Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 78

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

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Rev. Mr. Collins spent his youth upon the farm; but his abilities and inclinations fitted him for a wider sphere of action. and at the age of twenty-three he entered Yale College; but his eyes failed him, and after one year there he was compelled to give up his inten- tion of graduating. From 1842 to 1847 he was in charge of the Mathematical and Clas- sical departments of West Point College: but he then retired to the old homestead in Pleasant Valley. In 1877 he moved to Wappingers Falls, and in isSo he was united in matri- mony with Miss Isabella Johnston, a lady of Scotch descent. Although unfortunately de- terred from carrying out his plans in early life, Mr. Collins has been a thorough student, fol- lowing many branches of learning as oppor- tunity afforded, and his years have been faithful in good works. He was ordained a clergyman of the Congregational Church in 1859, at Arlington, Vt., and two years later was taken into the North River Presbytery, and he has preached effectively in several places. He takes an active and intelligent interest in pub- lic affairs, is a Democrat in politics, and has been for many years a leading worker in temperance reform.

D R. ISAAC NEWTON MEAD. Many of the most prominent citizens of Dutchess county served their country during the dark days of the Rebellion, making a record hon- orable and glorious. Among these brave boys who " wore the blue " is the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is now an honored resident of Amenia, where for many years he has been successfully engaged in busi- ness.

The Doctor is a native of Dutchess coun- ty, born in the town of Amenia. September 13, 1840, and traces his ancestry back to Na- than Mead, who died February 24, 1777, at the age of eighty-six years. Job Mead, the son of the latter, came to Dutchess county from Horse Neck, Long Island, at an early date, and bought a farm from the Nine Part- ners in the town of Amenia, where, during the remainder of his life, he carried on agri- cultural pursuits. When the colonies resolved to throw off the British yoke, he joined the Continental army, and served through the war of the Revolution as captain. He married Miss Mercy King, and to them were born five

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children: Job, Jr., the grandfather of the Doctor; Nathan; Joshua; Mercy and Alice. The mother of these children died August 28, 1812, and the father passed away April 23, 1819, at the age of eighty-four years.

Job Mead, Jr., spent his boyhood days on the home farm in the town of Amenia, and, like his father, he also took up arms against Great Britain, serving in the war of 1812. He was united in marriage with Miss Ruth Hebard, who died January 29, 1808, at the age of forty-six years, and they had six chil- dren: Nancy, Sarah, Mary, Henry, John K. and Barak. The grandfather's death occurred January 12, 1838, when he was aged seventy- seven years.

John K. Mead, the father of our subject, was born September 6, 1799, on the home- stead farm in the town of Amenia, where his early life was passed in aiding in the work of the fields, and in attending the district schools of the neighborhood. All of his active busi- ness life was devoted to the improvement and cultivation of the home farm. On February 28, 1827, he married Miss Jane A. Suther- land, who was born November 17, 1807, and died April 20, 1885. Six children blessed their union: Sarah Esther, born September 11, 1829, married E. W. Simmons; Mary Jane, born July 3, 1832, married Rev. E. W. Clark, a missionary to India; John F., born March 16, 1834, died September 29, 1888; Isaac N. is next in order of birth; Henry Sutherland, born May 25, 1842, is living in Millerton, N. Y .; Ruth Alida, born June II, 1853, married Charles Benham, of Amenia. Religiously, the father was a Baptist, taking an active part in the work of his Church, in which he served as deacon for many years, and was also quite prominent in public affairs, being a member of the New York Assembly in 1844, and serving as supervisor of Amenia and justice of the peace. His first vote was cast in support of the Whig party, and on its dissolution he became a stalwart Republican. He died March 27, 1873, passing away at the end of a long and well-spent life.

