Ulster County New York Biographical Sketches - Surnames A-B

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Ulster County New York Biographical Sketches - surnames A-B, extracted from The History of Ulster County, New York, Edited by Alphonso T. Clearwater, LL.D.

Henry ABBEY Biographical Sketch

HENRY ABBEY was born at Rondout, now the Eastern District of Kingston, New York, on July 11, 1842. His father was Stephen Abbey. His mother’s maiden name was Caroline Vail. Stephen Abbey’s grandmother was Lucy Knox, a lineal descendant of John Knox, the famous Scotch reformer. Caroline Vail was a daughter of Elias Vail, of Masonville, New York, and a descendant of one of two brothers Vail that came over in the time of the Mayflower and is said to have married a daughter of Massasoit.

Henry Abbey was sent to school when he was six years old and, when he was eighteen, had been a student, at Kingston Academy, at the Heading Institute in Greene County, at the Delaware Institute in Delaware County and at the Hudson River Institute in Columbia County. Owing to his father’s financial reverses in the panic of 1857, he was obliged later to give up his studies preparatory for college, but was tutored for some time by John N. Pomeroy, the writer on international law. In 1861, Henry Abbey became assistant editor of the Rondout Courier. In 1862 he published his first book of poems. It was probably the first book ever published by a resident and native of Ulster County. It was entitled May Dreams and by permission dedicated to William Cullen Bryant.

Soon after the publication of May Dreams, Mr. Abbey went to New York and was a clerk in the office of a monthly magazine. He made the acquaintance of Henry Clapp, Jr., literary editor of the New York Leader. Mr. Clapp encouraged Mr. Abbey, invited him to write for his paper, and introduced him to George Arnold, Fitz Hugh Ludlow, Ada Clare and other contributors to the Leader. In 1863, Mr. Abbey went to Orange, New Jersey, where he edited the Orange Spectator. In 1864, he returned to Rondout and, for about two years and a half, was teller in the Bank of Rondout. He had the impulse and found time in which to write more verses, and in 1866, published his second book, Ralph and Other Poems.

In December, 1865, he married Mary Louise DuBois, of Kingston. She died November 2, 1889. In 1867, he left the bank and went into the flour and grain business with his father and, later, with his brother, under the style of Stephen Abbey and Sons, and continued to be a merchant in that business until 1900. For the greater part of this time and until the end of it he was a member of the New York Produce Exchange.

In 1869, he published his third volume, Stories in Verse. It bore the imprint of A. D. F. Randolph & Co., New York, and was dedicated to Richard Grant White. Soon after its publication Mr. Abbey contributed poems to The Galaxy, to Appletons' Journal, to Chambers's Journal, to Bret Harte’s Overland Monthly, to Harper's Monthly and Weekly, to Edward Everett Hale’s Old and New magazine and to other periodicals.

Mr. Abbey’s fourth book was made up of these contributions and was entitled Ballads of Good Deeds. D. Appleton & Company were the publishers and it was dedicated to George William Curtis. With a few additions, and under the same title, this volume was re-published in England in 1876 by Henry S. King & Company, London. The sixth book was entitled Poems by Henry Abbey and was published by D. Appleton & Company in 1879. Mr. Abbey’s seventh book was issued in 1883 by the same house and was entitled The City of Success and Other Poems. Mr. Abbey has been a Freemason since 1871. In 1874 he was Senior Warden of Kingston Lodge No. 10.

Since that time he has also been a member of the Fair Street Reformed Church, and in 1902 and 1903 was a delegate to General Synod. From 1883 to 1885 he was a member of the Kingston Board of Health. In 1888 he ran for Alderman on the Republican ticket and was defeated.

In this year, 1888, he published, in pamphlet form, his poem Gettysburg, which he read, on the battlefield, on October 4th, 1888, at the dedication of the monument to the Eightieth New York Regiment of Volunteers. The veterans said that the poem was true in every detail and that it brought back to them vividly the scenes of the battle.>/p>

Mr. Abbey was a director, vice-president and, in 1895, president of the State of New York National Bank of Kingston. Since 1884 he has been a member of the Authors’ Club. He is a life member of the New York Shakespeare Society. For several years he was a member of the National Sculpture Society.

In 1885, Mr. Abbey published a complete edition of his poems, and a third edition enlarged, in 1895. In 1901, he published Phaethon and Three Other Stories in Verse. The book was dedicated to his sister, Mrs. James G. Cutler, of Rochester, New York. In 1904, the fourth edition of The Poems of Henry Abbey, complete to date, and containing in all about 370 pages, was published by D. Appleton & Company, New York.

Since 1900 Mr. Abbey has not engaged in any business.

Charles J. ACKERT Biographical Sketch

CHARLES J. ACKERT. — The late Hon. Charles J. Ackert, son of Samuel Ackert, was born at Hyde Park, Dutchess County, N. Y., May i, 1830, and died at New Paltz, June i, 1900. He learned the printer’s trade at the office of the Poughkeepsie Eagle and was engaged in newspaper offices in Dutchess and Westchester Counties, as foreman or editor and proprietor, until June, i860, when he became a resident of Ulster County and established the New Paltz Times, a live Democratic paper, vigorous in discussion, but fair, readable, clean, a power in the community.

Mr. Ackert was a Civil War veteran of honorable record, from 1862 to 1864 in Company A, 156th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry. A Private, Sergeant, Second Lieutenant, promoted for personal bravery. On his return he resumed charge of his paper, which during his absence had been published by his wife. He was appointed Postmaster of New Paltz by President Cleveland, and served as Town Clerk for fifteen years. President of the Village for two years, Supervisor from 1896 to 1899 and Member of Assembly in 1899 and 1900. Mr. Ackert, with the exception of one year, was commander of Elting Post, G. A. R., and for six years, previous to his death, was President of his Regiment Association. Mr. Ackert was a charter member of Walkill Lodge, K. of P., No. 162, of New Paltz, and a member of Veteran Firemen’s Association of Poughkeepsie. He was a man full of energy, courage, honor and charity, and his friends were legion. In 1851 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza Varick Silvernail, of Poughkeepsie. Mrs. Ackert has succeeded her husband in the publication of the Times, and under her management it has maintained its high place in weekly journalism. Their only child, Isabella, is now the wife of Mr. George E. Johnston, druggist. President of the Lone Brick Company of New Paltz, President of the Electric Light Company and Town Clerk.

