USA > New York > Dutchess County > The history of Dutchess County, New York > Part 73
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EARL S. WELCH was born in Schenectady, N. Y., December 12, 1881. He was educated in the public and high schools of Albany, graduating from the latter institution in 1901. In the same year he was employed as clerk in the Northern Department of the Teutonic Fire Insurance Co. in their offices in Poughkeepsie, and in 1903 was promoted to bookkeeper, which position he now occupies.
Mr. Welch is a member of Triune Lodge, No. 782, F. & A. M., and Poughkeepsie Chapter. He is also district secretary for the Christian Endeavor Union of Dutch- ess county.
WELDON F. WESTON, a representative business man of Fishkill-on-Hudson, was born in Litchfield, New Hampshire April 14, 1856. He attended the Pinker- ton Academy, at Derry, N. H., finishing his education at the New Hampshire Con- ference Seminary. At the age of twenty he came to Newburgh to accept a position as shipping clerk for the Erie R. R. Two years later he returned to New Hamp- shire and engaged in mercantile business for a time. From 1880 to 1888 he was station agent at Matteawan for the N. D. & C. R. R., and then engaged with his brother, the late Major Wilbur H. Weston of Newburgh, N. Y., in the express and trucking business in connection with the Matteawan and Fishkill Landing stage line until 1892 when the electric railroad superceded the stage route. He was made a director of the Street R. R. Co. on its organization, and has remained in the board to the present time. He was also for several years a director of the Mechanics' Savings Bank, where he was on the funding and examining committee.
Mr. Weston is still extensively interested in the transportation business at New- burgh and Fishkill and also conducts a coal, feed and mason supply business at Fishkill-on-Hudson.
Politically Mr. Weston is a republican. In 1891 he was elected president of the village of Matteawan, and in 1892 re-elected without opposition, and has held various public offices in his adopted town. September 26, 1878, Mr. Weston married Anna Jeanette, daughter of Charles M. and Elizabeth A. (Davis) Elkins, of Wakefield, Mass.
785
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
Mr. Weston has been a Knight of Pythias for more than thirty years, joining that order at Laconia, N. H., becoming a charter member of Mt. Belknap Lodge No. 20. Later he joined Hudson River Lodge of Matteawan, N.Y., and is yet a mem- ber. He was a Chancellor Commander of his lodge and District Deputy Grand Chancellor of this district.
Mr. Weston is a past Master of Beacon Lodge F. & A. M. of Fishkill-on-Hudson, and a member of Highland Chapter and Hudson River Commandery of Newburgh, N. Y., and a member of Mecca Temple Nobles of the Mystic Shrine of New York City, and is also a member of the Southern Dutchess Country Club and various other organizations.
WILLIAM N. WETTEREAU, who occupies the beautiful country place known as "The Meadows," on the South Road in the town of Poughkeepsie, was born September 24, 1877. He received his preliminary education in the public schools of New York City, and Dr. Holbrook's Select School, Ossining, N. Y., which was supplemented by an academic course in Williams College. Mr. Wettereau has travelled extensively, and now enjoys a retired life, devoting his time to the per- sonal supervision of his farm.
MICHAEL J. WHALEN, a prominent citizen, and a leader in Democratic circles, in the town of Northeast, was born at Millerton, N. Y., January 6, 1869, and ac- quired his education in the public schools of his native place. In 1886 he was con- nected with the Newburgh, Dutchess & Connecticut Railroad at Matteawan, N. Y., where he remained until 1889, resigning to assume the duties of station agent for the New York Central Railroad at Millerton, N. Y., which position he has held con- tinuously to the present time, fulfilling his duties with fidelity and diligence.
For many years Mr. Whalen has taken an active interest in the public affairs of his native place, and is at present Democratic Committeeman of the town of North- east.
He was united in marriage with Katherine E. Garvin, and they are the parents of one son, John Garvin. Socially Mr. Whalen is a member of the Knights of Co- lumbus.