The boyhood and youth of Dr. Mead were passed upon the old home farm, and he ob- tained his literary instructions in the district schools and the Amenia Seminary. In 1857 he entered a store in Smithfield, town of Amenia, where he clerked for one year, and then was similarly employed by Oliver Chamberlain at Amenia. In the spring of 1859 he began the

study of medicine at Millerton, Dutchess coun- ty, with Dr. Lucius P. Woods, and the follow- ing fall took a partial course in the Berkshire Medical College, at Pittsfield, Mass. In 1859- 60 he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons at New York City, after which he returned to study at Millerton.

In response to the call of the general gov- ernment for volunteers to defend our national life, Dr. Mead enlisted in the fall of 1862 as a private in Company A, 150th N. Y. V. I .; on the following Christmas Day was transferred from this regiment to the 5th N. Y. C. as hos- pital steward, and in the fall of 1864 was pro- moted to assistant-surgeon. He remained in active service with that command until August, 1865, when he was mustered out at Harts Island. He escaped uninjured, but had two horses shot under him-one at Hanover, Penn., June 30, 1863, and the other at Winchester, Va. He was always found at his post of duty, gallantly defending the old flag, and saw much hard service, participating in the following battles: Upperville and Aldie, Va. ; Hanover, Penn .; Gettysburg; Barnesboro; Hagerstown, Md .; Falling Waters; Culpeper; Brandy Sta- tion; Wilderness; Spottsylvania; North and South Anna River; Cold Harbor; Petersburg; raid to Richmond; Winchester; Cedar Creek; Fisher's Hill; Waynesboro; Charlotteville; Ap- pomatox; and Five Forks. The 5th N. Y. C. served under Gens. Sheridan, Kilpatrick and Custer. When hostilities had ceased, Dr. Mead returned to New York, and again en- tered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, where he graduated in the spring of 1866. For one year he then engaged in practice in Amenia, then in 1868 removed to Millerton, where he practiced for the same length of time, when he again came to Amenia.

On January 13, 1869, the Doctor was mar- ried to Miss Julia Mygatt, daughter of Abram P. Mygatt, and they now have one child, Alice. Since his marriage the Doctor has successfully followed his chosen profession in Amenia. In 1873 he became a member of the firm of Bart- lett & Mead, handling drugs, groceries, hard- ware, agricultural implements, grass seeds, etc., which connection continued until I889, when Horace B. Murdock bought out the in- terest of Mr. Bartlett.

Socially, Dr. Mead holds membership with Amenia Lodge No. 672, F. & A. M., in which he served as first master; with John M. Greg- ory Post, G. A. R., Department of Connecticut,

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No. 59; and Cavalry Society of the Army of the United States. In politics the Doctor affiliates with the Democratic party, although his first vote for President was cast for the martyred Abraham Lincoln. In religious be- lief he is a Presbyterian, belonging to the Church of that denomination in Amenia. He has won his way to the regard of the people with whom he comes in contact in his daily rounds by his ready tact and kindly sympathy, and is as faithful to his country in days of peace as in the dark days of the Rebellion.

E DGAR M. VANDERBURGH, a farmer and stock raiser, was born in the town of Canaan, Columbia county, August 26, 1820, and is the son of Martin and Mary ( Halstead ) Vanderburgh.

( Col. James Vanderburgh, great-grandfather of our subject, was a farmer in the town of Beekman. His father was of Dutch descent, and was probably born in Holland. Col. Van- derburgh served all through the Revolutionary war, and Washington and La Fayette made his home their stopping place. The Vander- burgh inansion, which was built some time prior to the Revolution, was the first substan- tial house in Beekman. It stood about one- quarter of a mile northeast of the village of Poughquag, and was torn down in 1860. It was built of wood and stone, and a broad, cov- ered veranda extended across the front of it. The slaves had quarters in the basement. In

this house Col. James Vanderburgh had eight- een children born to him, all of whom reached maturity, and whose descendants are reckoned among the solid and substantial residents of Dutchess county to-day. It is said that a " Tory" plot was once hatched to kill him in his own house, but was frustrated by his wife, who barricaded the mansion so effectually that the "Tories " despaired of their purpose and ran away. It was after that event that Col. Vanderburgh entertained Gen. Washington at his hospitable table. Many traditions clustered around this old house, and it is a pity such a historic spot should have been blotted out.

