Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 7

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

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At Fishkill, N. Y., in 1841, Rev. Mr. Walsh was married to Miss Emma Brett, a daughter of Henry Brett; she is still living, making her home at Newburgh, N. Y., but her husband died at Amenia in 1884. Henry Brett was a direct descendant of Francis Rom- bout, proprietor of the famous Rombout Pat- ent. The only child and heiress of Francis Rombout was Katrina, who married Lieut. Roger Brett, of the English navy. Lieut. Brett, dying in early manhood, left his wife with the management of a large estate, which she conducted with marked ability. The name of Madame Brett is a noted one in the early annals of Dutchess county history; she died at an advanced age, leaving a goodly number of descendants.

Although born in India, our subject was educated in the public schools of New- burgh, and at the Newburgh Academy, pre- paring for college at Cornwall-on-the-Hud- son. For four years he was then engaged in the drug business at Newburgh and New York City. In 1876 he purchased a half interest in the Amenia Times, which was established in 1852, and in 1878 bought out his partner, William L. De Lacey. He then conducted the paper alone until 1888, when he sold a fourth interest to Theron Griffin, who has been connected with the office for thirty years. It is a bright, spiey paper, well edited and non-partisan in politics. On July 1, 1895, Mr. Walsh also purchased the Pawling Chronicle, which he has since greatly enlarged and improved.

On April 8, 1890, at Amenia, Mr. Walsh was married to Miss Georgia A. Thompson, daughter of Hon. George Thompson, Judge of the City Court of Brooklyn, N. Y., and they now reside at their pleasant home in Amenia. Mrs. Walsh belongs to the old Dutchess coun- ty family of Thompsons, who migrated from Connecticut in 1750.

Mr. Walsh has always been an ardent Democrat in politics, and was appointed post- master at Amenia in August, 1893. He has proved a popular and capable official, and suc-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ceeded in having the office changed to the third class December 27, 1894. Socially, he belongs to Amenia Lodge No. 672, FF. & A. M., and to the Royal Arch Chapter, Poughkeepsic, and the Royal Arcanum. He is also con- nected with Amenia Grange. Ile takes an active part in the work of the Presbyterian Church of Amenia, of which he is a consistent member, and is at present serving as superin- tendent of the Sunday-school.

J EREMIAH S. PEARCE, the present sher- iff of Dutchess county, and a well-known citizen of Poughkeepsic, was born August 28, 1837, in the town of Pawling, Dutchess county. The Pearce family is of Welsh cx- traction, and the father and grandfather of our subject were of the same nativity as himself.

Henry Pearce, the grandfather, married Miss Rebecca Birdsill, who was born in Dutch- ess county, and they settled on a farm in the town of Pawling. In politics he was a Whig, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Church.' Five children were born to them: Nathaniel (who was made assessor of his township), Sally, Rebecca, Amie and Benoni.

Benoni Pearce, the father of our subject, was reared on the old home farm, and married Miss Mary Ann Stark, who was born in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, a daughter of Benoni Stark, a farmer of that town. After their marriage they settled on a farm, and there reared a family of seven children, as follows: Henry is a physician in Pawling; Lillins H. married A. J. Brown, a farmer in Yates county, N. Y .; Jeremiah S. is our sub- ject; James S. is a druggist and undertaker in Pawling: Charles W. resides in New York City: Elizabeth married John Gelder, a farmer in Yates county, N. Y .; and Edwin died in 1877. In 1849 the family removed to Yates county, where the father carried on farming until his death in 1893. He was a Whig, later a Republican, and at one time was captain in the State militia. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Jeremiah S. Pearce, whose name opens this sketch, spent his boyhood days on the farm in Pawling, attending the district school until about fourteen years of age, when the parents removed to Yates county. He was twenty-two years old when the Civil war

broke out, and the same year, 1861, he en- hsted in Company I, 33d N. Y. V. I., and was sent to Washington. Being taken ill, however, he was discharged. This did not dampen his ardor, and as soon as convalescent and able for duty, he re-enlisted, in the spring of 1862, this time in the 128th N. Y. V. I., being commissioned second lieutenant. In 1863 he was made first lieutenant, and the following year was promoted to the rank of captain of Company B. He served throughout the entire war, and was mustered out July 12. 1865, during which time he participated in many important battles, among them those of Cedar Creek, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, and was in the Shenandoah Valley with Gen. Sheridan, besides taking part in minor skir- mishes, etc. In all these years of fighting he was so fortunate as to escape without a wound.

