Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 79

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

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Cleveland H. Titus and his wife are the | ing that position for a short time he was, on

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April 15, 1881, elected treasurer of the Wappin- gers Savings Bank, and November 1, 1884, was elected trustce of the same institution. He is also a local fire insurance agent, representing ten of the largest American and foreign com- panies.

Mr. Brewster was married October 19, 1881, to Miss Sarah S. Siddle, who was born in Clinton, Iowa, and is a daughter of Abram Siddle, a paper manufacturer of that place. The Siddle family is of English origin. A daughter, Helen, graces the union of our sub- ject and his wife. As a Democrat in politics, Mr. Brewster takes great interest in political questions, and has served as trustee of the Hughsonville school district, was town clerk of Wappinger, and also represented his town on the board of supervisors. He is an hon- ored and valued member of Wappinger Lodge No. 671, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master; of Evening Star Lodge No. 98, K. of P .; and of Lafayette Lodge No. IS, I. O. O. F. He stands high in social as well as commercial circles, and his career has ever been such as to warrant the trust and confidence of all.

S TEPHEN T. DEUEL. Prominent among the leading and influential farmers and stock raisers of the town of Washington, Dutchess county, is the gentleman of whom this sketch is written. He has one of the finest farms in the township, comprising 250 acres of valuable and productive land, which he has placed under a high state of cultivation, and made thercon many substantial and useful improvements. The passerby is at once at- tracted by its neat and thrifty appearance, and knows the owner to be a man of industry and of progressive methods.

Mr. Deuel was born in the town of Wash- ington, May 27, 1833, and can trace his an- cestry back to William Deuel, who emigrated to this country August 3, 1640. The family is of French origin, the name being originally spelled Davol, and later assuming the present mode. Jonathan Denel, the son of William, was born at Dartmouth, Mass., and died in 1709. His son, Jeremiah Deuel, was .also born at Dartmouth, and died November 29, 1753. In direct line to our subject, he was followed by Timothy, who was born at Bristol, R. I., January 1, 1714, and married Lydia Mosher, by whom he had eight children, namely: Lydia, Philip, Hannah, Rhoda,

Juele, Silas, John and Benjamin. For many years he engaged in farming in Rhode Island, and about 1750 came to Dutchess county, lo- cating on a tract of land near Millbrook.

The seventh in that family, Silas Deuel, was born at Bristol, R. I., July 13, 1748, and by his marriage with Hannah White became the father of eleven children: Eunice, Sarah, John, Ruth, Lydia, Silas S., Hannah, Phoebe, Benjamin, Isaac and Malessa. The father, who was an agriculturist, lived to quite an ad- vanced age, dying January 9, 1825. His tenth child, Isaac Deuel, who was born in Washing- ton township. Dutchess county, November 25, 1798, became the father of our subject. He was united in marriage with Cynthia Thorne, and five children blessed their union: Will- iam, Josephine and Henry, deceased; Thorne, a farmer in Washington town; and Stephen T., whose name introduces this sketch. The father followed the various pursuits of farmer, miller and merchant, and died in 1854.

Our subject was reared upon his father's farm, and educated in the district schools of the neighborhood. After attaining his ma- jority he commenced farming for himself, which occupation he made his life work. As a com- panion and helpmeet on life's journey he chose Miss Louise M. Allen, a native of Washington town, born August 6, 1840, and their marriage was celebrated in that town, February 1, 1859. She was the daughter of Norton Allen, a na- tive of Connecticut, who became a merchant of Hart's Village. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Deuel located on a farm near Mill- brook, where they resided about five years, and where she died January 24, 1864. One child blessed their union, Isaac N., who mar- ried Miss Katie F. Maroney, who was born in Washington town, a daughter of Patrick and Margaret (Whalen) Maroney. To Isaac N. Deuel and his wife have been born three chil- dren: Stephen T., Isaac M., and Olive C. For his second wife Stephen T. Deuel married Miss Kate Maroney, a lady of Irish descent, and a native of Washington township.

In 1866 Mr. Deuel removed from Mill- brook, and settled at Little Rest, where he purchased the homestead and an adjoining farm, where he now lives. On his land is an old mill, which was once a school building and used for that purpose 125 years ago, and was at that time an old building. He also has a deed for the first land owned by the Deuels in Dutchess county, the date whereof is 1759,

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and the signature that of Daniel Wood. Mr. Deuel is entirely independent of party lines in politics, considering, in the exercise of his elective franchise, rather the fitness of the man for the office than the party who placed him in nomination. Public-spirited to a high degree, he takes great interest in every measure cal- culated to benefit the community.