THOMAS FRANCIS WHALEN was born at Cold Spring, Putnam county, June 1, 1874. His parents were Malachy Whalen and Margaret Bracken. Very shortly after Mr. Whalen's birth, the family moved to Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He re- ceived his education in the public schools and at the Poughkeepsie High School. After leaving school he was employed as clerk at the Poughkeepsie Cracker Bakery, afterwards the American Biscuit Company.
In 1907 he was elected City Clerk by the Board of Alderman of the city of Pough- keepsie, which position he still holds. He is Treasurer of Florentine Council No. 304 K. of C. and a charter member of this organization. He is also member of Division No. 2, A. O. H., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. of which organization he was Presi- dent, 1903-1908. He is also a member of St. Peter's Holy Name Society, and was its president in 1905-'06.
In politics Mr. Whalen is a Democrat.
786
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
HOWELL WHITE, M. D. Fishkill, N. Y. is the eighth generation in descent from Thomas White, (born, 1599) of Weymouth, Mass., who was Representative in General Court in 1636-37. He died in 1679, leaving five children.
Second Generation: Ebenezer, the fifth child of Thomas, was born 1648, and died August 24, 1703. He married Hannah, daughter of Nicholas Phillips.
Third Generation: Rev. Ebenezer White, born Feb. 17, 1673, graduated from Harvard College in 1692, and died March 4, 1756. He married Hannah Piersons.
Fourth Generation: Rev. Sylvanus White, third son of Rev. Ebenezer White, was born Dec. 16, 1702 and graduated from Harvard College in 1723. He married Phebe, only daughter of Hezekiah Howell, and had nine children, three of whom were physicians. He died Oct. 22, 1782.
Fifth Generation: Ebenezer, (born Sept. 3, 1746; died, March 8, 1827) the seventh son of Rev. Sylvanus, chose the study of medicine for his profession. In early life he married (March 22, 1772) ,Helena, daughter of Theophilus Bartow, of New Rochelle, and great-granddaughter of General Bartow, who fled from France to England in 1685, on the revocation of the edict of Nantes. They had seven chil- dren, three of whom were physicians. Dr. and Mrs. Ebenezer White came to West- chester County and settled at Yorktown. Some of their descendants are now living in their old home.
Sixth Generation: Ebenezer, (born June 13, 1779; died, March 20, 1865) the second of Dr. Ebenezer, also made choice of the profession of medicine, as did his brothers Bartow and Henry. He married (April 8, 1800) Amy, daughter of the late Samuel Green, of the town of Somers, Westchester County, and located there. He had nine children, of whom three sons adorned the profession which their father so long followed.
Seventh Generation: Lewis H., (born March 17, 1807; died Sept. 24, 1886) fourth child of Dr. Ebenezer, 2d, married (June 7, 1853) Helena Van Wyck, of Fishkill.
Mrs. Howell White is a daughter of Isaac E. Cotheal, and his wife, Catherine E. (Rapalje), and on the maternal side is a descendant in the eighth generation from Joris Jansen de Rapalje, one of the proscribed Huguenots, from "Rochelle in France," and the common ancestor of all the American families of this name.
Second Generation: His son, Jerominus, born June 27, 1643, married Anna, daughter of Tennis Denys, and had nine children.
Third Generation: Jan Rapalje, born Dec. 14, 1673, son of Jerominus, married Annettie, daughter of Coert Van Vorhees. They had three children. He died in 1733.
Fourth Generation: Jeromus Rapalje, son of Jan, was twice married, and left children.
Fifth Generation: John Rapalje, (born 1722; died, 1772) son of Jeromus and Altje Van Artzdale, was twice married, and by his first wife, Elizabeth, had five children. The sons settled at Fishkill, N. Y., where some of their descendants re- main.