Col. Vanderburgh was born September 4, 1729, and died April 4, 1794. He was mar- ried to Miss Margaret Noxon on September 29, 1753, and to them the following children were born : Elizabeth, Henry, Bartholomew, James, Magdalen, Peter and Stephen. Mrs. Vander-

burgh died August 9, 1766. On October 25, 1767, Col. Vanderburgh married Miss Helen Clark, and these children were born : William, Margaret, Richard, Gabriel L., Egbert B., Clarissa, George W., Paulina, Almira, Federal and Caroline. In " The Surrogate ", a maga- zine published in New York, March, 1891, ap- pears the following : "Col. James Vander- burgh was one of the most influential citizens of Beekman, Dutchess county, and was de- scended from Holland ancestors, who settled at an early day in that region. He was a member of the Provincial Congress in 1776, and during the Revolutionary war was a zeal- ous friend of the patriot cause, and while Gens. Washington and La Fayette were in his vicin- ity he entertained them and their staffs at his home." In later life he followed farming in Beekman, where he died.

Henry Vanderburgh, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Beekman. He married and located in the town of Hyde Park, where he reared the following family of chil- dren: Lewis, Margaret, Martin, Fannie, John, Richard, Lucinda, Eliza, Maria and Katherine. The grandfather died in Hyde Park in May, 1841; his wife had passed away several years previous. Henry Vanderburgh was a captain in the Revolutionary war, and participated in the battle of Bunker Hill.

Martin Vanderburgh attained his majority in Hyde Park, and was a merchant and school teacher. He married Miss Mary Halstead, who was born in the town of Clinton. Her father, Richard Halstead, was a native of Westchester county; he married a Miss Griffin, and they had a large family of children. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Vanderburgh moved to Canaan, Columbia county, locating on a farm; they became the parents of nine children, namely: Emeline, Susan, Oscar, Edgar M., John, Richard, Annie E., Maria, and Lucinda. Of these, Emeline died unmar- ried; Susan married V. J. Wilcox, a farmer in Columbia county: Oscar is a retired farmer in the town of Chatham, Columbia county; John (deceased) was a farmer and merchant; Richard was also a farmer and merchant, and is now deceased; Annie E. became the wife of Sylvester S. Kady, a merchant of Jamestown; Maria married Rev. C. W. Havens, and is now deceased; Lucinda became the wife of E. W. Levensworth, a farmer and landlord in Columbia county. The parents of this family went to Columbia county in 1820, where the

E Mandarhigh

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father died in 1864, and the mother in 1866; in politics, Mr. Vanderburgh was a Whig, and in religious faith both he and his wife adhered to the Society of Friends.

Edgar M. Vanderburgh, the subject of this sketch, spent his boyhood days on the farm in Columbia county, and attended the district school until fourteen years of age, when he went to Canaan Center Academy. He was obliged to earn his own living, so taught school in winters and attended them in summers; but failing health prevented him from completing the classical course. He married Miss Han- nah Sutherland in 1844, and they had three children: Anna, who married Philip J. Sher- man, a farmer and school teacher; Amelia married Rev. U. Symonds, and died in 1882; Henry is at home. In 1845 our subject moved to the town of Stanford, where he farmed, and where his wife died in 1853. In 1870 he married Mrs. Kate (Sackett) Lockwood, the widow of John F. Lockwood, and moved to his present place at Lithgow. His wife is a descendant of one of the old families. Mr. Vanderburgh was originally a Whig, voting first for Henry Clay, and since the organiza- tion of the Republican party he has supported it at every National election, including that of 1896. He was elected superintendent of com- mon schools in 1849, and again in 1850, '51, '52, and '53; in 1857-58, he was elected su- pervisor of the town of Stanford; in 1864 he was elected superintendent of the county poor, being the first incumbent to that office in the county, and he held it for six consecutive years.

