Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 80

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

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Mr. Craig was united in marriage with Miss Harriet M. Thornton, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Thornton. 28

Her father, who was a

native of Nantucket, Mass., was a mason by trade, but became a prosperous farmer of Ded- ham, that State. She was the third in order of birth in a family of five children, the others being Susan, who married James Kinney ; Louisa, who married John Johnson ; Mary J., who married George Varney; and Mrs. Lu- cretia Taylor. Mr. Craig has been called upon to mourn the loss of his faithful wife, who died July 16, 1886, and was laid to rest in Brook- vale cemetery, Dedham, Massachusetts.

Sewell Craig, a nephew of our subject, was born in Franklin county, Vt., in 1862, and is the son of Richard Baxter and Agnes ( Daniels ) Craig. After finishing his education in the public schools of that State, he became con- nected with a brass foundry, but later entered the employ of the Harlem railroad in the round house. He was promoted to engineer on that road, a position he now fills, and is one of their most trusted and careful men, as his long serv- ice of fifteen years indicates. He holds mem- bership with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and also with Dover Plains Lodge No. 666, F. & A. M., while politically he is a Republican.

In 1886 Sewell Craig was married to Miss Alice Dennis, who was born in England, and in 1881 came to the United States. They have two children : Richard B., born August 25, 1887; and Cora E., born October 11, 1888. Thomas Dennis, the grandfather of Mrs. Craig, was born, reared and educated in England, where he also learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed throughout his life. He married Miss Emma Godfrey, and they always made their home in England. Their only child was Benjamin ( the father of Mrs. Craig ), also a carpenter by trade ; he married Miss Sarah E. Dennis, a distant relative, and they had two daughters : Alice ( Mrs. Craig ) and Maude, who was also born and educated in England. She married a Mr. Beardwell, of that country, where they still reside, and have one child, Charlotte Rose.

N OAH L. BISHOP, a worthy citizen of Wassaic, Dutchess county, was there born June 20, 1848, his father, George Bishop, being depot agent, and a local preacher of the Methodist Episcopal Church at that time. George Bishop was twice married, having by the first union two daughters and three sons, namely: Jennie, wife of Francis Chapman,

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deceased. of Pawling. Dutchess county: Mary A., wife of Joseph S. Hobbs. of Centralia. Ill. : Seneca Smith, who was a sailor and is sup- posed to have died at sea: George W .. a me- chanic, who died and was buried at sea while on his way to Japan. where he was going to superintend the erection of some buildings he left a wife and four children at New Haven. Conn. ; and Charles Wesley, formerly a busi- ness man in New York City, who died in the army. After the death of his first wife George Bishop wedded Miss Louisa Butts, and to them were born three children: William G., now deceased: Catherine M., wife of Edward Brown: and Noah Lent.

The education of our subject was such as the district schools near his home afforded; but at the early age of ten years he laid aside his text books and began work for Gail Borden as an errand boy in the condensed milk factory. where he has since remained, serving as super- intendent since ISto. His promotion was gradual: after serving as errand boy for a time he worked at filling cans by hand in the fore- noon, putting up all the milk there made: next heated up the milk in the wells as received. and was then engaged in sealing the milk. In the tin shop he was next employed at general work: later fired the boilers. then became operator at the vacuum pans, and subsequently served as milk inspector until appointed to his present responsible position in I870. His long-continued service well indicates his faith- ful discharge of duty, the confidence and trust reposed in him. and the capable and efficient manner in which he conducts the business.

At Wassaic Mr. Bishop was married to Miss Jennie A. Jones, daughter of Jarvis Jones, and they now have two children: Lena M .. wife of Dr. F. Bruce, of Brooklyn. N. Y. : and Cora J. Mr. Bishop takes quite an active interest in civic societies, being a member of Amenia Lodge No. 6;2, F. & A. M., and the Royal Arcanum at Wassaic, while politically he uses his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the Republican party.

G EORGE T. WILLSON, senior member of the well-known firm of Willson & Eaton. wholesale grain dealers of Amenia. Dutchess county, belongs to that class of reliable and trustworthy citizens to whom may be attrib- uted the stable welfare and prosperity of a community. A native of Dutchess county, he

was born February 3. 1837, in the town of Northeast. His paternal great-grandfather. Robert Willson, a native of Scotland, was one of the early settlers of that town, securing his land from the Indians.

