USA > New York > Ulster County > The history of Ulster County, New York > Part 66
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He is President of the present Board of Trustees of New Paltz Normal School, and was President of the original Board; largely to his experience is due the shaping of the courses of study therein pursued.
Mr. Smiley has a national reputation as a friend of the Indian and Negro, and as one of the foremost champions of international peace. In 1879 President Hayes appointed him a member of the Board of Indian Commissioners, the sequence of which is the annual session of the Lake Mohonk Indian Conference (details of which appear elsewhere in this history). The result of these gatherings have been revolutionizing, and practically all the reforms in the treatment of the Indians have originated on this mountain top in Ulster County. In 1889 Mr. Smiley was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior as Chairman of the Commission, to select reservations for the Mission of Indians of Southern California. He has been se- lected repeatedly by the United States Government to investigate important matters pertaining to the welfare of the Indian, and has spent much time inspecting the Indian Bureau at Washington, and visiting officially the Indian Schools at Carlisle, Hampton, Lawrence, etc., and the various agencies in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Dakota.
He was Vice-President of the American delegation at the International Peace Conference held at Boston, Mass., in 1903.
Mr. Smiley has frequently invited to Mohonk philanthropists, statesmen and prominent citizens to discuss and form plans for the benefit of the negro race and for the settlement by arbitration of international difficulties, at which much good has been accomplished. He was vice-president of the American delegation at the International Peace Conference, held at Boston, Mass., in 1903.
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JOHN JEWELL SMITH, who for many years previous to his death in 1901, spent his summers at West Park, Ulster County, was born in Elizabeth, N. J., in 1834. For many years he was connected with the Central Railroad of New Jersey. In 1859 he engaged in the manufacture and erection of low-pressure steam-heating apparatus for domestic use, which met with merited success.
Mr. Smith was one of the founders of Grace Episcopal Church, and served as senior warden and treasurer of St. Timothy's Church, in New York, as well as Superintendent of the Sunday School, for many years. He was very active in beautifying West Park and making it one of the choicest residential sections of Ulster County.
WILLIAM F. M. SMITH, Druggist of Pine Hill, N. Y., was born in that village, September 14, 1849, and there passed the early part of his life. In 1866 he spent some time in Greenfield, Wawarsing township, and in 1874 opened a general store at Galesville Mills, which he carried on for four years. In 1878 Mr. Smith returned to Pine Hill and engaged in the general merchandise business, erecting his own store building. He also built the "Orchard Park House." In 1882 he sold his store to T. B. Floyd, afterward building the store now occupied by his brother, Elbert O. He then established a drug business, which he carried on until 1891, and sold out to E. B. Walker, who in turn in 1894, sold to Elbert O. Smith. Our subject also for a time conducted a livery business.
He has been twice married; his first wife was Mary C. Palmer, of Wallkill, N. Y. He was again married in 1904 to Emma M. Wolcott.
Mr. Smith is a member of Margaretville Lodge No. 389, Mount Horeb Chapter No. 75, and Rondout Commandery No. 52.
The great-grandfather of William F. M. Smith was Henry Smith, who was born in 1748, on Long Island. He married Ruth Moray, and had four children, Henry, Benjamin, James and Moray (grandfather of our subject), who married Mary Odell. Henry Smith was a son of James Smith, one of the signers of the Declara- tion of Independence. The Smith family is of Scotch-Irish origin.
DR. WRIGHT J. SMITH, who is widely known throughout this section of the State as a veterinary surgeon, was born in Sullivan County in 1867. At the age of seven he removed with his mother to Ellenville, where he remained seven years attending the schools of that place. From 1882 to 1893 he made his home in New York, with the exception of a term spent at the North Dakota University. He then spent five years in the office of Prof. Hamill of New York. This was supple- mented by a course at the New York Veterinary College and the American Veter- inary College, from which institution he graduated with the degree of D. V. S. Dr. Smith began practicing in Kingston in 1893, and in 1902 established his Veterinary Hospital. He enjoys a large and lucrative practice.
İn 1891 he was united in marriage to Miss Theresa Knapp, of Kerhonkson. Wright Smith, father of our subject, was a resident of Sullivan County many years
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and was engaged in the hardware business. Following the discovery of oil in Pennsylvania he went to Titusville, where he died suddenly in 1867.