John B. ALLIGER Biographical Sketch

JOHN B. ALLIGER was born at Alligerville, town of Rochester, Ulster Coimty, May 23rd, 1847. Elijah Alliger, the grandfather of John B., was a native of Rochester township. He married Ann Decker, of Shawangunk township. They lived in the town of Rochester for a time after their marriage and then moved to what later became the village of Alligerville. He erected the first building and founded the village. He conducted a general store there, dealt in millstones, operated extensive quarries and also constructed, on contract, portions of the Delaware and Hudson canal in 1825. In the war of 1812 he served as a commissioned officer. He was a leader in church and temperance work as well as financial enterprises and was one of the pillars of the Dutch Reformed Church of Alligerville. He died in 1856, aged sixty-nine years, and his wife died in 1852 at the age of sixtytwo years. Seven children were born to them, of whom Cornelius D. was next youngest. He was born January 5th, 1825, at Alligerville, and remained there until 1864, when he moved to Stone Ridge, in the town of Marbletown, where he remained three years. He then removed to Rondout, where he died in 1897. He married Maria Hasbrouck, daughter of Philip and Sarah Westbrook Hasbrouck, on June 10th, 1846, and they had four sons. Mrs. Alliger died in September, 1884, at the age of sixty-four years.

John B. Alliger, the eldest of the family of Cornelius D. and Maria Alliger, both of whom were of French Huguenot families, who had intermarried with the Dutch, spent his early life on the farm and in attendance at the district school of Kyserike. In 1863 he entered Fort Edward Institute, where he remained one and one-half terms, and during the winter of 1864-5, taught the Cottekill District School in the town of Rosendale. May 30th, 1865, he came to Rondout, and for two years was employed as clerk in a hardware store. In February, 1867, he entered the National Bank of Rondout as teller, and remained with that institution twenty-five years; the last seven years of that period he served the bank as cashier. In January, 1902, he was made a director and vice-president of this bank and is now serving as such.

When the Ulster County Savings Institution was reorganized in 1892, Mr. Alliger was chosen one of its trustees, and later in the same year was appointed its treasurer, which office he still retains in 1907. During his administration the assets have been doubled.

Mr. Alliger has been identified with the Rondout Presbyterian church since being a resident of Kingston, of which he was trustee for twenty years, during twelve of which he served as its treasurer. He has also been identified with the Young Men’s Christian Association since its organization, of which he has been recording secretary and one of its directors. He served as trustee of Ulster Academy from 1885 to 1894.

He was made a Mason in 1869, in Rondout Lodge No. 343, F. & A. M., of which he was Master in 1885-6-7. He was for three years Assistant Grand Lecturer of the Grand Lodge of New York for the Third Judicial District, was District Deputy Grand Master of the Tenth Masonic District during the Grand Lodge year of 1893-4 and was also Representative of the Grand Lodge of Kansas, He was exalted in Mount Horeb Chapter No. 75, R. A. M,, of which he is Past High Priest, was knighted in Rondout Commandery No. 52, K. T., of which he is Past Eminent Commander. He was the fourth member to be knighted after the commandery was organized in 1871. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Scottish Rite bodies of New York City, Northern Jurisdiction, and is a member of Mecca Temple of the Mystic Shrine. Mr, Alliger is a Republican; he has aspired to no political office and has held none except upon the organization of the police force of Kingston in 1891, he was made one of the first commissioners and served six years. On October 27th, 1869, he was joined in marriage with Mary A. Smith, daughter of John B, and Elizabeth Hudler Smith. They have only one child, Alice N., now the wife of Henry C. Connelly, Jr.

Captain Absalom Eltyinge ANDERSON Biographical Sketch

CAPTAIN ABSALOM ELTINGE ANDERSON was born at Saugerties, N. Y., January 11, 1856. At the age of four years his parents moved to Esopus, where he obtained his preliminary education, later attending the Military Institute at Neshanic and Eastman’s Business College at Poughkeepsie. He then began his career on the Hudson River in connection with the steamer Mary Powell, of which he has been Captain and part owner for the past eighteen years.

In 1881 Captain Anderson was married to Fannie V. Elmore, of Brooklyn, N. Y. Captain Anderson is one of the most popular commanders on the Hudson and eminently fitted for the position he occupies. His father. Captain Absalom L. Anderson, was born at Croton, N, Y., in 1812 and died in 1895. He came from an honored family who traced their ancestry back to 1530. Among the notable vessels he owned and commanded were the Robert L. Stephan, The Thomas Powell and the Mary Powell. The Anderson family have for many years been prominently identified with business and social affairs of Ulster County.

Dubois G. ATKINS Biographical Sketch

DUBOIS G. ATKINS, Attorney of Kingston, was born in the town of Plattekill, Ulster County, September 5, 1866. He obtained his education first in the district schools of Clintondale, and later entered Claverack Academy, subsequently pursuing his studies at the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn. After leaving the University Mr. Atkins became principal of the Perrinesville, New Jersey, High School, remaining one year. He then served as principal of the school at Eddyville, Ulster County, where he remained two years. In 1890 he accepted an offer from the Vermont Episcopal Institute at Burlington, Vermont, where he held the chair of Professor of Mathematics and Military Tactics for one year. In the fall of 1891 he was elected principal of School No. 11 of the City of Kingston, and shortly thereafter resigned and accepted the position of Deputy County Treasurer, which office he held for three years.

Mr. Atkins began reading law in the office of Bernard & Fiero in Kingston, in 1888. He later continued his law studies with Schoonmaker & Linson; at this time he was teaching school and read law evenings and Saturdays, and was admitted to the Bar December 5, 1893. February 15, 1899, he was admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and also to the Circuit Court. He has also taken a great interest in the public schools of the city. He has been a member of the Board of Education for fourteen years. In 1902, he was instrumental in having the schools consolidated; this caused a hard and bitter fight. Before consolidation there were five Boards of Education in the City of Kingston. Consolidation made one, and upon the organization of the new Board of Education Mr. Atkins was elected President, and has been continuously elected for five years.

December 30th, 1890, he was joined in marriage with Wilhelmina, daughter of Calvin Winne, and they have one daughter, Helen.

Milton O. AUCHMOODY Biographical Sketch

MILTON O. AUCHMOODY was born at Esopus, Ulster County, December 3, 1872. He obtained his education at the Bontecoe District School of Ulster, and later attended the Academy at Kingston. He began the study of law in 1894 in the office of Charles Irwin, later continuing his studies with Hon. D. B. Deyo. He was admitted to the Bar in 1898 and engaged in practice with Chandler A. Oaks. This partnership was later dissolved and since January i, 1906, Mr. Auchmoody has practiced alone. Politically he is a Democrat.

He is a son of Samuel L. and Catharine J. (Schoonmaker) Auchmoody, and his grand-parents, David Auchmoody and Jane LeFevre, on his father’s side, were descendants of Gemes Acmoidec, who settled in New Paltz previous to 1730 and was the first Scot to settle there. Joshua Schoonmaker and Salina Vredenburg on his mother’s side are among the early settlers in the County.

