USA > New York > Dutchess County > History of Duchess county, New York, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 91
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121
463
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
of A. M. having been given him by his Alma Mater in 1845. In 1878, President Hayes appoint- ed him as one of the Board of Visitors at West Point Military Academy.
Dr. Wheeler has been a voluminous writer for the religious and secular press, has published many sermons, given special addresses on many public occasions and is the author of several hymns, some of which have found their way into books of praise.
In all National affairs he has been earnest and outspoken, though catholic in spirit and conserva- tive in tone ; in the civil war a bold and uncom- promising advocate of governmental rights and securities against all sectionalism. In religion he belongs to the Calvinistic school, but is broadly and thoroughly identified with all true progress, wherever found.
In his preaching he is simple, practical and emotional, free and unconstrained in manner, with rare gifts in extemporaneous utterance.
One of the secrets of Dr. Wheeler's uniform success in his ministerial labors, is the fact that he never deals in the cant or the stock phrases some- times found in pulpit oratory. He is earnest with- out wearying and carries a vein of logical common sense to the understanding, so that his appeals to the conscience and sense of duty rest upon stable and lasting foundations. He is never in a tumult, but leaves the truth to work its way into the char- acter; thus accessions to his church, in most in- stances, come to stay, and since his connection with the church at Poughkeepsie it has grown to be one of the most stable churches in that beauti- ful city.
Another of his peculiar excellencies ought to be mentioned, which is that his pulpit exercises are not permitted to interfere with his pastoral offices. While he is punctual in his visitations during the week, his pulpit does not suffer, and hearts which have been comforted at home are enlightened in the house of God.
While he adopts the Presbyterian confessions as substance of doctrine, he is not a controversialist, or a dogmatist, but his preaching is practical and is justified by its fruits. His eminent conservatism during the twenty-three years of his ministry in a congregation holding some of the most progressive elements has kept the church harmonious and in good working order.
May he live long to be their minister and friend.
GEORGE BOOTH.
George Booth came to the U. S. A. from Holm- firth, Yorkshire, England, in 1796. He was a cloth manufacturer, and brought the first carding machine ever introduced into this country. He came to Poughkeepsie, thence he went to what was then called the valley of the Connecticut, and
is now the State of New Hampshire. He returned to Poughkeepsie and set up his cloth factory there about 1808. In 1810 he received the second prize for cloths at the State Fair in Albany. In 1811 he received the first prize for the best specimens of cloths manufactured in New York State. Both prizes were silver punch bowls, the larger of which has a capacity of nine quarts. He was the first manufacturer of Woolen cloth in Duchess County. His factory was built on the south side of Fallkill creek, near where Pelton's carpet factory now is. He made the Pond now called Pelton's pond ; it was formerly called Booth's pond, and is still used by the various factories situated near it. He married a sister of the late Matthew Vassar, founder of Vassar College. It was in a cellar of George Booth's factory and with money loaned by him that Matthew Vassar began his beer brewery, which in after years led to such extension of the cause of female education.
George Booth died in Poughkeepsie in 1836. Several U. S. Patents, issued to him in 1812, for improvements in machinery for cloth manufacture are still in existence. Mr. Booth was the father of thirteen children, several of whom with grand- children and great-grandchildren, are residents of the County.
MEMBERS OF THE POUGHKEEPSIE BAR.
Among the most distinguished lawyers at the Duchess County Bar prior to 1816, were James Kent, James Emott, James Tallmadge, Stephen Eno, Thomas J. Oakley, James Hooker, Henry Swift, John Brush, Abraham Bockée, Philo Ruggles and Leonard Mason, whose names are historic. The works of Chancellor Kent have long been the stand- ards in jurisprudence. Tallmadge was long promi- nent in law politics and letters ; Brush as a General, Bockée and Mason as Senators, Emott and Oakley as Judges, Ruggles, Eno and Swift as Lawyers. In 1816 an " Act to suppress duelling " was passed ; thereafter when the attorney took his oath of abjuration and allegiance and of "honest demean- or in practice," he was also required to swear to sustain this act in regard to duelling. Up to 1824 thirty-six attorneys took this oath, among whom are found the following illustrious names : Edward Livingston, Nathaniel P. Tallmadge, Jacob Van Benthuysen, Stephen Cleveland, Samuel B. Rug- gles, Robert Wilkinson, Richard D. Davis, Robert Schuyler, Samuel VerPlanck, David V. N. Radcliff, William Eno and John A. Livingston.
