Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 92

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

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T SAAC SWIFT belongs to a family that for 1

many generations have resided in this coun- try and taken a prominent part in its history. He traces his origin back to William Swift, who was born in England in 1634 and died in that country in 1705. He was followed by his son William, who was born in 1654, and died in 1701. The next is Benjamin Swift, whose birth occurred in West Falmouth, Mass. He wedded Mary Gifford, and died in 1775. Their third son, Zebulon, wedded Rebecca Wing, of Falmouth, and Abraham, their third son, who was united in marriage with Johanna Sisson, became the grandfather of our subject.

The earliest recollections of Isaac Swift are of the old home farm where his birth took place November 19, 1822, and he there early became familiar with the duties which fall to the lot of an agriculturist. On reaching manhood he continued the cultivation and im- provement of that place until April, 1881, when he disposed of the same, and has since lived retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil.

Mr. Swift was married to Miss Lydia H. Aliny, a native of Vermont, and a daughter of Obediah and Rhoda (Barrett) Almy, who were the parents of six children, namely: Helen, Lydia, Rhoda, Margaret, Stephen and James. On both the paternal and maternal sides Mrs. Swift was of English origin, and the families were all members of the Society of Friends. She died November 12, 1857, leaving two children: Charles I., a contractor and builder of Milbrook, Dutchess county; and Henrietta, wife of W. L. Swift, editor of the " Round

Table," of Millbrook. On January 5. 1858, our subject was united in marriage with Rhoda A. Almy, a sister of his former wife.

As a farmer, Mr. Swift was quite success- ful, always fair and honorable in all his deal- ings, and has the confidence and respect of all who know him. He is a progressive, enter- prising citizen, taking a deep interest in every- thing for the advancement of his town and county. He uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party, and he and his estimable wife are members of the Friends Church.

AMES H. WRIGHT. This highly respected citizen of the town of Stanford, Dutchess

county, has resided upon his present farın since 1853, and is successfully engaged in gen- eral agriculture. His early ancestors emi- grated from England to this country, and his grandfather, John Wright, was a native of the town of Fishkill, Dutchess county, where he devoted his whole life to agricultural pursuits. In his family were twelve children, as follows: Polly, Susan, Lydia, Ruth, Isaac I., John, Aaron, Esther, Dena, Peter, Freelove and Harvey.

Isaac I. Wright, the father of our subject, was also born in the town of Fishkill, where he later attended school, and learned the car- penter's, wagonmaker's and blacksmith's trades. In 1836 he came to the town of Stanford, lo- cating on a farm near McIntyre Station, which he operated for a number of years. The lat- ter part of his life, however, was spent at Bangall, where he died in 1871, at the ripe old age of eighty-two years. He was a self- made man, having made all his possessions by his own industry, diligence and economy, and is entitled to high praise for his commendable activity. He was a member of the Baptist Church at Bangall, and in politics was first a Whig, later a Republican. He was married in the town of Fishkill to Jennett Howe, daugh- ter of Libbens Howe, and they became the parents of the following children: Margaret and Hannah Maria (both deceased); Ymar (deceased); James Harvey, subject of this sketch; John (deceased). Lucy Ann, wife of Joel Williams; Rebecca, wife of Clark Guern- sey; Phoebe, wife of Eli Wright; and George, of Mount Ross, Milan.

The birth of our subject occurred April 5, 1820, in the town of East Fishkill, where he began his education, later continuing his stud-

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ies in the town of Stanford, and at the Jacob Willets Boarding School in the town of Wash- ington, Dutchess county. He grew to man's estate upon his father's farm, and as soon as old enough assisted in its cultivation until his marriage, gaining a good practical knowledge of the business under the wise guidance of his father.

In the town of Stanford, December 5, 1853, Mr. Wright was married to Mary A. Humphrey, daughter of John and Clarissa Humphrey, of that township. To them were born six chil- dren, in order of birth as follows: (1) John H. married Ella Vandewater, December 21, 1880, and they have three children-Ralph, Maud and Roy. (2) Clara, of Yonkers, is the wife of Franklin Talmadge, by whom she has two children-Mabel and Marian. (3) Isaac I. is deceased. (4) Charles W., who makes his home at Clinton Corners, Dutchess county, married Della Stewart, and they have three children-Harold and Edith (twins) and Ethel. (5) Ira is the next in order of birth. (6) Net- tie, the youngest, is also deceased.