John J. BAISDEN Biographical Sketch

JOHN J. BAISDEN, a well-known ship and boat builder of Fly Mountain and Sleightsburg, was born at Chatham, England, August 24, 1831. He came with his parents to America, and his early school days were spent in Rondout and Kingston. He learned the trade of boat building with Bridger & Bishop, at Rondout, remaining with them until 1849, when he went to New York City. He worked for Williams at Green Point until 1853, when he returned to Rondout an 1 framed the barge Joseph P. Davis.

In 1854 Mr. Baisden moved to Mongaup, Sullivan County, N. Y., and built boats for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, being in business there until 1857, when he returned to Rondout. In the fall of 1857 he moved to Hawley, Penn., and was again engaged in building boats for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company, also for the Pennsylvania Coal Company, remaining there until 1882. It was in that year that he moved to New Salem (Fly Mountain P. O.), and bought his present dock, where he has since been building and repairing boats.

Mr. Baisden was married January 1, 1852, in Kingston, to Miss Mary E. Schoonmaker, who was born in Kingston, September 10, 1833. (Died January 8, 1903.) She was a daughter of Stephen Schoonmaker. The following children were born to them: Mary Felicia, born January 31, 1853 (died January 17, 1861); Tamar A., born February 20, 1855 (died December 30, i860); Hannah Josephine, born February 18, 1857; Sarah Ida, born May 2, 1859; Martha A., born September 26, 1861; John Stephen, born March 13, 1864; Charles Ethan, born November 9, 1866 (died December 14, 1866); Lewis Hale, born March 14, 1868; William Nelson, born March 6, 1^2 (died August i, 1872); Walter Monroe, born June 16, 1876. He was married in Ocotber 26, 1904, to E. Katherine Ellison, daughter of the late Alfred L. Ellison, of Esopus, Ulster County.

Mr. Baisden is president of the Board of Trustees, Sunday School superintendent and class-leader of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Eddyville.

Lawrence F. BANNON Biographical Sketch

LAWRENCE F. BANNON, president of the Plumbing Board of the city of Kingston and prominent among Ulster County’s successful business men, was born in Kingston, August 2, 1870. When eight years of age his parents removed to a farm on the Lucas turnpike, four miles from the city, and in the public schools of that neighborhood he received his education. At the age of thirteen he went to New York City and learned the trade of plumbing, after which he embarked on a tour of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan and China.

In 1896 Mr. Bannon returned to Ulster County and opened a plumbing establishment in Rosendale, which he still maintains. In 1900 he established a place of business in Kingston and enjoys an extensive and profitable trade.

Mr. Bannon is Past Chancellor Commander of Golden City Lodge No. 63, of San Francisco, Cal., Past Ruler of the Knights of the Golden Eagles, Golden Gate Castle No. 5, San Francisco, and a member of Kingston Lodge No. 550, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is treasurer of the New York State Master Plumbers’ Association. He is a son of Lawrence and Sarah (McDonald) Bannon, of Kingston, N. Y.

Peter BARMAN Biographical Sketch

PETER BARMAN, of Kingston, N. Y., was born in Germany in 1846. He attended the public schools of his native country and in 1858 came with his father to America. They located in Rondout, where his father Jacob died four years later, his mother having died in Germany some years previously. Peter Barman, soon after his arrival in Rondout, secured employment with his uncle, Mr. Schwalbach, who conducted a brewery in Kingston. He remained in his employ, proved a faithful and efficient helper and eventually succeeded to the ownership of the property. The Barman brewery is now one of the important industries of the county.

In 1876 he married Miss Susan Bender, of Germany, and eight children have been born to them, six of whom are living; two of his sons are employed in a clerical capacity in his office.

Andrew N. BARNES Biographical Sketch

ANDREW N. BARNES, one of the leading business men of Kingston, was born in that city in 1847. He obtained his education at private schools and the Kingston Academy, after which he entered the employ of Merritt & Crosby as a clerk, with whom he remained thirteen years. At the end of that period he, with others, purchased the business at Rondout and continued it for several years. In 1876 he was appointed postmaster of Rondout and held that office during the following ten years. In 1886 he bought a half interest in the Hudson River Furniture Co., at 661 Broadway, Kingston, and it has since been conducted under the firm name of Gregory & Barnes.

Mr. Barnes has served the city as Republican Alderman of the Second Ward and is a member of the old Washington Engine Co., No. 3. His father, George Barnes, a Baptist minister, was born in Colchester, England, and came to New York City in 1832, where he remained two years, during which time he married Charlotte Twitchet, of London, Eng. In 1834 he removed to Kingston. Andrew N. Barnes married Miss Sarah K. Willis, of Kingston, and C. Everett Barnes is the only son.

Louis EERES Biographical Sketch

LOUIS BEERES, cashier of the First National Bank of Rondout, was born in Illinois in 1871. He became associated with the above institution in 1888, served seven years as teller and in 1906 was promoted to his present office. Socially he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Knights of Pythias. He married Miss Keokee Davis, of Ulster County, and they have two children. Mr. Beeres is one of Kingston’s highly respected citizens and is ably fulfilling the duties of the responsible office he occupies.

George N. BELL Biographical Sketch

GEORGE N. BELL, civil engineer of Kingston, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1859. He was educated at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute, St. John’s School, Manlius, N. Y., Kansas State University and the School of Mines, Columbia College. His first employment was with the U. S. Government at Newport, R. I., where he remained six years, engaging in private practice and as inspecting engineer of the Newport Sanitary Protection Association, R. I., where he remained six years. In 1887 he removed to Philadelphia and opened an engineering office. In 1890 he went South in the employment of boom town promoters to lay out town sites, which lasted some two years, and in 1892 again entered the employ of the government as Assistant Engineer in fortification work. In 1899 Mr. Bell came to Kingston, and in 1900 was appointed City Engineer for a term of two years, during which time his plans for large sewerage systems of the 2nd and 9th wards were adopted. He is now engaged in private practice, making a specialty of landscape engineering, sewerage and water systems. Mr. Bell’s family consists of his wife, who was Miss Elizabeth Eicher, and four children.

Lewis F. BENNETT Biographical Sketch

LEWIS F. BENNETT, Supervisor of the town of Denning, was born in the city of Kingston, in 1853. At the age of three years he removed with his parents to Dewittville, and received his education at the public schools of that place. He has been engaged in the manufacture of bed springs and mattresses for the past fifteen years, in which he enjoys an extensive trade. He also conducts a farm of three hundred and fifty acres.

Mr. Bennett is identified with the Masonic Order, the Odd Fellows, and the Maccabees. He has always taken an active interest in politics and with the exception of two terms has served as Supervisor, continuously since 1895. He married Miss Martha A. Dixon and they have four children, Bertha E., Lewis J., Reuben J., and Henry D.

