Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 62

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

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H ON. EDWARD HARRIS THOMPSON. The family of which the subject of this sketch is a distinguished representative orig- inated in England, where it has held an hon- ored position from an early period, its coat of arms bearing the motto, "In lumine luce", being an interesting reminder of the olden time. The head of the American branch, Anthony Thompson, came to this country with his wife, two children and two brothers, John and Will- iam, in the company of Governor Eaton, Rev. Mr. Davenport and others of Coventry, Eng- land, arriving at Boston, June 26, 1637, ac- cording to Winthrop's Journal, or July 23, 1637, as stated by Cotton Mather. Like many other dissenters from the Church of Eng- land at that day, they sought in the New World freedom to worship in accordance with their own faith, and relief from the persecu- tions and burdensome taxation which were their lot in their native land. The party led by Messrs. Davenport and Eaton had a larger pro- portion of wealthy and energetic men than any other which had arrived up to that time, and several towns made tempting offers to the emigrants, but it was Quinipiac, or New Hav- en, that was finally decided upon as a location. Anthony Thompson signed the Colony Con- stitution June 4, 1639, and all the brothers soon secured farms in the vicinity. John's estate at New Haven, where he died Decem- ber 11, 1674, is said to be still in the posses- sion of some of his numerous descendants. Anthony and William resided at New Haven. Anthony died March 23, 1647, and left a large estate, which was divided under his will be- tween his six children and his second wife. His original purchase and the house thereon was given to his son John, and the lands after- ward acquired, to Anthony, Jr., while with the exception of a certain sum to his daughter Bridget, a child of his first wife, on condition

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that she would marry in accordance with the wishes of the deacons of the Church, the re- mainder was left to his wife, Catherine, and her three daughters. The wife's share was conditional upon her widowhood, and as she married Nicholas Camp, July 14, 1652, it probably reverted to this family. Anthony, Jr., made his will December 26, 1682, while on a visit in Milford, and died three days later. The greater part of his property was left to his brother, John. William Thompson was probably a bachelor as at his death in 1682 his will, which was made October 6th of the same year, distributed his property among his relatives, particular mention being made of his nephew John.

John Thompson seems to have been a sea captain. He died June 2, 1707, and an inventory of his estate is on record. Three children are named in the registry of the town, viz. : Mary, born September 9, 1667; Samuel, born May 12, 1669; and Sarah, born January 16, 1671, but he probably had two or three previously. Samuel was married, November 14, 1695, to Rebecca Bishop, daughter of the Lieutenant Governor, and lived at the Beaver Pond, now Westville, about two miles from New Haven. He was captain of the military company in New Haven, and must have been a man of great physical vigor, as in his eighty- second year he rode from New Haven to Goshen, about fifty miles, on horseback, this trip being among the reminiscences of his grandson Hezekiah, who rode behind him. Samuel died at Goshen. His children's names, with dates of birth, are as follows: Samuel, December 2, 1696; James, June 5, 1699; Amos, March 3, 1702; Gideon, December 25, 1704; Rebecca, February 23, 1708; Judah, June 10, 1710 (died August 5, 1712); Judah (2d), October 5, 1713; and Enos, August 18, 1717. Most of this family lived to an ad- vanced age, and some settled in what is now the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, others in Connecticut. Samuel located on the east line of the town of Stanford, near Federal store, and in 1785 he, or Ezra [Enos?], built a brick house, which has been occupied by the family ever since. In 1783 his son Caleb built a brick house in the same locality. James Thompson died in 1737, as a result of a fall from a cherry tree, and his son, Hezekiah, then two years old, was placed under the guardianship of his uncle Enos, who bound him out at the age of fourteen to learn the

saddler's trade. The boy had higher ambi- tions, however, and, as soon as he could, began the study of law at Woodbury, where he rose to prominence in the profession and built himself a stately residence. He died in March, 1803, leaving two sons: William, who lived in Sullivan county, N. Y., was the first judge of that county, and died December 9, 1847; and John, an Episcopal clergyman at New Durham, Greene Co., N. Y., and died August 4, 1864.

Amos Thompson settled near Thompson's Pond, now Hunn's Lake, in the town of Stan- ford, Dutchess county, about 1746. He and his wife Sarah (Allen), whom he wedded in 1726, had seven children: Allen, born in 1727; Rebecca, in 1729; Amos, in 1731 : Ezra, in 1734; Sarah, Eunice and Mary. Allen died soon after the removal to Dutchess county. Amos was educated at a college in New Jersey, and became a Presbyterian minister. locating first at North Canaan, Conn., and later in Loudoun county, Va., where he died in 1804. He married Miss Jane Evans, of Maryland.