Sixth Generation: Richard Rapalje, son of John, was born on Long Island, Aug- ust 30, 1764, removed to Fishkill during the Revolutionary war, and died Septem- ber 2, 1825. He married, in 1800, Ann Aerrie. of New York.
787
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
Seventh Generation: Catharine (born July 8, 1819) daughter of Richard Rapalje, married October 22, 1856, Isaac E. Cotheal, son of Henry Cotheal and Phebe Ber- rian Warner. They had three children, of whom Elizabeth M. married Dr. Howell White.
It is a curious fact that both the Rev. Ebenezer and Rev. Sylvanus White had such long pastorates. Dr. Ebenezer was pastor of the Bridgehampton Presby- terian Church from October 9, 1695 to 1748, a period of fifty-three years. Rev. Sylvanus White was ordained and installed as pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Southampton Nov. 17, 1727, and continued its pastor until his death, October 22, 1782, a ministry in one church of fifty-five years. It is also peculiar to note that Dr. Ebenezer White of Yorktown practiced medicine for over fifty years. His son, Dr. Ebenezer White, of Somers, practiced medicine for more than sixty years. His son, Dr. Lewis H. White, of Fishkill, practiced for fifty-eight years. Each of these Doctors, for three generations, had two brothers who were physicians, and who continued in active professional work for about the same number of years.
HENRY C. WILBER, M. D., was born at Pine Plains, N. Y., November 9, 1845. After attending the public schools of his native place he entered the New York University and Bellevue Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1867, and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession in the village of Pine Plains.
Dr. Wilber is a member of the Dutchess County Medical Society, of which he was president in 1891-'92-'93; the New York State Medical Society; the American Medical Association, and is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. He has held the office of Health Officer of the town of Pine Plains, and has served as coroner for fifteen years.
Dr. Wilber is a son of Benjamin S. Wilber, who was engaged in the practice of his profession for many years at Pine Plains, and who died January 26, 1871.
GEORGE H. WILLIAMS, the son of Gerome and Catherine Williams, was born at Chestnut Ridge, Dutchess Co., N. Y., September 16, 1844, and resided there until 1860, when he removed to Poughkeepsie, where he has since resided.
During his residence in the country he attended the district school, and one year in a private school in the Clove kept by George Draper, later school commissioner of Dutchess County. After removing to Poughkeepsie he took a course at Eastman Business College, and then comenced studying under a private tutor for the pur- pose of taking an examination for admission to Yale College; but the wave of war fever then extending over the country was too much for him, so, leaving thought of college behind, he, on September 22, 1862 joined Company G, 150th regiment, N. Y. S. V., and on October 11 left with the regiment for the front, and continued to serve with it until it was mustered out at the end of the war, June 8, 1865. During the time of his service in the army he was engaged in the battle at Gettysburg, Penn., in the campaign from Chattanooga, Tenn., to Atlanta, Ga., in Sherman's march to the sea, in the campaign from Savannah, Ga., to Raleigh, N. C., and the surrender of Jonhston's army; was wounded in the arm and hand at New Hope Church, Ga., and again slightly wounded at Golgotha, Ga. He marched in the
788
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
grand review at Washington, D. C., May 24, 1865, and was discharged June 8, 1865, then sergeant of Company G.
After his return home he studied law with his father at Poughkeepsie, and was admitted to the bar May 18, 1866, and has ever since practiced law there. He has since been admitted to practice in the U. S. Courts.
In 1865 he joined the 21st regiment, N. G. S. N. Y., and continued a member until it was mustered out, he being at that time its lieutenant-colonel.
