USA > New York > Encyclopedia of biography of New York, a life record of men and women whose sterling character and energy and industry have made them pre?minent in their own and many other states. V.6 > Part 20
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been in demand in the campaigns for pro- moting the success of one enterprise or another. He continues to be actively engaged in the practice of his profession, although now (1924) more than seventy- five years of age.
(I) Thomas Albro, grandfather of William C. Albro, was born May 2, 1799. and died September 24, 1852, in Genesee County, New York. His wife, Ever Albro, was born in 1782, and died October 28, 1851. They were the parents of Zeno, of whom further.
(II) Zeno Albro, son of Thomas and Ever Albro, was born June 10, 1809, at Clove, Dutchess County, New York, and died November 26, 1883, at Scranton, Pennsylvania. Zeno Albro attended at Clove the public schools, afterward taught school, and was a successful farmer, hav- ing owned farms in Dutchess and Genesee Counties, New York, and in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania. He was one of those who interested themselves in the formation of Lackawanna County, Penn- sylvania. His sympathies were strong on the side of the Union cause in the Civil War, and he was among those who went to Washington, District of Columbia, for the purpose of filling the quota of men to be taken into service for Dutchess County. He married Mary Ann Clark, November 2, 1846, who died in January, 1917, at the age of ninety years. They were the parents of five children.
(III) William C. Albro, son of Zeno and Mary Ann (Clark) Albro, was born August 16, 1848, in Genesee County, New York. He was prepared for college at Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Massa- chusetts, and completed his education at Cornell University and Columbia Uni- versity Law School, from which he was graduated, 1874, with degree LL. B. In the fall of 1874 he was admitted to the bar
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at the general term of court sitting at Poughkeepsie, and at once began the practice of law which to the present time has covered a period of more than fifty years.
Mr. Albro always has exhibited a deep interest in the affairs of the school and in educational matters in general. For nine years he was a member of the Pough- keepsie Board of Education. He was appointed a member of the commission which revised the charter of the city of Poughkeepsie in 1920. He was appointed in 1920 by Mayor Butt a member of the Poughkeepsie Board of Public Works for a term of three years, and he was presi- dent of the board for two years. In politi- cal activities he has always declared him- self to be a Democrat. In 1913 he was nominated by his party for mayor of Poughkeepsie; he made a remarkably good run for the office, but was defeated.
One of the outstanding instances in Mr. Albro's career to which he and his friends point with commendable pride was in connection with the early move- ment in support of women who then were pushing to the fore in the professions theretofore preempted by the men, par- ticularly in New York State. The occa- sion was a visit of that champion and pio- neer of "woman's rights," Belva Lock- wood, to Poughkeepsie. In one of her masterful lectures before a Poughkeepsie audience she made a driving remark to the effect that women were not allowed to practice law in the State of New York. The correctness of her statement and the odious comparison drawn naturally roused the women present to reassert their intention to urge their cause the more insistently, and the more chivalrous of the men quickly rallied to their stand- ard. Of the men who thus became allies of the women none was quicker in enter-
ing the forward movement than Mr. Albro. Suiting the deed to the word, he drafted the now historical amendment to the Code of Civil Procedure, introduced in the Legislature by Hon. John I. Platt, member of the Assembly from Pough- keepsie, and which was signed by Gover- nor Hill, thus entitling women to become lawyers in New York State, and regis- tering another mark in the adoption of a more liberal policy in the equality of the sexes in matters of government and politi- cal economy. He is a member of the Dutchess County Bar Association and the Vassar Brothers Institute Society.
Mr. Albro married, November 3, 1874, Theodora Rogers, born February 17, 1853, daughter of Egbert and Maria (Sherman) Rogers, of the town of Beekman, Dutch- ess County, New York. Mrs. Rogers is a sister of John B. Sherman, the founder of the Chicago stockyards. Mr. and Mrs. Albro are the parents of a daughter, Edna C., a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, on the maternal side, and who lives at home.
WILLIAMS, H. St. John, Physician.