From 1824 to 1828, eleven attorneys were ad- mitted among whom were, Samuel V. Hoffman, Cyrus Mason, John V. A. Lyle, John W. Knevals, John Rowley, Robert W. Oakley, John B. Van Ness and Ulysses Cole, of whom the latter survives.
From 1828 to 1844, sixty lawyers were granted licenses and among those whose memories are still
464
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
cherished are the departed Isaac M. Newcomb, V. D. Bonesteel, Joseph H. Jackson, Eliphaz Fay, Robert B. Taylor, W. W. Woodworth, W. I. Street, Seward Barculo, H. D. Varick, William Wilkinson, C. W. Swift, Walter Reynolds, Robert Barnard, Gilbert Dean and Charles J. Ruggles ; and of this classification only the following are in active prac- tice as members of the Poughkeepsie Bar, viz : John Thompson, LeGrand Dodge, Cyrus Swan and John P. H. Tallman, while Joseph F. Barnard is the Presiding Justice of the Supreme Court in this department, and James Emott, Jr. and T. C. Campbell are engaged in professional pursuits in New York City, and Owen T. Coffin is Surrogate of Westchester county; Judge E. Q. Eldridge having honorably retired from practice.
Le Grand Dodge, born in Pawling, Duchess County, June 29, 1815, was educated at Dover Academy, and admitted to the bar in 1841. He has practiced law in Poughkeepsie since his ad- mission; was six years Master in Chancery ; has been thirty years Secretary and Treasurer of the Duchess County Mutual Insurance Company ; is Vice-President of the Merchants' National Bank, and was for many years a director of the Pough- keepsie Savings Bank.
This latter class and a few of the two preced- ing classes were fortunate in their professional life in the construction of the court, where their attend- ance was most frequent and important.
Poughkeepsie was the residence of Charles H. Ruggles who for many years was Vice-Chancellor, Circuit Judge and Supreme Court Judge for the circuit including Duchess. In his court respect- ful attention, patient investigation and impartial determination were sure of attainment. Judge Ruggles and his court were always peculiarly popu- lar with the younger members of the Bar. He was dignified in person, kind in heart, clear in intellect and spotless in character. He was a member of the State Constitutional Convention of 1846, and was one of the first members of the Court of Appeals, on the adoption of the new constitution. Those who knew and survive Judge Ruggles, hold his memory in veneration. He was succeeded by Hon. Seward Barculo, who was succeeded by the appointment of the Hon. Gilbert Dean, followed by Hon. James Emott, Jr., on whose retirement the Hon. Joseph F. Barnard was elected. A fitting tribute to Justice Barculo will be found in the 20th Barbour's Supreme Court Reports, page 661.
At present there are nominally more than eighty members of the Poughkeepsie bar. Many of these are out of active practice and quite a large num- ber have been recently admitted to practice who have not yet fairly established themselves in busi- ness, or developed a capacity to take a position among their older professional brethren, nor shown the ability to rise to distinction in their profes- sion. Of those who are, and have for any consid- erable number of years been in active practice, in addition to those above mentioned, we should
name as probably the most prominent, James H. Weeks, Leonard B. Sackett, Charles Wheaton, Henry M. Taylor, Milton A. Fowler, Daniel W. Guernsey, Edward Crunmey, Walter Farrington, Robert E. Taylor, William I. Thorn, Orlando D. M. Baker, James L. Williams, William R. Woodin, B. Platt Carpenter, John Hackett, Henry E. Losey, Alfred B. Smith, and Robert F. Wilkinson. Bio- graphical sketches of Messrs. Thompson, Tallman, Carpenter and Swan are given elsewhere, and only brief reference can be made to each of the others.
James H. Weeks is a native of Poughkeepsie, and is now upwards of sixty years of age. His practice has always been carried on in this city, and during the whole of his professional career he has been a partner of Hon. John Thompson. He has filled many public positions of honor and trust, and always acceptably. He at one time repre- sented his district in the Assembly and during his term was chairman of the Judiciary committee.
Leonard B. Sackett was born in the town of Washington, in Duchess County in 1822. He received his education at Amenia Seminary in this County, and was admitted to practice in 1847. Was at one time the law partner of Hon. Gilbert Dean. Has held the office of County Treasurer for two terms ; was a member of the Board of Education of the city for twelve years, and Presi- dent of the Board for three years. Has several times been the candidate of his party for County Judge and Mayor of the city.