Mr. Wright is a keen, practical man, well gifted with mental vigor. His genial manners and sturdy integrity have won him a host of friends, and he is highly regarded by all with whom he comes in contact. He is a sincere and earnest Christian, a member of the Bap- tist Church for fifty-four years. He united with the Church in 1842, and served the same for several years as chorister and superintend- ent of the Sabbath-school, and trustee; was elected clerk of the Church in 1874, and still continues as clerk; and later was elected dea- con of said Church. On account of his views on the temperance question, he is a stanch supporter of the Prohibition party.

D WIGHT ABEL. Jacob Abel, grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, where he passed his days in agricultural pursuits. He married Miss Margaret Uhl, by whom he had three children: William W., John U. and Mary.

William W. Abel, father of our subject, was born March 1, 1814, in the town of Union- vale, and during his boyhood attended the Nine Partners School, after which he taught school for a time. Later he followed agricult- ural pursuits exclusively, becoming one of the most extensive farmers in his township. He

took an active interest in political matters, al- ways voting with the Whig or Republican party, and held a number of township offices, including those of supervisor, justice of the peace and revenue collector. He was twice married, first time to Helen Cornell, by whom he had two children: Evaline and Mary, the last named dying at the age of twelve years. Evaline married Henry Brill, of Beekman, N. Y., and two children were born to them: Theodore R., who married Miss Emma Hicok, and Nellie C. For his second wife William WV. Abel wedded Miss Mary Jane Austin, daughter of Beriah and Sarah (Waite) Austin, and four children were born to them: Orlin B., Dwight, H. Clay and John Jacob. Of these Orlin B. is more fully spoken of else- where; H. Clay was born in the town of Un- ionvale, and received a good common-school education, after which he followed the pro- fession of teaching. He is now engaged in mercantile business at Wappingers Falls, Dutch- ess county. Socially, he affiliates with the F. & A. M. He married Miss Maggie Traver, by whom he had two children, William C. and Melburn T., and after her death he wedded Miss Mary Manning.

Dwight Abel was born in 1846 in the town of Unionvale, where his entire life has been passed. His elementary education was re- ceived at the schools of the neighborhood of his boyhood home, and later he pursued his studies at Charlotteville, Schoharie Co., N. Y. He early began to assist in the labors of the home farm, and has since devoted his time and attention to rural pursuits with ex- cellent results. Politically, he is identified with the Republican party, but has never aspired to public office. He is enterprising and public- spirited. On December 18, 1867, he married Miss Adaline E. Coe, daughter of Reuben L. Coe, of Unionvale, and they became the par- ents of three children: Charles H., born Jan- uary 27, 1869, and who died at the age of twenty-one years; Walter J., born April 25, 1872; and Jennie L., born February 25, 1887. The second son, Walter J. Abel, was born in the town of Unionvale, in 1872, attended the Claverack College, and is now engaged in farm- ing in the town of Lagrange, Dutchess county. He married Miss Anna C. Hyzer, daughter of Abram Hyzer, an agriculturist of that town- ship, and their union has been blessed with one child, Edwin Dwight, born January 11, 1896.

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E DWARD M. SMITH. In Munsel's "Amer- ican Ancestry, giving the name and de- scent of the male line of Americans whose an- cestors settled in the United States previous to the Declaration of Independence," we have the genealogy of Edward M. Smith, the author of the History of Rhinebeck, as follows:

Edward Martin Smith, of Rhinebeck, N. Y., born at Red Hook, N. Y., March 29, 1817, the eleventh of thirteen children, left home at the age of twelve to work on uncle's farm; tailor's apprentice 1833-1838; journeyman tailor in Rhinebeck 1838-1840; master tailor from last date; co-founder of the Rhinebeck Gazette 1846; merchant tailor 1850; president of the village 1875; president of the school board 1881-1889; author of the History of Rhinebeck 1881; married September 13, 1842, Mary Elizabeth Davis, daughter of Jabez Davis, of Shropshire, England.

Son of Philip Smith, born June 27, 1773: died at Milan, N. Y., December 13, 1851; farmer; spoke German, Dutch and English with equal fluency; possessed much mechanical skill and ingenuity; married December 4, 1796, Anna Coopernail, daughter of William Cooper- nail, of the Mohawk Valley, descendant from Jan Van Koppenol, who came to America in 1659.

Son of Johannes Schmidt, born in Rhine- beck, March 30, 1730; died April 18, 1813; married February 3, 1761, Elizabeth Sipperley, born August 12, 1741; died March 25, 1804; daughter of Frederick Sipperley and Catharine Wegeler, daughter of Hans Michael Wegeler, one of the Palatine founders of the town of Rhinebeck; married August 15, 1727.