Gideon Thompson lived at Goshen, Conn. Rebecca married Mr. Austin, of New Haven, and had a son, Deacon Austin, who became a citizen of that place. Judah (2d) probably lived and died in New Haven. Enos had a son, Smith Thompson, who became a judge of the Supreme Court of the United States, and later was secretary of the navy. Enos Thompson Throop, a grandson of Enos, was governor of New York State and charge d'affairs at Naples.

Amos Thompson, born in 1731, married Mary Smith, of Suffield, Conn. Asa Allen John, their son, born January 12, 1760, married Mary Knap, January 19, 1783, and died May 28, 1813. Their son, Allen Thompson, our subject's grandfather, was born August 10, 1783, on the old homestead at Thompson's Pond, now known as Hunn's Lake, in the town of Stanford, and passed a considerable portion of his life there, following his chosen work of farming, in which he was unusually successful. In later life (in 1825) he moved to a farm in the town of Pine Plains, now occupied by C. C. More, where he died May 20, 1849. His wife, Eliza (Pugsley), to whom he was married March 18, 1806, died December 29, 1861. They had five children, whose names, with dates of birth, are here given: Edward P., born February 6, 1807; John Allen, November 6, 1808; Cornelius Allerton, December 20, 1810 (died November 15, 1832); and Corne-

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lius, March 10, 1824. John Allen Thompson, our subject's father, was born at Thompson's Pond, but his life was spent mainly in the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county, where he owned a farm of 120 acres southwest of the village of Pine Plains. From a business stand- point, he was very successful, accumulating a fine property, and he was also prominent and influential in local affairs. He was a leading member of the Presbyterian Church, holding office for many years; but he never sought or held political place, although he supported stanchly the principles of the Whig party in early life, and later espoused with equal ear- nestness the Republican faith. An earnest student of his times, he was well-informed on all the topics of general interest. On May 9, 1855, he was married to Lucy Ann Viele, a member of one of the most prominent families of Washington county, N. Y., and her father, Stephen L. Viele, was a member of the State Assembly in 1836.

The subject of the sketch, the only son of this marriage, was born at Pine Plains, Sep- tember 25, 1856, and was educated at the Hudson Academy. In 1882 he entered the Millerton National Bank as bookkeeper, George S. Frink being president, and William M. Dales, cashier. On the death of the latter in 1883, Mr. Thompson was elected to the vacant position, and in 1886 he was chosen president, which office he held until 1895. On June 9, 1886, he married Rachel Irene Carpenter, daughter of Hon. Edmund T. Carpenter, who was mayor of Hudson City, N. J. They have had three children: Harry Scott, Lucy Irene, and John Allen.

Mr. Thompson is a man of fine physique and great industry. His energy and ability have not been confined to business life, his success there, combined with his high reputa- tion for integrity, winning him the confidence of the people, and leading to his election on the Republican ticket to various positions of pub- lic trust and responsibility. His interest in local movements has always been recognized as a strong influence for progress, and E. H. Thompson Hose Co. was named in his honor. He was a trustee of the village for five years, and was its president at the time for the build- ing of the water works of which he was one of the chief promoters. In 1892 he was elected supervisor of the town without opposition, and in the same year he was chosen to represent the first district of Dutchess county in the As-

sembly by 419 plurality over James H. Rus- sell, Democrat, and Tiel, Prohibitionist. In 1893 Mr. Thompson submitted to the Assem- bly a bill amending the charter of the city of Poughkeepsie, and one relating to the Mattea- wan State Hospital for Insane Criminals. On returning to the Assembly in 1894, having been re-elected in 1893, by a plurality of 843 over Oakly I. Norris, Democrat, and V. M. Buck, Prohibitionist, he was appointed chairman of the committee on Banks and a member of the committee on Railroads, and the committee on Charitable and Religious Societies. That year he introduced a bill amending the bank- ing law, and one incorporating the Poughkeep- sie and Wappinger Falls Electric Railway Co. He was again re-elected in 1894, receiving 4,692 votes against 3,418 cast for S. M. Davidson, Democrat, and 210 for C. N. Nich- ols, Prohibitionist. In 1895 he was chairman of the committee on Commerce and Naviga- tion, and a member of three important com- mittees-on Ways and Means, on Banks and on Military Affairs. In 1895 Mr. Thompson introduced a bill largely increasing the scope of investments of savings banks of the State. The banks had for years endeavored to secure such legislation, but failed. By his untiring efforts the bill became a law, and is known as the " Thompson Law," and is highly regarded by the banks. On May 1, 1896, Hon. F. D. Kilburn, superintendent of banks of the State of New York, appointed Mr. Thompson a bank examiner, located in the City of New York.

