Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 94

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

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On leaving the old home, Mr. Hall began the operation of a 480-acre farm in the town of Dover, Dutchess county, on shares, work-

Leonard D Hall

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ing in that way some four years, and the fol- lowing eight years were passed upon a farm of 700 acres in the town of Pawling, which be- longed to James Hooker, of Poughkeepsie. Returning to the town of Beekman he pur- chased 160 acres, on which he made his home for thirteen years, when he disposed of the same, and for three years boarded at Pough- keepsie. On the expiration of that period he bought his present residence at Poughquag, where he has since lived.

Mr. Hall has made his own way in the world, the money he earned from his father, as before related, being the sole pecuniary founda- tion of his prosperity. His boyhood ambition was to become comfortably well off and inde- pendent, and his expectations have been real- ized, for to-day he is a man of wealth, made so, not by speculation, but by industry and good management. He relates many interest- ing tales of adventure which his ancestors had with the Indians, one being about Amos Spaf- ford, a distant relative, lying concealed for many days in the swamps in order to avoid capture by the Indians, at which time the rest of the family escaped. Mr. Hall has always voted the Republican ticket, and never had a desire to change; he has never cared for polit- ical preferment, though at one time he served as commissioner of highways in the town of Beekman. He has never united with any re- ligious denomination, but is liberal of his means in support of the M. E. Church, of which his wife is a member, while he believes in God and humanity. This honored couple have the esteem and friendship of all who know them-young and old, rich and poor- and their hospitable home is always open to the reception of their numerous friends. Mr. Hall attributes his prosperity to hard work, honesty and sound judgment.

W ILLIAM BURNAP JORDAN, a well- known and reliable agriculturist of the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county, is a native of the same, having been born there December 4, 1848, and is a son of Josephus D. Jordan, who was born in Hillsdale town- ship, Columbia Co., N. Y., in 1808. The family came from Belfast, Ireland.

Major William Jordan, the great-grand- father of our subject, was born at North Cas- tle, Westchester Co.,, N. Y., September 22, 1751, and obtained his title while serving as a

soldier in the war for independence. By oc- cupation he was a farmer, a pursuit he fol- lowed the greater part of his life in Columbia county. By his marriage with Ruth Ferris, of the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, he had eleven children, whose names and dates of birth are as follows: John, 1774; William, 1777; Rebecca, 1781 ; Benjamin, 1783; Abram, 1785; Nancy, 1787; Ambrose, 1789; Daniel Gano, 1791; Lucy, 1793; Hannah, 1796; and Asa Allen, 1798. Of this family, Ambrose became a prominent and leading lawyer, hav- ing a State-wide reputation.

The birth of William Jordan, Jr., the grandfather of our subject, occurred in Hills- dale township, Columbia county, and in 1803 he was married to Rhoda Allen, who was born in 1782, the wedding being celebrated at the old Allen homestead, which has been in the possession of the family for over a century and a half. He was a captain in the war of 1812. The names and dates of birth of their children are as follows: Hanna J., 1805; Moors, 1806; Josephus Dunham, 1808; Ambrose Latting, 1809; Ruth, 1811; Cornelia Allen, 1813; Polly Hoffman, 1814; Sally Ann, 1816; James Philip, 1818; Harriet Tuttle, 1820; Mathias Bragden Talmadge, 1821; Jane Elizabeth, 1823; and William Howard Allen, 1826.

Josephus D. Jordan received an academic education at Claverack, Columbia county, and later studied law with his uncle, Ambrose L. Jordan. After his admission to the bar he practiced his profession at Hudson, N. Y., for a number of years, and later at various places in Columbia and Dutchess counties. He was one of the leading attorneys of his time, was a well-read man, understood civil engineering, and was much interested in music, in which he was well educated. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian; politically, he supported the Republican party. On January 13, 1844, Josephus D. Jordan was married, by Rev. W. N. Sayre, to Mary Elizabeth Knickerbocker. who was born at Poughkeepsie, October 19, 1819, a daughter of John Knickerbocker. Three children graced this union, namely: Mary Burnap, born in 1846, died unmarried; William B., subject of this sketch; and Laura Alling, born in 1852, who became the wife of L. O. Pitcher, of New York City, but is now deceased. The mother of these children died in 1867, the father in 1885.

