USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 64
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FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF AMENIA: This institution was organized in 1864 with five directors; namely: Thomas L. Harris, Gail Borden, Desault Guern- sey, James A. Requa and Charles B. Gallegher. The following were the officers: Thomas L. Harris, president; Gail Borden, vice president; James A. Requa, cash- ier. The Board of Directors, July 1, 1909, was composed of the following gentle- men: George G. Stevenson, Newton Hebard Roland S. Palmer, James S. Chaffee. Lewis F. Eaton, Frank B. Stevenson, Charles H. Davis of Amenia, N. Y., and Gil bert L. Smith, of Sharon, Conn.
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The following are the officers for 1909: George G. Stevenson, president; Newton Hebard, vice president; Charles H. Davis, Jr., cashier.
The capital of the bank is $100,000; the undivided profits and surplus, $35,000. The conservative management of this institution has gained for it an enviable re- putation.
THE FISHKILL LANDING MACHINE COMPANY was organized February 1853 by Mr. Milo Sage and others, with a capital of $25,000, increased to $35,000 in January 1858, and again increased to $100,000 in 1902.
Mr. Sage continued as President until his death in 1880, and he was succeeded by Mr. Robert Halgin, The concern under the management of Messrs. Sage and Hal- gin has been very successful. They manufacture largely the Corlis Steam Engine, employ 75 to 100 men, and the work they turn out is known throughout the United States for its excellency.
JOHN B. FLEMING, who is engaged in the woolen business at New Hamburgh, N. Y., was born October 20, 1850, and received his education in the public schools of Yonkers, N. Y. He then became associated with Mr. Alexander Smith in the woolen business. In 1897 he came to New Hamburgh, and has since been suc- cessfully engaged in his present establishment.
In religious belief Mr. Fleming is a member and an elder of the Presbyterian church of New Hamburgh.
BENJAMIN MALTBY FOWLER, attorney, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., was born at Durham, Conn., April 27, 1854. After graduating from the Poughkeepsie High School he took a special course at Riverview Military Academy, and then entered the law office of Thompson & Weeks, Poughkeepsie, finishing his clerkship in the offices of Anthony & Losee and Robert E. Taylor. He was admitted to the Bar May 13, 1875, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession.
December 15, 1851, Mr. Fowler married Ada M., daughter of the late M. S. Doug- lass of New York City. Mrs. Fowler died October 4, 1906, and is survived by her husband and three sons: Douglass P., Maltby S., and Benjamin M., Jr.
JACOB Z. FROST, manufacturer, was born at Pleasant Plains, town of Clinton, Dutchess county, February 28, 1843, and was educated in the schools of his native place, and in a seminary conducted by Rev. Sherman Hoyt at Pleasant Plains. Until 1871 he was engaged in farming, when he purchased at auction the old mill property which was established by John C. DeWitt and which he has operated con- tinuously, the product consisting of flour, feed and grain.
January 4, 1845 Mr. Frost was united in marriage with Marietta Cookingham, and they are the parents of the following children: Lillian, now the wife of Dr. Hawley of Pleasant Plains; R. Nita, now the wife of Robert Knox, Jr., of Pough- keepsie.
SAMUEL H. GARDENIER, attorney, was born at Matteawan, N. Y. in 1870. After graduating from the Poughkeepsie High School in 1888 he entered the law
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office of Edward Crummey of Poughkeepsie, where he remained one year. He then accepted a clerkship in the Poughkeepsie postoffice under Postmaster Ketch- am. In 1891 Mr. Gardenier resumed the study of law with Stephen G. Guernsey, and was admitted to the Bar in 1893. He is at present engaged in general practice in Poughkeepsie.
GARRISON genealogy. Captain Joost Garrison, son of Jonas and Cornelia (De Grott) Garrison, settled, between 1750 and 1760, on the North end of the 700 acre lot on the road leading from Pleasant Plains to LeRoy's mills, where Fred M. Barker now resides. His wife was Magdalena Van Dyke. Their children were: Mary, born 1737, married Philip Kane; Margaret, born 1740, married Joseph Ford; Jemimah, born 1742, married Charles Traver; Elizabeth, born 1744, married Ed- ward Talbot; Amy, born 1748, married Jonathan Alger; Jonas, born 1752; Corne- lius, born 1752; Rachel, born 1754, married Cornelius Ostrom; Helena, born 1757, married Cornelius Van Vliet; Levi, born 1759; Nemah, born 1763, married Jesse Smith. This family is now extinct.
