Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 88

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

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Charles H. Shurter attended the first free school ever held in Poughkeepsie, and after finishing his education, about the year 1850, began to learn the tinsmith's trade, which oc- cupation he followed until 1876. At that time he formed a partnership with George H. Briggs in the hardware trade, being located at No. 368 Main street, where he still carries on busi-

ness. In 1868 he married Miss Mary Kidney, a native of Poughkeepsie, and a daughter of Charles and Maria Kidney, the former of whom was a leading liveryman of Poughkeepsie, and belonged to a family that was early established in Dutchess county. In January, 1892, our subject was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, a most estimable lady.

Politically, Mr. Shurter votes the straight Democratic ticket, and he is now a member of the water board of Poughkeepsie. He was one of the seven men who organized the O. H. Booth Fire Company, in 1853, since which time he has been actively connected with it, and has held all the positions in the same, be- ing foreman eight years, chief of the fire de- partment three years, and twenty years a rep- resentative of the company, which position he still holds. He is a member of the Order of American Firemen, was the first president of the local organization, and is now past presi- dent. For twenty-nine years he has been trustee of the local lodge of the I. O. O. F., is a member of the Encampment, and also belongs to the Sons of Temperance. To Trin- ity Church he and his faithful wife were lib- eral contributors.

C HAPPELL ROBINSON, a well-known agriculturist of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, started in life with nothing save his own indomitable energy, and his ac- cumulation of this world's goods is attributable to his good judgment, perseverance and indus- try. His word in business transactions is con- sidered as good as his bond, and he is justly recognized as one of the energetic and repre- sentative citizens of Stanford.

In the town of Kent, Putnam Co., N. Y., our subject was born November 23, 1816. There his grandfather, Chappell Robinson, with two brothers, had located at an early day, and he continued to make the town of Kent his home until late in life, when he re- moved to Tompkins county, where his death occurred. By occupation he was a farmer. He wedded Miss Mary Sprague, by whom he had five children: Stephen, Sabins, Squire, Mary and Eli.

Stephen Robinson, the father of our sub- ject, was also a native of the town of Kent, Putnam county, where his education was ac- quired in the common schools, and he there married Martha Kelly, daughter of Seth Kelly.

Chas I Phurter

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To them were born thirteen children, namely: Chappell, Seth Kelly, Osborn, Enos, Emily, Zillah, Jarvis, Ada, Nathaniel, Priscilla, Rob- ert, Catherine and William. The father en- gaged in farming in his native township until 1836, when he removed to the town of Stan- ford, Dutchess county, where he followed the same pursuit for several years. The following twelve years were passed at Lithgow, in the town of Washington, Dutchess county, after which he returned to Stanford town, where he died in February, 1876, at the ripe old age of eighty years. He had served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a faithful Republic- an in politics.

The early life of our subject was passed upon the home farm in the town of Kent, where he attended the district schools, and he remained a member of his father's household until he attained his majority, when he started out for himself as a farm hand, working in that way some three years. On December 13, 1845, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary Bunnel, a daughter of Levi and Lois (Mosher) Bunnel, the former of whom was a native of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, and was descended from Connecticut Yankees. To our subject and his wife were born four children, namely: Charles H. and Enos, who died in infancy; Henrietta, who became the wife of Seth K. Winans; and Ida, who mar- ried Almon Harrison. Mr. Robinson began his domestic life upon a farm near Stanford- ville, where he lived until March, ISSo, since which time he has resided upon his present farm. His time and attention have always been devoted to general farming, and he has met with a well-deserved success in his undertak- ings. During the three years he was employed by others, when a young man, he never lost but seven days time, six being spent in train- ing (or he would have been fined) and the other in attending a political celebration at Poughkeepsie. His political allegiance is al- ways unfalteringly given the Republican party, and he has been called upon to serve as assess- or of the town of Stanford. As a citizen of the community in which he has so long made his home, Mr. Robinson is highly respected, enjoying the confidence of his neighbors and a wide circle of friends. Since 1840 he has been an active member of the Baptist Church at Bangall, in which he has served as trustee and deacon, and has also been superintendent of the Sunday-school.