Reuben BERNARD Biographical Sketch

REUBEN BERNARD, Attorney of Kingston, was born in the town of Plattekill, Ulster County, February 24, 1830. He obtained his education at New Paltz Academy and Armenia Seminary. In 1849 he took up the study of law with the well-known firm of Forsyth & Hasbrouck at Kingston. In 1851 he entered the law school then located at Ballston Spa, and in 1852, after examination at Albany, was admitted to the bar, and has since been admitted to the bar of the United States. He began practice in Kingston, where he has since remained.

Mr. Bernard has been officially connected with the various banks in Kingston and vicinity. In 1852 he was chosen attorney for the Huguenot Bank, then being organized at New Paltz. In 1858 he became attorney for the Kingston National Bank, in 1868 a director and in 1877 was elected its president, which office he still holds. He was also the attorney for the Ulster County Savings Institution from 1855 to 1870, and has served the New Paltz Savings Bank in that capacity since 1877. He was president of the Kingston & Rondout R. R. four years and for a number of years was a director in the Wallkill Valley R. R., and has acted as attorney for each of these corporations.

He was the first president of the Kingston Board of Trade and held that office many years. He has been a member of the Fair Street Reformed Church since 1861 and has at various times held offices in the Church. He was superintendent of the Sunday School for many years and has served as president of the Ulster County Sunday School Association.

On June 3, 1856, Mr. Bernard was married to Jane Catherine, only daughter of Dr. Garrett DuBois Crispell, who was for over half a century a practicing physician of Kingston. They have three daughters, Mary Lawrence, Amelia, wife of Henry S. Crispell, of Rondout, and Sarah Crispell.

James A. BETTS Biographical Sketch

JAMES A, BETTS, Justice of the Supreme Court, is a native of Fulton County, New York. His early education was begun in the district school at Mills Corners and later continued in the graded schools of Broadalbin, Fulton Count3^ He finished his studies at the Albany State Normal School, from which he graduated June 18, 1875. In September, 1875, he came to Kingston and became the principal of Public School No. ii. He occupied that position two years, during which time he began the study of law in the office of Schoonmaker and Linson, and in Novembcr, 1880, was admitted to the bar. For several years he acted as managing clerk for the above firm of lawyers. He was the first secretary of the State Civil Service Commission, which was organized in 1883. In 1890 he was elected clerk of the Board of Supervisors and re-elected the year following. In 1891 he was chairman of the Democratic County Committee, and in 1892 was unanimously nominated to the office of Surrogate of Ulster County, being elected for a term of six years. In 1898 he was elected Justice of the Supreme Court of this district for a term of fourteen years, and is administering the duties of that honorable office in an able and dignified manner.

Judge Betts is vice-president and one of the managers of the Kingston City Hospital, and a member of the Senate House Association. He served two years as president of the Kingston Board of Education, and has been a member of the Board of Trade since its organization. He is president of the Kingston Savings Bank.

October 16, 1884, he married Frances M., a daughter of the late William D. Hill, of Kingston. She died June 15, 1905. He has one child, Fanny Hill Betts, born January 27, 1899.

Asa BISHOP Biographical Sketch

ASA BISHOP, son of Jacob and Catherine (Eckert) Bishop, was born in the town of Olive, Ulster County, in 1842. At the age of nineteen years he enlisted in Company D of the Twentieth N. Y. S. M., and served three years in the Civil War, being severely wounded at the battle of Gettysburg. At the close of the war he returned home and engaged in quarrying for several years. In 1885 he purchased his present store, which was established in i860 and the oldest in the town, and has since been engaged in a general mercantile business. He has served five years as town clerk and sixteen years as Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the G. A. R., the Knights of Pythias and the I. O. O. F. In 1866 he married Miss Josephine B. Bardin. They have one son, Legrande D., born December 9, 1881, a son Lewis, born in 1867, died before reaching his majority.

His father, Jacob Bishop, was born at Olive in 1795 and at the age of four years became blind, remaining so through life. He conducted a farm and operated a grist-mill. His father, Asa Bishop, came to Olive about 1790 from Nine Partners, Dutchess County, and became one of the leading men of his day in Ulster. Bishop Falls, in the town of Olive, was named for the family. Jacob Bishop married Catherine Eckert, and their twelve children grew to maturity. Of their children, Asa, the subject of this sketch, and Ephraim M. still reside at Olive.

Ephraim M. was born at Olive Bridge, January 22, 1832, married Eliza Ann Wood and has eight children, six of whom are now living, namely: Ernest, Bertha, Schuyler C, Mabel, Charles and Bessie W. He conducted a woolen mill ten years and a general store thirty years; was postmaster twenty years and town clerk two terms.

Daniel BLACK, Jr., Biographical Sketch

DANIEL BLACK, JR., son of Daniel and Ellen (Abernethy) Black, was born at Whiteport, Ulster County, in 1845. After finishing his studies at the schools of Wilbur, he aided his father for a time, in the cultivation of his farm on the Rosendale road, known as the Abernethy plantation. He then engaged in boating for a number of years, between Le Fevre Falls and Philadelphia. He was identified with the cement industry in this county from 1882 to 1900, both in connection with the Rock Lock and Rosendale Cement Co., and the Lawrence Cement Co.

Mr. Black has served as trustee of the New Paltz Savings Bank since 1890. He is a charter member of C. S. Clay Lodge No. 586, I. O. O. F., and a member of the Reformed Church. In 1884 he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza E. Hoffman, daughter of Henry and Sarah A. (DuBois) Hoffman, of Rosendale.

Lewis D. BLACK Biographical Sketch

LEWIS D. BLACK, of the firm of Black Bros., Eddyville, who conduct the most extensive mercantile business on the Rondout Creek, was born at the Abernethy plantation on the Rosendale Road, Ulster County, in 1848. He is the second son of Daniel and Ellen (Abernethy) Black, who had a family of ten children.

He obtained his education at the public schools, and in 1872 opened the present store at Eddyville, which grew to generous proportions during the years the D. & H. Canal was in operation.

In 1882 Mr. Black married Miss Theresa Wurster, of Fly Mountain, who has borne him the following children: Theresa, Peter A., Nellie, Daniel (deceased), Lillian, Walter, Major, Abel, Mary, Ira, Jennie, Alton B. Parker, and B. Odell. Mr. Black is identified with No. 10 Lodge, F. & A. M., Mount Horeb Chapter, and Rondout Commandery. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F.

Peter C. BLACK Biographical Sketch

PETER C. BLACK, merchant of Eddyville, and one of Ulster County’s prominent citizens, was born at the well-known homestead of the Black family on the Rosendale road. After finishing his education at the Kingston Academy and Eastman’s Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., he engaged in the mercantile business with his brother, Lewis D., under the firm name of Black Brothers. This firm has met with unusual success and enjoys an extensive trade throughout that section of the county.