Mr. Williams was city chamberlain of Poughkeepsie in 1875 and 1876; supervisor of the Fourth Ward in 1884 and 1886, and Deputy Collector of U. S. Internal Re- venue during part of President Cleveland's first administration. He is a mason and a member of Poughkeepsie Lodge, No. 266, F. & A. M., Poughkeepsie Chapter, No. 172, R. A. M., King Solomon's Council, No. 31, R. & S. M., Poughkeepsie Comman- dery, No. 43, K. T., Mecca Temple Mystic Shrine; member of D. B. Sleight Post No. 331, G. A. R., and has been secretary of the Veteran Association 150th Regi- ment, N. Y. S. Vols. since Oct. 11, 1886 and is also Secretary of its Officers' Associa- tion. He has been a member of the Dutchess Club since its organization in 1888, and has been one of its governors since that time.
Our subject is descended on the side of his father from a brother of Roger Wil- liams, who settled in Rhode Island, and comes from a line of soldiers, his grandfather serving in the war of 1812, and his great-grandfather during most of the Revolution- ary War, and his great-great-grandfather being in the French and Indian War. On his mother's side he is descended from Henry Emigh, who came to this country from Holland about 1696 and settled in Clove, Dutchess County, building a stone house which is still standing and inhabited.
JAMES L. WILLIAMS was born in Poughkeepsie, December 12, 1846. He at- tended the Dutchess County Academy, and on the completion of his studies and after reading law was admitted to the Bar in 1867. He began practice in connection with the Hon. Peter Dorland, ex-Surrogate of this county; the firm of Dorland & Williams continued until 1873, when he formed a partnership with Hon. John Hackett, under the firm title of Hackett & Williams. A native of Poughkeepsie, and always a public spirited citizen, Mr. Williams was more than usually prominent in political and social, as well as legal circles. He was very active in the Democratic party for many years, and was the organizer and first president of the Poughkeepsie News Company, publisher of the News- Press and News-Telegraph. He was elected District Attorney in 1872, being the first Democrat elected to that office for a period of over twenty-five years. In 1883 Governor Cleveland appointed him State As- sessor, now called State Tax Commissioner, an office which he filled with ability until 1893, when he resigned.
In 1887 he was named as a member of the Executive Committee of the Democrat- ic State Committee, and was made chairman of the State Executive Committee. In 1893 Mr. Williams was strongly urged as a candidate for Justice of the Supreme Court to succeed Judge Barnard, having the support of Dutchess and other coun- ties. He continued to be active in the councils of his party up to the Chicago con- vention of 1896, but then declined to endorse the national platform or its candidate, and after that time was fully as popular as a worker and advisor in the Republican
789
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
party as he was in the party of his first choice. He was appointed City Attorney of Poughkeepsie in 1897, serving under Mayor Hull in 1897 and 1898. In 1900 he was nominated by President Mckinley for Supervisor of the Census for the Third District of New York. He was President of the Board of Education from 1900 to 1906 during which time the schools made great advancement.
WILLSON & EATON COMPANY, wholesale and retail dealers in lumber, coal, etc. at Amenia, N. Y., are successors to the original firm of Barrett Willson & Co., estab- lished in 1864, which was succeeded in 1878 by George T. Willson and Lewis F. Eaton under the firm name of Willson & Eaton. In 1903 the present corporation was formed of which the following are officers: George G. Stevenson, president; Lewis F. Eaton, treasurer and manager; Edward Bryan, vice-president; David P. Barry, assistant manager. The company is capitalized $125,000. A brick yard, with an annual cap- acity of four million brick, is also a part of the product of this concern.
HENRY N. WINCHESTER, Supervisor of the town of Amenia, was born in 1850, at South Amenia, N. Y. He received his early education in the district schools and at a private school at Dover Plains, finishing his studies at Claverack College. He then engaged in farming at South Amenia, and later succeeded his father in the gener- al mercantile business. He held the office of Deputy Postmaster from 1886 to 1909, when he was appointed Postmaster of South Amenia. Politically Mr. Winchester is a Republican, and in 1905 was elected Supervisor of the town of Amenia, and re-elect- ed in 1907. He has also held the office of Justice of the Peace for several years.