Son of Zacharias Schmidt, born in Ger- many; was clerk, fore-reader, deacon, elder and treasurer of the Reformed German Church; located on part of his farm three miles north of the present village of Rhinebeck; married about 1728 Anna Maria, daughter of Valentin Bauder, who with his wife, Anna Margaretha Stopplebeen, came to America in 1710 on the ship .. Midfort," Capt. Fowles, with the Rev. Joshua Kocherthal and other Protestant re- ligious refugees from the Palatinate on the Rhine.

At the death of his father, Philip Smith, the only one of four sons who remained a fariner and at home at maturity, became the owner of the homestead, with the farm-stock and three slaves, Tom and Flore and their son Tobe. As the older sons of the family were

approaching manhood, Tom, an intelligent negro, made up his mind that his master could do very well without him, and besought him, very earnestly, to sell him to Peter Van Ben- thuysen, who had expressed a wish to own him; which, after much hesitation, he finally did. Before Tom had been a fortnight on the premises of his new master he absconded, without leaving a clue to his destination be- hind him.

After 1827, when New York had freed all her slaves by an act of the Legislature, Tom came into the State from Massachusetts with a good team of horses and a wagon, his own property, with which he was earning his living as a teamster. He was on his way to the Hudson river for a load of merchandise, and sought out his old master, then living in the town of Milan, to tell him that when he im- portuned him to sell him he had fully made up his mind to run away, but preferred to do so from a new rather than his old master, to whom and his family he had become greatly attached; and that he was quite as eager that he should obtain a good price for him as he was that he should sell him.

Tobe had long been given away, a mar- riage present to a daughter of the family: Flora had gone away, the wife of a decent negro, able to support her; at his death she found a home with her son, Tobias, her only offspring, who earned his living mainly by fishing and fiddling. Old and tottering, she walked four miles to be present at her old mistress' funeral.

In 1822 Philip Smith sold the leasehold of the old Red Hook home, and took his family of twelve children to a larger farm in Colum- bia county, N. Y., under a Livingston Lease, where the thirteenth child was soon added to the family. Here the older children soon found it necessary to look beyond the farm for a livelihood, and drifted away to various occu- pations. Before 1830 this farm was also dis- posed of, and what was left of the family be- came the owners in fee of a small farm in the town of Milan. Here the father died, Decem- ber 13, 1831, his children all living, and at his funeral; the mother October 26, 1864, her thirteen children all living and at her funeral, the youngest forty-one years old, who is now, and has been for several terms, a justice of the peace in Germantown, Columbia Co., N Y. The grandfather, Johannes Schmidt, served as a soldier in the French and Indian war; was an " Associator" at the outbreak of the Revo-

E. M. Smith.

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lution, and did what he could for the freedom and independence of his country.

On May 2, 1896, the semi-centennial of the Rhinebeck Gasette, the present editor and pro- prietor published what follows about its founder and his History of Rhinebeck:

When Mr. Smith disposed of the Gazette establish- ment, and ceased to be its editor, he did not wholly abandon his literary work. The following item copied from Mason's Illustrated History of Dutchess County, published in 1882, gives due credit to what he has since done in the literary line:

" During his residence of forty-three years in Rhine- beck, Mr. Smith has collected from various sources the material included in his history of this old town. It is a work of years, in the preparation of which much time, labor and money have been expended, and to which, through the kindness of the author, we are indebted for nearly all the data relating to Rhinebeck. His work, more complete in its minutiæ than can be any history of the county at large, may be justly regarded as a valuable contribution to the historical data of the county and State. Mr. Smith's History of Rhinebeck was published in 1881, mainly for subscribers, and the entire edition was ex- hausted in a few months. No copies are to be had now, 'for love or money.' Persisting in his researches, we are told that he is now in possession of facts related to the history of the town and its early settlers that will enable him to revise, correct and greatly enhance the interest of the work, and that he is accordingly employing some of his leisure time in re-writing and enlarging it. Having entered the eightieth year of his age, Mr. Smith will hardly assume the task of its republication. We hope some one will secure the manuscript, and in due time offer it to the people."