The grandfather, who also bore the name of Robert Willson, was born, reared and edu- cated in the town of Northeast. and on reach- ing manhood there followed farming. He was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary war. and was a Presbyterian in religious belief. serv- ing as deacon in his Church. He married Miss Sarah Thompson, and to them were born nine children, namely: John. Hiram, Theron, Sam- vel, Edmund, Henry, Barak. Sarah and Re- becca.

Theron Willson, the father of our subject. was also born in the town of Northeast, and spent his boyhood days upon the home farm. By occupation he was also a farmer, and was a strong temperance man. He married Miss Eliza Collins, daughter of Capt. James Collins. of Northeast. and they became the parents of five children: Collins, who lives at Pine Plains. Dutchess county: Eli, of Northeast: Sarah. wife of Joseph Belding. of Amenia: George T., of this review: and Lydia, wife of Samuel Guernsey, of Northeast. The mother was called to her final rest in 18;6. and the father died in January. 1862.

George T. Willson was reared on the home farm. and acquired his education in the dis- trict schools. On the breaking out of the Civil war, he joined his country's service, en- listing in Company A. 150th N. Y. V. I .: this regiment was assigned to the Eastern army until after the battle of Gettysburg, when it was transferred to Gen. Sherman's command. Our subject continued with his regiment all through the war without receiving a furlough. At the battle of Gettysburg he was wounded in the head. and taken up for dead: on ascer- taining that life was not extinct. he was taken to the hospital. and a few days later was able to rejoin his command, with which he served until mustered out at Poughkeepsie. He par- ticipated also in the battles of Nashville, Chat- tanooga. Resaca, and in the Atlanta campaign.

Returning to the town of Northeast, he re- sumed work upon the home farm, where he remained for three years. and then removed to the village of Amenia to engage in the horse and cattle trade. In March, 18;8. he assumed control of the feed and grain business hereto- fore run by B. Willson & Co .. taking as his

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

partner Lewis F. Eaton, and the firm has since been Willson & Eaton. They were the first to sell hominy chop in the locality, and they are now at the head of an extensive and con- stantly increasing business, their wholesale trade extending throughout several counties in New York, while they carry on a retail trade at Amenia, Wassaic and Shekomeko.

In the town of Amenia, in May, 1876, Mr. Willson was married to Mrs. Emma (Darke) Reed, daughter of Charles Darke, and they now have four children: Charles T., Bessie, Georgia and Lee. Mr. Willson is public-spir- ited and progressive, and faithfully discharges every duty of citizenship with the same fidelity that he displayed on Southern battlefields, when he followed the stars and stripes to vic- tory, and thus aided in the perpetuation of our glorious republic. In political sentiment he is a Republican.

J OHN J. HUMESTON, who is practically living retired in the town of Washington, Dutchess county, is one of the most promi- nent citizens of the community. He was born in that town on July 5, 1835, and is a son of James E. Humeston, whose birth occurred in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, Decem- ber 1, 1795, while his grandfather, Eli Humes- ton, and his great-grandfather, Joyton Humes- ton, were both natives of East Haven, Conn. After his marriage, the grandfather, who was a wagon-maker, removed to the town of Dover, where he reared his family of five children, of which the father of our subject was the eldest. He was followed by Hannah, who married Joseph Palmer, a farmer of Dover; Edwin and Joseph, both wagon-makers of Dover; and Hariett, wife of George Bassett, a railroad man of Chicago, Ill. The family belonged to the Society of Friends.

James E. Humeston grew to manhood in the town of Dover, where he learned the wagon-maker's trade, and there married Eliz- abeth Perry, by whom he had two children: Thomas P. (deceased July 22, 1885); and Catherine E. (deceased October 19, 1895), who became the wife of George T. Underhill, a farmer of the town of Washington. Mrs. Humeston died June 12, 1831, and for his sec- ond wife Mr. Humeston wedded Lydia V. Un- derhill, the ceremony taking place February 5, 1832. She was born in the town of Washing- ton, September 24, 1804, and was a daughter

of Nathaniel Underhill, a native of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, and of English descent. After his marriage Mr. Humeston located upon a small farm near Hibernia Mills, where our subject, the only child by the second union, was born. In politics, the father was a Whig and for several years served as justice of the peace. His death occurred in the town of Washington, July 31, 1872, and his wife departed this life October 4, 1881.