At the close of the war Mr. Pearce returned to Pawling, and for a number of years was en- gaged in various occupations. On September 8, 1875, he was married to Miss Elizabeth Chase, who was born in Pawling, and is a daughter of Darius Chase, a station agent on the Harlem Road railway. They have two children, Carrie L. and Charles D. Mr. Pearce is a Republican and prominent in his party; served several terms as supervisor of Pawling, and twelve terms as assessor. In 1894 he was elected sheriff of Dutchess county, in which office he is giving satisfaction to the public by the faithful and judicious discharge of its responsible duties. He is a public- spirited man, believes in progress, and is inter- ested in all projects for the growth and devel- opment of the county and State. He and his wife are liberal supporters of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are highly esteemed citizens.

W ELLINGTON C. LANSING, secretary and city editor of the Poughkeepsie Enterprise, is a native of New York City, where he was born June 20, 1855.

Richard E. Lansing, father of our subject, was born in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess Co., N. Y., January 30, 1830, and there spent his early boyhood, going to school and work- ing upon the farm. Later he moved to Prince- ton, N. J., and clerked in a store, from there, after his first marriage, removing to New York City, where he clerked in a dry-goods store. In 1859 he came to Poughkeepsie, and for ten

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

years was engaged in the grocery business at No. 16 Washington street, being the leading grocer of his time. He is now, and has been for the past twenty years, in the real-estate and insurance businesses at the same location. In religious circles he is quite prominent, and has been a director and vice-president of the Y. M. C. A .; is a trustee of the Old Ladies' Home and of the Old Men's Home; is one of the organizers and the first superintendent of Cherry Street Chapel, and is a deacon and trustee of the Baptist Church; is also a director of the Poughkeepsie Lyceum. Politically, he is a Republican, and has served as city treas- urer of Poughkeepsie, also alderman of the Third ward, and was a candidate for mayor.

Richard E. Lansing has been twice mar- ried, first time in 1851 to Miss Emily Welling, by whom there was one child, Wellington C., our subject. This wife was afflicted with heart disease, and thrice before she was five years old was laid out for burial, her death finally occurring May 17, 1863, when she was thirty- one years old. Her mother is still living at the advanced age of ninety-five years. In September, 1876, Mr. Lansing, for his second wife, married Miss Sarah Hull, a daughter of Thomas Hull, by which union there is no issue.

Garrett P. Lansing, grandfather of our subject, was born in Hyde Park, Dutchess county, in 1790, a son of Peter Lansing, who died at Hyde Park at the age of ninety-eight years. Garrett P. was married to Miss Melinda G. Husted, by whom he had fourteen children, seven of whom are living, all now over fifty years old. They are: William H., of Troy, N. Y .; George E .; Lewis L., of Minneapolis; James F., Richard E., Garrett P., Jr., and Margaret J., of Poughkeepsie. Mr. Lansing was a cabinet maker by trade, and also carried on farming. In politics he was a Democrat, and at one time was collector of the town of Hyde Park. He served in the war of 1812. His death occurred January 7. 1847.

The maternal great-grandfather of Welling- ton C. Lansing was one of the original Nine Partners, who at one time owned nearly all of Dutchess county.

Wellington C. Lansing, our subject, spent his early life in the public schools of Pough- keepsie, and later attended the Classical and Scientific Institute of Hightstown, N. J. He was married in Catskill, N. Y., May 17, 1877, to Miss Mary D. Bogardus, who is a lineal descendant, like himself, of Anneke Jans, who

owned the Trinity Church property in New York City. To Mr. and Mrs. Lansing the fol- lowing children have been born: Sarah Emily, who died when eight years old; Charles A., born November 7, 1879; Irene E., born Feb- ruary 19, 1881; Bertha D., born August 12, 1882; May B., born May 11, 1886.

Mr. Lansing was employed in the Eagle office until 1882, when he and Edward Van- Keuren bought the paper called the Dutchess Farmer, an agricultural weekly, which they conducted until June, 1883, at which time they formed a partnership with Derrick Brown, who was then editor of the Poughkeepsie Vows, and they formed a new company, Mr. Brown becoming editor-in-chief, and Mr. Lansing city editor, while the name of the paper was changed to the Evening and Weekly Enter- prise. In 1892 the paper was bought by a company of Cleveland Democrats, and the above firm runs the paper for it. Mr. Brown is now business manager and treasurer, and editor-in-chief, and Mr. Lansing is secretary and city editor.