W ILLIAM RECORD, a prominent mer- chant of Dover Plains, Dutchess coun- ty, and one of the most public-spirited citizens of that town, is related by descent or marriage with several of the oldest families of the local- ity. On the paternal side of his grandfather was John Record, a native of South Mountain, Dutchess county, where he passed his entire life, receiving his education in the common schools of the town of Dover, and later en- gaging in the manufacture of chairs, in which business he won a notable success. The name of his wife is not known, and of their children three only arc now remembered: George W .; Mary, who married Fred Shafer; and Amanda, who married Mr. King. George W. Record, our subject's father, was reared in his native village of South Mountain, attending the pub- lic schools and learning the blacksmith's trade. For a number of years he conducted a shop on Chestnut Ridge, and then he moved to the village of Dover, where he became a leading worker in that line of business. He always took great interest in religious matters, and was an active member of the Baptist Church of Dover Plains. He married Miss Susan Burlingame, daughter of John and Phoebe Burlingame, well-known residents of the town of Washington, Dutchess county, who reared a family of children as follows: Susan, born March 28, 1816; Salina, January 11, ISIS; Jiles and Miles, twins, May 11, 1821 ; Harriet, May 13, 1823; John, April 3, 1825; Mary, No- vember 7, 1827; and Philip, May 10, 1830; the youngest child, Phoebe, was born in 1831. George W. Record and his wife had five chil- dren: Mary (Mrs. Samuel Hobson); Amanda (Mrs. William G. Evans); William, our sub- ject; Charles, who died in the army; and Emma, who died at the age of twenty-six years.

The subject of our sketch was born June I, 1845, at the old homestead in Dover l'lains, and received a good education in the public schools there. His first experience in business was gained as a clerk in a general store, which

he entered at the age of fifteen. After a few years in this employment he engaged in farm- ing, continuing with marked success until 1872, when he returned to mercantile pursuits, estab- lishing a flour, feed, coal and lumber business. This is one of the principal enterprises in the place, his trade having increased at a gratify- ing rate as time has passed. Mr. Record is progressive in ideas, and has the advancement of the town at heart. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and has held a number of town offices, including those of supervisor, collector and commissioner, hav- ing been elected to the last-named position several times. He belongs to the Masonic Lodge, No. 666, of Dover Plains. In 1871 he was united in matrimony with Miss Adelia Lee, and they have four children: (1) George, born in 1871, is now his father's partner in business, and one of the leading young men of the town. On June 20, 1894, he was married to Miss Martha Moore, daughter of the late Henry Moore, once a professor of penmanship in the Eastman Business College at Pough- keepsie, and later a well-known farmer of the town of Dover. He died at the age of thirty- four years, and his wife, Amy, at the age of thirty-six. (2) William Record, Jr., born in 1873, married Anna Weaver. (3) Theo, born in 1876, is at home. (4) Obed, born in 1878, died in infancy.

Mrs. Record was born, in 1849, in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, and was educated there. Her grandfather, William Lee, was a native of Gaylords Bridge, Conn., where he was engaged in farming for some years. He married Miss Mehitabel Ward, by whom he had six children: Jane (Mrs. Edward Ferris); Louisa (Mrs. Oliver Warner); Ward (Mrs. Record's father); Egbert, who married Abbie J. Carey; Emily, who married (first) George Travers, and (second) Ira Bowlby; and Emiline, the wife of George Wickham. Ward Lee was also born at Gaylords Bridge, but he was edu- cated in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, his parents removing to that locality when he was a child. He learned the carpenter's trade, and followed it all his life with the ex- ception of ten years which he spent in farming, and many houses in the town of Dover were built by him. In politics he was a Democrat ; was road commissioner for a number of years,' and held other offices at various times. In 1846 he was married to Miss Mary Cutler, and had four children: Adelia (Mrs. Record);

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Emily Mrs. Alvin Marcy); William, who died in infancy; and Angeline (Mrs. Darwin War- ner). Mr. Lee died August 12, 1886, in the sixty-eighth year of his age, and while his death was keenly felt among a large circle of friends it left the deepest sorrow within the home where his qualities of mind and heart were best known. Mrs. Record's mother, Mary Cutler Lee, was born in 1828, in South Dover, Dutchess county, where her ancestors were early settlers. Her grandfather, Will- iam Cutler, was a native of that place, and passed his life there as a well-to-do farmer. He married Miss Elizabeth Hiller, and had eight children: (1) Rhoda (Mrs. Isaac North- rup,; (2 Abigail (Mrs. Thomas Tompkins); (3) Mahala, who never married; (4) Thursie, who died; (5) Bigelow and (6) Thomas, the names of whose wives are unknown; (7) Will- iam, who married Irene Brush; and (8) Calvin, the father of Mrs. Lee. He was born in South Dover in 1799, and after obtaining an educa- tion in the schools of that place engaged in agriculture. His wife was Miss Keziah Varney, daughter of John and Mary (Rodgers) Varney, prosperous farmers in Connecticut. Eight children were born to this marriage: John and Jerome, who died in infancy; Elihu, who married Lydia Wilcox; Elezer, who married Maranthy Eggleston; Francis, who married Elizabeth Carey; Priscilla (Mrs. William Hall); Mary (Mrs. Ward Lee); and Sarah (Mrs. Will- iam Hooker).

