USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 68
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., January 1, 1906, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of the Medical Society of Dutchess Coun- ty; the New York State Medical Society, and the Manhattan Alumni.
Dr. McCambridge was united in marriage with Miss Isabella Milford of St. Louis, Mo., in 1908.
JOHN E. MACK, District Attorney of Dutchess County, was born in Pough- keepsie June 10, 1874. He received his preliminary education in St. Mary's Paro- chial school and the Poughkeepsie High School. He then began the study of law in the offices of Hackett & Williams, and Allison Butts. He was admitted to the bar in January, 1896.
Politically, Mr. Mack is a Democrat, and in November 1899, was elected a Jus- tice of the Peace of the town of Poughkeepsie. So impartially did he administer the duties of his office during his first term that in the fall of 1903 the Republicans unanimously endorsed his nomination for re-election for the ensuing four years' term. In 1907 Mr. Mack was elected to the office of district attorney, and is today dili- gently and ably performing the duties of that office.
Mr. Mack is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and of St. Mary's Catholic Church. October 25, 1899, he was united in marriage with Wilhelminia B., daugh- ter of Theodore and Mary Immekus, of Poughkeepsie. They have three children, Margaret M., John and Frances.
D. H. MACKENZIE, M. D., was born in Nova Scotia in 1860. He received his academic education at Dalhousie University, Halifax, and pursued his medical studies at the University of the City of New York, graduating in 1889. He located in the village of Mabbettsville, Dutchess county, in 1890, and removed to Millbrook in 1900. Dr. Mac Kenzie served as Health Officer of the town of Washington for fifteen years. He is a trustee of the Millbrook library, and Past Master of Halcyon Lodge, F. & A. M.
In 1893 Dr. Mackenzie was united in marriage with Helen Coffin, and the fol- lowing children were born to them: Hugh; Gilbert Coffin; Edwin Gordon.
THE MAHER FAMILY came to America from Mullinahone, County of Tipper- ary, Ireland, where they were residents for centuries, and the old homestead in the county mentioned is still in the hands of relatives. In Ireland they were engaged in the wheat grinding business. John Maher, grandfather of David, and great grandfather of Richard F., was married in 1720 to Anastatia O'Brien, and to this union were born seven children, as follows: Michael, John, Thomas, Richard, Mary Alice and Margaret. Michael Maher married Catherine Meagher, and they became the parents of nine children: John B., Anna, Eliza, Richard, Thomas, Ellen, David, Mary and Joseph A. Michael Maher came to this country in 1849 and settled on Quaker Hill and in 1856 moved to the town of Dover. John B. married Mary Or- mond of Putnam county; they had one son, Richard Francis Maher. Thomas married Isabella Bennett of New York City; Eliza married John Costin; Ellen died in infancy; Joseph A. studied for the'priesthood, and was ordained at St. John
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
Lateran's, Rome, Italy, in 1882; David F., Richard, Anna and Mary never married.
Richard F. Maher, the present town clerk and collector of the town of Dover, is one of the Democratic political leaders in the Harlem Valley. He is engaged with his uncle in the marble business at Dover Plains. Mr. Maher is of a literary turn of mind, and is the author of the history of the Town of Dover, which is a part of this publication. He is also the author of Historic Dover, and a trustee of the Dover Plains library.
ARCHIBALD M. MARONEY who is engaged in the farm produce business in the town of Poughkeepsie, is a native of Orange county, N. Y., and was for many years engaged in the cattle business at Washingtonville, N. Y. He was for a time interested in the hotel and livery business at Cornwall, N. Y., and then spent four years in Chicago and Wisconsin dealing in horses and cattle.
Since 1906 Mr. Maroney and his family have made their home in Dutchess county.
GEORGE E. MASTEN, town clerk of the town of Pleasant Valley, N. Y., was born August 26, 1873. After graduating from Eastman's Business College he was engaged in farming for a time, operating a steam-thresher. In 1903 he estab- lished his present feed store, under the name of Masten & Rymph, and in 1906 Mr. Masten purchased the interest of his partner. He served as member of the Board of Election Inspectors from 1899 to 1907, and was Justice of the Peace from 1903 to 1907. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Grange, and the Pleasant Valley Fire Company.
In 1900 he married Rose E. Myers of East Park, and they are the parents of one son, Floyd Edward, born March 8, 1906.
