Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 66

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

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1886, and still holds the position. The banks have always retained the full confidence of the public, and never during time of the most seri- ous financial panic and disaster has there been a run or any indication of want of faith in their stability. The National Bank has recently erected one of the finest and strongest Safe De- posit Vaults between New York and Albany. The average line of deposits in the National Bank is about $300,000, and it has a surplus of about $80,000. The Savings Bank has one million, four hundred thousand dollars on de- posit, with a surplus of one hundred and eighty thousand.

Up to 1892 the local transportation be- tween the villages of Fishkill Landing, Mattea- wan and Glenham, and the depots and ferry, was by hack, stage or omnibus. Mr. Smith and some of his friends, believing that the in- terests of the town required a more expeditious and convenient mode of transit, undertook to supply the deficiency by an electric street rail- way, and accordingly the Citizens Street Rail- way Company was organized, with Mr. Smith as president and general manager. Work was commenced May 27, 1892, and the first car ran over the line August 27, 1892, the success of the enterprise justifying fully the judgment of those who planned and built it. In 1895 the Fishkill Electric Railway Co. was organ- ized, and Mr. Smith was elected president. A road four and one quarter miles long joining the Citizens at the Fountain Street crossing. Matteawan, and running to Fishkill village. was laid out and completed June 13, 1895. This road was leased to the Citizens Company. and the two are now operated under one man- agement. Notwithstanding the great depres- sion in business for the last three years, the roads have proved a success, and have earned a reputation for enterprising management and prompt and efficient service second to none of the roads in the smaller cities of the country. As may be inferred, Mr. Smith is devoted to business and is an indefatigable worker, mas- tering all the details of every duty he assumes. Systematic and thorough in all his undertak- ings, his knowledge of affairs and close obser- vation allows little to escape his notice, and keeps him closely in touch with the numerous duties that demand his attention. He is par- ticularly fortunate in his family relations. His home erected in 187t comprises about five acres of lawn and garden, commanding a mag- nificent view of mountain and river, and is

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presided over by a lady whose kindliness, cul- ture, refinement and devotion to her family makes an ideal home.

C HARLES SHERMAN (deceased) was a na- tive of the town of Beekman, Dutchess county, born October 24, 1826, and belonged to a family that for several generations has been prominently identified with the interests of Dutchess county. Benjamin Sherman, his great-grandfather, was born February 3, 1736. and died in 1805, while his grandfather, Uriah Sherman, was born in 1765, and died February 26, 1822. The latter married Paulina Hurd.

The father of our subject, who also bore the name of Benjamin Sherman, was born in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, Decem- ber 29, 1798, but passed most of his life in the town of Beekman, dying there November 10, 1862. He married Miss Hannah Brill, and they became the parents of seven children: John B., who is engaged in business at the stock-yards in Chicago; Charles amd Alexan- der, both deceased; Maria, wife of James Ashly, of Chicago; I. N. Walter, of Chicago; Phebe E., wife of George Brill, of Chicago; and William W., of the same city. By trade the father was a blacksmith.

The subject of this sketch received a good district-school education in the town of Beek- man, where his early life was passed, and when a young man he went to Chicago, Ill., becoming connected with the stock-yards, in fact helping to found the stock-yards at what was then the foot of Madison street and the southwestern plank road (now Ogden avenue). He was engaged in that business for many years, and in 1865 returned to the town of Beekman, where he carried on farming during the remainder of his life.

In the town of East Fishkill, Dutchess county. Mr. Sherman was married to Miss Mary A. Rogers, and to them were born a daughter, Caroline Adriance, and a son, George Benjamin, born April 28, 1867, died April 22, 1876. Stephen Rogers, the father of Mrs. Sherman, was a native of the town of Beek- man, as was also his father, John Rogers. The former was a farmer by occupation, and was killed by a runaway before his daughter was born. Her mother bore the maiden name of Caroline Adriance. There were only two children in the family, the brother of Mrs. Sherman being Jacob A. Rogers (now deceased).

In politics Mr. Sherman first affiliated with the Whig party, later becoming an ardent Re- publican, while socially he was a member of Hopewell Lodge, F. & A. M. Throughout his career his duties were performed with the greatest care, and his personal honor and in- tegrity were without blemish. His memory will be a sacred inheritance to his relatives, and will be cherished by a multitude of friends. As a husband and father he was a model wor- thy of all imitation, unassuming in his manner, sincere in his friendships, steadfast and un- swerving in his loyalty to the right. He died October 15, 1882.