HON. ROBERT A. SNYDER, President of the First National Bank of Sauger- ties, began life as a cabin boy on a barge and worked as a deck hand and fireman. By the closest economy he saved sufficient money to purchase an interest in a coal barge, of which he soon became sole proprietor. Later he bought a canal boat and ran it upon the Erie Canal for three years; a ferryboat was his next venture (The Air-Line) which he still owns. From this beginning, as oportunities pre- sented themselves, he invested in different enterprises, always with his own safe and conservative hand at the helm, which he found was the sure way. He has also striven to develop enterprises which would aid his fellow-townspeople, and has thus become a stockholder in many of Saugerties's leading industrial enter- prises. He is president of the Saugerties Manufacturing Company, the Saugerties Steamboat Company, and vice-president of the Saugerties Printing and Publishing Company.
He was elected to the Legislature in 1874, and served six terms. Was financial clerk of the Assembly in 1884, and Postmaster of the Assembly in 1879. He was elected Sheriff of Ulster County in 1879, and has served his town and county well in other public positions, such as Supervisor, etc. Mr. Snyder was married in 1853 to Jane S., a daughter of William and Sarah Morgan, of Wales, and to them have been born four children, three of whom are yet living, John A., who is teller in the First National Bank of Saugerties; Florence M., a teacher of French and German in the Ulster Academy, and Sarah E. Mr. Snyder lost one child (a boy eight years of age) by drowning in Esopus Creek. Perhaps one of the greatest sources of pleasure to Mr. Snyder is the interest he has taken in the Saugerties Fire Department. The village has recognized the fact and named its crack fire company, "The R. A. Snyder Hose Company," in his honor. -
THOMAS SNYDER, Postmaster of High Falls, Ulster County, was born in Cottekill, town of Rosendale, October 18, 1850. He attended the District Schools and also took up the study of civil engineering. When nineteen years of age he engaged as teacher in a school at Fort Orange, N. Y., where he remained one year. In 1873 he came to High Falls, as telegraph operator for the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company and occupied that position eight years. In 1880 he purchased the stock of general merchandise of John Brodhead, at High Falls, and has since very successfully conducted a mercantile business.
On November 29, 1877, he married Mary Van Wagenen, of High Falls, and four children were born to them, Harriet M., Amelia B., Anna M. and John B. Mrs. Snyder died March 29, 1893. Mr. Snyder was appointed Postmaster by President Harrison, and has since retained that office. He was Supervisor of the town of Marbletown from 1896 to 1899. Socially he is a member of Kingston Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M .; Mount Horeb Chapter No. 75, R. A. M .; Rondout Commandery No. 52, K. T., and Cyprus Temple, A. M. S., of Albany.
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WILLIAM B. SNYDER, Postmaster of Rosendale, was born in that village, March 12, 1866. He is engaged in the manufacture of Rosendale hydraulic cement, with works near Rosendale, in which he furnishes employment to from 25 to 30 hands. He is also engaged with his brother, Silas L. Snyder, in the mercantile business in Rosendale.
Mr. Snyder is a staunch Republican; has served upon important committees and is a very energetic and progressive young business man.
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HENRY C. SOOP was born in Albany, New York, April 17, 1842, and came from old Holland-Dutch stock. His grandfather, Coenrad Soop, migrated from Holland early in the eighteenth century, and served in the Revolutionary War. Jacob Soop, father of our subject, was a soldier in the War of 1812.
Henry C. studied law in the office of Judge M. B. Mattice at Durham, New York, graduated from the Albany Law School in 1863, and practiced law at Rox- bury, Delaware County, New York. In 1890 he moved to Kingston, and in January of the same year was elected President of the First National Bank of Rondout; was also appointed sole attorney for the estate of Thomas Cornell and Secretary and Counsel of the U. & D. R. R. Co. He is acting attorney for Horace G. Young, President of the Albany Trust Company, which is Trustee of the Cornell Estate. He is a Trustee of the Rondout Savings Bank.
In October, 1867, Mr. Soop was united in marriage with Helen M., daughter of E. T. Peck, of Windham, New York, and one child, Katharine, has been born to them.
CHARLES A. SPAULDING, son of G. R. and Cornelia (Waldron) Spaulding, was born in Albany, New York, in 1842. He has been connected with various business enterprises, in which he has been uniformly successful. For many years he has spent his summers at his country seat in Saugerties township, overlooking the Hudson. Dr. Guy Spaulding, grandfather of our subject, was a celebrated physician of Albany County in the early part of the nineteenth century.
STEPHEN STAPLES, for many years an energetic business man of Kingston, was born in Saugerties, N. Y., in 1848, and two years later the family removed to Kingston. He was educated in the Kingston schools and learned the trade of carpenter which he followed seven years. He then entered the First National Bank of Rondout, as teller, and remained there seven years. About 1878 he began the manufacture of crackers and for twenty years did a thriving business, em- ploying upwards of thirty hands much of the time. During the past nine or ten years he has conducted a wholesale cracker and biscuit establishment.