Milton A. Fowler was born at Claverack in Columbia county in 1835. He was educated at Claverack Academy and Rutger's College,and after an attendance at the Albany Law School was ad- mitted to practice in March, 1857. He came to Poughkeepsie in 1868, and has since resided here. Has held the office of Surrogate, President of the City Water Board and other offices of public trust. Is now the Vice-President of the Duchess County Mutual Fire Insurance Company.
Daniel W. Guernsey was born in Stanford, Duch- ess County in 1834. His education was obtained at the Newburgh Academy. He was admitted to the bar in March, 1856. During the strife in Kansas which preceded the admission of that State into the Union, he was a resident of that territory. He entered the army early in the late war, served three years, and at the close held a captain's commission. He then came to Poughkeepsie, in the neighbor- hood of which he has since resided and carried on a successful practice.
Charles Wheaton is a native of Duchess County ; was educated at William and Mary's College, Va. Since his admission to practice he has resided in Poughkeepsie. He is a successful advocate, has creditably filled the office of County Judge, and has received distinguished honors from the Demo- cratic party of which he is a prominent member.
Henry M. Taylor has also held the office of County Judge of this County.
465
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
Walter Farrington, was born in the town of LaGrange, in this County, in 1829. He is a descendant from one of the oldest families of the County. Nearly a century ago his grandfather was a large real estate owner in the southern part of this County and Putnam. His father served his country in the war of 1812. Mr. Farrington studied in the office of Hon. Homer A. Nelson, and was admitted to the bar in December, 1857. Since that time he has carried on the practice in this City. He has been Supervisor of his ward, and a member of the Board of Education of this City. He has taken an active and prominent part in the temperance movement, and has several times been nominated by the Prohibition party for some of the highest offices in the State.
William I. Thorn, is a native of Duchess Coun- ty. Was admitted to practice in 1861. Was at one time the law partner of Hon. Homer A. Nel- son and Hon. Erastus Cooke. He is a prominent politician in this County, an able advocate, and has filled the office of District Attorney for the County and also that of City Attorney.
Edward Crunmey was admitted to the bar in 1856, and has since that time resided and prac- ticed in this City. He has shown but little ambi- tion for public office, and has been successful in the practice of his profession. For several years he has been very active in the temperance move- ment, and is a distinguished advocate of that cause.
Robert E. Taylor, is a graduate of Yale College, and a native of this county. He is an industrious lawyer ; was for several years the City Chamber- lain of the City, and afterwards for twelve years held the office of Recorder. He is now the attor- ney for the Poughkeepsie Savings Bank.
William R. Woodin, was born in Pine Plains. in this County, and graduated at Trinity College. He was captain in a Duchess County regiment during the war, and since its close has been a practitioner in this City. He is now District Attorney of this County.
James L. Williams, was born in Duchess County, and has been in practice in this City for about six- teen years. Has been District Attorney of the County.
O. D. M. Baker was born in Hyde Park July 3Ist, 1842. Was educated in the Duchess County Academy. Admitted to the bar in December, 1863, and has since practiced in this city. Has held the office of City Attorney and for nine years has been a member of the Board of Education. He was the Democratic nominee for Congress in 1878.
Alfred B. Smith is a native of St. Lawrence county. He graduated at Union College. Was admitted to the bar in 1855, since which time he has followed his profession in Poughkeepsie. He has been for thirty years a member of the Board of
Education, and is now the President of the Board. Has been Postmaster at Poughkeepsie. He en- tered the army as Major of the 150th N. Y. Vols., and rose successively to the rank of Lieut-Colonel and Colonel of the Regiment, and was by brevet Brigadier-General.
Robert F. Wilkinson was born in Poughkeepsie June 10th, 1843. Graduated at Williams College. Was admitted to the bar in 1866, and has practiced in Poughkeepsie since his admission. Served in the U. S. army from 1862 to 1865, as Captain and Major of infantry and as Judge Advocate and In- spector General on Division and Corps Staff. Brevetted Lieut-Colonel and Colonel. Has held the office of Assistant Assessor in the Internal Revenue department, and is at present Recorder of the city.
Gerome Williams was born in this county in 1824, was for several years town clerk and justice of the peace, was admitted to the bar in 1858, and has continued in successful practice to the present time.
Tristram Coffin is a native of the County, was admitted to practice in 1864, and has been the County District Attorney.
Wm. Morgan Lee was born in Poughkeepsie in 1838. admitted to the bar in 1866, was connected with the Enrollment Department for this district during the war, has been Supervisor, City Cham- berlain, and is the present City Attorney of Pough- keepsie.
