Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 9

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

USA > New York > Dutchess County > Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York > Part 9

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

which he ultimately was the owner. His mother was a sister of Matthew Vassar, Sr., and he became more or less identified with many of the extensive interests of that dis- tinguished family. He was named as executor in the will of Matthew Vassar, Jr., and John Guy Vassar, and he was treasurer of Vassar Hospital, in which he took much pride, per- sonally superintending the extensive improve- ments recently made in the grounds. As a financier his ability was acknowledged, and he was a director in several of the banks of Poughkeepsie, also vice-president of the City Bank. He left a large estate.

He was always fond of the sea and of ship- ping, and he found time in the midst of his extensive business dealing to indulge this taste, having been the owner or part owner of more vessels than any other resident of the city. In sailing vessels, he was interested in the sloops .. Surprise " (formerly the " Revenge "), "Index," "Comet." "Agent," and "Timo- thy Wood;" also in the schooners " Matthew Vassar, Jr.," " Oliver H. Booth," and another which he bought in Wilmington, on which to bring the machinery for the " Underwriter " up the river. He built the steamer . Joseph F. Barnard," then the finest tug ever seen on the Hudson, and whose history has a tinge of romance. During the trouble in Cuba, in the " sixties," he sold her to the Cubans, but in 1867 she disappeared, supposed to have been burnt at sea. Mr. Booth owned the news- yacht, " Herald," which he rebuilt and named the " Commodore." and then sold to parties in Norfolk, Va .; he also purchased and re-built the .O. M. Freleigh " and the "Idlewild," the latter being bought afterward by New Haven parties. The last boat that he built was the speedy steam yacht "No. 83." He owned the four-oared gig " Stranger," which was manned by workmen from the brewery, who were considered remarkably fast rowers in their day. He was also commodore of the old Poughkeepsie Ice Yacht Club, and the owner of the ice yacht " Restless.'

The only political office that Mr. Booth ever held was that of member of the village board of trustees, of which he was elected clerk in 1843, and he held that incumbency until April 18. 1854, when the books were turned over to the new city government. Very early in life he became an active worker in the Fire Department, and June 18, 1844, he by request organized the Phoenix Hose

Ir Booth

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Company of Poughkeepsie. About the year 1850 he resigned as an active member, but was on the honorary list up to his death. In 1851 he was elected chief engineer of the Fire Department, and held the office three years, during which time the Booth Hose Company was named for him. At the time of his death he owned one of the old " goose-neck " en- gines " No. 7," and in 1886 he paraded with her as foreman. In that year the Veteran Firemen's Association was formed, of which he was chosen president, and he held that office several years, at last refusing a re-election, at which time his comrades desiring to signify their high regard for him, presented him with a costly loving cup on his retirement. Socially he was a member of the F. & A. M., Pough- keepsie Lodge No. 266.

Mr. Booth married Miss Ferris, daughter of Mr. John Ferris, of Milan, Dutchess county. She died in March, 1893, leaving but one child, a son, WILLIAM F. BOOTH, who now resides at the old homestead. The family residence on Market street was the scene of a solemn and affecting service at the funeral of Mr. Oliver H. Booth, which took place March 16, 1896, and a large gathering of the prom- inent citizens of the city and vicinity showed the esteem in which he was held, while many beautiful floral tributes offered their silent benediction.

J JAMES L. WILLIAMS, one of the distin- guished members of the Dutchess county bar, was born December 12, 1846, in the city of Poughkeepsie, with whose interests his entire life has been identified.

When a boy our subject received his educa- tion in the Dutchess County Academy, and after studying law he was admitted to the bar in 1867, and began the practice of his profes- sion there. His first partner was Hon. Peter Dorland, ex-surrogate of Dutchess county, the firm of Dorland & Williams continning until 1873, when Mr. Dorland was elected to a third term as surrogate. In 1873 Mr. Williams was elected district attorney, being the first Demo- crat elected to that position in twenty-five years; but at the expiration of his term he de- clined a renomination. In 1884 he became a member of the widely-known firm of Hackett & Williams, the senior member being John Hackett, who has since been twice elected dis-

trict attorney. In 1883, without his solicita- tion, and even without his knowledge until the announcement was made, Mr. Williams was appointed State assessor by Grover Cleveland, then governor. This office he held until his resignation in 1892, serving with marked ability and success, and several important amendments to the tax laws were adopted by the Legisla- ture at his suggestion. He holds a prominent place in business circles as well as in profes- sional life, and is a director of the City National Bank, and other corporations. He organized and was first president of the Poughkeepsie News Company, publishers of the News Press and Now's Telegraph, the leading Democratic journals in the Hudson Valley, and until 1894 was very active in State and local politics, after which time till the Presidential campaign of 1 896 he devoted his attention to legal business.