G EORGE W. CRONK. Prominent among the successful and enterprising farmers of Dutchess county may be found the subject of this biographical sketch, whose home is situated in the town of Unionvale, and who is consid- ered one of the most industrious and worthy citizens of this part of the county. Here his entire life has been passed, his birth having occurred in the town of Amenia, in 1818, while his education was obtained in the schools of Lagrange and Fishkill town. His paternal grandfather, Jacob Cronk, was a native of Hol- land, and on coming to the New World lo- cated in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, about eight miles from Poughkeepsie, and there engaged in farming.

Timothy Cronk, the father of our subject, was born in the town of Hyde Park, in 1748. He became a resident of the town of Fishkill, where he worked at his trade of coopering, and was a faithful soldier in the war of 1812. He was twice married, by his first union having three children: I Hiram, Samuel and Rhoda. For his second wife he wedded Deborah A. Brown, and to them were born five children:

Sarah, who married Saxon Raymond; Harri- son, who was killed in war; Henry, who died unmarried; Nelson, who married Harriet Mar- shall; and George, our subject.

During his youth George Cronk learned the weaver's trade, at which he worked for nine years, later for ten years was in the mill- ing business, and then turned his attention to carpentering and masonry. For the past thirty years, however, he has devoted his attention exclusively to his farming interest, and though enterprising and public-spirited, has never cared for office. He married Miss Emeline Howard, who was born April 26, 1824, in the town of Dover, and was there educated in its common schools.

Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cronk, namely: (1) Mary, born August 10, 1843, married George Hillker, a farmer of the town of Poughkeepsie, and they have one son, George Henry, now an operator on an elevated railroad in New York City. (2) George H., born October 18, 1845, who engaged in farm- ing after completing his education. At the age of twenty-one years he enlisted at Poughkeep- sie in the 150th N. Y. V. I., and served until the close of the war, being in the battle of Petersburg, and also at Appomatox when Lee surrendered. He holds membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. Carpentering is now his occupation. He married Annie Harrington, and they have had four children- George B., who married Agnes Salter; Julia A., who married William E. Ostram; William, who died at the age of eleven years; and Her- bert. (3) Helen A., born April 3, 1848, died May 18, 1849. (4) Albert, born June 15, 1850, went to California as overseer of a farm for Governor Stanford, and later was inspector in gold mines. He married Sarah S. Perry, of that State, and died May 15, 1884. (5) Will- iam B., born August 20, 1852, died July 8, 1874. (6) Emma, born November 27, 1854, married James P. Organ, a farmer of Noxon, Dutchess county, and they have two sons- Floyd and William. (7) Martha, born July 26, 1858, married Harvey Van Dewater, for- merly a farmer, but now engaged in merchan- dising at New Hackensack, N. Y. (8) John, born October 23, 1860, is by trade a carpenter, but is also engaged in farming in the town of Washington, Dutchess county. He married Ella Bostwick, an adopted daughter of Henry Bostwick. (9) Charles E., born May 30, 1862, is an architect of Herkimer, N. Y., and is now

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finishing the plans for ex-President Harrison's summer residence in the Adirondack Mount- ains. He married Elizabeth Risedorf. (10) Sarah E., born October 23, 1864, completes the family. On April 28, 1897, she married John E. Forshay, a carpenter by trade, of New York City. They were all born and educated in the town of Amenia, Dutchess county.

Zebaniah Howard, the grandfather of Mrs. Cronk, was a native of the town of Dover, and engaged in farming from youth until his death, conducting a good farm which he owned on Chestnut Ridge. In religious belief he was a Friend. By his marriage with Miss Lydia he had the following children: John, Charles, Sylvester, Valirie, Pontius, Edward and Silas.

The birth of Silas Howard, the father of Mrs. Cronk, occurred in the town of Amenia. but most of his life was passed in Fishkill town, and throughout his life he followed the profession of teaching, being one of the able instructors of the county. By birthright he was a member of the Society of Friends. He was united in marriage with Miss Amelia Cash, daughter of David and Amelia Cash, farming people of Columbia county, N. Y. They be- came the parents of nine children, namely: William, born August 15, 1809, married Pau- lina Storms; Rachel, born May 28, 1811, mar- ried Isaac Harrington; Aaron, born March 26, 1813, married Harriet Sweet; David, born February 21, 1815, married Caroline Sweet; Silas, born December 21, 1816, married Cath- arine Odell: Asa, born September 24, 1819, married Jane Northrop; Lydia, born August 29, 1821, married John Ulrich; Emeline, wife of our subject, is next in order of birth; and Elizabeth, born February 28, 1828, married Joseph Martin.

