Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 86

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

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Sebastian Brown was born at the old farm in 1795. He married Eliza Bard, a daughter of Anthony Bard, a prominent butcher of Rhinebeck. He was a native of Germany, and the name of the family was originally Barth. For some years after their marriage our subject's parents lived upon a farm in Hyde Park, but in 1844 they returned to the old homestead, where they spent their remain- ing years. They had eight children: Peter, a painter in Rhinebeck; Helen (deceased), formerly the wife of Harry Wheeler, a carpen- ter; Emily, who married Levi Baker, a mer- chant; Eliza (deceased); Lewis, a carpenter (now deceased); Edwin, our subject; John C., a resident of Rhinebeck; and Henry H., who lives in Philadelphia. The mother of our sub- ject died September 1, 1850, the father on Oc- tober 21, 1883. He had been a Whig in his younger days, later becoming an adherent of the Republican party, and still later voting the Prohibition ticket.

The subject of this sketch was born De- cember 21, 1833, in the town of Hyde Park, and he was eleven years old when his parents moved to the homestead, where he has since resided. He was married, July 7, 1863, to Miss Geraldine F. Pultz, a daughter of the late Philip Pultz, a prosperous butcher of the town of Rhinebeck. They have had five chil- dren: Nettie married David L. Parliman; Emily is at home; Charles H. married Augusta Pless, and lives in New York; Robert B. is at home; and Mabel died in childhood. The early generations of his family adhered to the Reformed Dutch Church, but our subject and

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his wife are members of the Methodist Church. In every movement for the educational or social improvement of the community they take deep interest, and they are prominent supporters of the temperance canse, Mr. Brown giving his vote of late years to the Prohibi- tion party.

J OHN L. HAMMOND, an honored and worthy representative of one of the pioneer families of Dutchess county, is a true type of the energetic and progressive farmers of the present day. He is a native of the county, his birth having taken place in the town of Northeast, August 7. 1850, and he is a son of James Hammond, who was born in the town of Washington, January 31, 1810.

Benjamin Hammond, paternal grandfather of our subject, was of English lineage, and be- came a leading farmer of the town of Wash- ington. By his marriage with Anna Fitch, he had six children, namely: Cyrus, a farmer of Washington town; John, who also engaged in farming in that township, but died in Niagara county, N. Y .; Isaac, who was a harness maker of this locality, and died unmarried; James, the father of our subject; Andrew B., also an agriculturist of Washington town; and Lydia, wife of Nathaniel Lockwood, a farmer ol the same township.

After reaching man's estate James Ham- mond married Lucinda B. Washburn, a native of Erie county, N. Y., and a daughter of Sol- omon Washburn, who was of English descent, and a blacksmith by trade. They began their domestic life upon a farm in the town of Northeast, where they reared their four chil- dren, who in order of birth are as follows: Anna M. is the wife of Calvin Bryan, a farmer of the town of Northeast; Henry C. died un- married in 1872; James E. spent his life on Wall street, New York, and died in the town of Stanford, Dutchess county; and John L. is the subject of this review. Throughout his entire life the father carried on the occupation of farming, and was quite prominent in politic- al circles, being a leader in the Republican party in his community. In 1847-48 he was a member of the General Assembly of New York, and he held many minor offices, being sheriff of Dutchess county in 1859-60-61. Re- ligiously he was a member of the Friends Church, to which his widow also belongs. His death occurred in 1867.

Our subject received the benefits of a good common-school education, and was otherwise fitted for the battle of life. On attaining his majority he left the parental roof, going to Buffalo, N. Y., where for two years he was employed by R. L. Howard in the Howard Iron Works; in 1872, however, he returned to the farm in the town of Northeast, where he remained until 1883, when he removed to his present farm. It comprises 170 acres of rich and arable land, and besides general farming he is also extensively engaged in the dairy business, which proves to him a profitable source of income.