Mr. Vanderburgh is a firm believer in the Christian religion; that Christian unity should embrace the faithful of all denominations; that Christ is more than creed; that Christianity is more than sect; and that Christian character should be the test of Christian fellowship. The following lines represent some of his ruling maxims :

What conscience dictates to be done, Or warns me not to do, This teach me more than hell to shun, That more than heav'n pursue.

Teach me to feel another's woe, To hide the faults I see; That mercy I to others show, That mercy show to me.

If I am right, Thy grace impart! Still in the right to stay;

If I am wrong, oh! teach my heart To find that better way.

M RS. MATILDA VAIL NOXON. Among the well-known pioneer families of the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, the Vails have always held an honored place. Each generation has been engaged mainly in tilling the soil, and industry, frugality, and progress- ive spirit of the typical American farmer have been marked characteristics.

Moses Vail, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born and educated in the town of Unionvale, and established his home there upon a farm. He and his wife, Phœbe Losee, had eleven children: (1) James, a farmer, married Anna Montfort, and had six children, of whom, Stephen M., a clergyman, Inarried Louise Cushman; Isaac M. married Mary Wheeler; Susan L. married Rev. James Runyon; Phoebe A. married Henry Segine; Cordelia E. married John Segine; and James WV. died in young manhood. (2) Isaac mar- ried Rebecca Vail, and had one child- George W. (now deceased). (3) Stephen died at an early age. (4) Thomas married Susan A. Barlow, and had five children-Elisha B., who is single; Phœbe (Mrs. Charles Elmore); Maria J., the wife of Mr. Pultz; Caroline (Mrs. Presten); and Louisa, unmarried. (5) John is mentioned below. (6) Lavina married Tunis Van Benschoten, and had seven children- Phoebe Ann (Mrs. James Thurston); Mary (Mrs. Elisha French); Sarah (Mrs. Jones); Elizabeth (Mrs. Bronson ; Jennie; Catherine White; and Phoebe (Mrs. Philo Vincent). (7) Mary married Levi Vincent, and had eleven children-Phebe (Mrs. J. Velie); Isaac (de- ceased); Deborah (deceased); Gideon; Platt; Thomas (deceased); Lavina (Mrs. Brown); Edwin; Chester (deceased); Albert (deceased) ; and Mary Ida (Mrs. Phelps). (S) Elias mar- ried Jane A. Cook. (9) Simon married Mary Potter, and had six children-Henrietta (Mrs. Helms); Fredrick; Edwin (deceased); Clarence, who married Maria Bartlett; Alice (deceased); and Evelenia (unmarried). (10) Moses mar- ried Hester Bussing, and had no children; he was well educated, and practiced law in New York City, but died at Saratoga, N. Y., in 1888. (11) Platt married Amelia A. Davis, and had five children-James D., who mar- ried Phæbe Vincent; Julia and Lavina, who are not married; Jesse, who died in the army in 1864; and Moses (deceased).

John Vail, our subject's father, was born at Verbank, Dutchess county, in November, 1 800, and was educated in the schools of the

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town. His main occupation was farming, but he was also engaged in mercantile business, and conducted a woolen-mill at Verbank for some time. He married Elizabeth Vincent, and had ten children: (1) Sarah, born February S, 1828, married Jacob Baker, a blacksmith of Freedom Plains, and is now deceased. (2) Matilda is mentioned below. (3) Loretta, born April 4, 1831, remained single all her life. (4) Samuel, born July 4, 1832, was a carpenter by trade, and had four children-Libbie 'wife of Leonard Secord); Charles (who married Carrie Cass), William and Abbie (both de- ceased). (5) Mary, born October 13, 1834, married Simon Losee, and has two children- Lizzie and Wesley. (6) Martha, born January 14, 1836, was educated in Amenia Seminary, became a successful teacher, and is now de- ceased. (7) Rebecca (deceased), born Octo- . ber 1, 1837, married Richard Hall, a farmer of the town of Beekman, Dutchess county, and had four children-Everett; Libbie (de- ceased); Herbert and Minnie. (S) Stephen, born February 23, 1839, is a carpenter by oc- cupation. (9) James (deceased), born Febru- ary 22, 1841, was a blacksmith by trade, and he and his wife had one daughter, Sarah (now Mrs. Richard Casc). (10) George, born May 23, 1843, is a well-known dairyman of Union- vale; he married Miss Phoebe Noxon, and has three children-Henry, Hettie and John.