G EORGE E. PARKS, owner and propri- etor of a general mercantile store at Hibernia, in the town of Clinton, is one of the promising young business men of Dutchess county, where his entire life has been passed. His father, Richard J. Parks, was born in London, England, June 22, 1833, and is the eldest in a family of eight children born to Richard and Hannah Parks, also natives of that wonderful city. By trade the grandfather was a shoemaker, and when his eldest son was eighteen years of age he emigrated with his family to America, making his first home at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He later became a resi- dent of Highland, where his wife died, and he passed away while in Poughkeepsie. After coming to the New World he continued to fol- low his trade of shoemaking.

In the schools of London the father of our subject obtained his literary education, and on coming to Dutchess county began working on a farm in the town of Washington. Later he purchased land in the town of Stanford, which he operated for twenty years, on the expiration of which he sold out and returned to the town of Washington. For thirteen years he was engaged in farming there, and he is now living in the town of Millbrook, Dutchess county. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is highly respected by all who know him. In Washington town he was united in marriage with Hannah Smith, and to them were born four children : George E., Charles ( who died at the age of ten years ), Sarah and Robert.

The birth of George E. Parks occurred June 20, 1860, in the town of Stanford, where his early life was passed in an uneventful man- ner, the greater part of the time being spent in the school room or in aiding his father in the work of the farm. He remained under the parental roof until twenty years of age, when he took up the profession of teaching, which he followed for twelve years, his first school being near Bangall ; was then employed at Stanfordville, Hibernia, Pleasant Valley, Salt Point and Clinton Hollow. In December, 1894, he started in his present business, in which he is meeting with well-deserved suc- cess, having secured a large and lucrative trade. He is also serving as deputy postmaster of Hibernia.

In the town of Stanford, December 24, 1884, Mr. Parks was joined in wedlock with. Miss Carrie E. Vail, a daughter of George Vail, and two children bless their union : Charles

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E., born April 19, 1886 ; and Roy I., born July 17, 1887. Socially, Mr. Parks holds membership with the Knights of Pythias lodge No. 143. of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He has made a very successful start in life, and by his sys- tematic methods of conducting his business, his strict attention to it in all its details, and his thorough, upright dealings, have already made him an honorable record in the business world.

A LFRED VAN WEY, one of the enter- prising and wide-awake citizens of Barry- town, Dutchess county, has held his present position in the employ of the New York Cen- tral Railroad Company for thirteen years. He is descended from one of the early families of Ulster county, N. Y., where his paternal grandparents, Henry and Cornelia Van Wey, were both born. In their family of five chil- dren were Mary, Cornelia and De Witt. The maternal grandparents, Zacharia and Gertrude (Near) Cole, were natives of the town of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, and in their family were thirteen children, namely: Jacob married Catherine Hapeman; Frederick mar- ried Sarah Aldridge; Edward L. married Eliza Traver; Simon married Julia Broadhead; George W. married Catherine Straut; Eliza married John McCurdy; Catherine married Charles Riggins; Susan married Henry Batcher; Lydia married Alfred Plass; Sarah married John Van Etten; Lucy remained single; Delia was the mother of our subject; and Margaret married Frank Stickle.

De Witt Van Wey, the father of Alfred, was born in the town of Rhinebeck, Dutchess county, and by trade was a wagonmaker, which occupation he followed throughout most of his life. He died in 1890. He had mar- ried Delia Colc, who was also a native of the town of Rhinebeck, and was there educated. Two children were born to them: Alfred, the subject of this review; and Charles, who wed- ded Hattie Traver, by whom he has four chil- dren-Ralph, Charles, Marion and Minnie.

Alfred Van Wey was united in marriage with Anna Albers, who was born in New York City in 1857, and in its public schools acquired a fair education. Two children have come to bless their union: Mildred, born in 1884; and Clara, born in 1885. Mrs. Van Wey is the daughter of Christian Albers, who was born in Germany. He was an engineer, and on cmi-

grating to the United States first located in New York City, where he married Maria Wul- pin, also a native of the Fatherland, who had come to this country for that purpose. They became the parents of five children: Anna, wife of our subject; John; Mary, who became the wife of Thomas Quillen; Lewis, who mar- ried Emma Daily; and Herman, who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Van Wey are pleasant, in- telligent people, and well deserve the esteem and respect of those among whom they make their home. Socially, he is prominently iden- tified with Christian Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Red Hook, and is also a member of Shiloh Encampment of the same place. He is a pro- gressive and public-spirited citizen, taking a commendable interest in the advancement and upbuilding of his town and county.

L OUIS SCHAFER, a well-known business man of Dover Plains, Dutchess county, where he has been for many years engaged in the shoe trade, was born February 1, 1844, in Brunswick, Germany, which has been the home of his ancestors for many generations.