Mr. Hammond was married, in 1877, to Miss Josephine M. Bertine, who was born in New York City, a daughter of Robert and Mary Bertine. The family is of French origin. Two sons have been born of this union: James E. and Robert B. Mr. and Mrs. Hammond are members in good standing of the Reformed Church, and number their friends by the score in that locality. He uniformly votes the Re- publican ticket, and has materially assisted in the progress and development of the country around him.

C HARLES J. VAN WYCK, a leading under- taker of the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, is a worthy representative of a family that has long been identified with the inter- ests of the county. He is descended from Cornelius Van Wyck, who was born and edu- cated in the town of Beekman, and when the Revolution broke out he entered the Continen- tal army and was made captain of his com- pany. At the time of his enlistment, in 1776, he was living at Green Haven, Dutchess county. He proved a brave and fearless officer, and was killed at the battle of White Plains. As an occupation he followed farm- ing and milling throughout life. In his family were two children: Theodorus, the great- grandfather of our subject; and Sarah, who married William Doughty.

Theodorus Van Wyck was also a native of the town of Beekman, in early life followed farming, but later turned his attention to hotel keeping and milling. He married Miss Clarissa Vanderburgh, daughter of George and (Clarke) Vanderburgh, of the town of Beekman, and to them were born eight children: Robert, the grandfather of our subject; James, who married Ann Cline; Cornelius; George, who

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married Jane A. Scriber; Gilbert, who married Rebecca White; Almira, who became the wife of G. Washington Waite; Caroline, who wedded Robert Miller; and Clarissa, who mar- ried William Miller.

Robert Van Wyck was born in the town of Beekman in 1800, was there educated and learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked until 1828, when he took up the occupation of farming. He became a Re- publican in politics, and was called upon to fill some minor offices in his locality. He married Miss Caroline Van Sicklin, daughter of Court and Sarah (Van Wyck) Van Sicklin, and they became the parents of seven children: John S., the father of our subject; Sarah A., who married Joseph Vincent; William, who married Catharine Lawrence; Mary, who first married Gilbert J. Vincent, and after his death wedded Benjamin Shelley; Caroline, who mar- ried Charles White; Clarissa, who married Oliver Lawrence; and Phœbe, who married John L. Wright.

The birth of John S. Van Wyck took place on Pearl street, in New York City, in 1827, but he was educated in Dutchess county, and on starting out in life he engaged in the butch- ering business. Later he has been employed at milling, hotel keeping and farming. He has taken a prominent part in public affairs, always supporting the Republican party by his ballot, and has efficiently served as supervisor, town clerk, assessor, poor master, and in many other town offices, but is now living retired. Socially, he is connected with the Hopewell Lodge No. 596, F. & A. M. In 1848 he mar- ried Miss Mary E. Brill, daughter of Cornell Brill, and to them were born three children: Cornell B. married Lottie Morris, and had six children-Sarah, Eddie, Georgiana, Edith, Herbert and Ida; Sarah A. married James Adriance, and has two children-Frank and Elizabeth; and Frank Van Wyck died when young. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Van Wyck wedded Miss Mary A. Duncan, daughter of Jacob and Sarah (Gardner) Dun- can, and five children graced their union: Carrie, who died in childhood; DeWitt C., who married Alice Vincent, and has two chil- dren-Ida and Annie M .; Charles J., subject of this review; John G .; and Ida, now the wife of William A. Ross, by whom she has two children-Viola and Inez.

the schools of Beekman, and at Poughkeepsie. He began his business career as a farmer, later was for three years in the employ of Mr. Os- trander, an undertaker of Poughkeepsie, and since that time has engaged in the undertaking business on his own account in the town of Uniondale. He is a popular and highly re- spected citizen, one who easily makes friends, and has the happy faculty of retaining them. He married Miss Lillie E. Knapp, daughter of George J. Knapp, a farmer and miller of the town of Beekman, and to them has been born a son, Charles G.

John Knapp, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Van Wyck, was a native of England, where he was reared and educated, and on coming to the United States located in Putnam county, N. Y., there carrying on the occupation of farm- ing. By his marriage with Nancy Shaw he had eight children: John, Isaac, Israel, Michael, William, Enoch, Lizzie and Denia.