William Burnap Jordan completed his edu- cation by one year's attendance at the academy

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conducted by Mr Bisbee, known as the Poughkeepsie Military Institute, and since leaving the school-room, at the age of nine- teen years, he has been engaged in the oper- ation of his fine farm of 150 acres, one of the best in the town of Pine Plains. Being quite a reader, he is well informed on the current literature of the day. Public-spirited and pro- gressive, he has always taken quite an interest in local affairs, and is a strong Republican in politics. From 1878 until 188o he served as supervisor, and during that time was on the equalization committee, the district attorney committee, and the committee on the county treasurer's accounts, and the physician's and coroner's accounts. With the Presbyterian Church he and Mrs. Jordan hold membership, and he has served as elder and trustee in same. On December 28. 1876, Mr. Jordan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Elizabeth Harris, of Grand Rapids. Mich., and three children have been born to them, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, born in 1877, a graduate of Seymour Smith's Academy in the town of Pine Plains, class of '95, and at present teaching school in her home town: Cyrus Victor, born in 1880. also a graduate of Seymour Smith Academy, class of '95, and now attending col- lege in New York City; and William Burnap. born in 1885. The mother of these died in 1889, and in 1894 Mr. Jordan wedded her half- sister Myra.

Israel Harris, the grandfather of Mrs. Jor- dan, was a son of John Harris, who came from Lynn. Mass., and founded the Pine Plains branch of the family in Dutchess county. His children were: William and John, who be- came residents of Onondaga county, N. Y .: Victor and Myron, who in 1849 removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., where they became ex- tensively engaged in the lumber business; Eunice, the wife of Henry Akin, of Fort Col- lins, Colo. : Mary, wife of William Herrick. of Salt Point, N. Y .: and Silas, who made his home in Grand Rapids. Mich. Of these, My- ron was a member of the House of Represent- atives of Michigan; Silas served as speaker of the same body, and Victor was a State senator.

Myron Harris, the father of Mrs. Jordan, was born in Dutchess county, in 1820. He married Mary Gleason, by whom he had chil- dren as follows: Mary Elizabeth, first wife of William B. Jordan (she graduated from Oak Hill Seminary, New Haven, Conn. ; and Mat-

tie Gleason, who married C. B. Bogue. For his second wife Mr. Harris wedded Miriam Carpenter, daughter of Benjamin Carpenter, of Lansing, Mich., and by her he had four children, viz .: Abbie, who died unmarried; Myra, second wife of W. B. Jordan she grad- uated from Seymour Smith Academy ; Lucy Carpenter, wife of George Straver, of Denver. Colo .: and I. Victoria, of Fort Collins. The father of this interesting family was one of the prominent Democrats of Michigan, and con- tinued to make his home at Grand Rapids up to his death in Isso.

J AMES H. HAIGHT, a prominent miller of Stanfordville. Dutchess county, was born December 9. 1851, in the town of Wash- ington. He is of Puritan ancestry, being of the eighth generation in direct descent from Simon Hayt (or Haight), who came from Eng- land in 1829 and located first at Salem, Mass. He was one of a party to leave that town and settle at Charlestown, Mass., where, previous to their coming. there was but one white fam- ilv. From Charlestown he went to Dorches- ter, where his name appears about 1630, and from there to Scituate and later to Windsor. Conn .. his name appearing there in 1640. He afterward moved to Fairfield, and then, about 1649, to Stanford, Conn., where he died. He had two sons-Benjamin and Moses. The latter was born before 1637, and came from Fairfield, Conn .. to East Chester, N. Y., in 1665. He married, and reared one child, Moses, who was born before 1662, and lived in East Chester. He married, and had several children, among them a son. Moses, who was born in East Chester. October 28, 1696. He was a farmer by occupation, and moved, in early manhood, to Crum Elbow, being the first Quaker to come to this locality. He married and reared a family, among whom was a son. Joseph, born in Dutchess county, who married and had eight children-Joseph. Jonathan, Oba- diah, Rachel, Reuben, Amos. David and Dan- iel. Reuben was born in Washington town- ship, January 17. 1758. He married Miss Mary Haight, and reared a family of eleven children, whose names with dates of birth and death are as follows: Stephen, January S. 1788. died September 15, 1851; Silas R., Feb- ruary 4, 1790, died January 18, 1848; Jona- than, April 27. 1792. died November 13. 1873; David. February 3, 1794, died March 31, 1795;

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David (2), October 17, 1795, died March 23, 1 800; Daniel, August 24, 1797, died in August, 1860; Sarah, July 10, 1799, died October 19, 1839: Phæbe, August 9, 1801, died January 17, 1885; Walter, April 26, 1803, died May 27, 1879; Joseph, May 31, 1805, died Decem- ber 7, 1851, and John R., June 17, 1808.