G EORGE LOCKWOOD, a retired carriage manufacturer and well-known citizen of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, was born in Yorkshire, England, near Huddersfield, July 17, 1823, and was a six-year-old boy when brought to this country by his parents.

Our subject spent his boyhood in the city of Poughkeepsie, and in 1842 was apprenticed to Lewis F. Streit for two years, after which he went into partnership with Mr. Streit in the manufacture of carriages, remaining with him until the business was discontinued in 1888. Since then Mr. Lockwood has led a re- tired life. He was married in Poughkeepsie November 1, 1853, to Miss Alvira Mason Jenks, by whom he had three children: Alma Kate, who married William Oscar Poole; Ella Paul- ine; Edgar Streit, who married Miss May E. Howard, and they have one child-George Howard, born March 14, 1887. Mr. Lock- wood is a member of the Veteran Firemen's As- sociation, and of Niagara Steamer Co. No. 2, of which latter he has been a member since 1843. In politics he is a Democrat, and in 1 863 was elected alderman from the Sixth ward; he also served as Alms House commissioner.

William Lockwood, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Yorkshire, England, where he received his early education, and later was engaged in the manufacture of woolen cloth. He was married in Yorkshire to Miss Hannah Hurst, and they had the following children: Rachel, married to Joseph Eastmead; Sarah, married to William Knight ; George; John, mar- ried to Margaret Wigg; Henry; Margaret, mar- ried to Theron Shaw; Jane, married to J. H. Dakin; and Mary, married to Henry Godfrey (now deceased). They are all now deceased except George, Jane and Mary. In 1829, the

George Lockwood

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father came to this country, and to Poughkeep- sie, where he worked in the Williams factory for several years, and then went to Titusville, in the town of Lagrange, where he lived for a time. From there he set out by boat for Michi- gan, with the intention of buying a farm in that State; but while sailing up the lake he was drowned near Detroit. This was in 1850. His wife died in Titusville, N. Y., in 1876.

George Jenks, the father of Mrs. George Lockwood, was born in the town of Amenia, Dutchess Co., N. Y., June 24, 1795. He mar- ried Miss Catherine Knickerbocker, who was born in Amenia October 8, 1803, and to them came four children, namely: Alvira Mason, Sarah Ann, Andrew M., and Lucy Maria, the latter of whom is now deceased. Mr. Jenks, who was a blacksmith by trade, died August 19, 1832; his wife departed this life in Novem- ber 30, 1881.

William Jenks, the grandfather of Mrs. Lockwood, was one of the early settlers of Amenia. He married Miss Sarah Mygatt, and they followed the occupation of farmers. Both were natives of Rhode Island.

J JOSEPH G. FROST, a leading undertaker of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, is also one of the most popular officials of that city, having the distinction of being the only Re- publican candidate to be elected at one of the elections on the city ticket. His family is of English origin, and he is a descendant of one of three brothers of that name who came from England in early times, one settling in Massa- chusets, one on Long Island, and one, his an- cestor, near Rensselaerville, Albany Co., N. Y., where many descendants now live.

George Frost, our subject's grandfather, a farmer by occupation, was a life-long resident there, and three of his six sons settled in the neighborhood. Of the others one located near Madison, Wis., and two in Poughkeepsie, one engaging in the confectionery business. The other, William Frost, our subject's father, born in 1799, was nineteen years old when he went to Poughkeepsie and found employment as a clerk with his cousin, Solomon B. Frost. He was admitted to partnership after a few years, but later formed the firm of Frost & Van Wyck, and was in the dry-goods business at No. 316 Main street at the time of the great fire. He rebuilt the store, which is now occu- pied by Quintard Bros., and continued his

business there until 1849, when he disposed of it and went to Washington, then called Nine Partners, the location of the well-known board- ing school, and conducted a store there for two years. In 1851 he returned to Poughkeepsie and resumed his business there, but after the death of his brother, Stephen, in 1854, he sold out and took his brother's store, which he sold four years later to Mr. Atkins and his son Rob- ert. He then purchased the business of R. D. C. Stoughtenburgh, on the corner of Main and Garden streets, continuing it at the corner of Main and Crandall streets, occupying three stores. This was one of the largest stores in the city at the time of his death, January 13, 1878. He was a Hicksite Quaker, and his up- right character made a friend of every ac- quaintance. In early life he was an Old-line Whig, but the introduction of the slavery question into politics made him an earnest sup- porter of the Republican party from its very beginning. He married Sarah H. Woolley, daughter of Joseph P. Woolley, a prominent resident of Dutchess county, and they had three children, of whom our subject was the young- est. Robert W. was a well-known business man of Poughkeepsie, who died in 1892. Mary E. is now the wife of George G. Berry, of Brooklyn. New York.