CONRAD C. GINDRA, a leading florist in the city of Poughkeepsie, was born in Boston in 1863. The same year his parents removed to Dutchess county. After acquiring his education in the public schools of Poughkeepsie he engaged with his father, who had charge of the Beach property on the Hyde Park road, and it was here Mr. Gindra received his training in gardening and floriculture. May 23, 1908, Mr. Gindra purchased the old floral property, on upper Main street, from Isaac Fricker, which he has greatly enlarged and remodeled.
May 8, 1906, Mr. Gindra was united in marriage with Margaret P. Ryan of Pough- keepsie.
EDWARD MORRIS GORING was born in Manchester, England, April 20, 1828. He was the eldest son of John M. Goring and Martha Heald. At the age of eight years he came to the United States of America with his parents, completing his education, begun in England, in the schools of Wappingers Falls, N. Y.
In 1845 he was apprenticed to the trade of engraving in calico printing, serving under his father. This he followed until 1860. During the following nine years Mr. Goring was engaged in the coal business. In 1869 he became a member of the firm of Disbrow & Goring, iron founders.
In 1872 he went into the insurance and real estate business; built Goring Hall, and opened a drug store in that building. He sold much property of the Mesier Estate which resulted in the opening of a number of important streets in Wap- pingers Falls, and in the erection of business places and houses. He carried on his real estate and drug business until 1890, when he retired.
In 1850 Mr. Goring married Miss Jane Eliza Thomson, daughter of Alexander Thomson of Pleasant Valley. Four children were born to them-Thomson Ed- ward, General Manufacturing Manager of Sweet, Orr & Co .; Maria Jane, deceased, wife of Ashley S. Worsley, Electrical Engineer at Washington in the Government employ; Prescott Crosier, a printer: Adah Mary, who died in childhood.
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It was as a staunch Republican in politics and as a public man that Mr. Goring became so well and widely known. He was a member of the old Whig Party and came over to the Republican ranks when that party was formed; in fact, he can be called one of the organizers of the party. He has held a number of important poli- tical offices in this county, among them being Collector of the town of Fishkill, 1862; Deputy Collector of internal revenue, 1865-1867; Assistant U. S. Assessor of internal revenue, 1867-1871. He was the first Republican supervisor elected in the township of Fishkill in ten years, and was re-elected by a large majority. Mr." Goring was a member of the New York Assembly in 1871, and a colleague of Hon. Hamilton Fish and the late Hon. Harvey G. Eastman, rendering the latter valuable assistance in bringing through the bill authorizing the building of the Poughkeepsie Bridge. He was Sergeant-at-Arms in the Assembly in 1872. He was President of the village of Wappingers Falls in 1879, and afterwards police justice,-the only man in Wappingers Falls ever occupying that office.
In 1883 he was appointed Postmaster by President Arthur, holding office four years, and he lived long enough to have the satisfaction of seeing his grandson hold the same position under President Roosevelt.
From 1902-1908 Mr. Goring held his last political office, that of Coroner of South- ern Dutchess. As Coroner he accomplished some of his best work for the people at large and for the safety of railroad employees, and saved the county much expense. In this office Mr. Goring had an opportunity to show some of his judicial powers and lawyer-like qualities, as were proven by some very important verdicts in reference to murder and railroad accidents.
Mr. Goring had always at heart the best interest of the community and was active in bringing about many changes and improvements. He was the initiator and pro- moter in creating the town of Wappinger from the town of Fishkill; in the incor- poration of the Wappingers Falls Savings Bank and the Bank of Wappingers; in the incorporation of Wappingers Falls as a village; in the laying out of the road to New Hamburg along the lower creek as a public instead of a toll road, as chartered by the legislature; in the law authorizing the erection of the public school building and in other like enterprises. Mr. Goring was a trustee of the Wappingers ceme- tery, and for 40 years was an active member of the Grinnell Library Association.
Mr. Goring died at the age of nearly 81,-a great-grandfather. His death was due to general weakness, after some months illness, and occurred at his home in Wappingers Falls, January 8, 1909.
Mr. Goring was a remarkably versatile man, a writer of ability, and a good speaker and conversationalist. He was a familiar figure at the Republican con ventions.
THOMSON EDWARD GORING, eldest son of Hon. E. M. Goring, was born in Wappingers Falls, September 27, 1852.
He was educated in the public schools of that place, and later became associated with his father in the drug and stationery business.
In 1878 Mr. Goring became associated with Sweet, Orr & Co., entering the employ of that firm when it was yet in its infancy. After attaining his majority of twenty-
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one years service with the Company, he was presented with a testimonial of good faith by the employees of the Wappingers plant in consideration of his efforts to promote and keep the agreeable relations between employee and employer, and in appreciation of his great activity in increasing the business of the home factory, and of Sweet, Orr & Co. as a whole.