William Knapp, the grandfather, was born in Putnam county, and there followed farming throughout life. He married Statia Jewell, and nine children were born to them, namely: Clarissa A., who married John R. Knapp; Phobe, who married a Mr. Belknapp; Han- nah, who married Charles Van Dine; William, who died in infancy; Nancy, who married Will- iam Ellis; George J., the father of Mrs. Van- Wyck; Catherine, who first married a Mr. Stricklin, and after his death wedded Henry Bush; Emma, who married Oscar Budd; and Robert D., who remained single.

In Putnam county, N. Y., George J. Knapp was born in 1842, and received his education at Cortlandville, N. Y. The princi- pal part of his life has been devoted to agricult- ural pursuits, but he is now engaged in mill- ing. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah E. Warner, and their only child is now Mrs. Lillie E. Van Wyck, who was born in 1869. The mother was born in New Milford, Conn., and the parents now make their home in the town of Beekman, Dutchess county.

Thomas Simpson, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Van Wyck, of the maternal side, was a native of Dutchess county, and in early life learned the shoemaker's trade, which he con- tinued to follow. He also was a Revolutionary soldier. He married Miss Sarah Whaley, and to them were born the following children: Isaac; Brunson, who married Clarissa Pendly; Peter; George, who married Catharine Sey-

Charles J. Van Wyck was born in the town of Beekman, and acquired a good education in | mour; William H., who married Mary Pattie;

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Neilson; John; Abel, who married Rachel Clarkson; Hannah; and Cornelia, who died in infancy. Of this family Hannah Simpson was born and educated in Dutchess county, and on reaching womanhood married Rozell Warner, a miller of Dutchess county, by whom she had six children-Harriet; Isaac S., who married Sarah Lee; John S. (deceased); Thomas S., who married Lillie Blithman; Armette A., who became the wife of Henry Canaday, and Sarah E., the mother of Mrs. Van Wyck.

M RS. RUHAMER W. PULVER BIRD, who is prominently identified with the best social circles of the town of Stanford, where she resides on a fine estate near Shekomeko, is a member of a family which has long been held in high esteem in this locality.

Her grandfather, William W. Pulver, a German by birth, was a leading agriculturist of his day in the town of Pine Plains, Pulver's Corners being named in his honor. He was married there to Christina Millais, by whom he had eleven children: John, William, Henry, Levi, Peter, Jacob, Catherine, Mary, Herman, Anthony and Esther. Henry Pulver, Mrs. Bird's father, was born January 13, 1806, and passed his early life at Pulver's Corners, where he attended the district schools, and later pur- sued more advanced studies under tutors at home. He was married June 7, 1829, to Jane Eliza Cook, a descendant of one of the old families of Amenia, born November 23, 1808, daughter of Lewis Cook, and granddaughter of Col. Cook, who once kept the "Pratt House" at that place. Six children were born of this union, whose names with dates of birth are as follows; Ruhamer W. (Mrs. Bird), February 28, 1830; Frances S., April 10, 1831, the wife of Orrin Wakeman, of Millerton; Mary J., De- cember 20, 1832, who married Myron H. Sherman, of Beekman, N. Y., and died No- vember 17, 1882; Henrietta P., March 26, 1834, the wife of L. L. Barton, of Coleman Station; E. Maria, November 28, 1839, who married Collins Sheldon, of Millerton, and Del- lie A., June 3, 1845, who died May 24, 1879. Soon after his marriage Mr. Pulver settled upon a farm at Livingston Manor, Columbia county, where he remained until 1839, when he came back to his native county and located permanently upon the homestead now occu- pied by Mrs. Bird, her present beautiful resi- dence being erected by him. He was promi-

nent in local affairs, and, although never an office-seeker, he took great interest in political questions, first as a Whig and then as a Re- publican, and he was a member of the M. E. Church at Bangall, the family, of the Presby- terian Church at Smithfield. His wife passed from earth August 21, 1880, and he survived her until July 19, 1894.