Rarely has any man brought to a highly important position a fuller training and a riper experience than has been acquired by H. St. John Williams, M. D., widely known, even beyond his own State, and who is superintendent of the Bowne Memorial Hospital, Poughkeepsie, New York, where he has given skillful service and wise counsel. for nearly a decade. Before coming to Poughkeepsie he had passed through three hospitals either as a student-doctor or resident physician ; he was, therefore, splendidly equipped in his profession to take over himself the man- agement of a large hospital. His paternal
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grandfather left to him a rich memory for accomplishing things of lasting value, for he, although a farmer, but a successful one at that, was one of the prime movers in the founding of Bedford Academy. His father was a well-known educator, having been a teacher in academy, public schools of two states and a superintendent of schools. It was therefore considered the proper thing for the son and grand- son to have early instilled within him the desire for a well-rounded education lead- ing to the profession of which time has shown he made a wise choice.
(I) James Francis Williams was of Bedford, Westchester County, New York, and married Mary Stone. It was he who proved to his neighbor folk that the occupation of farmer did not cramp his horizon, and he possessed that intuition for progress which reached far beyond the limits of forest and field. This onward and upward look, when the opportunity was both made and offered, found its focal point in a strong local movement for the establishment of a school of a higher grade and wider range of subjects than had heretofore been taught in his home town. He was at the forefront of the movement that culminated in the found- ing of the academy which has given the town name, as it was the aim of the founders to have it become a co-operative agency for the intellectual uplift of the entire community. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- liams are the parents of seven children, among whom was James Francis, of whom further.
(II) James Francis Williams, second son of James Francis and Mary (Stone) Williams, was born October 7, 1854, in Bedford Village. He was given a good start in life in the district schools, and the Potsdam Normal School, of Potsdam, New York. He taught at Bedford Aca-
demy, which his father had helped to found; at Stamford, Connecticut, and Springfield, Massachusetts. He was superintendent of schools at Bristol, Connecticut, for a number of years. On his retirement from active educational work he settled in Darien, Connecticut. He was a member of the Congregational Church. He married Clara Barrett, daughter of Hiram and Mary Ann (Knapp) Barrett, of Pound Ridge, West- chester County, New York. To them were born five sons and one daughter.
(III) Dr. H. St. John Williams, third child of James Francis and Clara (Bar- rett) Williams, was born in Bristol, Con- necticut, December 1I, 1888. He was educated in the public schools of Bristol, the Springfield, Massachusetts, High School; Yale University, graduated com- bination course, class of 1910, degree of M. D. Dr. Williams made his beginning at his profession by doing substitute in- terne work at Fordham Hospital, New York, and was resident interne for eigh- teen months at the Bridgeport General Hospital, Bridgeport, Connecticut. He was afterward appointed resident physi- cian at the State Sanitorium at Meriden, Connecticut. In November, 1914, after the trustees of Bowne Memorial Hospital at Poughkeepsie had looked about for a desirable physician for superintendent, investigated the experience and fitness of Dr. Williams and elected him to the posi- tion which he has continued to fill. Dr. Williams is also engaged in private work as a consultant, specializing on the heart and lungs. He is a member of the con- sulting staffs of St. Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie, and the Thompson House Hospital, Rhinebeck, and is physician in charge of the Poughkeepsie Tuberculosis clinic and Beacon Tuberculosis clinic.
During the World War he gave of his
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service to the Government and was appointed a member of the Medical Ad- visory Board of the Second District with headquarters at Poughkeepsie. Dr. Wil- liams is a member of the American Medi- cal Association, National Tuberculosis Association, American Sanatorium Asso- ciation, New York State Medical Society, Dutchess Putnam Medical Society, New York State Association of Managers and Superintendents of Tuberculosis Hospi- tals, Poughkeepsie Academy of Medicine, Poughkeepsie Tennis Club, and Amrita Club of Poughkeepsie. He is a member of the First Congregational Church, Poughkeepsie.
Dr. Williams married, July 6, 1908, Eva Dickinson, daughter of Eugene and Ella (Spencer) Dickinson, of Messengerville, Cortland County, New York.
CRONK, James M., Physician.
Dr. James M. Cronk is a foremost member of the great medical profession- that profession which one philosopher has stated to be the highest and most noble calling of man. Certain it is that in the hearts of the world the physician and surgeon comes first, for humanitari- anism-the epitome of the medical pro- fession-begets love, respect and regard. In Dutchess County, New York State, the name of Dr. Cronk is well and widely known, Dutchess County being the seat of his professional activities.