Mr. Williams has been a member of the Democratic State Committee; in 1887 was chairman of the State Executive Committee, and met and solved with rare courage and skill the intricate problems of the campaign of that year, complicated as it was with the Henry George and Labor movements. In 1894 he again served as a member of the Democratic State Executive Committee. In the fall of 1893 the delegations from Dutchess and other counties of the Second Department presented his name at the judicial convention held in Brooklyn as their candidate for justice of the supreme court to succeed Hon. Joseph F. Bar- nard, whose term expired that fall; but Mr. Pearsall, of Brooklyn, received the Democratic nomination, and was defeated by Hon. William J. Gaynor, the Reform and Republican candi- date. Early in 1896 he protested against the proposed departure of the Democratic party from what he regarded as the ancient standards of his party, and on the adoption of the Chi- cago platform and the nomination of Mr. Bryan he formerly severed his connection with that party, and entered actively into the campaign for the Republican candidates. On January 1, 1897, he was appointed corporation counsel of the city of Poughkeepsie.

Mr. Williams is a member of many fraternal organizations, including the Freemasons, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias, and he organ- ized the Odd Fellows Mutual Benefit Associa- tion of Dutchess county with five members, the membership now being increased to nearly one thousand. He is president of the leading social organization of Poughkeepsie, the Dutch-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

ess ( Inb, having succeeded Ilon. Homer A. Nelson, its first president, and is a member of several clubs in New York and other cities.

A NTHONY UNDERHILL, M. D. (de- ceased). Among the talented men who have done honor to the medical profession in Dutchess county, the subject of this brief memoir held a worthy rank. The son of a prominent physician, his natural aptitude for the calling had unusual opportunities for development, and application in early life, and his later years of effort were rewarded with well-deserved success.

His family was of English origin, and his father, Dr. Joshua B. Underhill, was a life- long resident of Westchester county, N. Y., where our subject was born in ISI8. The common schools of that locality furnished him his academic education, and he then began the study of medicine with his father, and later attended lectures at the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. He opened a drug store in that city, which he carried on for some years previous to entering the medical department of Bowdoin College, at Brunswick, Me., from which he graduated in 1845. Lo- cating at New Hackensack, Dutchess county, he engaged in the active work of his profession, and continued for about forty years, building up an extensive practice and enjoying the con- fidence of the people throughout a large circuit. In 1852 he married Miss Charlotte A. Mar- vine, who was born in 1832, in Wilton, Conn., the daughter of William M. Marvine. They made their home on a farin near New llacken- sack, and reared a family of six children: (I) Charles married Miss Annie M. Rapelje, and lives at Hopewell Junction, Dutchess county, where he is the agent for the N. Y. & N. E. and the D. & C. railroads. (2) GEORGE resides at the old homestead. (3) William married Miss Mary E. Griffin, and lives at Fishkill, where he is employed as general pas- senger agent for the N. D. & C. R. R. (4) Frank is a farmer at home. (5) Lottie mar- ried Dr. R. C Van Wyck, of Hopewell Junc- tion, who was thrown from his buggy and killed in February, 1896. (6 Edward A. mar- ried Miss Jeannette E. Schubert, and resides in Glenham, where he is employed as depot agent and telegraph operator.

Dr. Underhill was prominent not only in professional circles, but in local political affairs,

and took great interest also in educational matters, and in various movements for the public benefit. His death, which occurred September 4, 1889, caused a loss which was deeply and sincerely mourned among all classes of people. One of his sons, Frank, conducts the farm, a fine tract of one hundred acres, with a handsome residence and other improve- ments.

C HARLES F. COSSUM, of the well-known law firm of Wilkinson & Cossuin, of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, was born in New York City, April 17, 1859. His father, Charles Cossum, was born in Hastings, Eng- land, in 1826.