Joseph G. Frost was born February 6, 1839, in Poughkeepsie, at No. 302 Mill street. in the house now owned by Mr. Pelton. He received a good education for the time, at- tending the Dutchess County Academy under Prof. P. S. Burchan and Prof. McGeorge. In 1854 he began the study of dentistry with Dr. Charles H. Roberts and remained with him until the spring of 1859, when he opened an office for himself at No. 292 Main street. In 1862 he was obliged to abandon all work on account of ill health, and after two years of rest he engaged in clerical labor in the office of Provost Marshal W. S. Johnson, where he remained until his appointment in 1865 to the office of city chamberlain. In 1866 he was reappointed to the common council, and in 1867 and 1868 was elected city collector on the Republican ticket. In 1868 he formed a partnership with Robert H. Woolley. under the firm name of Woolley & Frost, and pur- chased the harness business of James Bogardus, which he continued until 1874, the firm name being changed several times, however, first to Frost & Parrish, then to Frost & Davis, and finally to J. G. Frost. On disposing of

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this enterprise to Overocker Bros. in 1874, Mr. Frost engaged in the undertaking business with Mallory & Doughty, and later with Nel- son & Seward, and in 1876 he established a business in his own name at the corner of Main and Academy streets, which he has since continued successfully, removing five years ago to his present location, No. 319 Main street. In 1881 he was elected coroner for three years, and has held the office for five consecutive terms. His last election falling at a time when the Republicans encountered re- verses everywhere, he was the only one on the ticket to win the day. He has held the office of supervisor of the Third ward for two years, 1877 and 1878. He was one of the founders of the Hudson River Driving Park Association and its secretary for several years, and has taken an influential part in many local move- ments.

In 1865 Mr. Frost married Miss Rebecca C. North, daughter of Reuben North, who was for many years the cashier of the Poughkeepsie National Bank. They have six children; Helen North, Mina Louise, Raymond Mott. Allen, Marion North and Louis North. Mr. and Mrs. Frost are members of Christ Church (Protestant Episcopal), and he is an active supporter of its various lines of effort. In his younger days he was much interested in the fire department, and he is now a member of the Veteran Firemen's Association. He also belongs to the F. & A. M. and the K. of P.

M RS. MARY MELVILLE WATKINS. As a substantial citizen of Pawling, Dutch- ess county, the late Alexander Watkins was widely known, and his high character as a man drew to him the friendship and warm esteem of those whom business relations had brought into acquaintance. For many years he had been engaged in business as a blacksmith, win- ning a reputation as a leading worker in his line, and his death from pneumonia, in 1891. caused sincere grief among the people who had known him as neighbor and friend, as well as among the closer circles of the home, where the loss fell heaviest. He left a widow, Mrs. Mary Melville Watkins, and six children by his first wife, Miss Ella Dougherty, also survive him, namely: Harry, Charles, William, Agnes, Alexander and George.

Mrs. Watkins is a native of Brooklyn, N. Y., and her education was acquired in the schools

of that city. Her family is of Irish origin, the home of her ancestors being at Dublin, where her grandfather, John Melville, was born, lived and died. He was educated in the schools there, and became a carpenter by occupation. He and his wife, Madge Farrell, reared a family of children, among whom was John Melville, Mrs. Watkin's father, who was born in Dubliin, but was brought to America at a very early age. His education, which had already been begun in the schools of his native place, was com- pleted here, and he then engaged in business as a ship carpenter, and was employed in that capacity for about thirty years in the navy yard at Brooklyn, N. Y., where his death oc- curred in 1863. He married Miss Mary How- ard, and of their four children Mrs. Watkins is the only survivor, the others-James, John and Bessie having died in childhood.

R ICHARD TITUS (deceased) was born in the town of Lagrange, Dutchess county, February 4, 1838, and was a well-known citi- zen of that locality. [A history of his ancestry will be found in the sketch of his brother Rob- ert. ] His boyhood days were spent in Titus- ville, where he attended the district school, and he later became a student at the private school of E. R. Roe, in Cornwall.