H ARVEY BRETT, a venerable and highly respected resident of Matteawan, is a de- scendant of one of the oldest families of Dutch- ess county, being a direct descendant of Mad- ame Brett, whose ability and forceful charac- ter, no less than her extensive landed posses- sions, made her a leading figure among the early settlers of this section. She was the only daughter and heir of Francis Rombout, the patentee of the Rombout tract, which pat- ent was granted to him October 17, 1685, and from whom the first titles to lands in Fishkill were derived by the settlers. He was a native of Holland, and was sent as supercargo to New Amsterdam (New York) by the Dutch East India Company. At the expiration of his apprenticeship he engaged in business in that city with Gulian Verplanck, forming a co- partnership which lasted several years. He

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was for several years alderman of New York, and mayor of that city in 1679. In Septem- ber, 1683, he married Mrs. Helena Van Bal- leu (née Teller), whose first husband was named Bogardus. Only one child graced this union: Catharyna, who was born in New York, and at the age of sixteen married Roger Brett, an Englishman, and a merchant of New York City. A few years later she and her husband took up their residence in Fishkill, on lands which, after the death of her father in 1691, became her heritage. The precise year of their settlement here is not known; but January 10, 1709, they gave a joint bond ( they previously partitioned the tract between themselves so as to hold it in severalty) to Capt. Gylob Shelly, of New York City, to se- cure payment of $399, 6s, with which it is be- lieved they built a dwelling house and a grist- mill the following year. The house, built in 1709, is still standing in Matteawan, in good preservation, and is known as the " Teller Mansion." The gristmill was located at the inouth of the Fishkill, on its north bank. It was the first of its kind in the town or county, and exerted an immense and beneficial in- fluence on the settlements in the locality. Madame Brett died in 1764. She had three sons-Francis, Robert and Rivery-and one daughter, married to Jacobus Depuyster. Of the sons, Francis married Margaret Van- Wyck, and had two daughters-Hannah (mar- ried to Henry Schenck), and Margaret (the youngest ; married to Peter A. Schenck)-and two sons-Theodorus and George. Rivery (the youngest son of Mrs. Brett) died at the age of seventeen.

George Brett, our subject's grandfather, was born in the town of Fishkill, and passed his life there engaged in agriculture. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Marie Cooper, were devout members of the Re- formed Dutch Church, although George had in his youth been identified with the English Church. Their children were: Deborah and Margaret (deceased), who never married; Francis G., the father of our subject, and Sal- ly, who married a Mr. Willett, a cabinet- maker.

Francis G. Brett was born in the town of Fishkill, in 1775, and for many years operated the mill at Matteawan, belonging to the Brett estate. He was a Whig in politics, and was influential in local affairs. His wife, Margaret Campbell, who was born in 1777, probably in

Dutchess county, died April 9, 1835, and Mr. Brett's death occurred August 14, 1835. They were highly esteemed among their associates, and while not members they inclined toward the Reformed Church. They reared a family of eight children: William, a machinist of Mat- teawan, died in Brooklyn, N. Y .; James, also a machinist (now deceased), was a resident of Matteawan ; Alfred, a silk dyer, of Matteawan, passed away in early manhood; Harriet and Jane Ann (deceased) did not marry; Harvey, our subject, is mentioned more fully below; Edgar, who died in Albany, was prominent in religious work as a member of the M. E. Church, and in later life was a local preacher; Charles is a pattern maker in Newark, New Jersey.

Harvey Brett was born January 15, 1813. and throughout his eighty-four years he has had his home in the beautiful little city of Matteawan. At an early age he displayed mechanical ability of a high order, and in 1830 he began to learn the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until June 28, 1873. He then re- tired from business, but his active mind and still vigorous physique have occasionally found congenial exercise in the creation of some article of use or ornament. He works in all kinds of metals, also in wood, some beautiful pieces of furniture in his home giving evidence of his skill in that line. Among the choice specimens of his works in metals is an elegant jewel case of copper. Mr. Brett has always taken an intelligent interest in public ques- tions, and in politics is a Republican. For many years he has been a member of the M. E. Church. On October 10, 1837, he mar- ried Miss Susan Colman, a native of Orange county, N. Y., a daughter of Abram Colman, a well-known resident of Orange county. She passed away in 1880, the mother of four chil- dren: Charles is a merchant at Matteawan; Abram died in 1893; Wesley is employed with his brother Charles; Emily died at the age of six years.