He married Cornelia H. Van Gaasbeek, of Kingston, and they have one daughter, Mabel O.
FREDERICK STEPHAN, JR., District-Attorney of Ulster County, was born in. Kingston, May 20, 1859. He took up the study of law with Lawton & Stebbins and later removed to Boston, Mass., where he remained four years. In 1886 he
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was graduated from the law department of Albany University and immediately opened a law office in Rondout and acquired a good practice. He was elected City Judge of Kingston in 1896 and served six years. In 1904 he was nominated and elected on the Republican ticket to the office of District-Attorney, and is ably per- forming the duties of that office today. He is a member of Rondout Lodge No. 343, F. & A. M., of which he is Past Master. He is also a member of the Knights Templar, Knights of Pythias, and is now one of the Governors of the Rondout Club.
In February, 1888, he married Alice Vignes, a granddaughter of the first jeweler to locate in Kingston. They have one daughter, Helen.
His father, Frederick Stephan, Sr., was a native of Alsace, France, where he learned the trade of baker and miller. In 1837 he sailed for America, and on May 15 arrived in Kingston. He engaged in the baking business, and afterward conducted a flourishing flour and feed business in Rondout. He married Mag- dalena Von Beck, daughter of Major George F. Von Beck, on October 2, 1841, and ten children were born to them.
Mr. Stephan, Sr., was always a prominent figure in the Republican party. In 1865 he was elected a member of the State Legislature, serving one term, and de- clined a second nomination. He served three years as Trustee of the Village of Rondout. When Ulster Academy was first projected he was one of its most earnest advocates and was one of the first trustees, serving eighteen years. Mr. Stephan, Sr., died September 21, 1898. His wife died April 22, 1895.
DANIEL B. STOW, who has been engaged in a general insurance business in Rondout for over forty years, was born in Claverack, Columbia County, New York, April II, 1827, where he attended the public schools and Academy. He then learned the trade of harness-making with his uncle, and in 1847 came to Rondout entering the employ of Gordon C. Abbey. In 1849, during the cholera epidemic, Mr. Stow, with three comrades, performed heroic work in burying the dead and ministering to the needs of the afflicted. After the plague subsided he again re- sumed the harness-making and leather business under the firm name of Stow & Abbey, which was continued until 1864.
Mr. Stow has served two terms as Assessor. Socially he is identified with the Masonic Order. August 19, 1849, he married Emily B. Delaney and they have two daughters and one son, C. B. Stow, a prominent florist in Kingston. Mr. Stow died March 4, 1907.
CHARLES M. STREETER, son of John H. and Martha Streeter, was born in Mattewan, Dutchess County, New York, in 1847. He moved with his parents to East Kingston, New York, in 1856, and obtained his education in the public schools. In the course of time he became foreman of various brick yards at that place, until 1887, when he engaged in the manufacture of brick under the firm name of Streeter & Manchester. At the end of three years he sold his interest to Mr. Manchester, and built another yard further up the Hudson, establishing the firm of Streeter & Hendricks. This partnership continued ten years, or until 1900, when Mr. Streeter retired from the brick business and purchased a fruit farm of
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ninety acres, near Ulster Park, where he now resides. In 1887 he was elected Supervisor of the town of Ulster, but has since declined public office.
In 1890 Mr. Streeter was united in marriage to Miss Mary A. Montgomery. They have an adopted daughter, Miss Marie.
DANIEL SULLY, the celebrated comedian, whose home is in Woodstock, Ulster County, N. Y., was born at Newport, R. I., November 6, 1855. The early years of his life were passed in that city, where he also received his education. He entered the show business when a boy by running away from home and joining a circus. He became a skilled acrobat and dancer and has since retained his proficiency in these arts. He later took to the vaudeville stage and played farces and one-act comedies for several years. In 1884, at Boston, Mr. Sully produced "The Corner Grocery," which was played by him for several seasons, with unvary- ing success. He also produced "Daddy Nolan," "Capital Prize," "Conroy the Tailor," "The Congressman," "The Millionaire," "Auld Lang Syne," "O'Neil, Washington, D. C.," "A Social Lion" and "A Bachelor's Wives." Of his later productions, "The Parish Priest," was the most successful. The season of 1906-7, will see him in "The Match-Maker," where as in the former play, he takes the part of a priest, and it is of interest to note that he is the first and only actor to take that part on the American stage.
In 1886 Mr. Sully was married in New York City to Miss Louise Fox, a daughter of the late C. K. Fox ("The Great Pantaloon"). She is also a niece of G. L. Fox, the renowned "Humpty Dumpty." Mrs. Sully is an actress of ability and her stage career was a successful one. She is now living in retirement on the farm.