W ILLIAM S. TRIPP. As an enterpris- ing and wide-awake citizen of Mill- brook, Dutchess county, engaged in the butch- ering business, we take pleasure in giving this brief biography of the gentleman whose name introduces this sketch. He is a native of Dutchess county, born in the town of Wash- ington, near Millbrook, on June 24, 1856, and is a son of Daniel Tripp, who was born at the same place in 1833. On that farm his great- grandfather, Samuel Tripp, had located after his marriage with Miss Mary Howard, and there reared their family of eleven children, whose names and dates of birth are as fol- lows : Phobe, January 29, 1779 ; John, No- vember 27, 1780; Hannah, March 1, 1782 ; Susanna, January 31, 1784 ; George, Novem- ber 16, 1785; Howard, December 5, 1787 ; Patience, October 20, 1789; Mary, November 21, 1791 ; Samuel, April 6, 1794 ; Wasson,

July 8, 1796, and Isaac, October 7, 1798. The father of this family was born November 15, 1751, and his wife on November 8, 1757. In religious belief the family were Friends.

Wasson Tripp, the grandfather of our sub- ject, was born on the old homestead, where he was reared, and which he continued to culti- vate after reaching man's estate. In 1818 he was united in marriage with Sally Buckbee, by whom he had two children : Edward B., who was born October 7, 1819, and followed farm- ing as a means of livelihood, and Malvina, who was born August 17, 1821, and became the wife of Henry C. Haight, also an agriculturist. Both are now deceased. For his second wife Wasson Tripp chose Hannah Tompkins, and their wedding was celebrated May 18, 1825. Seven children blessed their union, namely : Howard, born June 26, 1826, became a mer- chant and, later, station agent at Millbrook ; Charles, born July 27, 1828, was for a time a merchant in New York City, but now makes his home in Poughkeepsie, N. Y .; Sarah, born August 8, 1830, married Edwin Curtis, a mer- chant, but both have passed away ; Daniel, born October 28, 1833, is the father of our subject ; Maria, born May 7, 1836, is the wife of William Rust, a contractor of Poughkeepsie; George, born February 23, 1839, is a cigar merchant of Poughkeepsie, and Mary E., born January 3, 1842.

After reaching manhood, Daniel Tripp was married to Miss Mary E. Seeley, a native of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, and a daughter of William Seeley, who in early life followed farming, but his later years were passed in retirement at Poughkeepsie. After their marriage they located upon the old fam- ily homestead, where they reared their family of nine children: Wasson, who died in March, 1865; William S., of this review; E. Bennett, who makes his home in Poughkeepsie; Hiram, a resident of Millbrook; Gertrude, wife of Clark Barmore; Edward and Daniel, who live in Moores Mill; Kate, wife of Frank Taylor, of the same place; and Elizabeth, at home. The father still carries on farming at Moores Mill, and in politics is an ardent Democrat, by which party he has been elected to several positions of honor and trust.

The boyhood days of William S. Tripp were spent upon the home farm until sixteen years of age, when he started out to fight life's battle, being employed as a farm hand until he was twenty-two. He then came to Mill-

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brook, and for a year and a half worked at the butchering business for Hiram Warner. He has since made that business his life work, and has met with a fair degree of success, estab- lishing his present shop in September, 1881. He is numbered among the prominent busi- ness men of Millbrook, and stands high in the estimation of his fellow citizens.

On January 18, 1882, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Tripp and Esther M. Smith, and one daughter was born to them-Esther; but the mother was called from this life April 18, 1884. For his second wife our subject wedded Frances La Due, a native of the town of Pleasant Valley, and a daughter of Alex- ander La Due, who is of French descent and a farmer by occupation. The lady is a con- sistent and faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, while in political sentiment Mr. Tripp is a Democrat.