EDWARD D. MAYER, attorney, Matteawan, N. Y., was born at Kingston, N. Y., September 30, 1879, where he obtained his education in the public schools and Kingston Academy. This was supplemented by a course in Muhlenberg College at Allentown, Pa., from which he graduated in 1900 with the degree of A. B. He then entered the New York Law School, from which he graduated in 1904. Mr. Mayer was employed for a time in the office of Judge G. D. B. Hasbrouck, New York City, and was admitted to the Bar in 1905.
March 9, 1905 he married Amelia C. VanVliet, and they are the parents of one son, Lloyd Van Vliet.
MORRIS PHILIP MEADE of Wingdale, N. Y., was born November 14, 1882, a son of Roselle and Martha W. (Hoag) Meade. After finishing his studies in the Poughkeepsie High School and the Wesleyan Academy at Wilbraham, Mass., he engaged in his present vocation of farming. In addition to cultivating his own farm of 196 acres, he leases the adjoining farm of 200 acres.
Mr. Meade was united in marriage with Jennie S. Paulson of Catskill, N. Y., and they have one child, Marion A.
Roselle Meade, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in the town of Kent, Putnam county, in 1847, and died April 25, 1898. In 1868 he purchased the home-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
stead farm in the town of Wingdale, where he resided until his death. He held the office of Assessor for twelve consecutive years prior to 1897, when he was elected Supervisor.
In 1875 he married Martha, daughter of Philip Hoag, and they became the par- ents of six children, of whom four are now living.
JAMES G. MEYER, attorney, was born at Fishkill Landing, N. Y., in 1864. He was educated in the public schools of Fishkill Landing, and at Rutgers College,from which he graduated in 1884 with the degree of A. B., and in 1887 took the degree of A. M. He studied law in the office of Judge S. K. Phillips at Matteawan, N. Y., and was counsel to the town and village boards of Fishkill Landing and Matteawan. He has planned and put through nearly all the improvements which the villages now enjoy.
Mr. Meyer was married to Annie, daughter of William and Elizabeth Rothery of Matteawan, and to them have been born one son and one daughter: Charles A., a student at Wilson's School, Matteawan, and Marion R., a student at Wells College, Aurora, N. Y.
Mr. Meyer is a member of the F. & A. M .; also the Hudson River Commandery.
WALTER P. MILLARD a retired lumber merchant residing at New Ham- burgh, N. Y., was born in this village October 8th, 1840, where he attended the district schools, finishing his studies at Hamilton Collegiate Institute, White Plains, and at Bryant and Stratton's Mercantile College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
From 1858 to '66 he was employed by his father in the lumber trade at New Ham- burgh. They then removed to Tarrytown, where for five years they continued the same business under the firm name of W. P. & W. Millard. Our subject then be- came associated with his brother Justice E. in the lumber business at Yonkers, under the firm name of J. E. & W. P. Millard. In 1877 he returned to New Ham- burgh where he has since resided.
Mr. Millard was united in marriage November 17, 1868, with Emma, daughter of James D. and Eliza (Hoffman) Bishop. One child Mary Eliza was born to them May 11, 1870. She is now the wife of Frank B. Drake of New Hamburgh, who are the parents of Walter Millard, born March 30, 1897, and Edna Frances, born July 24, 1900.
Mr. Millard is a member of the following Masonic organizations: Solomons Lodge No. 196 Tarrytown; Poughkeepsie Chapter R. A. M. No. 172; King Solomon Council No. 31; R. & S. M. Poughkeepsie; and Poughkeepsie Commandery No. 43. He is also identified with other fraternal orders. In religious belief he is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church.
The paternal ancestors of Mr. Millard were from New England. His great-grand- father, John was born in Massachussetts, January 15, 1736, and died November 22, 1812. He married Christina Rust, June 17, 1831. They had the following chil- dren: Charles, Rufus, Philo, Ira, Russell, Sarah, Jerusha, Clove, Diantha, of whom Charles, grandfather of our subject was born in Cornwall, Conn., February 19, 1763. He served in the Revolutionary Army, and was stationed at Newburgh under Gen-
748
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
eral Washington, at the time Benedict Arnold betrayed his country, and fled from West Point. August 13, 1788, he married Lidia, daughter of John and Magdaline Pride, who conducted the notable hostelry "Pride's Tavern" on the post road three miles north of Poughkeepsie. It was at this Inn that the Marquis de Chastellux lodged in 1781, on his journey through Dutchess County, and account of which ap- pears in Chapter XIII.