On February 17, 1858, the subject of our sketch was married to the late Virgil Bird, a member of an old New England family, whose interesting genealogical record is given below. He was born at Salisbury, Conn., May 31, 1815, but was educated at the Nine Partners Boarding School, in the town of Washington, Dutchess county. . He became a carpenter and joiner, and followed that trade until 1849, when he went to California and spent three years in mining. Returning to Dutchess coun- ty, he engaegd in the cattle business at Amenia; but after his marriage he moved to Binghamp- ton, where he resided until 1866. The follow- ing fifteen years were passed at Salisbury, Conn., and in 1881 he came back to this county, and spent his remaining days in the town of Stanford, where he died March 27, 1895. He was a man of many admirable qualities of character, and was held in the highest regard by all who knew him. In poli- tics he was a Democrat; but he made no effort to secure personal advancement in public life. Of the eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Bird, all but two survive: Cora C. married Myron E. Gillette, of Ansonia, Conn .; Henry P. married Daisy Wedge, of Naugetuck, Conn .; James E. married Grace Scott, of Danbury, Conn. ; Jen- nie P. is at home; Virgil B. lives at Ansonia, Conn .; Ruey W. died July 4, 1892, aged twenty-two years; Isaac B. is at home; and Salome T. died in infancy.

The subjoined sketch of the Bird family was written by Rev. Isaac Bird, in 1855, and was intended to show mainly the male de- scendants of the original ancestor of the American line, omitting, especially in the early generations, the names of the daughters and such of the sons as left no issue that has sur- vived to the present day. The records cover eleven generations, as follows: (I) -- Thomas Bird, first known at Hartford 1644, died about 1660, leaving legacies to two sons- Joseph and James Bird-and two daughters -Mrs. North and Mrs. Scott.

(11)-Joseph and James Bird are found among the first settlers and proprietors of

C irgie Bill

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Farmington, about 1660, and both, with their wives, were members of the Church. Joseph had eight children-five sons and three daugh- ters-and died in 1695. James married Lydia Steele, and died in 1708, leaving one son and six daughters, all married.

(III)-Joseph, son of Joseph, married Mary Steele, had three sons and two daughters, and died in 1729. Thomas, son of James, lived in that part of Farmington afterward called Northington (now Avon), of "Shady Side" memory. He united with the Church in 1691, married Mary Woodford, July 3, 1693, had three sons and five daughters, and died 1725.

(IV)-Samuel, son of Joseph, son of Joseph (2), married Eunice Wadsworth, February 13, 1730, had three sons and four daughters. John, Joseph and Jonathan, sons of Thomas, of Avon. The two former were among the first settlers and proprietors of Litchfield, and Joseph, of Salisbury, also-John was born 1695, married his second wife, Mary Atwood, June 20, 1728, by whom he had six sons and two daughters. He died about 1750. His wife lived till 1794, and died at Bethlehem, aged ninety-two. Joseph was born December 27, 1696, went to Litchfield in 1718 or 1719, married (1721) Dorcas Norton, daughter of John Norton, Jr., and of Ruth Moore, his wife (who was a daughter of Deacon Isaac Moore), all of Farmington; removed to Salis- bury, 1748, lost his wife, Dorcas, in 1750- 51, married widow Eldredge, 1752, by whom he had one daughter. He died 1754. He had seven sons and three daughters- Jonathan was born December 28, 1699, mar- ried Hannah Thomson 1732, had three sons and four daughters, died in Kensington, 1748, worth 1,600 pounds.