Our subject at one time was prominent in firemen's circles, and was president of Davy Crockett Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1. He is past chancellor of Armor Lodge, K. of P., of Poughkeepsie, and past district deputy of the same order; was vice-president of the Y. M. C. A., which office he has held two terms; has been superintendent of the Baptist Sun- day-school; president of the Y. P. S. C. E. ; president of the Baptist Boys Brigade, and president of the Young Men's Mutual Improve- mient Association. In principle he is a Prohi- bitionist, but votes independently.

C OLVIN CARD, editor and proprietor of the Millerton Telegram, the leading paper of the northeastern portion of Dutchess county, is one of the most prominent of the younger men of that region, and one who has without doubt a fine future before him. His grand- father, Eason Card, was an early settler upon the Livingston estate in the town of Ancram, Columbia county, and his father, Eason H. Card, was born there in 1826, in early life coming to Dutchess county and engaging in farming in the town of Northeast. In 1863 he returned to his native county, and for eight years was engaged in mercantile business and farming at Scotchtown Mills. In 1872 he purchased a farm of 500 acres of land near

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Boston Corners, and has since resided there, being one of the principal farmers of that vicinity. In public affairs he is prominent also, taking an active part in the work of the Democratic organization, and serving for many years as justice of the peace. He is a leading member of the Presbyterian Church at Ancram Lead Mincs. In 1856 he married Dorcas Decker, a daughter of Everett Decker, and they have two children: Adelbert, born August 28, 1858; and Colvin, our subject. The mother died in 1892: the father is still living on the old farm.

The subject of our sketch was born July 20, 1866, in the town of Northeast, on a farm near Boston Corners, and he was educated mainly in the common schools, with some ex- cellent practical finishing touches in the office of the Millerton Telegram. At the age of nineteen years he left the home farm and taught school for ten years, being principal of the Millerton public schools for four years. After two years at Irondale he returned to Mil- lerton for one year, and in March, 1889, he bought the Van Scriver interest in The Tele- gram, and continued the paper under the firm name of Deacon & Card until February 15, 1891, when he became the sole proprietor. Since his connection with the paper it has in- creased in circulation from 480 subscribers to I, IOS, and has become the principal paper in the locality. In politics Mr. Card himself is a Democrat, but his paper is independent. He is an energetic, enterprising young man, and finds time to conduct some profitable real estate transactions, and to carry on a success- ful auction business in partnership with W. D. McArthur. Always loyal to the interests of the village, he is active and influential in local politics; has been town clerk for two terms, and is now a member of the board of educa- tion. Socially he is also prominent, being an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a leader in the choir, and he also belongs to Webatuck Lodge No. 480, F. & A. M., of Millerton, and to Millerton Lodge No. 383. I. O. O. F.

C HARLES P. LUCKEY (deceased), the founder and, at the time of his death, the senior partner in the well-known firm of Luckey, Platt & Co., the leading dry-goods merchants in Poughkeepsie, was born May 30,

IS32, near Ithaca, N. Y. His ancestors set- tled in Dutchess county in early times.

Thomas P. I. Luckey, father of our sub- ject, was born in the city of Poughkeepsie in 1803, and was a farmer by occupation. In early manhood he removed to Ithaca, later to Chautauqua county, but he and his wife returned to Poughkeepsie to spend their declining years. On April 28, 1824, he was married to Jane Ann Hoffman, daughter of Loderwick Hoff- man, and they had five children: John, Theodore H., Catherine, Charles Pinckney and Francis Drake, all now deceased. The father died in Poughkeepsie, September 16, 1868, the mother on March 19, 1879.

Charles P. Luckey, the subject proper of this review, shortly after the return to Dutchess county, began his business career as a clerk for W. H. Nase, Dover Plains, and for some years he was employed in that capacity in Hustonville and New Hamburg. In 18- he became a clerk in the dry-goods store ol Rob- ert Slee, of Poughkeepsie, and in February, 1866, he was admitted to partnership in the firm. In 18- he established, at No. 328 Main I street, the firm of Luckey, Vail & Mandeville, which existed a year and a half, when Mr. Vail withdrew, and about eighteen months afterward, or in 1869, the firm became Luckey & Platt. Later it became Luckey, Platt & Co., S. L. De Garmo being the third member. They owned the largest dry-goods store in the city, with a trade which extended through sev- eral counties, and their name became a syno- nym for enterprise and sound methods.