The earliest years of John J. Humeston were spent near Hibernia in the uneventful manner of most farmer boys, and in early life he learned the carpenter's trade. On February 20, 1861, Mr. Humeston was married to Miss Lydia A. Deuel, a native of the town of Dover and a daughter of Jacob and Charity (Gould) Deuel, the former of whom was born January 21, 1797, on the same farm where his daugh- ter's birth occurred, and the latter May 24, 1804, in Ballston, Saratoga Co., N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Deuel were farming people, and the parents of eight children, namely: Anna M., who died November 10, 1876; Lydia A., hon- ored wife of our subject; Phoebe G., who wedded Jonathan Benham, a farmer living near Lithgow, Dutchess county; Mary G. (twin sister of Phœbe), who died May 11, 1856; Elias H., a farmer and landlord at South Dover, Dutchess Co .; Myra J., who died March 10, 1854: Emily H., wife of E. W. Benson, a farmer of South Dover; and Obed J., also a farmer of that locality, who married Charlotte Horton, has always remained on the home- stead. The father, who supported the Democ- racy, was elected road commissioner and town assessor, and in religious belief both he and his wife were Quakers. He was called to his final rest October 27, 1879, and his wife died June 2, 1895. He was a son of Joshua Deuel (a farmer of the town of Dover), whose father and grandfather both bore the name of Benja- min. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. Humeston was Joel Gould (a son of Adam Gould), who was born in the town of Washing- ton, where on reaching manhood he engaged in farming.

After his marriage, Mr. Humeston took his bride to Amenia, Dutchess county, where he followed his trade for two years, and then went to Dover, where he engaged in the same occupation for some thirteen years, after which he came to the town of Washington. For the past three years he has resided upon his pres- ent farm, where to a limited extent he engaged

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in agricultural pursuits, but is practically liv- ing retired. He has a beautiful home, and is surrounded by all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. In the family are two children-Mary C. and Phebe A .- and they hold a high position in the social circles of the community, where true worth and ability are received as the passports into good society. In politics. Mr. Humeston is entirely inde- pendent of party lines, preferring to vote for the man who. he thinks, will best fll the position.

A RTHUR V. ROCKWELL, "silk throw- ster" of one of the leading manufactories of Matteawan, was born February 14, 1$66, at Millbrook. Dutchess county, the only son of the late Ralph Rockwell and his first wife, Elizabeth Broadhurst.

It seems quite in the natural order of things that Mr. Rockwell should be engaged in the silk business, his father having been prominent in that line of work, while his ancestors on the mother's side were even more closely identi- fied with that industry. being among its earli- est promcters in this country. John Broad- hurst, Mrs. Rockwell's father, wove the first piece of broad silk goods ever made in Amer- ica, and her brothers were masters of every detail of the art of silk manufacturing as it was carried on in their day, having perfected their knowledge in the great silk mills of Mac- clesfield. England. But, if these pioneers should to-day visit the extensive warp spinning works at Matteawan, they would find much to interest them while examining its highly im- proved machinery so delicately adjusted that the breaking of a single fibre of silk stops the "take up." Formerly both warp and filling were spun at this establishment, but now its 16,000 spindles are devoted exclusively to the making of warp, and turn out about 33.600, - 000 yards per day.

our subject took charge of his interests in Poughkeepsie. In 1892 he also moved to Matteawan, took Mr. Cummings' interest in the firm. and has since remained there, carry- ing on the business for the estate since his fa- ther's death, December 27, 1894. He mar- ried Miss Susie Van Dyne, daughter of Will- iam H. and Anna C. Brevoort Van Dyne, of Poughkeepsie. They are members of the First M. E. Church of Matteawan, and are promi- nent in social life. Mr. Rockwell is a Repub- lican in politics, and he belongs to the Mattea- wan Club, the Hudson River Lodge No. 57, K. of P., and is president of the Beacon En- gine Co., of Matteawan.