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Millard lived on a farm in what is now the town of Hyde Park, until 1792, when he moved to Poughkeepsie, and engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Walter Livingston's mill. In 1796 he moved to Marlborough, N. Y. and continued the same business. To this couple were born the following children: John, a merchant in Brooklyn, N. Y., James, a lumber merchant in Catskill, N. Y., Charles, a merchant in New Orleans, La., and William a gentleman of means who travelled extensively; Walter (our subject's father) was associated in business with his father; Cornelia who married Heckaliah Purdy; Catherine married Elam Dun- bar, and Caroline remained single. Mrs. Millard died June 17, 1816, and October 22, 1818, Mr. Millard married Sarah Miller, by whom he had two children, Mar- geret C. who became the wife of Justice E. Earl, and Franklin who married Fannie VanZant. Walter Millard, our subject's father, was born in Marlborough, Ulster, County, N. Y. on February 27, 1802, and remained there until the removal of his family to New Hamburgh in 1824, where he was engaged in the lumber business, In 1834 he also became interested in freighting and built the barge "Lexington" which plied between New York and New Hamburgh. In 1844 he purchased the steamboat "Splendid" and carried freight and passengers from New Hamburgh and Marlborough to New York. About 1855 he disposed of this line of business to give his attention to dealing in lumber and coal, which he continued until his death August 20, 1880.
Mr. Walter Millard was married November 14, 1834, to Martha Hyer Bull of New York City. She died June 14, 1896. The following children were born to them: William B., Sarah A., Walter P., Justice E., Fenwick T., Howard C. and Charles.
ALFRED MOORE, deceased, a native of Dutchess county was born at Verbank, and always lived in the town of Lagrange. He was a son of Stephen and Ruth Clark Moore. Stephen Moore came from Plattsburg, N. Y. early in the nineteenth century and owned and operated the mill at Moore's Mill from which the village derived its name. This mill was built in 1812 and has been in the possession of the family for nearly a century. On maintaining manhood he engaged in farming and also operated the mill. He was a Quaker in faith and a devoted friend to liberty, his house having been a station on the "Underground railroad" by which so many slaves made their way to freedom. His wife, Charlotte Haviland, was a daughter of Isaac Haviland, of Quaker Hill, and both lived to a ripe old age, Mr. Moore de- parting this life at the age of eighty-eight and his wife at the age of eighty-nine. They had seven children: Lydia, the wife of Daniel Willets of Jericho, L. I .; Ruth (Mrs. P. A. Skidmore); Susan who resides at Moore's Mill and Alfred H. who is in the employ of the United States Government, at Ellis Island and also con-
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
ducts a stock farm at Moore's Mill. Three children, Charlotte, Andrew and Annie are deceased. Miss Susan Moore is the proprietor of "Floral Home", a delightful summer boarding house at Moore's Mill.
. FREDERICK N. MORGAN, cashier of the First National Bank, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., was born in this city October 3, 1870. He received his education in private schools and at Riverview Academy, from which he was graduated in 1889, and the same year he secured a position as correspondence clerk in the Merchants National Bank, Poughkeepsie, continuing as such until 1893, when he was made teller of the First National Bank. In July 1907 he was appointed assistant cashier of this institution, and in 1908 was further promoted to the position of cashier upon the resignation of Mr. Whipple.
Mr. Morgan is a grandson of Mr. Reuben North, a former cashier of the Pough- keepsie National Bank, who died October 26, 1880, at the advanced age of 73 years. Mr. North was a native of Goshen, Conn., and since 1833 had been a resident of Poughkeepsie. In 1876 he was chosen teller of the Poughkeepsie Bank, and in 1844 was appointed cashier, which position he filled with signal ability.
In 1837 he was united in marriage with Helen Wood of Poughkeepsie, and the following children were born to them: Rebecca O., who married Joseph G. Frost; Sarah F., who became the wife of Walter S. Morgan, parents of the subject of this review; May H., who married Isaac Newlin, and John W.
JOSEPH MORSCHAUSER, Justice of the Supreme Court, in the Ninth Judicial District, State of New York, was born in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess County, New York, March 30th, 1863.
His parents were natives of Germany, his father being Joseph Morschauser, who, with his family, settled in the town of Hyde Park in 1850. He attended the public schools of his native town and removed in his youth to Poughkeepsie, where he studied law with the late Judge Charles Wheaton and Daniel W. Guernsey and was privately tutored for two years by Miss Helen Mary Everett, who had been a teacher for thirty years in our public schools and retired in 1878.