He was united in marriage with Frances, daughter of James Edwin Sleight of Titus- ville, Dutchess county, and the following children were born to them: Milo F., Henry F. and James Edwin.
JACKSON S. WING, merchant, Wingdale, N. Y., was born in the town of Dover in 1858, a son of Sheldon and Jane L. (Chapman) Wing. He finished his schooling at the Amenia Seminary, and in the year 1880 engaged in general mercantile busi- ness at Wingdale, purchasing what was known as the Preston store, which was erected by his grandfather. Mr. Wing served as Postmaster from 1890 to 1907.
Mr. Wing was united in marriage with Mary Straight of Kent, Conn., and they are the parents of one daughter, Winifred S.
SHELDON WING, a retired citizen of Wingdale, N. Y., was born December 10, 1833, in the town of La Grange. His studies at the public schools were supple- mented by a course at a Quaker boarding school. He then began life on a farm in the town of Dover, and was thus employed until 1861, when he engaged in the stock business in Ohio and Iowa. In 1865 he returned to Dover, and took up the duties of farming once more.
Politically Mr. Wing is a Democrat, and has served his town as Suprvisor two terms. In 1894 he received the nomination for the office of sheriff, but declined to run.
October 21, 1856 Mr. Wing was united in marriage with Miss Jane L. Chapman of Dover, and to them have been born two children: Jackson S., and Anna F.
790
THE COUNTY OF DUTCHESS.
CHARLES M. WOLCOTT, for several years prominently identified with finan- cial and industrial institutions in the town of Fishkill, N. Y., was born at Litch- field, Conn., November 20, 1816, and died November 20, 1889. He was a son of Judge Frederick Wolcott of Connecticut, and descendant of a family that occupied a distinguished place in our Colonial history. Roger Wolcott, great-grandfather of Charles M., held the office of Governor of Connecticut from 1750 to '54. His son Oliver was one of the representatives of the Colony of Connecticut whose names are affixed to the Declaration of Independence, and during the Revolutionary war he held the rank of brigadier-general in the patriot forces. In 1796 he was elected Governor of Connecticut.
Charles M. Wolcott in early life engaged in the commission business with offices in Philadelphia and New York. He married in 1849, Catharine A., daughter of Henry Rankin, a prominent merchant of New York. Three children were born to them: Henry Goodrich, Katharine Rankin, now the wife of Samuel Verplanck; and Annette Rankin.
Soon after his marriage Mr. Wolcott settled at Fishkill-on-Hudson, upon the es- tate known as "Roseneath" where his wife had previously resided. From that time his attention was chiefly occupied with the management of his extensive realty holdings and commercial interests in the town of Fishkill. He became a stockhold- er and member of the board of directors of the First National Bank of Fishkill Landing, and was also a large stockholder and trustee in the firm of the New York Rubber Company.
CHARLES W. WRIGHT, Supervisor of the town of Clinton, Dutchess county, N. Y., was born in the town of Stanford, March 1, 1866. He acquired his education at the public schools of his native place, and at Sackett's private school. He then accepted a clerkship in the store of Mr. Knickerbocker of Bangall, with whom he remained four years, and was afterwards engaged for a time in the butter and egg businesss in New York City. In the spring of 1892 he established a general mer- cantile store at Clinton Corners, N. Y. Politically Mr. Wright is a Democrat, and in 1908 was elected a member of the Dutchess County Board of Supervisors.
September 5, 1889, he was united in marriage with Della Stewart of Stanford, and to them have been born three children: Harold, Edith and Ethel.
LEWIS H. WRIGHT, Supervisor of the town of East Fishkill, Dutchess County, was born in this town September 4, 1856. For many years he has been . engaged in the cultivation of his farm, which covers over 500 acres.
In 1880 Mr. Wright was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Jackson of Dutch- ess county.
Politically Mr. Wright is a Democrat. He was elected a member of the board of Supervisors in 1904, and has been continuously re-elected to 1909.