M RS. ANN A. HAYES. It is not alone by eloquence of speech and force of argu- ment that the modern advancement in the status of women-which means the advance- ment of the human race-has been brought about. The changes in public sentiment which have made it possible for the women of to-day to extend their activities to every line of effort have found their most potent justifi- cation and cause in the lives of thousands who have quietly taken their places in public life, and proved the wisdom of their course by an unmistakable success. The subject of this sketch, a descendant of two of the oldest and most highly esteemed families in the county, has spent more than forty years in the service of the government as assistant postmaster at Quaker Hill, Dutchess county; a fact which in itself speaks volumes for her ability, energy and independence of character, for in the be- ginning of this long term the employment of women in such positions was by no means common. It is well for the present aspirants to official places that the pioneers labored so successfully as to disarm the objections of the most conservative.

Mrs. Ann Akin Hayes was born at Quaker Hill, where her grandfather, John Toffey, set- tled prior to the Revolutionary war. He was a native of England, born June -, 1748, and in early years was a hatter by trade, but later a farmer, his estate at Quaker Hill being the same that is now occupied by Mrs. Hayes.

He was married January 1, 1776, to Abigail Akin, daughter of John Akin, of the well- known Quaker family, whose various members have held conspicuous posts of honor and use- fulness. Mrs. Toffey was a member of the So- ciety of Friends, to which her husband in- clined. He was a man of strong character, and was prominent in the locality. His death occurred in 1825 ; that of his wife in 1829. when she was in her eighty-first year. They have five sons, who in manhood had not a pound of difference in their weight. Their names and dates of birth are as follows: Hewlett, De- cember 5, 1776, who married Miss Scofield, and settled in Canada; Akin, June 28, 1781, who lived at Quaker Hill: George, June 15, 1783, a resident of the town of Beekman; John, January 21, 1786, Mrs. Hayes' father; and Daniel, May 1, 1788, who settled at Quaker Hill.

John Toffey inherited the homestead, and for many years carried on a general mercantile business in a store adjoining his farm, erecting a new building in 1823. He was a thrifty man, successful both as a farmer and as a merchant, and was also prominent in local politics, hold- ing the office of postmaster for many years. His honesty and generosity were noticeable traits, and he was highly respected by the peo- ple of his locality. Although he was a Friend in principle, he never united with the Society. He was married September 18, 1814, to Es- ther H. Akin, daughter of James Akin, of Quaker Hill, and had three children. Polly. born April 4, 1815, married DeWitt C. Thomas, and settled near Delhi, Delaware county, N. Y .; John James, born March 3, 1819, died January 12, 1838; Ann Akin, our subject, was born March 12, 1821. The father died March 15, 1867, in his eighty-second year; his wife passed away July 12, 1879, in her eighth-third year. In 1847 the subject of our sketch was united in matrimony with John P. Hayes, who took charge of the store and continued the business successfully for many years. They have no children.

M ATTHEW V. B. SCHRYVER, a lead- ing citizen of Rhinebeck, Dutchess coun- ty, and president of the board of trustees of that village, is a member of one of the oldest" and most influential families of that locality.

John T. Schryver, his grandfather, was born about 1788, in Dutchess county, and was one

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of the principal workers in securing the incor- poration of the village, and was the first to hold the office of president, which his grand- son now fills so ably. John T. Schryver, who was of German descent, married Miss Helen Conklin, a native of Fishkill, Dutchess county, born about 1780, and a descendant of a well- known Holland-Dutch family. Their son, George W. Schryver, our subject's father, was born in Rhinebeck, in 1810, and spent the greater portion of his life there. His wife, Maria E. Fellows, was born in 1819. They had six children, of whom two died in infancy. Matthew was the youngest of the four who lived to maturity, the others being : Helen, Mrs. E. Marshall Pavey, of New York (de- ceased ); Kate, Mrs. Edward D. Cowman, of New York (deceased ); and Georgia, now Mrs. D'Linton W. Greenfield, of Rome, New York.

Matthew V. B. Schryver began his mortal career Jannary 12, 1859, in Rhinebeck. He was carefully educated, and completed his lit- erary studies at De Garmo Institute, gradu- ating in 1875. He prepared for the legal pro- fession, receiving the degree of LL. B. in 1880, from the law departinent of Columbia College, and was admitted to the bar immedi- ately after graduation. He began to practice in New York City, and after two years went to Stevens Point, Wis., where he spent one year in professional work. In comparison with other places the old home acquired new attractions, and he returned to Rhinebeck, where he is now engaged in insurance business in connection with certain lines of legal work. For nine years past he has served as justice of the peace - his logical, well-trained mind making him a most valuable official. He is identified with the progressive movements of the locality and is especially prominent in municipal affairs, as is attested by his successful administration of his office as president.