Socially Mr. Black is identified with the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Although active in promoting the welfare and upholding the principles of the Democratic party, Mr. Black has repeatedly declined to become a candidate for public office. He has been a delegate to several of the Democratic State Conventions, and was in attendance at the memorable National Democratic Convention at St. Louis in 1904. Heis a director in tne State of New York National Bank and has been a trustee of the Ulster County Savings Institution, of Kingston, for many years.

Mr. Black is a son of Daniel and Ellen (Abernethy) Black, who had a family of four daughters and six sons, each of whom has achieved success in their chosen vocations.

William Dill BLAKE Biographical Sketch

WILLIAM HENRY DILL BLAKE was born in the town of Montgomery, Orange County, N. Y., January 17, 1843. After finishing his studies at Montgomery Academy, he enlisted December 31, 1863, in Company C, 56th N. Y. Veteran Volunteer Infantry. From a private he was promoted to Corporal, September 10, 1864, and to Regimental Commissary Sergeant, November 22, 1864. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant, September 19, 1865, with rank from September ist, and honorably discharged from the service November loth of the same year.

In 1867 Mr. Blake entered the employ of Homer Ramsdell & Co., with whom he remained seven years, when he accepted a position as agent for the Newburgh & Albany Steamboat Line, also conducting a flour and feed store at Newburgh. In 1881 Mr. Blake removed to New Paltz, and purchased the farm of 250 acres where he now resides. In 1875 he was united in marriage to Miss Matilda R. Booth, daughter of Alfred Booth, of Campbell Hall, N. Y. They have three children living, Alfred Booth, William Culbert, and Matilda. Mrs, Blake died November 19, 1904. Mr. Blake is Commander of Elting Post No. 212, G, A. R., and is one of the two historians who prepared and published the History of the 56th Regiment, New York Veteran Volunteer Infantry, in the Civil War from 1861 to 1865.

John Blake, Jr., grandfather of our subject, was prominently identified with public affairs in Orange County during the greater portion of his life. He was nominated for Sheriff by Dewitt Clinton in 1801, and from 1805 to 1809 was a member of Congress from the Orange County district. William Blake, his son, was born February 22, 1794, in the court house at Kingston, at the time John Blake, Jr,, was administering the office of Sheriff of Ulster County, during the absence of the incumbent, Benjamin Sears.

Howard C. BOGARDUS Biographical Sketch

HOWARD C. BOGARDUS, of Malden, New York, was born in that village, February 27, 1848. When sixteen years of age he secured a position as bookkeeper for the Bigelow Blue Stone Company, of Malden, and eventually became its cashier and secretary. In February, 1892, that company was reorganized into the Ulster Blue Stone Company, with B. Taylor Harris as its President, and in 1901 it was sold to the Hudson River Blue Stone Company, the present owners of the business. Mr. Bogardus is cashier and general manager of the Malden branch.

He was for a number of years assistant postmaster under his father, Hobart Bogardus, who came to Malden at an early day and became one of its foremost citizens. Mr. Bogardus is a direct descendant of Aneke Janus Bogardus, who married Everadus Bogardus, the first minister from Holland to America.

Hewitt BOICE Biographical Sketch

HEWITT BOICE, an honored and esteemed citizen of Kingston, and prominent among the notable self-made men of Ulster County, comes of a pioneer family. He is a grandson of Peter Boice and also of Samuel Davis, both well-known and substantial natives and life-long residents of Olive Township. Hewitt Boice was born at Boiceville, Ulster County, in 1846. His father, William V. N. Boice, was also a native of Olive Township. He was a successful farmer and also dealt in lumber and blue stone. He died in 1898, leaving to his family the record of an honorable name, a useful life, and an unblemished reputation. Our subject received his education in the public schools and early in life became interested in the blue stone industry. In connection with his father, and his brother, Peter, he carried on a tannery, lumber and bluestone business at Samsonville, Ulster County, under the firm name of William V. N. Boice and Sons, which continued until 1875, in which year he commenced the stone business in a comparatively limited way at Brodheads Bridge, Two years later he moved into the city of Kingston and purchased property on East Strand, Rondout, five hundred feet frontage, where he established a business which rapidly grew to become the largest of the kind in the country, doing a business of from $300,000 to $500,000 annually. In addition to this plant, Mr. Boice also owned five barges and a 350-ton schooner, all employed in his industry. He also owned a stone yard and mills at Higginsville and quarries at different points along the Ulster and Delaware Railroad. To this immense business he gave his personal attention, until his interests were purchased by the Hudson River Blue Stone Co. in 1901, at a very large figure.

In 1866 Hewitt Boice was married to Miss Caroline Sinclair, and to them was born one daughter, Virginia, now the wife of Rev. F. B. Seeley, and one son, who died in infancy. In 1899 the mother died. In 1901 Mr. Boice was united in marriage to Miss Kathryn DuBois Deyo, of Kingston. He lives a retired life at his handsome home on Fair Street, Kingston, enjoying the competency accumulated throughout a successful business career. In politics Mr. Boice is a Republican. He is a man of decided views upon public questions, but has never aspired to public office. A man of strong personality and possessed of great natural shrewdness and business ability, he is recognized as being one of the most substantial and successful men in Ulster County.

Jessie B. BOICE Biographical Sketch

JESSE B. BOICE, manufacturer, at Olive Bridge, was born at West Shokan, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1865. Mr. Boice obtained his education at the schools of his native place, and purchased from his uncle, John I. Boice, the old Bishop grist-mill at Bishop’s Falls, which he still operates, and in addition conducts a sawmill across the creek.

Mr. Boice is a member of No. 10 Lodge, F. and A. M. and the I. O. O. F. No. 491. He is an elder in the Reformed Church and has served six years as Clerk of the town of Olive.

He was united in marriage to Miss Alice Lockwood, of Ulster County. Isaiah Boice, father of our subject, was engaged in farming in the town of Olive, and was numbered among Ulster County’s respected citizens. He was a son of John S. and Gidea (Smith) Boice.

Zadoc P. BOICE Biographical Sketch

ZADOC P. BOICE. — Sheriff Zadoc P. Boice, of Kingston, was born at Boiceville, in the town of Olive, July 29, 1858. He is a son of Lemuel Boice, who was born at Shokan, Olive Township, May 5, 1819. Lemuel Boice was engaged in farming, which occupation he followed but a few years, when he became interested in the tanning business. He built a tannery at Boiceville, where he was also engaged in lumbering. He was the leading citizen in the town, was very energetic and controlled one of the largest tanneries in the county. The village of Boiceville was named for him. He remained there until about 1865, when he returned to Shokan and took up farming and lumbering. About the year 1876 he took the contract for building the roadbed and erecting the arches and bridges on the railroad between Arkville and Delhi. On July 14, 1842, he married Mary Ann Brinck, of the town of Olive, and eight children were born to them, of whom Zadoc P. is next youngest. The mother died in June, 1874, and March 30, 1876, Mr. Boice took for his second wife Mary C. Hill. Mr. Boice served one term as Supervisor, in the year 1858.