The late Ralph Rockwell was born Septem- ber 27, 1837. in the town of South Windsor, Conn., and at an early age engaged in the woolen business at South Manchester, Conn., remaining three years. He then began his long experience as a silk manufacturer, enter- ing the factory of Cheney Bros., well-known pioneers in this business, where he spent seven years learning the trade in all its branches. On leaving them he went to Yonkers as super- intendent of G. B. Skinner's mills, and after six years there he moved to Paterson. N. J .. the .. Lyons of America, " and, with William S. Archer as a partner, purchased the factory known as the Benson Mills, now one of the old landmarks of this business. He sold his interest in this plant in the following year, and for some time occupied the famous old ·· Red Mill " at Poughkeepsie: but the failure of the water power there led to his removal to Hart's Village, in 1860, where he took the factory owned by Abraham Swift at the Upper Pond. The death of his first wife occurred Feb. 19, 1866, and shortly afterward Mr. Rockwell re- turned to Yonkers and embarked in business there, remaining about six years. While there he married Miss Clara J. Du Bois, who sur- vives him. On leaving Yonkers he resumed business at Paterson, and after four years re- turned to New York City. and established for J. Silbermann a factory for " silk throwing" on Tenth avenue, which was transferred to Poughkeepsie four years later. The partner- ship with Mr. Cummings, referred to above, was succeeded by the firm of Rockwell & Son, which continued until the death of the senior member: but for some years previous the active management of the works devolved upon our subject. his father retiring to an estate at Mill-

Arthur V. Rockwell, the presiding genius of this busy place, a courteous yet business- like young man, was educated at Poughkeep- sie, grad iating from the high school in 1884, and from the Eastman Business College a year later. He then engaged in the silk-throwing business with his father, who was a partner in the firm of J. Silbermann & Co., at Pough- keepsie, and in isgo. when the father moved to Matteawan and established the present plant, in partnership with J-hn Cummings, . brook, where he died of heart disease Thurs-

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day afternoon, December 27, 1894, at the age of fifty-seven years.

Though not lacking in public spirit, Mr. Rockwell never sought public office, and was best pleased when he could remain quietly at home. His business associates speak highly of his fairness and liberality, and say that he took more pleasure in paying them than in collecting debts. His circle of acquaintances in this vicinity was not large, but those who knew him best speak most highly of his excel- lent qualities of head and heart. As a friend, neighbor and citizen, his death was deeply mourned, He was a Master Mason, a charter member of Manchester Lodge, at South Man- chester, Conn., and was one of the oldest members of the fraternity in the State of Con- necticut. His remains now rest in the ceme- tery at Wapping. Conn., his birthplace.

Russell Rockwell, our subject's grandfather, was a prominent resident of Windsor, Conn., the owner of a sawmill, and a pioneer in the cultivation of tobacco in that section. At one time he had the option of purchasing, for $300, the entire site of the present village of Rock- ville, Conn., including the remarkable water power at that point, a property now worth millions of dollars.

W ILLIAM K. ROY, the popular post- master of Wappingers Falls, Dutchess county, and one of the most prominent citi- zens of that village, was born there December 31, 1853.

James Roy, the father of our subject, was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1816, learned the business of calico printing, and became fore- man of his father's works, when only a boy. When eighteen years old he came to America, and for a short time lived at Stockport, N. Y., being foreman engraver in the print works at that place. In 1837, he removed to Wap- pingers Falls, and took a position in the print works there, retaining same for nearly ten years. In 1848 he opened a drug store, which he carried on until his death, which occurred in 1868. James Roy was married May 25, 1843, to Susanna Darling, who was born at Cumberland Hill, Mendon, Mass., in 1818. She was the daughter of Seth Darling, a native of Cumberland, Mass., and Susanna Clark, who was also born in Massachusetts, on both sides the families were of English descent.

The Clarks came to America at a very early period and settled in Rhode Island, where our subject's mother spent a part of her childhood on the old homestead. When she was eight years old her parents removed to Fall River, Mass., where she grew to womanhood.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Roy came to Dutchess county, and settled at Wap- pingers Falls, where they reared a family of eight children, of these, James S. married Car- rie A. Orr, and has two children; Emma Dar- ling married Edward Griffith, of Newport, R. I .; William K., the subject of thissketch ; Albert M., who is in the drug business with his brother in Wappingers Falls (he graduated with honors in the class of 1885 from the College of Pharmacy, New York City, taking two prizes); Elizabeth Clark married George H. Kelley, of Newport, R. I., a descendant of one of the old and lead- ing families of that State. Three other chil- dren died in infancy. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Roy has conducted the drug business in which he was engaged, and has made a great success of it. She is thoroughly conversant with all its details, and so high does she stand in the estimation of medical men, that when the State Board of Pharmacy was organized, she was sent a certificate authoriz- ing her to practice pharmacy without taking an examination. She is one of the best known business woman in Dutchess county, and pos- sesses unusual ability in that direction, besides being a lady of refinement and culture.