Silas R. Haight, our subject's grandfather, was born in the town of Washington. He married Lydia Congdon, a native of the town of Unionvale, Dutchess county, where her an- cestors were among the early settlers, her great- grandfather, James Congdon, coming from Rhode Island. His son Ephraim, her grand- father, and James Congdon, her father, were leading farmers in their day. After their mar- riage Silas Haight and his wife moved to a farm in Pleasant Valley, where they lived eleven years, and then came to the town of Washing- ton to spend their last days. They had three children : James, who died in childhood ; Reuben S., our subject's father; and Phœbe J., who married John Clement, a farmer of Wash- ington. Silas Haight was a Democrat in poli- tics, and he and his wife were both Quakers in religious faith. His wife survived him thirteen years, dying December 25, 1861.

Reuben S. Haight was born in the town of Pleasant Valley, January 24, 1828, and moved to a farmi in the town of Washington with his parents in 1835. He married September 11, 1849, Marie Antoinette Howard, a lady of En- glish descent, who was born in Ontario county, a daughter of James Howard, a native of the town of Pawling, Dutchess county. Her uncle, Thomas Howard, was a farmer in Washington. Reuben Haight and his wife lived on a farm north of Millbrook for seven years, and in April, 1866, after one year on a farm near Washing- ton Hollow, and eight in the town of Washing- ton, Mr. Haight bought a gristmill at Millbrook, and has since resided there. He is one of the leading citizens of the place, and a Republican in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Reformed Church, in which he has been an elder for several years. They have six chil- dren : Laura, who married Thorn Devel, a farmer of Washington ; James H., our subject; Gertrude, the wife of Albert F. Smith, a lum- ber dealer in Millbrook; Lucy, who lives at home; and Howard and Jay, who conduct a feed store at Millbrook.

James H. Haight, the subject proper of our sketch, attended the district schools of the town of Washington, and later the Nine Part-

ners Boarding School, mastering his studies with characteristic energy. Until he was twenty-one he worked in his father's mills, and in the spring of 1873 he started in the same business near Stanfordville, although at that time he had no capital, and paid interest on all the money invested. Of this he has made a success, and his proved ability, judgment and enterprise give him a high rank in business circles. He was married on June 14, 1876, to Miss Georgia A. Thorne-daughter of Dr. John S. Thorne, of Millbrook, and has two children: Francis T. and Thorne.

Politically, he is a stanch Republican, but he is not a politician in any sense and has not held office. He is, however, prominent in local affairs, and a leading supporter of every movement for the welfare of the community.

W ILLIAM TOMPKINS, who was called from this earth January 23, 1894, was one of the well-known and highly respected native citizens of Dutchess county, his birth having occurred in the town of Pine Plains March 9, 1810, and was a son of Thomas and Judith (Acker) Tompkins. His father, who was born in Westchester county, N. Y., in 1778, devoted his entire life to agriculture in that county and in the town of Pine Plains, Dutchess county. He passed away November 23, 1854. His household included five chil- dren, namely: John, deceased; Stephen; Will- iam; Jemima, deceased wife of Smith Acker; and Thomas, deceased.

At the age of six years William Tompkins accompanied his parents to Westchester coun- ty, where he attended school and was reared to rural life. He contributed his share to the cultivation and improvement of the old home- stead, and later secured employment on the sloops running from Sing Sing to New York City. He served as foreinan on the construc- tion when the aqueduct was being built to New York, but most of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuit, in which he was very suc- cessful.

In the town of Mount Pleasant, Westchester county, December 20, 1837, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Tompkins and Miss Jane Merritt, daughter of John Merritt, and they became the parents of three children, as fol- lows: Ophelia was born June 5, 1839, mar- ried Arthur Sherman, January, 1865, and had one child, Jennie Sherman; Uriah W., an at-

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torney of New York City, was born December 12, 1840, married Hattie Coons (she died leaving three sons-Harry L., William C. and Frank W.): Emmet, of Staatsburg, Dutchess county, was born October 23, 1842, and mar- ried Henrietta Kipp, by whom he had the fol- lowing children: William (deceased), Luella, and Sanford (deceased).

After his marriage, Mr. Tompkins removed to the town of Pine Plains, where he engaged in farming until 1870, when he went to Rhine- beck, and there lived for five years. On the expiration of that period he went to Clinton Corners, where his remaining years were passed in retirement. He was one of the self-made men of the county, having commenced life without capital other than his strong hands and resolute will, and attained to a fine posi- tion, socially and financially, among his fellow citizens. He was a man of indomitable energy and perseverance, and in early life was an un- tiring worker, so that he secured a comfortable competence, which enabled him to lay aside business cares and rest in the enjoyment of his former toil. In his religions views he held to the faith of the Society of Friends, and his death was widely and sincerely mourned. In politics he was an earnest Republican.