In 1901 Mr. Goring was appointed manager of the manufacturing department of Sweet, Orr & Co .; a very great advance having been made in the business there was necessity for such an office. He was also made a member of the board of direc- tors.
In 1905 Mr. Goring was elected vice president of the Garment Manufacturers Association of America, and has since been reelected, holding that office at the present time.
In 1877 Mr. Goring married Miss Mary Jane Myatt, daughter of Mr. James Myatt, of Bridgeport, Ct. Of this union three children were born, Myatt Edward,-now postmaster at Wappingers Falls,-Maud Adah, who died in childhood, and Ethel Mary. Mrs. Goring died March, 1885. Mr. Goring's second wife was Miss Martha Nelson, daughter of Reuben Nelson and Mary Phillips. This marriage took place in 1894.
Although a very busy man, Mr. Goring has always been prominently identified with the Republican party, and is an active member of the County committee.
Mr. Goring is also connected with a number of clubs and orders,-among them are the following: the Amrita, Dutchess County Golf Club, and Lincoln Club, of Poughkeepsie, and the Aldine Association, of New York City. He is a thirty-sec- ond degree Mason, and belongs to the following lodges: Past Master of Wappingers Lodge No. 671, F. & A. M., Past Warden of Poughkeepsie Commandery No. 43, Poughkeepsie Chapter No. 170, R. A. M., and King Solomon's Council No. 31, R. & S. M., also to the Mystic Shrine, Mecca Temple, Lodge of Perfection, New York City, Council of the Princess of Jerusalem, New York City, Chapter of Rose Croix, New York City, and New York Consistory. He is a member of Lafayette Lodge, I. O. O. F., and Lafayette Encampment; Evening Star Lodge, K. of P .; Masonic Veteran's Association, of Newburgh, N. Y .; W. H. Weston Shrine Association, of Newburgh, the Newburgh City Club, and B. P. O. E., of Poughkeepsie. He is a member of the Dutchess Co. Horticultural Society and of the Wappingers Falls and New England Dahlia Societies.
Mr. Goring is interested in charitable and church work, and is a vestryman of Zion P. E. Church. He is an active and prominent citizen of his county, and a member of the Dutchess County Society of New York City. He has succeeded in making Sweet, Orr and Co's factory an attractive spot in the center of the business section of Wappingers Falls. It has rather the appearance of a municipal building, or large school, with its creeping vines and window boxes with flowers and ferns, than an overall factory.
MYATT E. GORING, P. D., pharmacist at Wappingers Falls, N. Y., was born in that town on April 7, 1878, He received his preliminary education in the district school of his birth place, supplemented by a course in the High Schools of Providence, R. I. and Washington, D. C.
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It was while at school in the latter city that the war with Spain was declared and being a member of the Morton Cadets (so named in honor of Ex-Vice-President Levi P. Morton) a drill company in the National Guard of the District of Columbia, he was mustered into the service of Co. G. 1st D. C. Vols., and participated in the siege, bombardment and surrender of Santiago under Gen. Shafter.
Mr. Goring entered the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy 1899, graduated in 1900 and took up the duties of a pharmacist in Pittsburg, Pa.
In 1904 Mr. Goring purchased the drug business originally established by his grand- father, Hon. E. M. Goring. Mr. Goring is a fraternity man and is a member of the following lodges: Wappingers Lodge F. & A. M., Poughkeepsie Chapter R. A. M., King Solomon's Council, Poughkeepsie Commandery, Poughkeepsie Lodge B. P. O. E., Victory Council Jr. O. U. A. M., The Society of the Army of Santiago de Cuba and Camp Sague U. S. W. V.
In 1908 Mr. Goring was appointed Postmaster at Wappingers Falls by President Roosevelt.
Mr. Goring was united in marriage February 3, 1904 with Miss Edith J. Smith of Shippensburg, Pa. They have two children, Marian T. and Edward M.
LE GRAND GRAHAM of Clinton Hollow, was born in the town of Ghent, Colum- bia county, May 14, 1847. He received his education in the schools of his native place, and also at Clinton, Dutchess county. For some time he taught school, and for a year and a half was engaged in mercantile business at Clinton Hollow. In 1864 he enlisted in the First New York Mounted Rifles, and at the close of the war was mustered out of service at Richmond, Va. In the spring of 1867 he engaged. in farming and merchandising in Dutchess county, and in 1871 began operating a saw-mill in a building which has stood over a century and a half. In 1873 he pur- chased the property, and has continuously conducted this business.