William Schafer, father of our subject, was born there, and received a good education in the public schools, and after learning the shoe- maker's trade engaged in business there. He married Fraulein Sophia Schrieber, and had six children: William, who married Sophia -; Henry, who died in the U. S. army; Louis, our subject: Charlotte, who married; Anna, who died in infancy; and Sophia, who died at the age of twenty-three.

Our subject's early educational opportuni- ties were excellent, and he improved them well during boyhood. He learned the shoemaker's trade with his father, but his business career was interrupted by a compulsory service of three years in the German army. At the end of his term he obtained a pass and came to the United States, locating in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he followed his trade for three years. In 1872 he moved to Dover Plains, and estab- lished his present prosperous business. He has always been a Republican in politics, but has never aspired to office, and he is a promi- nent member of the Baptist Church at Dover Plains. In 1872 he was married to Miss Cath- erine Miller, and has two children: Albert, born November 10, 1875, and Lizzie, born December 16, 1879.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Antonie Miller, Mrs. Schaler's father, is a native of Reichshoffen, Alsace-Lorraine (then a part of France), and was educated there. He was for some time engaged in farming, later becoming a tavern-keeper there. His wife was Catherine Bruner, daughter of Michael and Barbara Bruner, well-to-do farmers of Reichshoffen, and they had four children: Catherine (Mrs. Schafer); Philomane, who married George Durrenburger; Louis, who died at the age of twenty-three years; and Annie, the wife of Mr. Mower.

H ENRY J. YEOMANS is a wide-awake and progressive citizen of the town of Unionvale, where he is successfully engaged in the operation of his farm. He is a native of Greene county, N. Y., born in Cairo township, August 22, 1847, and is a son of William Ira Yeomans, whose birth occurred in the same place in 1817. There the father attended the common schools, and after reaching years of maturity turned his attention to farming. On November 25, 1846, he married Miss Mary Haight, daughter of John and Sarah Haight, farming people of Dutchess county. Four children were born of this union, but with the exception of our subject all died when young. They were John H., born August 31, 1849; Charles W., born May 7, 1852; and Sarah Lucinda, born December 30, 1854. The wife and mother died in June, 1863, and later the father married Mrs. Harriet M. Green.

William Yeomans, the grandfather of our subject, was also a native of Greene county, received a district-school education and from early life engaged in farming. He married Miss Lucinda Blackmer, and they had nine children : Leonard; Elisha; George, who mar- ried Eliza Haight: Henry, who died unmarried; William 1 .; Hannah, who married Isaac Place; Annis, who married Cornell White; Catharine, who married John Hill; and Almira, who mar- ried Emmer Haight.

The advantages of our subject for securing an education were such as the public schools of his native county afforded, and on starting out in life for himself he engaged in mercantile business. Later he purchased the farm of ninety-four acres, of Mary Taber, on which he has since resided. and now has the place under a high state of cultivation and well-improved with all modern conveniences. He is a man of good financial ability and excellent judg-

ment, and since becoming a resident of Union- vale has won the respect and confidence of the community, and occupies a leading position among its influential citizens.

Mr. Yeomans was united in marriage No- vember 4, 1868, with Miss Mary Jane Wilber, who was born in 1849, at Duanesburgh, Schen- ectady county, N. Y. Eleven children blessed their union, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: William H., March 31, 1872; George D., October 23, 1873; Sarah Eliza, October 14, 1875; Charles E., July 20, 1877; Bradford W., May 14, 1879; Edwin J., Jan- uary 16, 1881 ; Ester D., April 4, 1883; Theron J., September 21, 1885; Lizzie V., February 28, 1888; Lena M., November 21, 1891; and Florence, June 4, 1893. All are still living with the exception of Charles E. William H., the eldest son, was born in the town of Wash- ington, Dutchess county, was educated in the district schools, and is now carrying on farm- ing. On November 28, 1893, he married Miss LaNeta Colwell.

Benjamin Wilber, the great-grandfather of Mrs. Yeomans, was a native of Dartmouth, R. I., but became a resident of Schoharie county, this State, where he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits, which he made his life work. In 1799 he married Miss Mary Wilber, of Dutchess county, who though of the same name was no relative. They became the par- ents of seven children: Nathaniel (the grand- father of Mrs. Yeomans), Alanson, Briggs, Benjamin, Joseph, Rachel and Rhoda.