W ILLET TITUS. In the year 1635, on the third of April, the good ship "Hopewell ", William Burdick, master, sailed from London, England, for Massachusetts. With her came Robert Titus ( 1), husbandman, of St. Katherines, aged thirty-five, and his two children-John (aged eight years) and Edmund (aged five years). This family at first located in Boston, but soon moved to Weymouth, and from there to Rehoboth, where four children were born, namely: Samuel, Susannah, Abiel

and Content. About 1654, the entire family, except the eldest son, John, went to Long Island, and took up land in Huntington, Suf- folk county. The second son had previously (about 1650) settled in Westbury, L. I., where he had acquired a large tract of land, and erected the house in which his descendants still reside. Edmund and his wife were Quak- ers, and most of his descendants still hold to that faith. Robert Titus (1) married Hannah -and had children: John, Edmund (2), Sam- uel, Susannah, Abiel, Content. Of these, Edmund (2), married Martha Washburn, and had eleven children, as follows: Samuel,

Phoebe, Martha, Mary, Hannah, Jane, John (3), Peter, Silas, Patience and Temperance. Of these, John (3) married Sarah Williams, and the following were born to them: Mary, John (4), Philadelphia, Jacob, William, Sarah. He married (second) Mary Smith, and had one child, Richard. Of these, John (4) mar- ried (first) Sarah Pearsall, and they had six children: Henry, Mary, James (5), Elizabeth, Sarah, Jonathan. He married (second ) Phæbe Thomas, and had no issue. Of these, James (5) married Ann Cook, and they had: Martha, John, Joshua, Willett (6), Sarah. Of these, Willett (6) married Ruth Stratton, and the following children were born to them: Eliza- beth, Anne, James, Jonathan (7), Sarah, John, Mary. Of these, Jonathan (7) married Nellie Roosa, and had the following issue: Willet, Ann, Peter, Jonathan (8), Catherine, Richard, Mary, William, Sarah, John, Andrew J., Henry B. Of these, Jonathan (8) married Helen Hasbrouck, and children as follows were born: Willet (9), Joseph H., Henry T., Sarah Jane, Nellie. (Of these, Sarah Jane married Will- iam A. Wright, and the following were the issue: Florence Fraternity, Mabel, Helen Has- brouck, Jennie M., William, Titus, Mary, Adna Damerel).

Willet (9) Titus, our subject, was born July 3. 1844, in the town of Shawangunk, Ulster Co., N. Y., attended the public schools of his native place, and then for three years studied at Knox College, Galesburg, Ill. He was much interested in mathematics and philoso- phy, and gave particular attention to those branches of study. After his mother's death he went to High Falls, and lived one year with his uncle, James H. Van Demark; then was apprenticed for four years to L. B. Van Wag- oner, of Kingston, to learn the carpenter's trade. For Mr. Van Wagoner he worked a few months after serving his apprenticeship, and in the spring of 1866 went to Newburg, where he remained a while, then returning to Mr. Van Wagoner, continued with him until July, 1867, at which time he went to Red Hook and built a house and barn for William H. Teator. In Red Hook he remained about a year, and August 3, 1868, came to Pough- keepsie, where he was engaged in journeyman work until 1875, in which year he commenced his present business of contractor and builder. He is one of the oldest contractors in the city, and has built up a large and lucrative business, employing not less than fifteen men in the win-

Filler Itus

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ter and as many as fifty inen in the summer. In connection with Mr. Rounds our subject built the Vassar Hospital. He has also built the library and rectory at Wappingers Falls (for $25,000); Archibald Rogers' stables (for $43,000); State Hospital, section E, and Doc- tors' residence and attendance house; the dor- mitory at Vassar College, and four cottages at the same place; Mrs. Jackman's residence (for $23,000); the Thorn memorial school at Mill- brook (for $80,000); and the private residences of 1. R. Adriance and William Adriance. Mr. Titus has built many of the largest buildings in the city and county. He also had the con- tracts for the building of Recitation hall at Vassar College, and the Adriance Library.

Our subject was married April 17, 1872, to Miss Sophia Leslie, a native of Poughkeep- sie, N. Y., and they had one son, Harry Les- lie, who died at the age of nineteen years. In politics Mr. Titus is a Democrat, but in local matters votes independently; in religious faith he is a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church; socially he is affiliated with Triune Lodge No. 92, and belongs to all the branch lodges, chap- ters and commanderies, being a past officer in the order. He has always been a public-spir- ited man, is an extensive reader, well informed on all current topics, is a typical self-made man, and in business one of the most suc- cessful.