Before closing this sketch we give the copies of two original letters from Lord Corn- bury, governor of New York, in possession of Miss Hannah Teller, and dated " New York, rover 4, 1709," the other in the pos- session of Mrs. Hannah Wiltse, Fishkill Land- ing, and dated December 15, 1709.

SIR :- The nurse telling me a boat was going up to you, I was not willing to omit the opportunity of writing to you, though we have no news here, only of a great bat- tle in Flanders, where my Lord Marlborough hasobtained

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a great victory. L expect to hear every day of the arrival of the Virginia Fleet, by which I hope to have news from England. In the meantime, I wish you and Mrs. Brett all the health, happiness and satisfaction of a merry Christ- mas and happy New Year, and am, sır,

Your most humble servant.

CORNBURY.

My service to Mrs. Brett.

SIR: Yours of the 9th of the last came safely to my hands, for which I return you thanks. I would have sent an answer sooner, but I can't find one master of a sloop that will undertake to deliver a letter. There is no news of the fleet, and by what I hear from other parts, I believe we shall see no fleet this year; nor do I yet know what our people here will resolve upon. Fhave not yet heard one line from England, since my Lord Lovelace arrived. 1 hope my daughter is arrived there safe before this time. I am glad she did not go with the last fleet, for Capt. Rid- dle, who commanded the Falmouth, in which she must have gone, was attacked by a French man-of-war of twenty guns, who boarded him, but Riddle got clear of him and got safe into Plimouth with all his fleet. We have no news to entertain you with; as soon as I have any you shall have it. I am sorry to hear Mrs. Brett has not been well. I hope before this time you are all well.

I was in hope before this time I should have seen you or Mrs. Brett here, where, with my short commons, you will always find a most hearty welcome. I entreat you to give my humble service to Mrs. Brett, and do me the justice to believe that I am, sir,

. Your humble servant, CORNBURY.

E DWARD W. SIMMONS, of Millerton, one of the most prominent citizens of Dutchess county, is distinguished for his ability in educational work, and in public affairs, and as a lawyer, his labors in these widely different lines being equally able and effective.

His ancestors for three generations have been farmers of that locality, his great-grand- father, Peter Simmons, having come from Holland in the eighteenth century, and settled in the northern part of Dutchess county, or possibly in the adjoining portion of Columbia county. Nicholas Simmons, our subject's grandfather, was born in Dutchess county, and although he learned the shoemaker's trade his attention was mainly devoted to agriculture. He married Christina Snyder, and they had eight children. He and his wife both died in 1840, and their remains were buried in Broome county, New York.

William Simmons was born in Pine Plains, in 1787, and grew to manhood there. Hc en- gaged in farming in the town of Northeast for a time, until, in 1818, he moved to Ancram, Columbia county, and purchased a farm where he lived for five years. He then returned to Northeast, and in 1824 settled on the old Roc homestead, remaining there until 1831, when he rented a farm of the Winchell heirs, where

Millerton now stands, subsequently purchasing the Thomas Paine farm, which he sold in 1837. In that year he moved to Broome county, and there lived until 1864, when he returned to Millerton to end his days. He was a success- ful farmer, and ranked among the leaders in local affairs, holding various official positions. He entered the war of 1812 as a private, and became a non-commissioned officer. His wife, Clarissa Roe, a lady of Scotch and Irish blood, whose parents, Silas and Mercy (Har- vey) Roe, reared a family of ten children : Uziel, Amos, Alva, Harvey, Jeduthan, Lyman, Anna, Laura, Clarissa and Amanda. Mrs. Simmons was killed September 13. 1827, by a fall from a wagon; her husband died February 14, 1868. They had five children, whose names with dates of birth are as follows: Harvey Roe, September 29, 1814: Edward W., April 14, 1816; Julia (Mrs. Lewis Barnes, of Broome county), February 5, 1819; Amanda (Mrs. Henry Wheeler, formerly of Amenia, now of Morris, Ill. , October 19, 1822; and James, April 17, 1827, who is now a leading minister of the Baptist Church. Owing to his mother's premature death he was placed in the care of his brother Edward at an early age, and was prepared for college by him. He was grad- uated from Brown University, also from the Newton Theological Seminary, at Rochester, and has since been given the honorary degree of D. D., by Brown University. His first pas- torate was in Providence, R. I., and later he was in charge of Churches in Indianapolis, Philadelphia and New York. In 1866, he went to New York City as secretary of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, and a few years afterward was called to Trinity Baptist Church, on Fifty-fifth street. He has since entered the service of the Baptist Publi- cation Society of Philadelphia, and has charge of their interests in New York and other States. He has been a devoted worker in the cause of Home Missions, and in the building of schools in the Southern States, the institution at Abilene, Texas, known as Simmons Col- lege, having been established through his ef- forts.