(V)-Joseph, son of Samuel, was born 1736, had three wives and many children. Sons of John, Joseph and Jonathan: (1) Of John-Seth, Ebenezer, Atwood and Jonathan. Seth was born January 4, 1733, married sec- ond wife, Hannah Sheldon, February 8, 1768, one surviving son; died 1805 at Litchfield, South Farms. He was a physician of consid- erable eminence. Ebenezer was born 1739, married about 1773, died Bethlehem 1789. Left four sons-Amos, David, Ebenezer and Daniel. Atwood, born about 1741, was mar- ried twice, died Verona, N. Y .- a man re- markable for his integrity. He had one son by first wife; had eight children by his second. One by the name of Chauncey was supposed,

in 1855, to be still living. Jonathan, born 1743, married Amy Humphrey about 1777; had two sons and four daughters; died 1786, in Simsbury, Conn., aged forty-three. Was a physician. The daughter left children by the names of Bodwell, Everett and Goodwin. (2) Sons of Joseph (V)-James (VI), Joseph and Amos. James (VI) was born in Litchfield, 1722; married Abigail Gridley, of Kensington, 1750; had two sons and three daughters; died in Salisbury, September 28, 1794, aged seventy-two; his wife died 1815, aged eighty- four. Of his three daughters, Dorcas married Col. Noah Lee, of Castleton, Vt .; Abigail married D. McIntosh; and Eunice, (first) J. Lord, (second) William Mather, a physician of Torringford, Conn. All have numerous de- scendents. Joseph, born in Litchfield, June 18, 1733; married Huldah Sprague; had six sonsand six daughters intermarried respectively with Messrs. Garfield, Herrick, Chapin, Fowler and Curtis. Amos was born in Litchfield, May 13, 1741; married Hannah Swift, of Sal- isbury; died greatly respected, in Castleton, Vt., 1773, leaving a young daughter, Dorcas, who married William Holabird, of Canaan, Conn. (3) Son of Jonathan-Jonathan born Avon, 1747; graduated Yale college, 1768; married Hogeboom; lost son and wife early; died 1813 in Hebron, Conn., was a preacher and physician.

(VI)-Benjamin (son of Joseph, of Samuel) was born October 23, 1780; married Deborah Carrington, 1801; had two sons and three daughters. The daughters married, respect- ively, Messrs. Cloyes, Hammond and Lewis. Benjamin still lives. His residence is in Plain- ville, Conn. (II) Grandsons of John, of Litch- field-(1) John of Seth; born Litchfield, 1769; graduated Yale College, 1786; married (first) Eunice, daughter of Col. Joshua Porter, of Salisbury, (second) Sally Buell, of Litchfield; had two sons; died Troy, N. Y., 1806, aged thirty-seven. He was a lawyer and politician. (2) Sons of Ebenezer, of John, viz .: Amos, David, Ebenezer and Daniel. Amos was born Bethlehem, June 13, 1774; married Miss Cook, of Wallingford, 1797; now (1855) living in New Haven, Vt .; has had three sons and six daughters; one son living; the daughters mar- ried into the names of Ballou, Washburn and Hinman. David born in Bethlehem 1776; married Elizabeth Church about 1797; both died in 1849, aged seventy-three. They had ten children: Three of the daughters took the

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names of Gaylord, Thompson and Loomis. Ebenezer was born June 6, 1778, married Lois Barber. 1806; had five sons, among whom were Daniel, Ebenezer M. and Newton, and six daughters. Four of the latter married Thomp- son, Eddy, Gregory and Crowley, Ebenezer lives in Victory, Cayuga Co., N. Y. Daniel, supposed in 1855 to be still living near his children at Prairie Ronde, Kalamazoo Co .. Mich., has two sons and three daughters. One of the daughters married W. B. Austin, of New York. (3) Son of Atwood, viz .: Chauncey married in Farmington, resided a while in Litchfield; afterward removed his family to some part of Onondaga county, N. Y., and in 1838 to Michigan. (Another son of Atwood married in Farmington, and lived in Cincin- nati, where he died. He was wealthy, and left a son supposed to be living in 1855 in New York City.) (4) Son of Jonathan, of John, viz .: Jonathan, born Simsbury, 1775: married Betsey Grinnell, of Greenfield, Mass .; had three sons and one daughter; died Greenfield, Mass., 1813, aged thirty-seven.