B UFUS S. CRAIG, engineer and engine dispatcher on the Harlem railroad, with residence at Dover Plains, Dutchess county, is descended from a worthy Scotch family. Alex- ander Craig, his grandfather, was born in Scotland, and, having joined the British army as a commissioned officer, came to the United States with Gen. Burgoyne, at the age of nineteen years, being with that commander at the time of his surrender to Gen. Gates. He served as lieutenant, and participated in seven

battles in this country. He wedded Miss Mary Newton, of Groton, Mass .. and to them were born eight children: Thomas, who married Sarah Allard; Carrie and George, who were also married; Silas, the father of our subject; Aaron, who married Olive Allen; Rebecca, married to Devilla Lawrence; Mary, who mar- ried Chester Cooley; and Elizabeth, married to Isaiah Lawrence.

Silas Craig was born at Westfield. Mass., August 29, 1792, and was educated in the common schools. By occupation he was a farmer, and in politics was an unswerving Republican, but cared nothing for public office. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary Wood, a daughter of Hezekiah and Mary (Savage) Wood, farming people of Vermont, in whose family were eight children: Joel; Peter, who married Laura Hitchcock; Thomas, who married Mary Cooley; John, married to Betsey Clark; Betsey, who married Dudley Hayes; Mary, the mother of our subject; Har- riet, who married William Clark; and Levina, who married John Livingston. Eight children were born to the parents of our subject, as follows:

(1) Obediah, born at Highgate, Franklin county, Vt., in 1824, worked at the carpenter's trade and at bridge building there throughout life. He married Miss Arvilla Fuller, daughter of Rodney Fuller, a farmer, and they had two children-Frank and Flora. Of these, Frank was born at Dorchester, Mass., in 1858, and was educated in the schools of Lowell, that State. He entered the railroad service with the Vermont Central at Lowell, and from there went to Santa Fé, N. M., being an engineer on the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé rail- road, on which road he was killed in 1894. He was a charter member of Fort Madison Lodge of the Masonic fraternity, and served as master of a lodge in lowa. In that State he also held membership with the Order of Red Men, and was grand high sagamore. He was one of the leading railroad men of the West, and served as chief engineer of the Brother- hood of Locomotive Engineers. He married and had two children - Ida, who died at the age of nine years ; and Frank B. Flora, the daughter of Obediah Craig, was also born at Dorchester, Mass., and married Charles Shearer, a railroad employee, formerly of New Hampshire, and they have three children.

(2) Eunice, a sister of our subject, was born at Highgate, Vt., and married Josiah

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Clark, a farmer of that State. They have no children living.

(3) Richard Baxter, also a native of the Green Mountain State, was there educated and followed farming and milling. He mar- ried Miss Agnes Daniels, daughter of Joseph and Agnes Daniels, in whose family were five children: Ezra, Margaret, Ira, Agnes and Joseph. Richard Baxter Craig and his wife had three children: Sewell, born in 1862; and Darwin and Baxter (twins), born in 1868.

(4) Abraham was born in Vermont, and there engaged in farming. He married Miss Laura Allen, and had five children: Rufus S., Joshua C., Emma, Annie and Ellen.

(5) Rufus S., the subject of this sketch, is next in order of birth. (6) Harlo, a native of Vermont, who is engaged in farming in Canada, married Miss Marion Davis, and has two chil- dren: Warren and Ida. (7) Myron enlisted in the Second Vermont Cavalry, becoming a member of Company M, during the Civil war; was also in the navy for three years, and now draws a pension for both ariny and navy serv- ice. He was also married. (S) Flora married John Whiting, an agriculturist, of Highgate, Vt., and they have four children.

Rufus S. Craig, the subject proper of this sketch, was born at Highgate, Franklin Co., Vt., January 10, 1834, and there secured his educa- tion. At the age of sixteen years he started out in life for himsell, going to Michigan, where for one year he was fireman on the Michigan Southern railroad. He then went to Lake Erie, as assistant engineer on the old "United States," where he remained for two years. At Boston, Mass., he next secured a position on the Boston & Providence railroad, being with that road for two years as fireman and engineer. On March 6, 1865, he came to Dover, Dutchess county, and has since been with the Harlem railroad as engineer and engine dispatcher. His long continued service well indicates his faithful discharge of duty, and he is held in the highest esteem by all who know him. On June 13, 1866, he joined King David Lodge, F. & A. M., of Taunton, Mass., whose charter dates back to 1798, being one of the oldest lodges in the country, and assisted in the establishment of Dover Plains Lodge No. 666. He is also a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 79

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