Richard Cossum, grandfather of our sub- ject, was also born at Hastings, and was the last male of his name of that generation. He was educated in England, and by occupation was a draper, or dry-goods merchant. In IS41 he moved with his family to the United States and settled in Oswego county, N. Y., where he retired from active life. In 1815 he was married to Miss Caroline Foster, and they had twelve children, of whom, Charles, Edwin, Fannie, Decimus, Elizabeth and Caroline are still living.

Charles Cossum, Sr., spent his boyhood days in Oswego county, N. Y., and at the age of thirteen years he started out on his own ac- count. When twenty-five years old he was employed by the Hudson River R. R. Co. as a brakeman, from which he was promoted through the various positions to assistant su- perintendent and train master. He has record of forty-two years with this road, and is still in the company's employ, stationed at Poughkeepsie. In 1858 he was married to Miss Sarah Wood, who was born in New York City, and who is a daughter of Peter Wood. They have four children: Charles F., our subject ; Oscar, now living in Stamford, Conn., William H., a missionary in China, and Car- oline.

Charles F. Cossum attended the schools of Peekskill, N. Y., from 1865 to 1872, at which time he went to New York City, and in 1873 was graduated from the Thirteenth Street Grammar School. Ile was then admitted to the College of New York City, but did not attend as he preferred to work. In 1875 he began the study of law with Homer A. Nelson, at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and subse-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

quently entered the office of Robert F. Wilkin- son, and was admitted to the bar in 1880. In that year he was appointed deputy county clerk, and filled that incumbency five years. Ir 1886 he went on a business trip to England, which occupied him for a year, and upon his return he opened an office in New York City. In 1888 he returned to Poughkeepsie and formed a partnership with Robert F. Wilkin- son, with whom he is still associated. For five years he was the attorney for the League of American Wheelmen, and was first vice- president of the organization during 1896. He is president of the Amrita Club and Apo- keepsing Boat Club; secretary and treasurer of the Poughkeepsie Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and president of the Mitch- ell Heater Co. Mr. Cossum has not held any public office except that of deputy county clerk. Cossum is an unusual family name, there being but few persons in the world who bear it, and all of them are descendants of the grandfather of our subject.

J TAMES C. MCCARTY, one of the most able lawyers of Dutchess county, has for many years successfully engaged in practice at Rhinebeck. He traces his ancestry back to Daniel McCarty, who was born February 22, 1754, in Charlestown, then a suburb of Bos- ton, Mass. His father was a Scotchman, who owned and sailed a schooner plying between New London, Conn., and Boston, and during the Revolutionary war he sailed with a full cargo and crew from the latter place, and, as they never returned or were heard from, it is supposed they were captured by the British privateers, being killed or taken prisoners, and the vessel and cargo confiscated. At the age of twenty-one Daniel joined the minute men in defense of the country against British ag- gression, and April 19, 1775, participated in the battle of Lexington, after which he en- listed for nine months in the company com- manded by Capt. Josiah Harris. On June 17, 1775, he was in the battle of Bunker Hill, and soon after with his old captain he joined the Continental service, belonging to the regi- ment commanded by Col. Bond. After six months spent in New York the regiment was ordered to Fort Edward, Canada. where they joined Gen. Schuyler about December 1, 1776. Later a thousand troops, including his com- · pany, were ordered to New Jersey to join the

army under Washington, where they arrived prior to the battle of Trenton, and took charge of the prisoners captured there.

Although his term of service had expired, Daniel McCarty remained with his cominand until January, 1777, when the army was en- camped at Morristown, where he was dis- charged, but could not return home, as he had no money, so re-enlisted for three years, re- ceiving $20 bounty, and liberty to go to his home in Boston and report for duty when or- dered. In the spring of 1777 his regiment was reorganized under Col. Grayton, Col. Bond having died, and he was appointed sergeant, and afterward served in that capacity. They were again ordered to Fort Edward, Canada, where they met Gen. Schuyler's army retreating be- fore Burgoyne, but soon after readvanced against that general, and engaged in all the battles that ended in the surrender of Bur- goyne at Saratoga. The troops made a forced march from Albany to Kingston in one day, a distance of sixty miles, hoping to prevent the British from burning the latter place, but ar- rived just in time to see thein escaping in their boats, after its destruction, October 16, 1777.