Miss Everett was regarded as one of the most remarkable teachers the city ever had and many well known men have testified to her ability to impart information and leave a lasting impression. She was an exceptionally intelligent and indepen- dent woman.
He was admitted to the bar in 1884. He at once began the practice of law in Poughkeepsie, where two years later he was appointed justice of the peace, and was twice thereafter elected to that office, which he filled for six years.
In 1898 he was elected on the Republican ticket recorder of the city of Pough- keepsie. In 1902, a city court was created for the city of Poughkeepsie, and Judge Morschauser was appointed by the mayor to be judge of that court. His term of four years expired December 31, 1905, when he was re-appointed for another term.
During the twenty-one years in which he practiced law, Judge Morschauser was prominently and successfully connected with many important cases at the Dutchess County Bar.
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
When, in 1906, the counties of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland and Orange were separated from the second judicial district and embodied in the new Ninth Judicial District by act of the Legislature, the Republican party selected Judge Morschauser to be one of three nominees for the new judgeships provided for the district, the other nominees being Mr. Justice Isaac N. Mills of Westchester and Mr. Justice Arthur S. Tompkins of Rockland. The Republican nominees were elected by large majorities and began the duties of the court on January 1st, 1907.
Although the work of the court requires his attendance in Westchester and the other counties outside of Dutchess nearly half of his time, Mr. Justice Morschauser makes his home in Poughkeepsie, his house being at 310 Mill Street, and when not engaged by assignment in other parts of the district he is almost always to he found in the Supreme Court Chambers in the Dutchess County Court House, following the practice pursued for so many years by the late Judge Barnard of making him- self available at all times to lawyers and litigants having business before the Court.
He was married in 1889 to Miss Katherine W. Bauer, daughter of the late Joseph Bauer of Poughkeepsie. They have one son, Joseph Morschasuer, Jr., born 1895, who is a student at Riverview Military Academy.
JAMES H. MULLEN was born December 4, 1853 at what is now 693 Main Street, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In 1867 his parents removed to 585 Main Street, conducting a small grocery until 1873, when they erected the Mullen building at the corner of East Mansion Street. In the same year James H. Mullen undertook the manage- ment of the business and has continued it successfully since.
Mr. Mullen was associated for years with the Retail Merchants Association and latterly with the Chamber of Commerce. He has given considerable time to poli- tics as a Democrat, and from 1890-92 served as Alderman of the fifth ward, Pough- keepsie. In 1895 he was elected supervisor of the seventh ward and re-elected in 1897-'98 ;: 1899-1900, and again in 1905. He resigned January 1, 1907, to accept the appointment of city assessor, to which office he was re-appointed in 1909 by Mayor Sague.
Mr. Mullen was married May 31, 1883 to Miss Mary Hayes of Poughkeepsie. They became the parents of three sons and two daughters.
J. W. MULLEN, president of the village of Wappingers Falls, is a native of Ire- land, and came to America at the age of seven years. He has been a resident of Wappingers Falls for forty years, of which he spent twenty-six years in the employ of the Dutchess Print Works. Nineteen years ago he acquired his present hotel.
In public life Mr. Mullen has served two years as village assessor and two years as village trustee. He was elected president of the village in March 1909.
Mr. Mullen married Annie Dowling, and eight children were born to them, of whom Katherine V. is a teacher in a Poughkeepsie school; Thomas and John are engaged in business in New York City, and the remaining children reside with their parents.
WILLIAM A. MURPHY who conducts a grist and saw mill near the village of Poughquag, in the town of Beekman, Dutchess county, was born at Arthursburg
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BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
in the adjoining town of La Grange. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, and soon became interested in the milling business, in which he has been continuously engaged, purchasing his present property in 1898.
Mr. Murphy has served as school trustee, and has held the office of town clerk of the town of Beekman for four years. Socially he is a member of the I. O. O. F.
EZRA MUSSELMAN, Superintendent of the Seneca Button factory, Poughkeep- sie, N. Y., was born in Ontario, Canada, January 23, 1867. Early in life he entered the employ of the Seneca Button Company at Seneca Falls, N. Y., and by diligent effort has worked his way up to the present position. When the plant was removed to Dutchess county in 1907 Mr. Musselman was instrumental in establishing the business here. The capacity of this plant exceeds 75,000 gross and gives employ- ment to about 300 hands.
Mr. Musselman is a member of the Masonic fraternity, including the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Commandery. He was united in marriage with Annie Gillies of On- tario, Canada.