The birth of Nathaniel Wilber occurred in Schoharie county, June 1, 1800, and there he received his education. In early life he en- gaged in farming, but later carried on the meat business. In 1818 he wedded Rachel Brad- ford, who was born in Stanford in 1797, and by her he had six children: David, Bradford, Benjamin, Julius, Nathaniel and Sarah A.

David Wilber, the father of Mrs. Yeomans, was born in Schoharie county, in 1823, and after finishing his education learned the carpen- ter's trade, at which he was employed through- out the principal part of his life. For his first wife he married Miss Eliza N. Hoag, a daugh- ter of Enoch and Mary (Norton) Hoag, farm- ing people of Quaker Hill, Dutchess county, and the only child born of this union was Mary Jane, the wife of our subject. The wife and mother died in 1850, and later Mr. Wilber- married Miss Monemia Levey, daughter of Philip and Monemia Levey.

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Of the nine children by the second mar- riage of Mr. Wilber, Rosa, born in 1871, died in infancy, and another died in infancy un- named. The others are as follows: (1) Charles E., born March 30, 1853, in Duanesburgh township, Schenectady county, is a carpenter and wagon maker by trade; on November 4, 1882, he married Miss Sarah J. Van Pelt, daughter of Alexander Van Pelt, and they had five children-Mary, Avan (deceased), Pearl, Roscoe (deceased) and Rosie. (2) Julius R., born in Schoharie county, June 22, 1856, is a conductor in the employ of the Albany & Sus- quehanna Railroad Company; he was married February 22, 1883, to Jennie Donahue, and they have three children-Nina, Ivy and Ray- mond. (3) William J., born January 1, 1858, died at the age of twenty-one years. (4) Brad- ford B., born in Schoharie county, August II, 1859, married Minnie Van Steenburgh, of Dutchess county, by whom he has a daughter, Hazel; he is engaged in merchandising. (5) Edwin P., born .in Schenectady county, Sep- tember 22, 1861, is on a ranch in Meeker, Colo .; he married Mollie Watson, and has three chil- dren-Frank (deceased), Ella, and one whose name is not given. (6) Agnes, born in Sche- nectady county, November 7, 1863, is the wife of William Showers, who is at the head of the electric works at Schenectady, and they have two children-Flossie and Edna. (7) Ella M., born in Schoharie county, November 24, 1865, is the wife of Frank Watson, a carpen- ter of Meeker, Colo., and they have one child- Everett.

H YMAN B. ROSA. The well-known firm of H. B. Rosa & Son, of Fishkill and Matteawan, undertakers and dealers in furni- ture, is one of the oldest business concerns of that locality, having been founded in 1827 by the father of the subject of our sketch, John H. Rosa, who was a prominent citizen of Fish- kill during the early part of this century. The home of the family had previously been at Hurley, Ulster county, where our subject's grandfather, Hyman Rosa, a son of Jacob Rosa, was a leading resident of his day. He and his wife, Rebecca Sleight, reared there a family of six children : Jacob, Jane, Maria, John H., Caleb Merritt and Newkirk. John H. Rosa married Margaret Crispell, and settled in Fish- kill, where he at once engaged in business.

They had a family of seven children: Abram Gaasbeck, Hyman B., Jane Ann, Sarah C., Theodore A., John C. and Mary D.

Hyman B. Rosa was born in Fishkill vil- lage, January 26, 1829, and after attending the public schools of that place until the age of fifteen, he began to help his father in the store, acquiring there a complete knowledge of the business. In 1857 he was taken into partnership, and at the death of his father, in 1860, he became sole proprietor, and contin- ued alone until his son, Frederic L., was ready to take a place in the firm. Since that time the business has been greatly enlarged, a branch at Matteawan having been established under the charge of his junior partner.

Mr. Rosa married Miss Sarah B. South- ard, daughter of Richard and Elizabeth South- ard, and their union was blessed with four children: Margaret C., Frank (who died at the age of eight years), Laura and Frederic L. The family are leading members of the Re- formed Dutch Church, at Fishkill Village, and Mr. Rosa has taken an influential part in many local movements, giving his support to the Republican party on all political issues.