Several years ago Mr. Sully purchased a farm in Woodstock, where he has since resided between seasons. His real estate holdings in Woodstock have been increased by farm purchases from time to time, and he is now one of the largest property owners in the town.
J. HARTLEY TANNER .- The subject of this sketch is a well-known school principal of Ulster County. He was born in the town of Rochester, October 27, 1869. After receiving an elementary education he entered the New Paltz Normal School, from which he graduated June 25, 1889. After teaching one year he returned, and graduated from the advanced course, June 23, 1891. Since that time, with the exception of one year, he has followed his chosen profession in this county. For five years he was principal of the Union Free School at Napanoch, N. Y., and for the past seven years has occupied his present position, as principal of the Eddyville Public School, Fly Mountain, N. Y.
Mr. Tanner takes an active interest in educational affairs. In May, 1904, he was elected president of the Ulster County Teachers' Association.
November 25, 1896, he was married to L. Etta Rider, and they have one son, Hartley Rider Tanner, born May 4. 1899.
Mr. Tanner traces his ancestry to some of the first residents of the county. Tra- dition tells of three brothers, John, James and William Tanner, who came to
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America with their father, John, but the father returned. Records (Am. Ancestry) show that William Tanner and his wife, Rachel De Long, came from England, settled in Pennsylvania and subsequently at the Clove, Dutchess County, where their son, Samuel, was born April 4, 1753. (Other ch. see Fenon's Wills.) William served in the American Revolution, Fifth Regiment, Dutchess County. Reuben, another son, was the founder of this branch of the family. Reuben, born January 4, 1765, died January 6, 1843; married April 17, 1788, to Mary Tompkins, born Feb- ruary 5, 1772, died January 19, 1855; lived at Lagrange, Dutchess County. Their third child was Amos, born October 6, 1792; married Catherine Rynders, born Octo- ber 14, 1795 (father, Andrew Ryness, 2nd Reg., Dutchess Co. in Rev.) They moved to Clinton, Dutchess County, and then to Ulster. Their children were Reuben, Mary Eliza, Permelia, Julia C., Andrew R., Mary Elizabeth, Jane Ann, Amelia Caroline, Amos, Melissa F. and Isaiah R. Amos, born September 27, 1837, married Mary E. Markle, born October 22, 1842; one son, our subject.
Mr. Tanner has a very complete family record of his maternal ancestry to the first one in America. Frederick Markle and wife, Barbara Alman, three daughters and two sons, came with the colony of Palatines from Germany, May 10, 1710. (Doc. Hist. N. Y.) son Mathias married Margaret Keel, son Frederick baptized June 30, 1734 (Rev. 3rd Ulster), married Leah Smith; son Frederick baptized June 24, 1760 (Rev. 3rd Ulster), married Martha Middagh; son Jacob F. born July 25, 1787, married Lydia Kelder; son Joseph, Jr., born January 22, 1811, married Char- lotte Middagh; daughter, Mary Esther (mother of subject). Joris Middagh, born Hycoop, Holland, settled in Marbletown in 1695, married Martens Hystellyn; son, Joris, baptized May 13, 17II, married Janntje DelaMater; son Gloudy, born (1745?), (Rev. 3rd Ulster), married Maria Krom; son Henry, born May II, 1772, married Maria LeRoy; daughter Charlotte, born March 23, 1810, married Joseph Markle, Jr .; daughter, Mary Esther (mother of subject). (American Ancestry.)
CHARLES C. TEN BROECK was born in Delaware County, New York, in 1846, and obtained his education at the public schools and Academy there. He came to Kingston in 1862 and entered the-employ of the drug firm of Eltinge & Osterhoudt, and successor, C. J. Masten, with whom he remained four years; when his services were obtained by Dr. J. W. DuBois & Brother for three years. In 1869 he associated himself with VanDeusen Bros.' Drug Store, where he re- mained twenty years, when he embarked in the drug business for himself.
Mr. Ten Broeck has served as a member of the Board of Education for fifteen years; was vice-president and for two years president of the Kingston Drug Club; a director of the Kingston National Bank about ten years; a member of the New York State Pharmaceutical Association; an honorary member of the Twentieth N. Y. S. Militia; a member of the Masonic Veterans' Association of Newburgh, N. Y .; a member of the Merchants' Association of New York; is Past Master of Kingston Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., and vice-president of the Holland Society for Ulster County. As deacon and elder he has been for many years prominently identified with the Fair Street Reformed Church.