GEORGE NAGENGAST, the efficient and popular chief of the Fire Department, was born in Poughkeepsie, June 10, 1852, the son of Charles Nagengast who came from Bavaria, Germany to this city in 1840, and who was foreman for the blasting furnace located here.
Mr. Nagengast at the age of eleven years entered the cigar factory remaining at that calling until early in 1883, when he embarked in the meat business for a short time. He then returned to his trade remaining until October of the same year. He began life as a hotel keeper in what is now known as the Hudson River House. He conducted the same for eight years when he purchased the International at 435 Main Street, where he remained over five years, and then purchased The Globe, 403 Main Street. He has been very successful in business and in real estate in- vestments and is the owner of a number of valuable properties in Poughkeepsie.
He is a public spirited citizen and ever ready and foremost to promote the real welfare and prosperity of his native city.
Politics he has never sought, nor accepted offices of any kind, but has always de- voted all his spare time to the interest of the fire department. He joined the Niagara Engine Company when only eighteen years of age and has been its foreman and treasurer four years, later resigning and joining O. H. Booth Hose as active and has been its treasurer, and is at present the same. He has also been treasurer for several tournaments held by the department.
He has been chief since 1901 and is now rounding out his thirty-ninth year of active service as a fire fighter, having a record for both work and achievement un- equalled by any other citizen of Poughkeepsie, or probably of any other city in the country.
Mr. Nagengast was married November 2, 1878, to Miss Caroline L. Swartout, daughter of William and Adeline (Martin) Swartout, to whom was born, two daughters, Araminta H. and Lillian M.
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THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
HORATIO NELSON was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., April 15, 1863. He obtained his education at Cheshire Academy, Cheshire, Conn., and Trinity College, Hartford. After travelling extensively abroad for a period of two years, he became connected with the Jersey City stock yards. He then engaged in farming at Dover Plains un- til 1893, when he purchased a country place on the South Road in the town of Poughkeepsie, known as "The Farms," where he now maintains his residence.
THE NELSON HOUSE. In 1874 the old Forbus House, on Market street, was purchased by Judge Nelson for his sister, Mrs. E. P. Taylor. The year following the structure was torn down, with the exception of the three story brick addition, which was built several years earlier, and now forms the southern part of the present Nelson House. The new hotel, the Nelson House, was formally opened, with a banquet, on May 19, 1876, by Peter Foland, who came here from Albany. Shortly thereafter Captain A. P. Black purchased Foland's interest, leased the property for a term of years, and conducted the hotel for a time. During the existence of his lease several proprietors occupied the hotel for short periods until May 1, 1884, when the present proprietor, Horatio N. Bain, took possession, and has conducted it continuously to the present time.
The Poughkeepsie Hotel, another of the city's old landmarks, has several times been partially destroyed by fire. After its partial destruction by fire while under the management of Isaac N. Seaman, the property came into the possession of Richard P. Morgan, Jr., as guardian of the grandchildren of John H. Rutzer. Mr. Morgan altered the building in 1877-'78 by removing the lower veranda. In the spring of 1878 the hotel was leased to Milton Bain, who died in the spring of 1883 and was succeeded by his son, Horatio N. Bain, who conducted it until 1884, when Mr. Bain sold it to Edward D. Morgan, son of Richard P. Morgan, Jr., who ran the hotel for a time, became involved, and made an assignment. He was succeeded by Mrs. Isaac N. Seaman and her son Fred. This property was then sold at auction-partition sale-and was purchased by the Hon. Homer A. Nelson, April 1, 1886. In the meantime Horatio N. Bain had purchased the furniture and fix- tures from O. D. M. Baker, assignee for E. D. Morgan. Mr. Bain conducted the hotel for a short time prior to the time Judge Nelson removed the balconies, and constructed an entirely new front, as it appears to-day. Mr. Bain was the last actual proprietor of the Poughkeepsie Hotel. Since 1886 the property has been occupied by Horatio N. Bain as an annex to the Nelson House.
THE NEW YORK RUBBER COMPANY was organized under the original Mining and Manufacturing Act of 1848, to manufacture articles under the Good- year patent. Messrs. Benjamin F. Lee , W. D. Judson, John Greacen of New York, and others, being the charter members. The company first began operations on Staten Island, and in 1857 they bought the water power of what was then known as the Wiccopee Mills, in the town of Fishkill, which was then making "jeans," or cotton goods of blue or slate color. The New York Rubber Co. on taking posses- sion enlarged the mill, but did not at first put in steam as the water power was con- sidered sufficient. The capital which was then $75,000. has been increased from
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