Mr. Titus learned the business of paper manufacturing in Columbia county, N. Y., but for many years was a member of the firm of E. Titus & Sons, manufacturers of woolen goods. When the Civil war broke out he re- sponded to the call for volunteers, and in Oc- tober, 1862, enlisted in the 150th Regiment, N. Y. V. I., which was assigned to the Army of the Potomac. He served until the close of the war, and his record as a brave soldier is a truly precious legacy to his family. He en- tered the army as first lieutenant, was pro- moted to captain, and for gallant conduct was breveted major. The war ended he returned to Lagrange, and resumed his business, which he carried on until his death, March 19, 1882. He was a quiet, unostentations man, fond of his home and family, and universally liked and respected by his associates. He was married in the town of Lagrange September 5, 1865, to Miss Harriet Hopkins, whose birth took place in that township May 18, 1841, and of this union six children were born, namely: Elias, Elizabeth, Florence, Alida, Marion and Richard William.

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Dr. William H. Hopkins, the father of Mrs. Titus, was born in Carmel, Putnam Co., N. Y., February 3, 1813. He was graduated from the Medical Department of Yale Univer- sity in 1837, and in the following year passed as physician and surgeon of the State prison at Sing Sing. In 1838 he located at Sprout Creek, in the town of Lagrange, Dutchess county, taking the practice of Dr. Sleight. On February 5, 1840, he was united in mar- riage with Jemima, daughter of Elias T. Van- Benschoten, and the following children blessed their union: Harriet, born May 18, 1841; Elias T., September 3. 1843; John, July 8, 1845; Elizabeth, May 10, 1848; and William G., February 28, 1850.

Dr. Hopkins remamed at Sprout Creek until 1868, then went to Providence for a year. In 1870 he removed to Hyde Park, where in connection with his practice he carried on a drug store until his death, which took place in 1890. Dr. Hopkins' ancestors came over in the " Mayflower" and he inherited the best characteristics of his Puritan forefathers. He was a man of much ability, and held an hon- ored place in his profession. In politics he was a Republican; socially a member of the Masonic order: in Church connection, a vest- ryman and treasurer of St. James Episcopal Church at Hyde Park.

J OSEPH D. HARCOURT (deceased). In 1866 J. W. Harcourt, of Albany, N. Y., obtained the escutcheon and genealogical chart of the Harcourts, which traces that family back to the remote period of A. D. 876, and shows it to have been one of the most ancient, honorable and wealthy in England. Further research having been made, it has de- veloped that Richard Harcourt ( 1) was the son of a sister of Francis Weston, and settled in Warwick, R. I., about 1650. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Potter, who was an ancestor of Bishop Potter. Richard Harcourt (I) removed with the Townsends to Long Island about 1656, and afterward became one of the first settlers of Oyster Bay. He was twice a member of the Court of Commis- sioners, and at Oyster Bay was constable, justice of the peace and surveyor, appointed to confer with the governor, which offices in those days were among the very highest. His chil- dren were Daniel, Benjamin, Isabel, Elizabeth, Mary Dorothy, Sarah, Mercy and Meribah.

Of Daniel nothing is known except that his wife's name was Sarah, and that he moved to New Jersey. Benjamin married Hannah Dick- enson, and had two sons, Nathaniel and Rob- ert. In his will Nathaniel speaks of his "mother Esther, " probably Esther Townsend, of Oyster Bay, as she was married to a Har- court. The residence of Richard Harcourt (I ) was situated about 200 yards from the present steamboat landing at Oyster Bay, a beautiful spot. The family graveyard has been ploughed up, and all traces of the headstones lost. The Harcourt family has always been prominent in the history of Wappingers Falls, and its member are worthy of place in the records of Dutchess county.

Richard Harcourt (2), father of Joseph D., was born September 27, 1779, in Milton, Ulster Co., N. Y., a son, it is supposed, of Nathaniel Harcourt, above mentioned. He married Elizabeth Merrit, who was born De- cember 26, 1788, in the town of Marlboro, Ulster county, and eight children were born to them, their names and dates of birth being as follows: Jane, 1805; Nelly M., 1807; John WV., 1809; Caroline, 1811; Elizabeth, 1815: Mercy, 1819; Joseph D., 1822, and Sarah A., 1824. The father of these, who had been a farmer all his life, died July 12, 1827, the mother on January 13, 1860.