FREDERIC L. ROSA, who has already given evidence in his business career of the possession of that inherited ability, foresight, and energy which has built up in past years the success of the firm of H. B. Rosa & Son, was born in Fishkill Village, March 15, 1867, and received his education in the public schools there. At the age of sixteen he entered the store as a clerk, and in 1888 became a partner. The wide acquaintance and high reputation which his firm has enjoyed for more than half a century justified the establishment of the branch store at Matteawan, which was opened in October, 1894, and has since been carried on under his supervision. He also has full charge of their large undertaking business in Matteawan and Fishkill Landing, and has the finest hearses and other paraphernalia to be found in the county.

In June, 1893, F. L. Rosa married Miss Effie B. Coldwell, daughter of Samuel A. and Rebecca (Tompkins) Coldwell, and they reside at Fishkill Landing, in a pleasant home at the corner of Church street and Cottage place. They are prominent in the Reformed Dutch Church of that locality. Mr. Rosa is an active member of the K. of P., holding, at the pres- ent time, the office of prelate in Melzingah Lodge No. 304; also a member of Evergreen

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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Lodge No. 131, I. O. O. F., and of the Lewis Tompkins Hose Company. In politics he ad- heres to the Republican party.

G EORGE FEROE. Few men are more prominent in the enterprising village of Tivoli than this gentleman. He has been an important factor in business circles, and his popularity is well deserved, as in him are em- braced the characteristics of an unbending integrity, unabated energy and industry that never flags. He is public-spirited, and thor- oughly interested in whatever tends to promote the moral, intellectual and material welfare of the community.

Mr. Feroe was born in the town of Red Hook, October 14, 1825, and is a son of Henry Feroe, also a native of that town. The birth of the paternal grandfather occurred in France, and on emigrating to this country he located in the town of Red Hook, Dutchess county, where he engaged in farming and reared his two children: Henry; and Betsy, who became the wife of Jacob Van Steenburgh, a farmer of the same township. The grandfather was a faithful member of the Reformed Dutch Church.

Although reared to agricultural pursuits, Henry Feroe learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed exclusively through life. He was united in marriage with Maria Lasher, a native of the town of Red Hook, and of Hol- land descent. Her father, Sebastian Lasher, followed the occupation of farming. After their marriage the young couple located upon a farm in their native township, where they reared their family of eleven children: John is a retired carpenter of Tivoli; William (de- ceased) was a shoemaker by trade; Peter is also a carpenter of Tivoli; Betsie (deceased) was the wife of John Huffman, a shoemaker; Edward is a carpenter of Fishkill, N. Y .; Eugene and Robert died unmarried; Margaret wedded Stephen Clum, a carpenter; Matilda is the widow of Mr. Leason, an undertaker; Cornelia, who married Eli Best, a farmer, now makes her home in Tivoli; and George, of this review, is the eighth in order of birth. The parents, who were consistent members of the Reformed Dutch Church, have both departed this life.

Our subject remained upon the home farm until reaching his majority when he went to Tivoli, where he worked by the day. In 1843 31

he married Miss Sarah J. Simonson, a native of Red Hook town, and a daughter of James and Julia Simonson, the former a merchant. The following year Mr. Feroe started west- ward, going by steamboat to Albany, thence up the Erie canal to Buffalo, from there to Toledo, Ohio, and then up the Maumee river to Logansport, Ind., but did not long remain there, returning to Red Hook in the fall. After working at the carpenter's trade for some time he went to New Jersey, where he en- gaged in farming for four years, and for two years followed the same occupation in Michi- gan. Returning to New Jersey, he was there employed at painting and carpentering for some time, and in the city of Newark for four years followed gardening. His next home was near Peoria, Ill., where he engaged in agricult- ural pursuits some four years, after which he followed the same occupation in Michigan for thirteen years. In 1863, however, he returned to Tivoli, purchasing his present place, and has here since made his home. In connection with landscape gardening he is also engaged in the cooperage business, and in 1893 made 60,- ooo fruit barrels, one-half of the whole amount manufactured in Dutchess county.

Five children were born to our subject and his wife, two of whom died in infancy, and Adda passing away in 1893. Those living are Clarence, a resident of Tivoli; and Emma, wife of Montgomery Queen, who also lives in Tivoli. The mother's death occurred May 18, 1876. The present wife of our subject was Mary L. Moore, of Dutchess county, whom he married in 1876. They contribute liberally to the support of St. Paul's Church, and hold a high position in the social circles of the com- munity. Although not very active in politics, Mr. Feroe keeps himself well informed on current events, and uniformly votes the Re- publican ticket.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 88

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