Zadoc P. Boice became a partner of D. W. Ennist in the grocery business, in 1878, which was continued until October 1, 1885.

He then purchased his father’s property, both the business interests and real estate, in West Shokan, which he has since conducted.

His marriage with Delia Elmendorf, of Olive, took place October 6, 1880, and two children have been born to them, Lena and Delta. Mr. Boice was for three years a member of the County Board of Supervisors. He is a member of Kingston Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., and Mountain Gate Lodge No. 299, Knights of Pythias, of West Shokan. He is also a director in the State of New York National Bank. In 1906 Mr. Boice received the Republican nomination for the office of Sheriff of Ulster County, and was elected by a handsome majority.

William BOOTH Biographical Sketch

WILLIAM BOOTH, of Ellenville, N. Y., a native of Sheffield, England, was born in August, 1842. He served a rigid apprenticeship in the cutlery line in his native town and came to this country in 1864, working at his trade in Bronxville and Naugatuck, Conn. In 1871 he came to Ellenville, and has been connected with the Divine Knife Works, as Superintendent of the plant, for over thirty-five years.

Mr. Booth served as President of the Village of Ellenville for three terms, and has been Trustee of the village for eleven years. He is connected with the Episcopal Church, Masonic Brotherhood and the K. of P. He is a very practical and energetic manager of one of the most important industries of the county, as well as being one of the most highly regarded and influential citizens of his adopted town.

John Gail BORDON Biographical Sketch

JOHN GAIL BORDEN, the youngest son of the late Gail Borden, who was famous as an inventor and public benefactor, was born in Galveston, Texas, January 4, 1844. Coming North when but a lad of thirteen, he entered one of the Brooklyn public schools, and later attended the Winchester Academy in Winchester Center, Conn., where he remained for two years. From the time when he left the Academy until he entered a business college, young Borden assisted his father in establishing the condensed milk business, then in its infancy.

The call for volunteers in ’61 interrupted the business college course, and Mr. Borden, then but nineteen years of age, enlisted at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., under Colonel (the late General) John Henry Ketcham, in the 150th N. Y. Volunteers, serving in this regiment for two years and a half, and attaining the rank of second lieutenant during that time. Just before his regiment started for the front, the young patriot presented himself for baptism and membership in the Armenia, N. Y., Baptist Church, and in the years following gave every evidence of a consistent Christian life.

His service in the “150th” was terminated by a serious illness, caused by the severe strain and exposure of army life, and Mr. Borden was compelled to return to his home for rest and recuperation. When sufficiently recovered, he was transferred to the 47th N. Y. Volunteers, and remained with that regiment until the close of the war. Returning to his home in Brewsters, N. Y., Mr. Borden became actively identified with the Borden Condensed Milk Co., and upon the death of his father, in 1874, succeeded him as its president.

During his connection with the company, he made many valuable improvements in the methods of manufacturing condensed milk, and otherwise firmly established the reputation of the Borden Condensed Milk Co.

Removing in 1881 from Brewsters to Wallkill, N. Y,, he purchased the property known as the “John P. Andrews farm,” comprising about two hundred acres, and by acquiring adjacent lands from time to time, the “Borden Home Farm” was made to cover an area of some fifteen hundred acres. Most, if not all, of this property was a part of an original grant of land deeded by Queen Anne, in 1709, to “her true and loving subjects.” Here Mr. Borden built a large condensery for the Borden Condensed Milk Co., continuing the management of the business until 1884, when failing health compelled him to retire from an active business life. From that time until his death, Mr. Borden gave his whole attention to the improving and beautifying of his “Home Farm,” trying, as he expressed it, to “make two blades of grass where but one grew before.” With all the improvements made upon the farm, he did not indulge in what is known as “fancy farming,” but aimed rather to make his improvements on a practical basis, furnishing object lessons which any energetic farmer might easily put into practice.

In politics, Mr. Borden was a staunch Republican, firmly believing in every citizen taking an active part in the politics of his town, and conscientiously performing his duty at the primaries and the polls.

Mr. Borden’s patriotism increased with years, and he was one, if not the first, of the pioneers who labored to impress upon the minds of the children a strong love for country and “the Stars and Stripes,” and each Decoration Day, he presented to every child in the public schools in his vicinity, a small American flag; continuing this practice until his death. Among Mr. Borden’s characteristics, none were stronger than his devotion to home and country. Courtesy and gentleness were also marked characteristics with him, and his hat was removed as quickly for a little girl as for a lady. He was a true disciple of the “gospel of labor,” and one of his unwritten mottoes was, that “what was worth doing at all was worth doing well,” which rule was followed out in all his undertakings. He worked incessantly, and was old before his time. Mr. Borden died in October, 1891, at Ormond, Florida, where, as well as in the North, he left an enviable and lasting record of practical Christian living. He lived but forty-seven years — a short life, but one so filled with work for God and humanity, that its value cannot be estimated by the number of years alone.

Warren L. BOYER Biographical Sketch

WARREN L. BOYER, Superintendent of the New York Car and Truck Co., of Kingston, was born in Allentown, Pa., in 1878. He is a master mechanic by occupation and was for seven years connected with the Peckham Manufacturing Co., which formerly occupied the premises. He is numbered among Kingston’s progressive young business men. Socially he is affiliated with the Allentown Lodge of Elks No. 130, and the Modern Workmen of America.

John BOYLE Biographical Sketch

JOHN BOYLE was born in Sullivan County, March 29, 1865. After obtaining his education at the public schools of his native place, he engaged in the boating business on river and sound. In 1889 Mr. Boyle was united in marriage to Miss Mary Cornell, daughter of Joseph W. Cornell, whose name figures prominently in the development of Ulster County. Mr. Boyle is now proprietor of the Cornell Inn, a popular summer hostelry overlooking the Rondout Creek at Fly Mountain, offering among its many attractions good boating, fishing and bathing. Eugene Boyle, father of our subject, died at the old homestead in Sullivan County, July 23, 1905. He was married to Catharine Nimo, daughter of Thomas Nimo, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of the State.

W. A. BRIGGS Biograpghical Sketch

W. A. BRIGGS, a prominent merchant and manufacturer of Claryville, Ulster County, was born at Grahamsville, Sullivan County, in 1843. He obtained his education at the schools of his native place, and when Civil War was declared enlisted in Company C, 143rd N. Y. V., serving three years. In 1866 he established a general mercantile business, and subsequently engaged in the manufacture of lumber, shingles, furniture hoops and piano bars, giving employment at present to over forty men.