In 1872 Mr. Graham became a member of Warren Lodge, F. & A. M., and has held the office of secretary of that lodge for over fifteen years; and is also Past Mas- ter of this organization. Mr. Graham has taken an active interest in the public affairs of his adopted town, occupying various elective offices.
June 26, 1873 he was united in marriage with Jane M. Lattin of Clinton. She died January 19, 1878, leaving one daughter, Bertha. December 24, 1879 Mr. Graham chose for his second wife Ella Smith of Clinton, and two children are the result of this union: Frank and Florence.
ROBERT GRANT GRAHAM was born in Poughkeepsie, September 27, 1875. He received his early education in the public schools here, graduating from the High School in 1894. He then took up a course at Eastman's Business College from which he was graduated in 1895. In 1896 he was appointed Dutchess County Court Stemographer, by Judge Samuel K. Phillips, and served in that capacity until 1907, when he was appointed Supreme Court Stenographer, by Justice Joseph Morschauser, which office he now fills.
Mr. Graham enlisted as a private in Co. K. 1st N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served during the Spanish-American war. He is a member of Triune Lodge 782 F. & A .M .;
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Fallkill Lodge I. O. O. F., and of the Poughkeepsie, Euterpe Glee and Apokeepsing Boat Clubs. Mr. Graham has been a baritone singer in Christ Church choir since 1904.
THERON M. GREEN, of Pawling, N. Y., was born in that town October 29, 1829. His education was obtained in the public schools of his native place, and at Amenia Seminary, Amenia, N. Y. After completing his studies he taught school for a time, and then engaged in farming, which he has since successfully continued.
Mr. Green has held the office of Justice of the Peace in Pawling for over twenty years, and was a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1858. He is vice-president of the Pawling National Bank, and his son, Merrick D., is one of its trustees.
JOHN B. GRUBB, attorney, was born March 8, 1879, at Clay Center, Kansas. At the age of three years his parents removed to Poughkeepsie, where our subject acquired his education, graduating from the Poughkeepsie High School in 1898. He pursued his professional studies in the law office of Frank B. Lown, which was supplemented by a course in the New York Law School. He was admitted to the Bar in January, 1907.
EGBERT GUERNSEY, M. D. L. L. D., was born at Litchfield, Conn., July 8, 1823, a son of Noah and Amanda (Crosby) Guernsey, and died at his country seat, Fishkill-on-Hudson, N. Y., September 19, 1903. His remote ancestors were Eng- lish, the more prominent of which were strongly imbued with the spirit of civil and religious liberty.
The first of the name that came to this country was John Guernsey, a native of the Isle of Guernsey. Our subject was the twelfth generation from him. This John Guernsey came to America in 1638, and was one of the one hundred and eighty sturdy Puritans that removed from Boston to found the colony of New Haven. His descendants took an active part in the settlement of New England and the sub- sequent struggle for Independence, no less than thirteen of them having served in the Revolutionary Army.
John Guernsey's great grand-son, by the same name, was born at Woodbury, Conn., and removed to Amenia, Dutchess County, N. Y.
Young Egbert was prepared for college at Phillip's Academy, Andover, Mass., whence he entered the scientific department at Yale. Before completing his col- lege course, however, he determined to devote himself to medicine, and accordingly entered the office of the celebrated Dr. Valentine Mott, as a student. Soon after 'he became a student in the Medical College of New York University, of which Dr. Mott was one of the Professors, and in 1846, was graduated with the degree of M. D. He received the degree of Doctor of Laws, from the College of St. Francis Xavier.
Dr. Guernsey began the practice of medicine in Williamsburg, 1846, and soon af- ter was appointed city physician. In 1850, he removed to Fishkill-on-Hudson for a year or two, and then returned to New York City, where he built up a large and lucrative practice and acquired a strong and influential following.
At about this time Dr. Guernsey became acquainted with Dr. John F. Gray and
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other physicians who were infected with the medical heresies of Hahnemann and was quick to imbibe some of the doctrines of that sage, who was then in his zenith, and the methods of Homeopathy. He also became a teacher of the new faith, being for six years Professor of Materia Medica and Theory and Practice in the New York Homeopathic Medical College, of which he was one of the founders. He was also one of the founders and the first president of the Western Dispensary, afterward united with the Hahnemann Hospital, with which he was associated. He was instrumental in having the Inebriates' Asylum on Ward's Island converted into a general hospital under the direction of the Department of Charities, and plac- ed in the hands of the Homeopathic school of practice. From 1877 to the time of his death, he was President of the Medical Staff of the Metropolitan Hospital. Dr. Guernsey was one of the founders of the State Hospital for the Insane at Middle- town, N. Y., and was for nineteen years a trustee and four years Vice-President of it. From this position he was dropped by the late Governor Flower, the good governor being misled by the devices of envious wire-pulling rivals. He was the founder also of the Training School for Nurses at the Hahnemann and Metropolitan Hospitals. He has been President of the New York State and County Medical Societies, and from 1864 to 1868 was Surgeon of the Sixth Regiment of the National Guard of the State of New York.