Matilda Vail first saw the light September 14, 1829, at the old home in Verbank. She was educated there, and later became the wife of Dewitt C. Noxon, son of Abram Noxon, a well-to-do farmer. Mr. Noxon followed mer- cantile pursuits in early life, and then for a time engaged in farming, but he spent his later years in New York City on the police force. He bravely served his country in the Civil war as a member of Company I, 128th N. Y. V. I., but was discharged on account of ill health. He died in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Noxon had two children: Emma and Ada, of whoin the latter died at an early age: Emma (now also deceased) married John G. Duncan, and had two children-J. Davis and Emma.

C LEVELAND H. TITUS, general mer- chant, and the popular postmaster of Webatuck, town of Dover, Dutchess county, was born on January 29, 1843, in New York City. There the birth of his grandfather, Richard Titus, occurred, and as an occupation

he followed trucking in that city. In his famn- ily were five children : Joseph R. and Ben- jamin J. ( twins ), Richard, Alonzo and Sarah.

Joseph R. Titus, father of our subject, was born in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, in 1809, but received his education in New York City, and, like his father, engaged in trucking. He spent two years in the West, where he fol- lowed farming; but owing to ill health returned to New York. He married Miss Ruth Amelia Titus, daughter of Samuel J. Titus, a farmer of Pleasant Valley, Dutchess county.

The parental household included fourteen children. (1) Adaline C., born November 3, 1841, died in 1851. (2) Cleveland H. is next in order of birth. (3) Stanley, December 23, 1844, died July 27, 1861. (4) Agnes I., born August 24, 1846, died July 22, 1847. (5) Eugene, born June 29, 1848, died November 27, 1849. (6) Albert, born June 15. 1850, died March 9, 1853. (7) Louisa J., born August 13, 1852, died October 20, 1857. (S) Mary A., born April 3, 1854, in New York City, was there educated, and married Ferdi- nand Blackenhorn, of Poughkeepsie, who served as cashier of the Third National Bank of New York City, but is now deceased -dying in 1893. Six children were born of their union - Barbara, Amie, Jacob F., Ethel, Eu- gene and Ruth. (9) Ida, born April 15, 1856, died April 1, 1862. (10) Stephen, born April 17, 1858, in New York City, where he was educated, married Miss Agnes O'Neill, of that place, and they have three children - Ruth, Albert and Cornelius B. (11) Frank L., born December 5, 1859, in New York, married Miss Ellen Diamond, of that city, and they are now located at Palousc, Wash., where he is en- gaged in merchandising. They have three children - Joseph, Stanley and Margaret. (12) Mellie S., born July 7, 1861, in New York City, completed her literary education in the New York Normal College, and after studying law in the office of Mr. Hildreth, of New York, was admitted to the bar in 1894 to practice in the Supreme Court. However, she is now engaged in teaching in the Eighty-sixth street grammar school. (13) Eliza 1., born May 13, 1864, was also a school teacher, and died April 15, 1896. (14) George I., born Novem- ber 14, 1865, in New York City, is now em- ployed as ticket agent on the Second Avenue Elevated road.

Our subject pursued his studies in the common schools of the town of Dover, and

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was employed in merchandising for his uncle for some time. After the latter's death, he turned his attention to farming until about eight years ago, since which time he has con- ducted a general store in Webatuck, where he also served as postmaster. He carries a full and complete stock, and secures a liberal share of the public patronage. Socially, he is a charter member of Dover Lodge No. 666, F. & A. M., of Dover Plains.