Mr. Roy took an active part in all matters of public interest, especially in the cause of edu- cation. He was instrumental in building up the present excellent school system in the county, and was one of the principal promoters in the establishment of the high school; he was one of the small number who secured the ground and laid out the beautiful cemetery at Wap- pingers Falls, and was the secretary and treas- urer of the association up to the time of his death. In politics he was a Democrat, and in all the relations of life proved himself a most loyal and honorable man, whose influence will be felt many years to come.

William K. Roy was graduated from the Union Free School No. 1, Wappingers Falls, Dutchess county, in 1870, and in 1872 entered Cornell University, taking two courses, those of civil engineering and chemistry, and was graduated with high honors in the class of '76. During the Centennial at Philadelphia, in 1876, he was in charge of some of the chemical ex-

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hibits. Of late years he has been connected with his brothers in the drug business. Mr. Roy is a Democrat in his political belief, and has held a number of responsible offices. He was town clerk for two terms in the town of Poughkeepsie: was supervisor for one term in 1887; was clerk of the village board two years; and was made postmaster at Wappingers Falls in May, 1887. This position he held until July, 1892, when he resigned to become Index Clerk of the State Assembly at Albany, serv- ing in that capacity for two years. On Janu- ary 30, 1896, he was again appointed post- master, and is now filling that office to the satisfaction of the public and with honor to himself; he has made many improvements in the arrangements and handling of the mails.

Mr. Roy has always taken much interest in everything pertaining to the growth and welfare of his community. He was one of those instrumental in building the bridge across the river at Wappingers Falls; was influential in getting the electric road built, and is a di- rector in the company. He is also secretary of the board of park commissioners, and was a prominent factor in having the park legally located in the village. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the Democratic County Committee, and for ten years was one of the executive board, at present its secretary. He is one of the directors and a member of the executive committee of the Wappingers Falls Savings Bank, and is trustee and secre- tary of the board of the Grinnell Library in that village. No man is more closely identi- fied with the best interests of the place, and none is held in higher esteem than Mr. Roy.

James S. Roy, the eldest brother of our subject, has efficiently managed the drug busi- ness since the death of his father, in 1867, and has been prominent in the public affairs of Wappingers Falls. He was secretary of the board of health, and chairman of the board of highway commissioners. Mr. Roy, after serv- ing several terms as village trustee, was elected president of the village, and is now serving his seventh consecutive tern as village president. The good roads of the town are a monument to his zeal in this direction; the purchase and embellishment of the beautiful village park was mainly effected through his efforts; he has also been treasurer of the village: is a trustee and first vice-president of the Wappingers Falls Savings Bank, and a member of its funding committee, and has held other minor offices.

These sons of a worthy father have followed in his footsteps, and none are more deserving of a place in this record of the county.

W ILLARD W. HICKS. On the 11th

of November, 1621, the ship " For- tune " arrived at Plymouth, Mass., from Lon-

don. She followed the " Mayflower, " bring- ing over the parts of families left behind by those who came in that famous vessel the year before. In the "Fortune" with this second body of Puritans came Robert Hicks, the an- cestor of the family in America. He was a leather-dresser from Bermondsey street, South- wark, London. His father, James Hicks, was lineally descended from Elias Hicks, who was knighted by Edward the Black Prince on the battlefield of Poictiers, September 9, 1356, for bravery in capturing a set of colors from the French.

Margaret, the wife of Robert Hicks, and her children, came over in the ship "Ann," which arrived at Plymouth during the latter part of June, 1622. This family settled in Duxbury, Mass .; but two of the sons, John and Stephen, subsequently (about 1642) came to Long Island. In October, 1645, Gov. Kieft granted a patent to Thomas Farrington, John Hicks and others for the township of Flushing, Long Island. John Hicks seems to have taken a leading part in the affairs of the settlement, and was appointed at various times to fill the most important offices. His name, also that of his son Thomas, appears in connection with almost every public measure for many years.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 80

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