Dr. Guernsey, before his graduation from the University Medical College was City Editor of The Evening Mirror, being thus associated with Nathaniel Parker Willis and George P. Morris. He founded The Brooklyn Daily Times in 1848, and for two years was its editor. In 1852 he was one of the editors of Jahr's Manual, and in 1872 he founded The Medical Union, which was ultimately merged into the New York Medical Times, of which he was for many years the senior editor. Early in his professional career he wrote a school history of the United States, which long ranked as a standard text book. His Domestic Practice, published in 1855, has passed through many editions and been translated into several languages. His miscellaneous contributions to medical literature have been voluminous.
Dr. Guernsey was one of the founders of the Union League Club of New York, of which he was a member at his death. He was a life member of the New York Geographical and Historical Societies, and the Academy of Science, and belonged to various other scientific and literary organizations.
Dr. Guernsey was married in 1848 to Sarah Lefferts Schenck, a descendant of Edgar de Schenken. Five children were the fruits of this union, of whom but one, Florence, survives, Dr. Egbert Guernsey, Jr., dying in early manhood, the other three, in infancy.
HOMER W. GUERNSEY, the subject of this sketch was born in Poughkeepsie in the year 1880. He attended the public schools of Poughkeepsie and Riverview Military Academy and was graduated from there latter in 1899. He was with Daniel Birdsall & Company, real estate brokers of New York City, for a year; he then entered Brown University at Providence, Rhode Island. During his college days he was a well known athlete being a leading base ball and tennis player. He accepted a position with the Poughkeepsie Trust Company in 1903 where he re-
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mained for three years, resigning in December 1906 to accept the appointment of .City Treasurer of Poughkeepsie under Mayor John K. Sague. When he took office Mr. Guernsey was the youngest City Treasurer that had ever held office in the city. He was reappointed City Treasurer upon the re-election of the Mayor. Mr. Guern- sey besides being City Treasurer is a real estate broker with offices in the Pough- keepsie Trust Company Building. He is a son of Stephen G. Guernsey, the we known lawyer and President of the Poughkeepsie Trust Company. He is a brother of Raymond G. Guernsey a lawyer of New York City and Louis G. Guernsey who is on the reportorial staff of the Los Angeles Record of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Guernsey belongs to several clubs. Among them are the Alpha Delta Phi Club, Brown University Club and the Dutchess County Society of New York City; also several prominent orders and social clubs in the city of Poughkeepsie. In politics he is a Democrat.
STEPHEN GANO GUERNSEY, lawyer, was born in Stanford, Dutchess Coun- ty, April 22, 1848, son of Stephen Gano Guernsey and Elenor (Rogers) Guernsey, of that place. He was educated in the common schools and at Fort Edward In- stitute. In 1870 he came to Poughkeepsie and read law in the offices of Judge Charles Wheaton, and also with his brother, Judge Daniel W. Guernsey, being ad- mitted to the bar in 1872. In 1872 he commenced the practice of law in Poughkeep- sie and has so continued up to the present time. In politics he is a Democrat. He was elected president of the Poughkeepsie National Bank in 1892, and of the Poughkeepsie Trust Company in 1901, which position he now holds.
Mr. Guernsey was married April 18, 1877, to Miss Marianna Hicks, of Pough- keepsie, and has four children, Raymond G., Homer W., Louis G. and Emeline.
JOHN HACKETT was born in Ireland June 8, 1845, and came to America with his parents in 1852, settling at Hyde Park, N. Y. His early education was such as he could obtain in the district school of his town, and he also attended Eastman Business College from which he was graduated in 1863. He then read law in the office of Charles Brundage at Poughkeepsie and was admitted to the bar in 1866, and at once began the practice of his profession. He served as assistant District Attorney in 1873 under the late James L. Williams; in 1884 he was elected District Attorney of Dutchess County and was reelected to that office in 1887. In 1876 the firm of Hackett & Williams was formed and was continued until the death of Mr. Williams in 1908.
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