J OHN W. PULVER, a well-known business man of Millerton, Dutchess county, and the proprietor of extensive bottling works, was born July 23. 1830, at Red Hook, Dutchess Co., N. Y., where his ancestors were among the pioneer settlers. His grandfather, David Pulver, was a native of the same place, and became a successful farmer there, owning a tract of land near the old post road between Upper and Lower Red Hook, now belonging to Mr. Coons. David Pulver was a substan- tial citizen, influential in local matters, and prosperous in business. In addition to his

farming, he engaged largely in the breeding of running horses. He died in 1842, and his wife, formerly Catherine Simmons, died in Red Hook, in 1836. They had seven children: David, Henry, Peter and Zachariah (twins), Anna (Mrs. William Fredenburgh), Peggy (Mrs. John Witherwax), and one who died in infancy.

Zachariah Pulver, our subject's father, was born at the old home at Red Hook, in 1793, and lived there until 1835, following farming as an occupation. He and his brother, Peter, made their home together for sixty years, and married two sisters, the daughters of Philip Teeter, a leading citizen of the town of Milan, and a descendent of a German family. Peter's wife's naine was Maria, and Zachariah's wife's name was Catherine. A few years after mar- riage they moved to Columbia county, and bought a farin of 209 acres in the town of Chatham, adding to it later until the farm contained about 300 acres. Zachariah Pulver was a strong Democrat, and a leading official of the Lutheran Church, of which this family have been members from early times. He died in 1873, his wife surviving him fourteen years. They had five children, of whom two are now living. Mary died in infancy; Cather- ine at the age of three, and David Henry in 1874. The survivors are John W., our sub- ject; and Elizabeth A., who married Lewis Smith, of Chatham, New York.

The subject of our sketch received a good English education in the district schools of the town of Chatham, and was especially noted for his ability as a mathematician, being considered the best in Columbia county. His brother David also possessed the same powers to an unusual degree. Mr. Pulver left school at the age of sixteen, but he has been an unwearied reader and is well informed upon general topics. He remained at home until he was twenty-two years old, and then took charge of a farın be- longing to his father, in Rensselaer county, and three years later he moved to another at the head of North Chatham Village, where he re- mained eleven years. He then sold out to a brother and removed to Nassau, Rensselaer county, and engaged in the milling business in a rented mill. Later he bought the property and formed a partnership with Mr. Davis, the owner ; but this venture proved unfortunate, and he sold his interest to Mr. Davis before a year had elapsed. The following year he was in partnership with E. M. Crum in the mow-

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ing-machine business, and on disposing of his share in that he bought a store and followed the business alone. In 1871 he moved to Amenia, and engaged in his present employ- ment of bottling during the summer season, and cutting pork and making sausage in winter. This establishment was removed to Millerton in 1877, and has since commanded the largest business of the sort in this locality.

Mr. Pulver is one of the leading men of the town of Northeast, an unwavering Democrat and an earnest worker for local improvements. He was supervisor in 1888 and 1889, and in 1890 was defeated by only one vote. In 1852 he was married to Miss Abbie Middlebrook, daughter of Aaron Middlebrook, and has had six children: Luella, who married Collins Barton, of Northeast town; Elzada; Elmer; Anna M .; George; and Andrew, the proprietor of the "Millerton House". Of this family the eldest and the youngest are the only survivors. Mr. Pulver and his wife have been prominent mem- bers of the Presbyterian Church for many years, and he also belongs to Webatuck Lodge No. 480, F. & A. M.

J VAN NESS DUTCHER is a prominent citizen and a worthy representative of one of the honored pioneer families of the town of Dover, Dutchess county. Cornelius Dutcher, his grandfather, was numbered among the first settlers of the township, where through- out life he followed agricultural pursuits. In his family were ten children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: Simeon, April 21, 1772; Gabriel, July 11, 1773; Cornelius, March 15, 1775; Priscilla, December 27, 1776; Peter, July 20, 1779; Wheaton, October 20, 1781; Joshua, May 12, 1784; Ruleff, June 25, 1786; Betsy, March 19, 1788; and Sylva, April 1, 1792.

The birth of Joshua Dutcher, the father of our subject, occurred in the town of Dover. He acquired his education in the common schools and followed farming. He was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Carrington, daugh- ter of Daniel and Thankful Carrington, agri- culturists, of Connecticut. Three children graced this union, namely: (1) Jennette, born July 9, 1821, married Aaron Butts, a police- man of New York City, and they had three children-Cora; Blendina, married to J. G. Suydam, of New York City; and Joshua, who

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 92

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