Edward W. Simmons was born on the old farm, about one mile from the village of Miller- ton, and with the exception of a few months at the academy at Hudson, his schooling was limited to the district schools of the neighbor- hood. He made the best of his opportunities, however, and also studied diligently in private,

E. H. Simmons

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and in the winter of 1832-33 began teaching at Lime Rock, Conn. From that time until 1848 he followed this occupation with marked success, his thorough mastery of the studies through which he had plodded without assist- ance enabling him to understand and relieve the difficulties of his pupils. In 1838-39 he taught a school of high grade at Greene, Chenango Co., N. Y., and from there went to Great Barrington, Mass., and conducted a large and prosperous school for two years. He then spent two years at Sheffield, Mass., teaching Latin and Greek in addition to the higher English branches. His health failing, he returned to Millerton in 1843, and opened a private school with an able assistant, the late Alexander Winchell, who afterward be- came eminent as a geologist, and was for many years a professor in the University of Michigan. Mr. Simmons spent the most of his time for the next two years in Broome county, and in 1851, his health being restored, he built the store now occupied by James Finch, which was the first building erected in Millerton. He opened a general store there, which he conducted for twenty-five years, when he transferred the business to Mr. Finch, who had been his clerk for fifteen years.

Mr. Simmons gained a practical knowledge of surveying in his youth, and did a great deal of work in that line at different times, and as his wide range of studies had already included some reading on legal subjects, he was often employed in conveyancing. The confidence which his clear judgment and accurate infor- mation inspired caused him to be consulted more and more frequently upon general legal points, and upon the suggestion of Judge Hogeboom, he engaged in the practice of law, being ad- mitted to the bar in 1867, while still in mer- cantile business. He has been very successful, has a large number of substantial clients, and has taken a notable share in public affairs. He was financial secretary of the New York State Constitutional Convention, in 1867, of which William A. Wheeler was president, and Samuel J. Tilden, Horace Greeley and other well- known men were members. In local affairs it would be difficult to enumerate his varied serv- ices. He was supervisor for five terms, being chairman of the board during the first year, and he was one of the committee to go before the State board of assessors to secure a reduc- tion in the assessment of Dutchess county, their action resulting in a saving to the county 22

of $200,000 in three years. He has been an unwearied advocate of good schools, and every measure for local improvement has found in him a champion. He was a Free-soil Demo- crat in early years, but voted for Fremont in 1856, and since that time has been a Repub- lican.

On April 23, 1839, Mr. Simmons was mar- ried to Harriet N. Winchell, daughter of John Winchell, and had two sons: Alfred, who was born November 8, 1842, and died August 6, 1864; and James, born in 1851, and died in 1853. Mrs. Simmons died December 29, 1868, and June 16, 1869, Mr. Simmons married Mrs. Sarah E. Trowbridge, née Mead, a daughter of Deacon John K. Mead, of Amenia. He has been a member of the Baptist Church for sixty-three years; belongs to Webatuck Lodge No. 480, F. & A. M., in which he has held the office of senior deacon, and is a mem- ber of the New York State Bar Association. Although now eighty-one years old, Mr. Sim- mons enjoys comparatively good health, and attends daily to his profession.

J AMES B. SIMMONS, D. D. The subject of this article is a native of Dutchess coun- ty, and the youngest brother of Edward IV. Simmons. Exiled from home in his early boyhood, Edward took him into his own fam- ily to live, and into his academy to fit him for college. Not only so, but he admonished him as a father, helped him when in trouble, guided him in counsel, and, above all else, led him savingly to Christ. The two have been greatly attached all their lives, and for the best of reasons.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 62

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