CAPTAIN ANDREW C. ZABRISKIE of Barrytown, N. Y., was born in New York City, May 30, 1853, and was educated in private schools and Columbia College. Inheriting large real estate properties, he has devoted himself mainly to the business connected with these interests.
791
BIOGRAPHICAL AND GENEALOGICAL.
Military affairs have in times past engrossed considerable of Captain Zabriskie's attention. He served for seven years in the Seventh New York Regiment. In 1883 he was elected Captain of Company C in the 71st Regiment, and held that position until he was promoted to the rank of Inspector of Rifle Practice on the staff of the same regiment, finally resigning in 1898. He presented the regiment the Zabriskie trophy, a handsome bronze, to be annually competed for at rifle practice. Captain Zabriskie's military training, added to his desire to promote the interests of those about him, led him, several years ago, to organize two companies of the "Blithewood Light Infantry," composed of young men in the community, one at Red Hook, and one at Rhinebeck. The two organizations have a member- ship of 160. They have been well armed, uniformed and equipped by Captain Zabriskie, and are very efficient in the Manual of Arms, as a result of the Captain's careful and persistent work in training them. All the members are pledged not to smoke cigarettes, and if under eighteen years of age, not to smoke at all.
Captain Zabriskie takes an active interest in all worthy charities. He is at pres- ent a trustee of St. Luke's Hospital, New York; Vice President of the House of Rest for Consumptives, and trustee of the Sheltering Arms, an institution for chil- dren. He is prominent in the organization and work of the Episcopal church in this diocese, and occupies several positions of honor and responsibility.
Captain Zabriskie belongs to the Union, Metropolitan, City, Army and Navy and Church Clubs. He is a member of the Holland Society, the St. Nicholas Society, the Society of the War of 1812, the Dutchess County Society, the New York His- torical Society, the American Geographical Society, the National Academy of De- sign, the American Museum of Natural History; and the American Numismatic and Archaeological Society, of which he is ex-president. He was the Democratic candidate for Congress from the 21st District in the fall of 1908, being defeated by Hamilton Fish.
Captain Zabriskie is an American whose family history traces through 250 years of residence in this country. His ancestor who established the family in America was a Polish nobleman, who, to escape the political and religious oppression of his own land, emigrated to America in 1662. His ancestors have been connected in various honorable ways with the history of Bergen County, N. J., since its earliest days. The Captain's grandfather on the maternal side was William M. Titus, a prominent New York merchant, and an officer of the 11th Artillery in the War of 1812.
Captain Zabriskie married Frances, daughter of the late Charles F. Hunter, who was President of the Peoples Bank of New York City. His estate, "Blithewood," north of Barrytown station, is one of the most beautiful on the banks of the Hudson. Here, with his wife and two children, Julia Romeyn and Christian Andrew, he leads a busy and useful life. His city house is at 716 Fifth Avenue, New York, and he maintains an office at 52 Beaver Street in the same city.
INDEX.
INDEX-PART I.
PAGE
Aborigines, The, ..
24-27
Accession of New York State,.
178
Ackert, Peter E. 519
Iron Foundry
260
Seminary,
262
Sheffield Farms Slosson Decker Co.,. 260
Adriance, Abraham, .
206, 293
Adriance, Charles P., 249, 316, 470, 473
water system,.
261
Willson & Eaton Co.,
260
American Brick Co.,
344
American Cement Co
421
American Citizens' Corps,
193
Anchor Bolt & Nut Co.
239
Anderson, William Roe,
493
Andrews, Mrs. James W.
305,
321
Akin Hall Association.
402
Andrus, C. H.,
195
Aldrich, Mrs. Richard,
430, 432
Aldridge, Thomas,
343, 345, 346
Annan, Alexander,
194,
321
Annan, Daniel, . .
320
Annan, Jr., Daniel,
321
Alsop, Richard,
274
Amenia, town of
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