Hon. Homer A. Nelson is a native of Duchess County, where he has always resided. He was edu- cated at the Duchess County Academy, and read law in the office of Tallman & Dean, Poughkeepsie. He has held the offices of County Judge, Colonel of N. Y. Volunteers, Congressman and Secretary of State ; is a member of the present State Senate and Chairman of its Judiciary Committee. For several years his principal law office has been in New York City, where an extensive and responsible business is transacted.
John Hackett is a native of Hyde Park, Duchess County, and from an unpromising beginning, en- countering and overcoming embarrassing obstacles, he has rapidly arisen to better than a fair standing in his profession. As Assistant District Attorney, he is entitled to share in the honor which distinguished the administration of his partner. W. Williams, as the District Attorney of the County. His perse- verence and industry are unsurpassed, and no man in the County is more entitled to the appellation of a self-made man than John Hackett.
Edgar Thorn was born Dec. s. 1804, in the town of Poughkeepsie, and his pursuits were agri- cultural until he was about fifty years of age when he was licensed, ex gracia, at Albany, N. Y., to practice law having, at that time, been elected to the office of Surrogate of the County, the duties of which he performed for the whole term credit-
466
HISTORY OF DUCHESS COUNTY.
ably. Since his retirement from office, he has pursued his profession until the present. While a farmer he frequently represented his town in the Board of Supervisors, and was two years President of the Duchess County Agricultural Society.
Peter Dorland was born March 23, 1815, at Fishkill Plains, in this County. His grandfather, Enoch Dorland, was a recommended minister of the Society of Friends. Peter was educated at Jones' Academy, Quaker Hill, and was mainly oc- cupied in teaching school until his thirty-ninth year, when he was admitted to the bar, and removed to Poughkeepsie in the spring of 1860, on his election to the office of Surrogate. His administration was so popular that he was twice re-elected and held the Surrogacy fourteen years.
J. S. Van Cleef was born at Athens, N. Y., is son of Rev. Cornelius VanCleef, D.D., was edu- cated at Rutger College, and admitted to the bar in 1856, and has practiced law in Poughkeepsie since 1858, with industry and success. Has been a member of the Board of Education seven years, a director of the Merchants' National Bank ten or twelve years and one of its attorneys. Mr. Van- Cleef is an active member of the church of his father, (Reformed Dutch,) and is distinguished as an amateur organist.
C. B. Herrick is a native of the County, was born August 15, 1845, educated at Yale College, admitted to the bar in 1870, and has practiced law in Poughkeepsie since admission.
Allard Anthony, a brilliant young lawyer, District Attorney and County Judge, prematurely died three years ago.
The space allotted to this department will not allow special reference to R. H. Hunter, and others, worthy of a more extended notice.
THE MEDICAL PROFESSION OF POUGHKEEPSIE.
Of the physicians practicing in Poughkeepsie, A. B. Harvey, M. D., a descendant from old Revolutionary ancestry in Massachusetts, was born in 1817. After receiving an education at the Hopkinton Academy, N. H., and graduating in medicine at the Vermont Medical School, he commenced practice in this city in 1844. He was at one time president of the County Medical Society, and is now one of the physicians to St. Barnabas Hospital.
The next in seniority as to residence, is Dr. John R. Cooper, born in this city in 1828, who commenced practice in 1848. (See page 45 1.)
Alfred Hasbrouck, M. D., came to this city in 1848. He belongs to one of the Huguenot families of Ulster county, where he was born, and
after graduating at Yale College, took his degree in medicine in 1848, at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City. He is one of the physicians of St. Barnabas Hospital.
Dr. Charles Haight, born 1808, educated and licensed to practice in the County, came to Poughkeepsie in 1852.
Per Lee Pine, M. D., commenced the practice in 1852 in this city, where he was born ( 1812, ) and was educated and graduated in medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York. He is the President of the Duchess County Medi- cal Society.
Dr. Samuel Tuthill (see page 451) came to Poughkeepsie in the same year (1852.)
John C. Payne, M. D., (Berkshire Medical Col- lege 1848,) was born in Amenia (1820,) educated at the Seminary in that town, and came to this city in 1858. He was for a time Surgeon of the Board of Enrollment during the war. He is one of the physicians to St. Barnabas Hospital.