Mr. Luckey was twice married, the first time in New York City to Miss Annie E. Brush, a daughter of Alfred Brush; she died in 1867, leaving one son, Frank M. R. Luckey, now a Congregational minister at New Haven, Conn. ; he is remarkably gifted as an orator, in early life had an inclination for the stage, and spent three years in the company of William Flor- ence. His education was thorough, and he was a graduate of both Cornell and Yale; his wife was Miss Lettie A. Rensley, of Pough- keepsic. For his second wife, Charles P. Luckey was married, on April 6, 1871, to Miss Cecelia Reed, a daughter of John Reed, of Syracuse, N Y., by which marriage there were no children. Mr. Luckey died January 30, 1896, of heart failure, having been afflicted for some considerable time; his widow is now liv- ing in Poughkeepsie.

Mr. Luckey held high rank among the

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

business men in this region, and took part in various enterprises. He was director and vice-president of the First National Bank, and president of the Retail Merchants Association in the city. He never engaged in politics, and was not a member of any club or secret organization; a thorough home man, he was ever happiest there. He was a man of large heart, generous and charitable in all his acts, and possessed of a well-balanced mind. As far as his boyhood educational advantages were concerned, they were limited, but he was fond of reading, and he was twelve years old when he entered the arena of business. For several years he lived in Eastman Terrace, in 1893 removing to his late residence on Garfield Place, Poughkeepsie.

T HEODORE ADDISON HOFFMAN, county clerk of Dutchess county, is a native of the county, having been born in the town of Red Hook, May 23, 1844. Theodore Hoffman, his father, was a son of Zacharias Hoffman, who owned a tract of land near Tivoli, along the Hudson river.

Our subject is a member of that steady and worthy class whose ancestors were among the first settlers of Dutchess county. He received his early training at the public schools and at Trinity School, from which he was graduated at the age of fifteen years. After leaving school he was employed as clerk in a general store, and at the age of twenty-two he embarked in mercantile business at Tivoli, N. Y. When twenty-three years old he was appointed postmaster at Tivoli, N. Y., which office he held for eighteen years, and the office has been in his store for some thirty years. He was elected president of the village of Tivoli. In 1888 he was elected county clerk of Dutchess county on the Republican ticket, and in 1891 he was removed from office by Governor Hill for refusing, as he says, to sign what was known as the Mylod return of the county canvassers. In 1894, however, he was re-elected county clerk, which office he now holds.

In 1866, at the age of twenty-two, Theo- dore A. Hoffman was united in marriage with Harriet Saulpaugh, daughter of Augustus Saul- paugh, a well-known farmer, and seven chil- dren have been born to this union-three sons and four daughters : John T., Harry, Fred- erick, Helen, Maud, Florence and May. In

politics Mr. Hoffman is a stanch Republican; in religious faith an Episcopalian; and socially he is a member of the Freemasons, and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

A LBERT R. HASKIN, the well-known secretary and manager of the Eastman Business College, Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, and one of the prominent financiers of that city, was born August 27, 1850, in Elkhart county, Indiana.

The family is of English origin with a strain of Scotch blood, and the first ancestor of the American line was an early settler in Vermont, his descendants branching out in later years to all parts of the country. Samuel Haskin, our subject's grandfather, was for a time a resident of Ticonderoga, N. Y., where his son, Caleb Almon (our subject's father), was born in 1826. When the latter was six years old the family moved to Addison county, Vt., later to Lock- port, N. Y., and still later to Dowagiac, Mich., and then to Elkhart, Ind. He became a farmer by occupation, and in 1855 went to Marshall county, Iowa, where he entered 200 acres of government land, of which he has made a fine farm. He is a leader in the com- munity, in both business and political affairs, has been a justice of the peace and supervisor of his town for many years, and has been urged to become the Republican candidate for Congress. In school matters he has taken more than ordinary interest, and he is also active in the work of the Baptist Church, of which he is a prominent member.

On May 27, 1849, Caleb A. Haskin was married in Indiana to Miss Rebecca Lacy, daughter of Laban Lacy, a leading citizen of Elkhart county, Ind., and a descendant of an old Virginia family. Seven children were born of this union, of whom four lived to maturity -one son (our subject) and three daughters, namely: Anna C., who married Adam Grimes, and died in 1893; Melissa J., the wife of Charles F. Ricker, a hardware merchant in Grundy Center, Iowa; and Hattie, who mar- ried Edward Shelton, of Michigan. The mother of this family died in 1884, and in 1887 the father married Miss Elizabeth Bibb, his present wife.