On May 17, 1868, Mr. Titus was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Allis, daughter of Huram and Mary J. (Hoag) Allis, of the town of Dover, Dutchess county, and they now have two sons: (1) Joseph A., born April 17, 1869, in Dover, received a common- school education, and followed the mercantile business with his father until his marriage in 1892, to Miss Matie Orton, daughter of Judson and Susan (Wheeler) Orton. agriculturists of Dover Plains (he is now engaged in carrying the mail). (2) Stanley H., born July 23, 1879, in the town of Dover, was there educated, and is now in the store with his father at Webatuck.

David Allis, the grandfather of Mrs. Titus, was also a native of the town of Dover, Dutch- ess county, and after leaving school always engaged in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Sarah Burton, and they had three children, of whom Huram was the eldest. Alva, the second son, removed to Pennsylvania, where he followed farming, but previously he had mar- ried Miss Mariette Briggs, of Amenia, Dutchess county, by whom he had two children-Sarah J., and one who died in infancy. Phoebe, the only daughter, was born and educated in the town of Dover. She became the wife of a Mr. Sherman, a farmer of that town, and they had one son, Ebenezer.

Huram Allis, the father of Mrs. Titus, was born in the town of Dover, April 8, 1802, and as a life-work also followed farming. Religious- ly, he was a member of the Society of Friends. He wedded Miss Mary G. Hoag, daughter of Joel and Hannah Hoag, the former a farmer and blacksmith of Dover. Three children graced their union: Phoebe, born February 20, 1840, married Elias H. Deuel, by whom she had one daughter, Nellie L., wife of Eg- bert Slocum, and the mother of one son, Homer; Martin A., born December 23, 1842, died at the age of three years; Sarah E., born April 24, 1849, is the honored wife of our subject.

possessors of some 165 acres of land, which is rented for farming purposes. In politics, Mr. Titus is a Democrat.

W ILLIAM A. BREWSTER. Esteemed and respected by all, there is no man in the business circles of Wappingers Falls, Dutchess county, who occupies a more promi- nent position than this gentleman, not alone on account of the success he has achieved, but also on account of his honorable and straight- forward dealings. He was born September 17, 1854, in Hughsonville, town of Wappin- ger, this county, and has always made his home in that locality.

Mr. Brewster's paternal grandfather was William Brewster, of Bloomingburg, Sullivan Co., N. Y., whose son, William H. Brewster (the father of the subject of this sketch), was born in that village in 1812. When a young man he came to Hughsonville, Dutchess Co., N. Y., where he engaged in his occupation as carpenter and contractor, afterward accepting the position as foreman of the carpenter de- partment of Garner & Co.'s print works at Wappingers Falls, N. Y., which position he held for about thirty years. He was married September 18, 1852, to Mary Eliza Hoyt, daughter of William and Maria (Roe) Hoyt, and is still living at a ripe old age; but his wife died July 1, 1863.

Our subject's maternal grandfather was William Hoyt, whose parents came from Sau- gerties, Ulster Co., N. Y .; he married Maria Roe, daughter of Joseph C. Roe, who was a tanner and currier, and owned and conducted that business at Gayhead, Dutchess Co., N. Y. William Hoyt died August 3, 1885; his wife still survives him, at the age of eighty- five.

WV. A. Brewster, the subject proper of this review, is the only child of this union. His boyhood days were spent at Hughsonville, where he began his education, which was com- pleted at Poughkeepsie. On laying aside his text books, he was employed in the print works at Wappingers Falls, at the carpenter's trade, for about two years. On January 1, 1875, he became bookkeeper in the Bank of Wappingers Falls, a deposit bank, where he remained until he became cashier of a private bank of the same place, although at that time he was only twenty-six years old. After fill-

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 78

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