He was married to Martha Godkins of Kingston, and one son, Freddie, died in
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infancy. The father of our subject, William A. Ten Broeck, was among the promi- nent attorneys of Delaware County, where he was born in 1820. He was for many years Justice of the Peace and Justice of Sessions in that county, and also served as Railroad Commissioner. His death occurred in 1903.
E. N. TERWILLIGER of Ellenville, N. Y., was born in that village, October 4, 1857. He attended the public school and the Ellenville Academy. Entering the office of Division Superintendent of the D. & H. Canal, shortly after leaving school, he remained there for ten years, then entered the insurance office, conducted by his brother, Mr. U. E. Terwilliger, of which he is now manager and partner, becoming a partner in 1896. This agency is among the very oldest insurance and real estate offices in Ulster County, and has been conducted by the Terwilliger family for over fifty years.
Mr. Terwilliger is connected with the F. & A. M. and other organizations, and , is conducting a most important business successfully and creditably.
H. C. TERWILLIGER of Wawarsing, N. Y., was born in Ellenville, December 28, 1851. He attended the Ellenville schools, learned carpentering and also clerked for DuBois Brothers in Ellenville eight years. He then conducted a hardware busi- ness in Ellenville for five years. In 1881 he established a general store in Wawars- ing which he has since most successfully conducted. He has been successively appointed Postmaster there for the past twenty-five years, and has also served as Collector of the town. He is influential and prominent in the county. Mr. Ter- williger married Miss Frances Castle of Wawarsing.
URIAH E. TERWILLIGER, one of the best known men of southern Ulster, was born in Ellenville, December 10, 1849. His education was begun in the public schools of his native town and continued at the private academy of S. A. Law Post, who had selected Ellenville for the location of his school, which was then an insti- tution of considerable prominence. Later Mr. Terwilliger attended Waring's Mili- tary Institute at Poughkeepsie and the Hudson River Institute at Claverack, N. Y. At a comparatively early age, however, he was compelled, because of failing health, to abandon extended study, and, returning to Ellenville, he established a real estate and insurance agency. With characteristic enthusiasm Mr. Terwilliger quickly developed the business and eventually built up one of the largest general insurance agencies in the State. Several partners were admitted from time to time, the firm style for a number of years being Neafie, Terwilliger & Post. For some fifteen years past Mr. Terwilliger's brother has been the only associate in the firm, now familiarly known as U. E. & E. N. Terwilliger. In connection with this particular business Mr. Terwilliger has been conspicuously entrusted with many and varied fiduciary interests as the executor of estates and as the repre- sentative of various financial institutions throughout the county and elsewhere, until he is now widely known for his business sagacity and unswerving honesty.
Always deeply interested in local affairs, Mr. Terwilliger has given generously of time and means to matters of common weal. As president of the Board of Edu-
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cation he was largely instrumental in the establishing of a high school and placing it under the jurisdiction of the Regents. A local Y. M. C. A. and Board of Trade owe their beginning to his enthusiasm, and for many years he has been an active member and loyal supporter of the Reformed Church with which he has long been officially connected.
In politics Mr. Terwilliger has always been a Republican, but though offered the nomination for State Senator, has declined political honors.
But it is perhaps in the development of his estate at Mt. Meenahga, now famous as a summer resort, that Mr. Terwilliger has become most widely known. After some years of close application to business, necessity for rest manifested itself, and in 1877 Mr. Terwilliger and a party of friends formed a camp on the westerly side of the Shawangunks, two miles from Ellenville. Impressed with the natural advantages and beauty of the location, he made a lease of the property the following year, and three years later bought a tract of a hundred acres. With a view to making a permanent summer home a comfortable cottage and barns were erected, and from time to time other cottages were built for the accommodation of friends who sought more comfortable quarters than the simple camp life had afforded. Additional acres were bought from year to year, until finally the erection of a small boarding-house in 1881 marked the beginning of the present Mt. Meenahga as a resort, now second only in importance to but one other in the county, Lake Mohonk. The property now comprises upwards of six hundred acres, controliing the bold face of the mountain for nearly three miles. On the north and south are tracts owned by the village of Ellenville as a water preserve, numbering some five thousand acres and assuring to Mt. Meenahga for all time the advantages of a large forest domain. The work of development at Mt. Meenahga has been along the lines of Nature's plan, and rare genius has been displayed in the building of many miles of paths and roads that lead over the beautiful hilltops or through the deep gorges, disclosing a wealth of beauty and grandeur at every turn. The hotel proper is thoroughly modern in its equipment and means for healthful recreation have been generously provided. Mr. Terwilliger's son, Bert H., has been a partner in the business since 1902, and is now largely entrusted with the management of the property.
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