleanor. (5) Helen is not married. 6 Harriet married Moses Waite, a carpenter of Dover, and had one child, George S. White. 7, Catharine re- rained unmarried. (%) Sarah was born in the town of Unionvale, and married Isaac D. Tripp, a farmer and miller of that town. They had no children.

Patience Waite, the third child of Joseph Waite, Sr., was born in the town of Union- vale, and married Richard Cornwell, a farmer of the town of Beekman. They had one son, Joseph Cornwall, who died at an early age.

Mary Waite, also a native of the town of Unionvale, married Baria Austin, a farmer of that town. They had three children: Aaron B., who married Julia Lane; Sarah, Mrs. David Amie, and Jane, Mrs. William W. Abel. Sarah Waite married John Hall, a fariner of Unionvale, and had thirteen children: Platt, De Peyster, Jay, Katie who married David Hawer). Polly, Phoebe ( who married Henry P. Amie , Ellen, Jane, Mary, and four others, whose names are not known.

Katie A. married William McDowel, a farmer of the town of Warrington, Dutchess county, and had two children: Joseph (who married Miss Van Wagenen and Katie Ann.

Valley Waite married William Hall, a farmer. He was a cripple, but filled a promi- nent place in the community, and during the greater part of his life was collector of the town of Umonvale. They had two children. Joseph and George.

U UNDERHILL BUDD, the subject of our sketch, one of the most progressive and inteligent agriculturists of the town of Wap- pinger, Dutchess county, is a descendant of one of the oldest Colonial families in this conn- try Hei the seventh son of Elijah Budd, a prominent farmer of Dutchess county in his day. I: jah Budd was born in the year 1781, on the same day that Lord Cornwallis surren- dered his army to Gen. Washington at York-

town, at the close of the Revolution. Elijah's father, Gilbert, came from Westchester county, and settled in the Highlands. north of Cold Spring. From there he came to Fishkill. and purchased a farm just west of the village on the old post road. known as the Old Budd home- stead, and owned at the present time by Fred- erick Haight. Here Elijah was born. After the death of his father, Elijah came into pos- session of the farm. In 1806 Elijah married Abigail Sebring, daughter of Isaac Sebring, an extensive and prosperous farmer of Dutchess county. Isaac Sebring married, December 31, 1776, Catherine Van Benschoten, a daughter of Tunis Van Benschoten, of New Hackensack, Dutchess county. Isaac Sebring died in his seventy-eighth year, his wife, Catherine Van- Benschoten) in her seventy-seventh year. Tunis Van Benschoten died in his eighty-first year, his wife, Annie sleight), in her ninety- first year. Elijah Budd sold the old home- stead, and bought a farm of John Brincker- hodd, on the Hudson, now Low Point, and moved there in the year 1322.

On this farm Underhill Budd was born August 3, 1823. On October 12, 1852, Mr. Budd married a daughter of Matthew I. Snook, whose ancestors emigrated from Holland in the early part of the seventeenth century. His father was in the American army through the Revolutionary war. After his marriage Mr. Budd went west to the State of Illinois, to look after the estate of a deceased brother who left a large landed estate, and lived there three years. Mr. Budd became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at the age of six- teen years, and while in Illinois he received a license as a local preacher, and was associated with a regular Conference preacher, on the Sabbath preaching sometimes twice, and riding from ten to twenty miles. He has sustained his relations to the Church for forty years, and has been a member thereof some fifty-six years. During that period he has hlled almost every position of trust in the Church, and has never received or solicited any compensation for his labor whatever, giving his time and labor freely for the cause of Christianity, and also paying liberally toward the support of the Church. At the end of three years he returned to Dutchess county, and took charge of his father's farm. His elder brothers having all left home, he felt it his duty to look after them during the period of fifteen years in the faithful discharge of his duty. His mother

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 50

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