Possessed of keen sagacity and enterprise, Mr. Briggs is one of the most successful men in the community his real estate holdings in Ulster County covering over one thousand acres. Mr. Briggs married Miss Abigail Dixon, and their family consists of John, now traveling salesman for the Winchester Arms Co., W. A., Jr., and O, D. (who have succeeded their father in the management of the store under the firm name of W. A. Briggs’ Sons), Harrison, Ella, Inda and Martha.

Henry R. BRIGHAM Biographical Sketch

HENRY R. BRIGHAM, senior member of the firm of Brigham Bros., brick manufacturers, was born in Kingston, N. Y., in 1858, and is of English ancestry. Graduating from Kingston Academy in 1878, he then attended Colgate Academy one year, following which he entered the employ of the Wabash R. R. system at Logansport, Ind., as accountant. In 1880 he resigned to become general sales agent of the Hudson River Cement Company, where he remained ten years, being also secretary of the company. About this time the firm of Brigham Bros. (Henry R. and William H.) was formed, opening general stores at Creek Locks and East Kingston, N. Y.

In 1892 they began the manufacture of brick at East Kingston, the business being still carried on by them. Mr. Brigham also conducts a cement brick commission house in New York City. They have recently built another brick manufacturing plant, and installed a new system of manufacturing brick, drying it by a steam process, thus enabling them to make brick at all seasons. Starting with a capacity of 6,000,000 brick, their business has expanded to an annual output of 40,000,000 brick, giving employment to four hundred men.

Mr. Brigham is a trustee of the Ulster County Savings Institution, a director of the State of New York National Bank, and a member of the Board of Education. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Kingston, and president of its Board of Trustees.

In October, 1882, he married Sarah Sparling, daughter of Derrick W. Sparling, of Kingston, and one son, Harold S., was born to them in 1883. Harold married Charlotte Rouse, of Kingston, N. Y., in 1906.

Elisha M. Brigham, father of our subject, was born at Willington, Conn., May i, 1822. He came to Ulster County in 1837, and was thereafter associated with many of its important and financial enterprises. He established a store in Kingston in 1849, which he conducted some nine or ten years. He organized the Rondout and Kingston Cement Company in 1858, and managed that company twenty-five years. In 1873 he was appointed receiver of the N. Y., K. & S., now the Ulster & Delaware R. R. He was elected County Treasurer in 1851, and held that office until 1857. He was president of the Board of Education for many years and was a member of that body from 1872 until his death. He served as Alms Commissioner twentytwo years and during a portion of that time was president of the Board. He was president of the village of Kingston at the time its charter as a city was obtained. He was presidential elector in 1872. During his lifetime he was deeply interested in church work, was a member of the First Baptist Church of Kingston and president of its Board of Trustees.

Joel BRINK Biographical Sketch

JOEL BRINK, son of Andrew and Sarah M. (Osterhoudt) Brink, was born at Lake Katrine, Ulster County, in 1868. He has been engaged in farming and the mercantile business at his native place for many years and has served as Supervisor for the town of Ulster since 1904, winning a memorable contest over his Democratic opponent in the election of 1903.

Socially Mr. Brink is identified with No. 10 Lodge, F. and A. M. He was united in marriage to Miss Anna E. Kieffer, lof Ulster County, and one son, Herbert, has been born to them.

Theodore BRINK Biographical Sketch

THEODORE BRINK, postmaster and merchant, Lake Katrine, N. Y., a descendant of an old Ulster County family of Revolutionary ascendants, was born January 12, i860. His father, Andrew Brink, who died in 1904, established the mercantile business at Lake Katrine, and conducted it up to the time of his demise. Theodore was educated in the schools of Kingston, and has been associated with his father in business since its inception. Prior to engaging in the mercantile business, Andrew Brink was engaged in farming, which he carried on from his youth on their own farm, which has been in the family for over one hundred years, now owned by Theodore Brink. The family home was erected in 1821; it contains many handsome pieces of Colonial furniture, and is situated near the shores of Lake Katrine. The business embraces a general line of merchandise, including coal, flour and feed, farm machinery, fertilizers, etc. Mr. Brink is a member of the Holland Society, the Kingston Club and the Dutch Reformed Church. He lives in the old homestead with his sisters and is unmarried.

Mr. Brink’s ancestors came from Wageningen, in Gelderland, Holland, in 1658. A son, named Cornelius, was born on the passage over and from him our subject is descended. Hubert Brink, a descendant of Cornelius, settled in Kingston over two hundred years ago. He secured a tract of land at the place now called Mount Marion, which has never entirely passed out of the possession of the family. The old stone house, the first building erected on the land, is still standing and is occupied by a member of the Brink family.

Abraham D. BRODHEAD Biographical Sketch

ABRAHAM D. BRODHEAD, son of John C. and Cornelia W. (Deyo) Brodhead, was born in Kingston, New York, in 1863. In 1890 he was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude M. Deyo, daughter of Matthew Deyo. The ancestry of the Brodhead and Deyo families occupies a prominent place in the early settlement of Ulster County.

THE W. G. BROWNE MFG. CO. Biographical Sketch

THE W. G. BROWNE MFG. CO. was established at 82 Prince Street in 1898, and in 1902, when the company was incorporated, they moved to their present location. The industry passed into the hands of the present proprietors in 1905, the firm now being composed of Benj. F. Bird, President and General Manager; E. H. Bogart, Vice-President and Secretary, and T. D. Abrams, Treasurer. The product consists of hardware specialties, including egg beaters, can openers, tack pullers, potato mashers, ice picks, garment hangers, etc., which find a ready market throughout the States and foreign countries. The plant gives employment to a force of thirty people.

Mr. Bird, the President of the company, is a native of Boston, Mass., and was born April 23, 1874. After learning the trade of machinist, he was employed by the Hobbs Mfg. Co., of Worcester, for fourteen years, nine years of which he was traveling salesman. In 1904 Mr. Bird located in Kingston and conducted the Measure Mfg. Co., on Front Street, until that business was absorbed by the present concern.

Col. Jacobus Severyn BRUYN Biographical Sketch

COL. JACOBUS SEVERYN BRUYN was born in Kingston, N. Y., in the year 1751. He was the son of Severyn Bruyn, who died at Kingston in 1759, the grandson of Jacobus Bruyn, the first of the family born in this country, and the great-grandson of Jacobus Bruyn, who came from Norway about the middle of the seventeenth century and founded a new home in Ulster County.

Col. Bruyn was scarcely graduated from Princeton College when the war of the Revolution broke out. He served in Canada in the campaign of 1775 and was with Montgomery at Quebec. He equipped at his own expense a company of infantry in his native county, and led them to the seat of war. Shortly after being promoted to the office of lieutenant-colonel he was captured at the surrender of Fort Montgomery, and held a prisoner on the Jersey prison-ship and afterward on parole on Long Island. Soon after his release Col. Bruyn was married to Miss Blandina, daughter of Petrus Edmundus and Mary (Crooke) Elmendorf. Col. Bruyn and his wife were prominently identified with the old Dutch Church of Kingston, organized in 1659, and their remains are buried under the present edifice, together with the preceding Bruyns of their immediate line.