Soon after Mr. McCarty accompanied Gen. Gates to Yorktown, Va., as one of his body guards and was employed as messenger to and from Lancaster, Baltimore, and other places. In May, 1778, he returned north with that general, serving under him until the following December, after which he remained with his old company and regiment until honorably dis- charged December 1, 1779, at Peekskill, N. Y. When his enlistment expired he served as a substitute for Lieut. Young in Capt. Brown's company, Col. Mead's regiment of Connecti- cut State troops, employed chiefly in guarding the lines from Horseneck to Norwalk. About May 1, 1781, Gen. Waterbury took command of the Connecticut State troops, and gave Mr. McCarty a regular commission as lieutenant. in which capacity he served until the close of the war in 1783.

For a time Daniel McCarty made his home in Stamford, Conn., where his son Stephen was born February 14, 1783, but about r790. he came to Rhinebeck, Dutchess Co., N. Y., and became head miller at Schuyler's Mills (now destroyed) two miles east of the village. on the place now owned and occupied by Dr. George N. Miller. In 1794, while living there. his first wife died and was buried in the ceme tery connected with the little Methodist chapel

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

near their home. The children of this mar- riage were: Stephen, Robert, Tolbert, Daniel and Katy. Ile later married a Mrs. Jay, by whom he had three children: William, an Episcopal minister, who lived and died in Canada; Eliza; and Rev. Dr. John McCarty, also an Episcopal minister, who was chaplain in the United States army, and was known as the fighting priest during the Mexican war. The father later removed to the village of Rhinebeck, where his youngest son was born in the old stone house now standing on the Huntington place. He and his wife spent their last days on the old homestead of Stephen McCarty, father of our subject.

On that place the birth of James C. Mc- Carty occurred May 7, 1824, and at Rhinebeck he was educated by Messrs. Bell and Marcy, taking what constituted a full academic course, with the exception of Greek. On leaving school in 1843 he was made deputy clerk under his brother, Andrew Z., who was then county clerk for Oswego county, having been elected in the fall of 1840 for three years, and served as a member of the 34th Congress for Oswego and Madison counties, N. Y. For two years our subject filled that position, and while searching the records of that county for Peter Chandler, conceived the idea of studying law. As his term of service expired on January 1. 1844, he returned to Rhinebeck the following February and entered the law office of Ambrose Wager, with whom he remained for twelve years. In January, 1847, he was admitted to practice as attorney at law, being admitted at the supreme court at Albany, and his diploma signed by Green C. Bronson, and by the con- stitution of 1846 was counsellor at law and solicitor in chancery. While still with Mr. Wager he engaged in general practice, but in the fall of 1856 he was appointed superintend- ent of document room under President Pierce's administration, holding the position until the following fall, during which time the 34th Con- gress held both its first and second sessions.

Returning to Rhinebeck, Mr. McCarty opened an office of his own, where he contin- ued practice until 1861, when he was appointed assistant assessor of internal revenue for the district of Dutchess county, and during that year and the two years following was with Jacob W. Elsifer, at Red Hook. In 1864, however, he again resumed practice at Rhine- beck, although he still continued to be revenue collector. Up to 1872 he had been alone in

business, but at that time formed a partner- ship with George Esselstyn, which connection still continues, theirs being the oldest law firm in Dutchess county. He takes rank among the successful and prominent lawyers of the county, and is one of the most highly respected legal practitioners in the community.

Mr. McCarty was married in August, 1847, the lady of his choice being Miss Louisa I. Cross, daughter of Moulton Cross, of Pulaski, Oswego Co., N. Y., and two sons were born to them: J. Canfield, who died of heart dis- ease at the age of seventeen years; and Charles E., an attorney and counsellor at law, who is also engaged in the insurance business at Rhinebeck.

Mr. McCarty is an earnest defender of Re- publican principles, and is a man whose opin- ions are invariably held in respect. He has ever taken an active part in political affairs, in the years 1852, 1860 and 1861 served as supervisor of his town, and for several years has been clerk of the village, which office he is still holding to the satisfaction of all concerned. He has been quite prominently identified with civic societies, being the oldest living member of Rhinebeck Lodge No. 162, I. O. O. F .: belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity; and in 1860 joined the Masonic order, of which he is now an honorary member. In carlier years he took an active part in fraternal work, and passed through all the chairs of the lodges to which he belongs. For twenty years he has served as vestryman of the Episcopal Church, of which he is a faithful and consistent member.