In the same year (1858,) Edward H. Parker, A. M., (Dartmouth and Trinity Colleges, ) M. D., (Jefferson Medical College 1848,) removed to Poughkeepsie from New York City, where he was Professor of Physiology and Anatomy in the New York Medical College. He was born in Boston, Mass., in 1823 ; in 1862 he was President of the Medical Society of the State of New York and held commissions from Governors Morgan and Seymour in the corps of Volunteer Surgeons pro- vided by this State. He is one of the surgeons of St. Barnabas Hospital.
Robert K. Tuthill, M. D., (New York Medical College 1859,) was born in Newburgh, Orange Co., N. Y., (1835,) educated at the Charlotteville Sem- inary, commenced practicing medicine in Pough- keepsie, in 1859. He is a permanent member of the State Medical Society. During the war he went out as Assistant Surgeon of the 20th N. Y. regiment (Ulster county,) and rose to the rank of Brigade Surgeon. He is one of the surgeons to St. Barnabas Hospital.
E. L. Beadle, M. D., a native of this County after a long practice in New York City, now lives in Poughkeepsie, having retired from the active duties of the profession.
Jacob Bockée, M. D., has also retired. He was born in this County and at one time was engaged in active practice here. He served in the army during the war, and was stationed at one of the New Orleans Hospitals.
C. N. Campbell, M. D., was born in Amenia, July 7, 1825, and came to Poughkeepsie in 1866. (See page 457.)
Besides the reference elsewhere made to the elder Doctor Cooper, deceased, too honorable ref- erence cannot be made to the departed Doctors, Thomas, Varick and Barnes.
U.ILE
HON. JAMES HOWARD.
EDWARD HOWARD, grandfather of James Howard, the subject of our present sketch, was born Dec. 24, 1724, but at what place we have no authentic record, and came to Pawling, Duchess Co., in the year 1770. He was the father of thirteen children as follows : Stephen, Matthew, Ruth, Mary, Richard, Sarah, Edward, Patience, Phebe, Thomas, Benjamin, John and William. Thomas the father of James was born at Pawling, May 14th, 1770. He was united in marriage with Lucy Haynes, whose parents were from Rhode Island. To them were born eight children, as follows: Patience, Hannah, Thomas, Laura, Lucy, James, Sophia and Jane. Of these but three are living : Thomas and Laura, who reside in the town of Washington, and James, who lives in La Grange. James was born Sept. 2, 1804, and in Oct. 24, 1827, was married to Ann Dodge of Pawling, to whom were born ten children, five of whom are now living, viz :- Maria, wife of Renben S. Haight, of the town of Washington ; Frances H., wife of D. P. Blackstone, of Oneida connty ; Caroline A., wife of E. J. Hurd, of Pawling ; John D., who was married to Adaline Barners, of La Grange ; and Jay, whose wife, Ruth A. Halleck, of Stamford, died Oct. 26th, 1874.
James Howard assisted his father on the farm until twenty-four years of age, when he moved to Ontario county, from whence, after a residence of two years, he moved to the town of Washington. He remained there six years when he moved to Patterson, Putnam county where he resided two years. For the next nine years he lived in the town of Dover. From there he moved to La Grange, where, for nineteen years following, he occupied the residence which is now the home of his son, John D. Howard, the present Supervisor of that town.
Mr. Howard always took an active interest in local poli- ties, his first entrance into the political arena being in 1840, when he was elected assessor of the town of Dover, and afterwards, in 1854 and '59, was supervisor of the town of La Grange. In the years 1864-'5, he was chosen to repre- sent his district in the Legislature, serving on the Com- mittee on Railroads as Chairman. The second year he served on the committee for the erection and division of towns and counties. After his return home he was elected town auditor, which position he held for the thir- teen years following. During the war he was appointed to recruit and fill the quotas of his town, which he did very successfully.
In 1869 Mr. Howard built the fine residence he now occupies and where his wife died in April 26th, 1880. Although now in the seventy-seventh year of his age he enjoys good health and possesses remarkable vigor, giving his many friends reason to hope that he will be spared to them many long and happy years. His youngest son, Jay, supervises his farm which is pleasantly situated and in a remarkably good state of cultivation.
Mr. Howard is a man who always makes friends, and has the rare faculty of keeping them ; and probably has as large a circle of friends and acquaintances among all classes as any man in the county.
In business he has ever been a shrewd and successful man, and has always retained the respect and confidence of all who knew him.
In his younger days Mr. Howard dealt a great deal in cattle and horses, and gained a quickness of perception and judgment concerning their good and bad qualities, which he still retains to a marked degree for a man of his advanced years.
467
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.