Dr. Cronk comes from old Dutch ances- try, his forebears changing their name from Cronkhite to Cronk by dropping the last syllable. The Cronkhites and Lents were early settlers of Westchester County, and were of common origin in Germany. At a remote period they en- joyed a state of allodial independence,
and were regarded as "Constituting nobility." They possessed the Manor of Rycken, from which they took their names. Hans Von Rycken, and his cousin Melchior, of Holland, headed eight hundred Crusaders in the First Crusade of 1096. In the Spanish War Captain Jacob Simons de Rycke was a partisan of William the Orange, and distinguished himself by his military exploits. Through Captain Jacob Simons de Rycke the line descends through Jacob; to Abraham, the immigrant ancestor in 1638, to Ryck Abrahamsen, of Cortland Manor, who assumed the name "Lent"; and to Mary (de Rycke) Lent, his daughter, whose marriage into the Cronkhite family brought the two families again into close relationship they had enjoyed cen- turies before in Lower Saxony. The name Cronkhite in its ancient form was spelled Krankheydt. It then became Kronk- heydt, Krankheydt, Krankhuyt, and final- ly Cronkhite.
(I) Herrick Krankhuyt is the first of the name of whom there seems to be any mention. He was born, reared, married, and died, in Holland. To him was born a son, Sybout Herrickse, of whom forward.
(II) Sybout Herrickse Krankheyt, son of Herrick Krankhuyt, came to America before 1703, and settled in Tarrytown, New York. He was one of the purchasers with Abraham Lent of Ryck's Patent, Westchester County, New York. Teunis Herickse, Jan Herrickse, Hendrick Her- rickse, and Jacobus Krankheyt, brothers of Sybout Herrickse Krankheyt, also came to America and settled in West- chester County, where Jacobus Krank- heyt acted as godfather to the children of all his brothers. Sybout Herrickse Krankheyt was married to Mary Lent, born in 1649, a daughter of Ryck Abra- hamsen, who changed his name to Abra-
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ham Lent, as heretofore noted. Issue: Samuel, of whom forward.
(III) Samuel Cronkhite (note change of spelling), a son of Sybout Herrickse and Mary (Lent) Krankheyt, was bap- tized in Tarrytown, New York, Novem- ber 8, 1710. In regard to the shortening of the surname the following has been written :
It is established that the original name Cronk- heit was in many cases shortened to Cronk by the American families, although there are many fami- lies now in the United States using the original name Cronkheit. The records of the Fourteenth Regiment from Hoosick and Schaghticoke, also Albany County, New York, which fought under Colonel Peter Yates in the War of the American Revolution, contained the name of an Abraham Cronkheit, a Tunis Cronkheit, besides five other Cronks and Cronkheits. This would seem to sup- port the theory that the family had come to Amer- ica considerably before the year 1700, and that they entertained diversified political views. There are New York records that show that Dutchess County Cronkheits favored the American cause, and "Signed the Associations," in July, 1775. Two Ulster County Cronks refused, as did two Dutchess County Kranchites. Captain James Kronkhyte led a company of Westchester County Revolutionary troops. All of these different spellings and opinions within a few miles.
As near as can be ascertained Samuel Cronkhite was the father of Samuel Cronk, of whom forward.
(IV) Samuel Cronk, probably the son of Samuel Cronkhite, was born in Suy- dam, Columbia County, New York. He kept a general store, and was also en- gaged in agricultural pursuits. He mar- ried ---- Kilmer, and they had a son Martin L., of whom forward.
(V) Martin L. Cronk, a son of Samuel and - (Kilmer) Cronk, was born in Suydam, Columbia County, New York, in the year 1834, and died there on Decem- ber 7, 1907, having spent his life as a far- mer. He was married in 1865 to Marion Carl, who bore him four children, as fol-
lows: Jennie, Alice, Esbon, and James M., of whom forward.
(VI) Dr. James M. Cronk, one of the four children of Martin L. and Marion (Carl) Cronk, was born in Suydam, Columbia County, New York, August 8, 1867. His early education was acquired in the district schools of his native town, following which he attended the Hudson River Institute at Claverick-on-the-Hud- son. In 1895 he matriculated in the Medi- cal Department at Albany of Union Uni- versity, of Schenectady, New York, from which he was graduated in the class of 1898 with the degree of Doctor of Medi- cine. Immediately upon the completion of his medical studies, he began the prac- tice of his chosen profession in Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York, where he has since remained, becoming very successful and widely known, and build- ing up a large and lucrative clientage.