M ON. JOHN P. H. TALLMAN, the subject of this biographical sketch, was born in the town of Washington, Duchess county, March 19, 1820. His ancestry for several generations had been residents of that county. Darius Tallman, his great-grandfather, emi- grated from Nantucket, married Miss South- · worth, and settled on Chestnut Ridge, near the place where in later years Mr. Benson J. Lossing, the historian, lived. His father's ma- ternal grandfather was Capt. Harris, of the British army during the Revolutionary war, whose wife was a Miss Velie, of Lagrange. Deacon Benham, of New Haven, a Revolu- tionary soldier, was his maternal grandfather; he lived in the town of Washington, and mar- ried Miss Comstock.

Tro PhiFalluan

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

Mr. Tallman's father, Darius Tallman, Jr., married Almira Benham in 1817. Both lived to be over eighty years of age.

John P. H. Tallman, the eldest son of these parents, worked upon his father's farm until he was fifteen years of age, when, being desirous of securing an education which would enable him to fill a position of usefulness in life, he entered the Amenia Seminary as a student, and remained at that institution for the three years required to complete the course of study. During that period he supported himself chiefly upon money borrowed for the purpose, and these loans were repaid out of his first earnings after entering upon the practice of his profession.

On leaving the Seminary he began reading Law in the office of Hon. James Hooker, then Surrogate of the County, and Hon. Virgil D. Bonesteel, in Poughkeepsie. While still a student his industry was rewarded by his pro- motion to the position of first clerk to the Sur- rogate; and upon the appointment of Hon. Robert Wilkinson to the surrogateship in 1840, Mr. Tallman became his managing clerk. In 1843, at the General Term in Utica, he was admitted to practice in the State Courts, and also in the District and Circuit Courts of the United States. The next year he was ap- pointed Master in Chancery for Duchess Coun- ty by the Governor, on the recommendation of a County Convention of Delegates, Mr. Owen T. Coffin and Hon. Gilbert Dean being his competitors.

In 1847 Mr. Tallman received the unan- imous nomination of the Democratic party for the office of Surrogate for Duchess County. His opponent was the Hon. John Thompson, the nominee of the Whig party. In this con- test he was successful; but before the election, and especially during the first term of his serv- ice, he was so violently and persistently assailed by the local organ of the Whigs that he deemed it necessary that he should lay before his fel- low-citizens a defence of his conduct. This presentation of his case attracted much atten- tion by its clear and convincing argument. Among those who read this paper, and were impressed by the evidence of intellectual vigor it displayed, was the Rev. Dr. Stephen Olin, then President of Wesleyan University. Short- ly afterward that institution conferred upon Mr. Tallman the honorary degree of Master of Arts.

Mr. Tallman's friends insisted upon his be-

coming a candidate for re-election to the posi- tion of Surrogate. To this he consented, and he was re-elected by an increased majority. At the expiration of his second term, he de- clined to be again a candidate.

An interesting reminiscence of this period is a document to which Mr. Tallman attached high value. His political and personal adver- saries carried their opposition so far as to pre- sent to the Governor of the State, Hon. Ham- ilton Fish, a petition for his impeachment. The petitioners, who belonged to the same political party as the Governor, naturally hoped that their request would prevail with him. The Governor, after carefully considering the arguments and evidence on both sides, wrote on the back of the paper: "I see nothing in the course 'of the officer complained of but what is commendable. H. Fish.'

After the conclusion of his second term as Surrogate he never again held a political office. He was, however, for many years interested in local and State politics, and for a long time was chairman of the County Central Com- mittee. His tact in management and his rare gift of personal influence over men fitted him for success in political life, had he chosen to pursue that course. But although tempting offers of preferment were held out to him, he concluded to devote himself to the practice of his profession.

His first partnership was with Hon. Gilbert Dean, afterward judge. Subsequently he was connected with Mr. Charles Powers, Mr. George W. Payne, Mr. George W. Lord and in later years with Mr. Walter Farrington, Capt. Pelatiah Ward, who fell in one of the battles of the Civil war; Hon. William I. Thorn, Hon. Homer A. Nelson, and Hon. A. M. Card were students in his office.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 9

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