Joseph D. Harcourt, the subject of this memoir, was born in Milton, Ulster Co., N. Y., January 6, 1822, and received his education there. His first employment was as a clerk in a store at Clintondale, from which place he went to Albany, N. Y., where, for about five years, he was superintendent of a steamboat house, which ran a steamboat over the People's Line on the Hudson river. His next location was at Wappingers Falls, whither he removed after his marriage, and with whose interests he was identified for over half a century. He engaged in the mercantile business, which he carried on until his death, October 13, 1882. He was married, March 4, 1844, to Miss Mary E. Woolsey, who was born in the town of Lloyd, Ulster county, September 4, 1823. Her father, Daniel Woolsey, was from the same township as was his father, Moses Wool- sey. The latter married Miss Kilsey, and had several children. Daniel married Miss Eliza- beth Deyo, the daughter of Noah Deyo, of one of the old families of Ulster county. Of this union seven children were born, as fol- lows: Abby, who married Monroe Deyo;

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Phebe, who became the wife of James Elting; Mary E., who became the wife of our subject; Warner, married to Sarah Allen; Roenna, who married Orlando Elting; Anthony, married to Phebe Curtis; and Charles, married to Hattie Carmon.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harcourt settled in Wappingers Falls, where Mrs. Har- court still makes her home. Here the follow- ing children were born to them: Jay D., who is interested in the machine and foundry busi- ness in Poughkeepsie; Mary E., married to Denis Van Wyck, a native of Hopewell Junc- tion, Dutchess county (Mr. Van Wyck died August 4, 1880, leaving one child, Nellie); Emma W. and Carrie, who died in infancy; Elizabeth W., married to Dr. I. M. Cornell; Israel T. N .. a merchant at Wappingers Falls.

During his active life Joseph D. Harcourt was one of the leading citizens of his village, and took part in all matters of public interest, such as schools, churches, etc., and was presi- dent of the Wappinger Savings Bank. He was a liberal contributor to all worthy enter- prises, and did much to promote the growth of the town. He was a kind husband and tender father, and had many warm personal friends who deeply inourned him. His widow is a most estimable woman, and his children rank among the best people of the village where their parents spent so many years.

T HOMAS REED, one of the oldest mem- bers of the New York Stock Exchange, and a well-known business man, now residing at Rhinebeck, was born in that village, Sep- tember 14, 1822.

For many generations his ancestors resided in Cumberland, England, and his grandparents, Thomas and Anna (Hall) Reed, reared there a family of three children : Stephen, Mary and John. Stephen Reed died in 1785. His son, John, our subject's father, was born in 1777, and received his education in his native place. In 1811, inspired with a desire to try his for- tunes in the New World, he came to America, and locating at Rhinebeck, engaged in farm- ing. He was a Baptist in religious faith, and ever active in furthering the cause of religion. He married Elizabeth Scott, a daughter of Robert Scott, one of the pioneers of Rhine- beck, who came to the county in 1795 from Lincolnshire, England. Robert Scott was a man of fine talents, and his excellent education

enabled him to become a very successful teacher; in 1796 he opened a school at Rhine- beck, and enrolled the children of some of the best families in New York City, many of the pupils becoming men of note. Before coming to this country, Robert Scott, though of a family belonging to the Established Church, had be- come a Wesleyan, and traveled about his na- tive country preaching as a minister of that denomination. He later became a Baptist, and then followed his trade, that of cabinet- making, until his coming to this country, and also for a few weeks after he reached New York. He became the founder of the Baptist Church at Rhinebeck, and was the first pastor. He died September 24, 1834, and his wife, Elizabeth Kitching, survived him twenty years, dying at the age of ninety-four. Of their four children, Mrs. Reed was the eldest; Ellen mar- ried O'Hara D. T. Fox, of Ulster county; Ann married Charles Logan, of Rhinebeck, and died at the age of eighty-nine years; Mary mar- ried William Hughan, and died at Rhinebeck in 1831; and Jane married Jacob Dedrick, and died at Saugerties. John Reed died in 1857, and his wife in 1852. Of their two children, Thomas, our subject, is the elder, and Mary is now the wile of Cornelius A. Rynders, of Rhinebeck.

Thomas Reed received a good education for his time in the schools of his native town, and his later reading has made him un- usually well informed upon current topics. His first employment was in the dry-goods store of William B. Platt, as a clerk and later as a partner, in all covering a period from 1837 to 1850; he then clerked in New York in the wholesale dry-goods store of L. & V. Kirby for two years, thence going to Saugerties, where under the firm name of Wilbur, Reed & Russell he was engaged in the wholesale Blue- stone and general merchandise businesses until 1864, since which time he has been connected with the New York Stock Exchange. His first partner as a stock broker was C. N. Jor- dan (the firm being Reed & Jordan), the pres- ent sub-treasurer of New York.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 66

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