Politically, Dr. Cronk has always been an advocate and supporter of the princi- ples of Republicanism. He has ever been an interested worker in municipal affairs, having served as health officer of Hyde Park for a period of twenty-four years, and as president of the Hyde Park Board of Education for thirteen years. His religious affiliation is given to the Hyde Park Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a trustee for some years.
Dr. Cronk has had a military career deserving of more than passing mention. During the late World War, on June 7, 1918, he entered the government training camp at Camp Oglethorpe, Georgia, with the rank of lieutenant, and two months later was assigned to Base Hospital, No. 12I, of the same cantonment. He was next transferred to Camp Beauregard, Louisiana. On November 1I, 1918, he went overseas and was stationed at Beau-
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Besert, Base Section No. 2, France. On May 19, 1919, he was commissioned cap- tain, and made commanding officer of Sanitary Squad No. 76. Captain Cronk returned to America on May 30, 1919, and was mustered out of service at Camp Dodge, June 17, 1919.
Dr. Cronk is an active member of the Dutchess-Putnam Counties Medical Asso- ciation; the New York State Medical Association ; and the Poughkeepsie Acad- emy of Medicine. Fraternally he holds membership in Triune Lodge, No. 782, Free and Accepted Masons, The National League of Masonic Clubs, and the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
Dr. James M. Cronk was married in Hudson, New York, January 3, 1893, to Nellie Palmer, a daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Pearsall) Palmer, of Matte- wan, New Jersey. Dr. and Mrs. Cronk are the parents of one daughter, Laura, who was married in the year 1917, to Frederick Traudt, of Hyde Park. To Frederick and Laura (Cronk) Traudt have been born three children: Fred- erick, Phyllis, and James C. Traudt. Dr. and Mrs. Cronk make their home at Hyde Park, Dutchess County New York.
CROUSE, John Seneca, Financier.
Known as one of the strongest financial men of Dutchess County, New York, John Seneca Crouse, born in Clinton Hollow, New York, September 26, 1828, died in Red Hook, New York, October 6, 1893, rendered conspicuous service to his own banks, the banks of his region and to the United States Government during the Civil War period and the reconstruc- tion days immediately following the peace by reason of his expert ability for the detection of counterfeit money. Taking
advantage of the disturbed condition of the country in the hazardous times of the war and its aftermath, evilly inclined men of high technical ability, either in com- bination or as individuals, flooded the circulation of the country with counter- feit paper and metal money. So closely did the spurious resemble the genuine money, that often it was declared to be an impossibility to discern the difference. Irreparable damage was done to the receivers of the counterfeit, and an im- mense inconvenience was caused to busi- ness and bankers generally. State and National authorities bent all their ener- gies and applied all their resources in an effort to apprehend the criminals. They succeeded to a marvelous degree, and thus were brought to justice many notorious counterfeiters; but the product of their nefarious business was in the currency, and it became a very serious problem how to rid the circulation of the troublesome and illicit medium of exchange, particu- larly since now and again the craft, ever receiving reinforcements, would inject a fresh supply of the base material. Thus the difficulty would no sooner become seemingly remedied to an appreciable degree as far as the capture of some of the most prolific and skillful of the coun- terfeiters was concerned, than it would again become sorely aggravated by a re- currence of the unlawful money. To meet this dire emergency in a remarkable way, there arose here and there in differ- ent parts of the country men who, by long years of experience in the handling of money in banks, became expert in the detection of counterfeit money. They became also invaluable servants to the Government, and to its forces they acted as the second line of attack, which could always be depended upon to do its part to eliminate as far as possible the coun-
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terfeit from the supply of genuine money. In this category belonged John Seneca Crouse, whose fame spread far and wide in the 1860's and onward. So proficient did he become in the matter of selection of counterfeit from the money that passed through his hands, that other banks than the one that he served in official capacity often called upon him to render like ser- vice for them. He soon became the most expert counterfeit detector in Dutchess County, if not, in fact, in a territory far beyond the confines of that division of the State.
John Seneca Crouse was a lineal descendant of Jacob Crouse, who settled in Beekman, Dutchess County, New York, about the year 1760. John Crouse, father of John S. Crouse, lived in Clinton Hollow, and married Jane Ann Young. He had brothers and sisters: Deborah, Tillie, William and Seneca. John and Jane Ann (Young) Crouse had one son, John Seneca, of whom further.