Albert R. Haskin, our subject, attended the district schools near his father's farm, and after acquiring an elementary education there he entered Iowa College, at Grinnell, Iowa,

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

and for four years, from 1868 to 1872, pursued an elective course. In June, 1872, he came to Poughkeepsie and took a course in the East- inan Business College, graduating September 2 of the same year. His work as a pupil had been so satisfactory that he was appointed superintendent of the Banking Office depart- ment in the school, a position which he filled with marked ability for some years. He then became principal of the Theory department, and in 1885 was made principal of the school, which has prospered greatly under his able manage- ment. In November, 1896, he was appointed secretary and manager.

On December 31. 1874, Mr. Haskin married Miss Mary A. Cline, a daughter of Henry Cline, a prominent resident of Dutchess county, and late of Saratoga, N. Y. They have had three children, of whom two, Albert C. and Minerva M., are living. Mr. and Mrs. Haskin are leading members of the Baptist Church, in which he has held many official positions, and is now trustee and deacon. He is also a director of the Y. M. C. A. He is an ardent Republican, taking an active share in local politics, and in any enter- prise for the public benefit. For thirteen years he has labored for the interests of the public schools as a member of the board of education, and he is now president of that body. His rare business abilities have won him the esteem and confidence of financial leaders, and he has become interested in a number of important business operations, being a di- rector of the Poughkeepsie National Bank, of the Home Building & Loan Association, and of the Masonic Mutual Benefit Association of Dutchess county. Ile belongs to the I. O. O. F., Fallkill Lodge No. 297, and has passed the chairs; is also a member of the F. & A. M., Poughkeepsie Lodge No. 266, of which he is past master; of Poughkeepsie Chapter No. 172, R. A. M., of which body he is high priest ; and of Commandery No. 43, K. T., also of Mecca Temple, of New York City.

S AMUEL MANSFIELD. No citizen of Wappingers Falls is better known, or stands higher in the estimation of his fellow- men, than does this gentleman, who for many years has stood in the front rank of the edu- cators of Dutchess county.

Prof. Mansfield was born in New Baltimore, N. Y., July 14, 1834, his family being of Eng-

lish descent. His grandfather, Samuel Mans- field, was born in Greene county, N. Y., and was a soldier in the war of 1812. He married Hannah Hallenbeck, who was of Dutch stock, and they reared a family of five children, namely: William; Jehoiakim, who became a ship carpenter; Hannah, who married Peter Doty, a farmer of Saratoga county, N. Y .; Margaret, who married James Reed, superin- tendent of a paper factory at Saugerties, N. Y. ; and Sarah, who became the wife of Sylvanus Rutan, a market man of New Jersey.

William Mansfield, the father of our sub- ject, turned his attention to farming. He mar- ried Nancy Kelsey, who was born in western New York, and they settled in New Baltimore, where the following children were born to them: Samuel; Silas Wiltsey, who was a sol- dier in the Civil war, and is now deceased; James Reed, a farmer in Greene county, N. Y. ; Sarah Amelia and Hannah Margaret, both de- ceased, and William Brooks, who died in in- fancy. The parents both died in Greene county. They were originally members of the Reformed Dutch Church, afterward unit- ing with the Methodist Episcopal Church. The father in his early life was a Whig, later joining the Republican party.

The subject of this sketch spent his boy- hood on his father's farm, and attended the common schools of his vicinity until he was seventeen years old, when he entered the sem- inary at Charlotteville, N. Y. Afterward he taught school, and thus assisted in defraying his expenses while obtaining an education. He entered the Sophomore class of Union Col- lege in 1857, and was graduated in 1860, being chosen class poet. In 1862 he went to Wap- pingers Falls, and was appointed principal of the Union Free School, which he taught until 1878, resigning to accept the principalship of the Wappingers Falls Graded School, which position he is filling at the present time. Dur- ing these long years of service in this responsi- ble position, Prof. Mansfield has succeeded in securing the confidence and esteem of not only those under his immediate supervision, but of all those with whom he has been brought into business and social relations. As a teacher he has the best interests of his pupils at heart, and spares no pains in their training. He is firm in his government, yet so genial and com- panionable that he holds a warm place in the affections of all who have ever been under his care. He is a man of fine tastes and scholarly

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 7

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