The grandsons of Joseph (\') of Litchfield and Salisbury. (1) The two sons of James (VI), viz. : Thomas and Isaac ( VII ). - Thomas, son of James, was born Salisbury, April 22, 1754; married Betsey Chamberlin, 1777, of South Canaan, Conn. ; had five sons and three daughters. The daughters married Messrs. Dibble, Rockwell and Collamer, of Sandy Hill, N. Y. Isaac, brother of Thomas; born May 5, 1757; married Rhoda Selleck, of Salis- bury, February 28, 1780; had four sons and three daughters. He died Salisbury, January 16, 1829. His daughters married Messrs. Covey, of Penfield, N. Y., Wheeler, of Salis- bury, Conn., and Reed, of Bethany, Penn .. respectively.

(2) Three sons of Joseph, of Tyringham, Mass .- (1) Moore was born October 22, 1756; married Delavergne, of Amenia, N. Y .; had four sons and two daughters; died in Amenia. His daughter, Julia, married Hiram Brown. (2) Joseph was born August 8, 1759; married Cynthia Binney; had five sons and four daugh-

ters.

He is still living in Bristol, Vt.

His

daughters married into the names of Keeler, Foote and Eastman. (3) Nathaniel was born in Salisbury. 1761; married Hannah Ballard; lived in North Marlboro; removed to Westfield, N. Y., 1816; had five sons and six or seven daughters. He died at his daughter Foster's house, near Buffalo, while on a visit. His

daughters married into families named-Ma- comber, Foster, Sessions and Heminway, re- spectively.

(VII)-(1) Son of Benjamin-George, born March 10, 1802; married first Elizabeth Stan- ley, of Plainville, second Miranda Munson, of Plymouth; resides New Haven, Conn., has daughter, Sarah Ely, and a son, Norton Stan- ley. (2) Great-grandsons of John of Litch- field .- (1) Sons of John, of Troy, son of Dr. Seth, of Litchfield, viz: John Herman, born 1790; was killed on board the frigate · Presi- dent" by a ball from the "Belvidere," June 23. 1812. William A., born 1797; has two sons and two daughters; resides at Black Rock, near Buffalo, N. Y. (2) Sons of Amos, David, Ebenezer and Daniel of Generation VI .- Canfield, son of Amos, of New Haven, Vt .; born February, 1803: married Elizabeth Washburn, of Leominster, N. H., December 30, 1828; has three sons and four daughters; resides in New Haven, Vt .- Harmon, son of David, of Bethlehem, Conn .; born August, 1798; married November, 1823; one son, James .- Joshua, of David; born May 21, 1800; married Carol Jackson September 5, 1822; children-five sons and three daughters; reside in Bethlehem, Conn .- David, of David, born March 1I, 1804: married Miss Phelps about 1835; one son and one daughter; resides in Winchester, Conn .- Daniel, son of Ebenezer. of Victory; born March 20, 1819; married Mary Thompson, August, 1840 .- Ebenezer M., do .; born October 25, 1821 ; married Eliza Barney, 1846 .- Newton L., do. : born Decem- ber 4. 1826; married Mary Ann Martin, Au- gust, 1845 .- Sons of Daniel, of Michigan; two in number: names unknown; reside in Prairie Ronde, in Michigan. (3) Sons of Chauncey, unknown. (4) Sons of Jonathan, son of Dr. Jonathan, of Simsbury; these are George, Jonathan and Edward, residing in Belleville, New Jersey.

The great-grandsons of Joseph, of Litchfield and Salisbury: (1) Son of Thomas, son of James, of Salisbury; Orren, born in 1794, died 1824, Sandy Hill, left one son. (2) Sons of Isaac (V11) of James: James (VI11), born Janu- ary 27, 1785; married Susan Dauchy; five sons and five daughters; died in Kirkwood, N. Y., January 25, 1865. His daughters are all mar- ried. Isaac, born June 19, 1793, graduated Yale College, 1816; a minister; married Ann Parker. of New Hampshire, November, 1822; ten children-six living, two sons and four

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daughters; resides in Hartford, Conn .; died Great Barrington, Mass., May or June, 1876, at the Sedgewick Institute, of which he and his son, James Bird, A. M., were successful principals many years previous to, and at the time of, his death.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 86

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