John Seneca Crouse received his pre- liminary education in the country schools of his native village, and he also took an academic course. School-days at an end, he cast about for employment, and his first steady job was with Spencer Bennett in the "freighting" business at Hyde Park, New York. He afterward engaged in the same line of business at Pough- keepsie, New York. The salient turning point in his career came in 1863, in which year he entered the employ of the Pough- keepsie Bank, established in 1830 and now known as the Poughkeepsie Trust Com- pany. His position was that of clerk, and he remained with that bank for thirteen years, during which period he became acquainted with much of the detail of a banking institution. In 1865 he was called to Red Hook to become cashier of the First National Bank, the leading
financial institution of that town. He held that office for thirty years, or until the time of his death in 1893. Mr. Crouse is highly esteemed for his sterling worth, and his memory is held in deep affection by his intimates, who knew him as man of genuine quality and as one who was bent on doing service to the extent of his powers in whatever avenue of life's activities he was placed. He was true to himself and true to his friends, loyal to his business and financial connections, devoted to his family, and intensely patri- otic in his allegiance to the common- wealth and to his country.
John Seneca Crouse married Hannah Dawes Kettell, November 20, 1862, daughter of George Frederick and Lucre- tia (Hawley) Kettell. They were the parents of three children : Frances Eliza, born September 24, 1866; John Kettell, born October 12, 1869, died September 18, 1917; Lucy Dawes, born October 2, 1874, married Rev. Charles S. Champlin, of Baldwinsville, New York, October 22, 1902, and has one son, Charles Dawes Champlin, born August 5, 1903.
BLAKELY, Julius Warren, Physician.
The surname "Blakely" is a local, or place, name, meaning "of Blakesley," a parish in Northamptonshire, four miles from Towcester, England, and is of ancient origin. The name has been vari- ously spelled, the more common variants being Blacksley, Blakeslee, and Blakely. The family became represented in Ameri- ca at an early date, and to-day one of the prominent bearers of this ancient patro- nym is Dr. Julius Warren Blakely, a well known and prominent physician of Highland, Ulster County, New York.
(I) John Blakely appears to be the
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ancestor of the line herein considered. He, however, may not have been the immigrant ancestor, for the first date pertaining to him is 1812, and thus it is more than likely that he was of the sec- ond, third, of fourth generation descended from the American progenitor. Connecti- cut was the home of the early Blakelys, and from this State, in 1812, did John Blakely and a Mr. Hunt remove to the town of Otego, New York. Here he be- came very prominent in civic affairs, and for many years served as justice of the peace. To him was born a son, Heman, of whom forward.
(II) Heman Blakely, son of John Blakely, was born, lived and died at Otego, New York. He spent his long life as an agriculturist. He was the father of David, of whom forward.
(III) David Blakely, son of Heman Blakely, was born at Otego, New York, and here lived and died. He also was a farmer, respected and influential in the community. To him was born a son, John, of whom forward.
(IV) John Blakely, son of David Blakely, was born at Otego, New York. He continued in agricultural pursuits as his forefathers had done before him. He married Lydia D. Cutler, a direct descendant of the Vermont Putnams of Revolutionary War fame. John and Lydia D. (Cutler) Blakely were the parents of four children, as follows: I. Almon D., of whom forward. 2. Emma, married William Fowler, of Otego. 3. Myra, married Edward Peckham, of Guil- ford, New York. 4. Helen, married Charles H. Stebbins, of Unadilla, New York.
(V) Dr. Almon D. Blakely, only son of John and Lydia D. (Cutler) Blakely, was born at Unadilla, New York, April 17, 1848, and died at Syracuse, New York,
in the year 1917. He received his early education in the public schools of Una- dilla, following which he entered and was graduated from the Unadilla Academy. He then matriculated at the Medical Col- lege of Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, and Medical Department of the University of the City of New York, from which he was graduated with the class of 1880, receiving the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Immediately upon the completion of his medical studies he removed to Milford, New York, and engaged in the practice of his chosen pro- fession, continuing in practice here with ever-increasing success from 1880 to 1918 -a period of nearly four decades. Dur- ing the latter year he retired from active professional life and returned to the city in whose college he had acquired his knowledge of medicine. Here in Syra- cuse he spent his remaining years, his death occurring August 24, 1917.
Almon D. Blakely was married March 15, 1870, at Unadilla, New York, to Julia Bronson, a daughter of Warren Bronson, a resident of Unadilla. To Dr. Almon D. and Julia (Bronson) Blakely was born one son, Julius Warren, of whom for- ward.
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