Jonathan Titus, the father of our subject, was born in Shawangunk, November 20, 1821. He followed the occupation of a farmer until 1868, when he engaged in the lumber business in Galesburg, Ill., together with the carpenter trade, in which he continued until 1874, when he retired. He married Miss Helen Hasbrouck, who died in November, 1860. Jonathan sur- vives her.

Jonathan (7) Titus, grandfather of our sub- ject, was also a native of Shawangunk; was a farmer, and spent his entire life in Ulster county. The members of the Titus family have generally been Democrats in their political views, and, although stanch citizens, have not been active in such matters. They have always been members of the Reformed Dutch Church, and fairly active in Church work.

G EORGE T. CHAPMAN, the senior mem- ber of the well-known firm of George T. Chapman & Co., of Pawling, Dutchess coun- ty, is one of the leading citizens of that town. 33

He was born April 26, 1858, in Dover Plains, Dutchess county, the grandson of Wooster Chapman, and son of Hiram W. Chapman, who first saw the light in the town of Dover in 1829, and was for many years suc- cessfully engaged in mercantile business in Dutchess county. He had a store in Dover Plains for nearly a quarter of a century, with three or four different partners, and for more than twenty years of the time he was post- master there. His home, however, was in Dover, whence he removed to Amenia in 1865, where he owned a large farm, and after clos- ing out his business at Dover Plains he spent twelve years in agricultural pursuits. In 1877 he moved to Pawling, N. Y., bought out the assignments of Ballard & Peck, and continued in mercantile business until his death in 1882. He was the principal merchant in Dover Plains, and possessing great energy and nat- ural ability, accumulated a fine property. He was a Democrat, though not very active in politics; while in Amenia, he attended the Presbyterian Church, but in Pawling he at- tended the Methodist Church. He married Cordelia Sheldon, daughter of Theodorus B. Sheldon, also of Dover, and a well-known farmer and blacksmith in that place. To this union were born three children: Allie T., who married William H. Arnold; George T., our « subject; and William T., who was postmaster under President Harrison for four years, and is now deputy postmaster.

George T. Chapman was educated mainly in Amenia Seminary, and also attended school at Fort Edward, N. Y., for over a year. Or leaving school, at the age of nineteen, he en- gaged in farming in South Amenia for two years; in 1877 went to Pawling with his father and was with him as clerk until the latter's death. At that time (1882) Mr. Chapman be- came the head of the firm of George T. Chap- man & Co., the "Co." being the brother, Will- iam T., and his mother. In :889 he bought out his brother's interest, and since that time Mr. Chapman and his mother have been sole own- ers. Mr. Chapman has enlarged the stock and greatly increased the business, and is regarded as one of the successful men of his locality. He has always been a Democrat in politics, and has taken quite an interest, in an unofficial way, in the success of his party. On August 30, 1894, he was commissioned postmaster by President Cleveland, and later he was appoint- ed by the President, the Senate confirming the

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nomination on December 11, 1894. He in- clines toward the Methodist faith, contributing to that Church, and in many ways he has shown his loyalty to the best interests of the town.

In 1882 Mr. Chapman married Miss Sarah White, daughter of Sewell and Nancy ( Emeigh) White, of Pawling, N. Y., and to them have been born four children: Mary Louise, Ella Cordelia, Grace Sophia and George T., Jr.

J AMES R. KERLEY. No man, probably, in Dutchess county is more worthy of rep- resentation in a work of this kind than he whose name introduces this sketch. He has been identified with the agricultural interests of the town of Red Hook, Dutchess county, most of his life, and there owns a fine farm of 100 acres of land, equipped with good and substantial buildings. The estate is one of the most valuable in that section of the county, and indicates in all its appointments the super- vision of a man of intelligence and sound judg- ment.

Our subject was born December 29, 1829. at Tivoli, Dutchess county, and is a son of James Kerley, who was born in the town of Red Hook. His great-grandfather came to the United States from Scotland, and here married a lady who was a native of Holland. The birth of their son, James Kerley, occurred in Vermont, and when he had reached man's estate he removed to Dutchess county, N. Y., and wedded a Miss Miller, by whom he had four children: Catherine, who became the wife of Michael Leonard, a merchant of Co- lumbia county, N. Y .; John, a farmer of Red Hook town; James, the father of our subject ; and Hannah, wife of Edwin Greene, who was a farmer of Dutchess county and represented his district in the General Assembly.

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Commemorative biographical record of Dutchess County, New York, Part 94

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