Two sons were the only descendants of Col, and Mrs. Bruyn, namely Edmund and Severyn. Both graduated from Princeton College and were afterward admitted to the bar, Edmund practiced law in New York for a time, and then retired to a farm in the town of Wawarsing. He was never married. Severyn made his home in Kingston, where early in life he married Catherine, daughter of Jonathan Hasbrouck. Severyn Bruyn, like his father, was an elder in the old Dutch Church, and devoted to all its interests; he never left home for any prolonged absence without placing in the hands of his minister a sum of money for the use of the needy in the church. No communion Sunday ever came without his being present, often returning home solely for that purpose. The two children of this estimable couple were Augustus H. and Mary, who became the wife of Hon. James C. Forsyth. Augustus Hasbrouck Bruyn was for many years engaged in the tanning business. He was unmarried and lived in the house occupied by his parents for many years. This is a stone building, which was partially consumed in the burning of Kingston in 1777, and was afterward rebuilt. It is now the home of the Misses Forsyth, Mr, Bruyn was a member of the Holland Society of New York, and was identified with the interests of the Dutch Reformed Church. He died in Kingston, October 24, 1904.

Thomas J. BRYANT Biographical Sketch

THOMAS J. BRYANT, who conducts a general store at Big Indian, is a native of Delaware County. Born at Andes, he obtained his education in the schools of his native place and at Stamford Academy. In 1889 he came to Ulster County and established his present business. He is a son of Nelson and Martha Francis Bryant. His father. Nelson Bryant, was a descendant of an old Delaware County family. His mother was from North Carolina. Mr. Bryant has been twice married. His first wife was Miss Ellen D. Wey, by whom he had three children, Francis Dail, Virginia and Thomas. For his second wife, Mr. Bryant married Miss Nora Whipple. They have no children. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and J. O. U. A. M. Politically he is a Democrat.

Thomas Townsend BUCKLEY Biographical Sketch

THOMAS TOWNSEND BUCKLEY, son of John and Phebe (Thorne) Buckley, was born in Marlborough, N. Y., July 11th, 1817. After attending the district schools he, at the age of fourteen, began as clerk in a general store of his native village. Shorty after he accepted a position as clerk in Newburgh. In 1838 he went to New York, engaged in the wholesale drygoods business, and soon became largely interested in the importing and jobbing trade. In 1874 he retired from active business, spending the summers in Marlborough and the winters in Brooklyn. During his career he was vice-president of the Bank of the Republic, receiver of the Atlantic and Pacific R. R. Co., director of the Metropolitan Gas Co., and the Home Insurance Co. He was one of the executive committee of the great Sanitary Fair in 1864, and was a member and patron of historical and art societies. He married Amelia A., daughter of William R. Thompson, of New York.

Mr. Buckley died February 6, 1887, and his remains were interred in Greenwood Cemetery. Two sons survive, Charles R. and John D., who spend the summer season at the country seat in Marlborough.

George BURGEVIN Biographical Sketch

GEORGE BURGEVIN. — The subject of this sketch was born in Kingston in 1862. He obtained his education in the public schools of his native city and then entered the employ of his father in the floral business.

Mr. Burgevm was married to Mabel Hanor, of New York, in 1901, and they have had three sons. Politically he is a Democrat.

Valentin Burgevin, the father of our subject, was a native of Maintz-on-theRhine and was born January 1, 1819. He came to America in 1848 and located in Kingston. Shortly thereafter Mr. Burgevin engaged in the cultivation of fruits and vegetables, introducing home-grown strawberries, lettuce and cauliflower. In 1852 he began in a small way the culture of flowers, for which there was at that time little or no demand. He, however, succeeded in creating a market for his product The demand gradually increased, and with it he increased his facilities. Fifty years have elapsed since he took up the work and the Burgevin establishment is to-day one of the largest and most complete of its kind in this section of the State, having a roofage of fifty thousand square feet of glass, and covering seventeen acres of land. They make a specialty of roses, carnations and chrysanthemums, and their carnation known as the “Kingston Pet” was awarded the certificate of merit by the Dutchess County Horticultural Society.

In 1896 Mr. Burgevin retired from the business and was succeeded by his two sons, George and David.

Mr. Burgevin died January 21, 1899, and is survived by his wife, Anna (Wurtzberger) Burgevin and his two sons.

The handsome Burgevin block is a fitting monument to the success he attained in floriculture.

Augustus R. BURNHANS Biographical Sketch

AUGUSTUS R. BURHANS, son of Benjamin D. and Matilda (Warren) Burhans, was born in the town of Ulster, Ulster County, in i860. He attended the district school at Flatbush, this county, and then engaged in farming with his father, where he continued until 1896, when he removed to Saugerties and purchased his present ice plant, which has a capacity of about five thousand tons.

Mr. Burhans is now serving as Sewer Commissioner for the extensive sewerage system now being constructed in the village of Saugerties. Socially he is identified with the Masonic order. He was united in marriage to Miss Gertrude J. Renner, of Ulster County, and they have two sons, Roger and Wallace.

Charles BURHAMS Biographical Sketch

CHARLES BURHANS, Treasurer of the Kingston Savings Bank, was bons in Kingston, July 12, 1846. Jacob Burhans was the progenitor of this bianch of the Burhans family in America. The earliest record of his life is on March 28, 1660, when he appears as a soldier on the Esopus in the Netherlandish Service in the company of Director General Peter Stuyvesant, from whose sister, Anna Stuyvesant Bayard, Mr. Burhans is descended. The name of Jacob Burhans stands third on the list of members who formed the first organization of the Reformed Dutch Church of Wiltwyck (now Kingston), December 7, 1660. From November 21, 1661, to December 6, 1664, he was Collector of Church Rates and Excise Commissioner. He was elected Seheppen (Magistrate) of the Court of Wiltwyck on April 28, 1666, and was re-elected the following year. In June, 1663, during the second Esopus War, he had two houses burned in the "New Village outside the stockade.” He died some time prior to June, 1677.

Charles Burhans was educated at the Kingston Academy. When eighteen years of age he became clerk in the State of New York Bank. He later became bookkeeper, and on January 12, 1869, was made cashier, which position he held seven years.

On August 2, 1879, Mr. Burhans became treasurer of the Kingston Savings Bank and has since held that respoasible position. He is also a trustee in the bank. He is a member of the Kingston Lodge of Masons, having joined in 1868. In 1870 and 1871 he was Treasurer of the Village of Kingston, and held that office in 1872 when Kingston was incorporated as a city. He has been a member of Company B, Twentieth Battalion, New York State Militia, since its organization in 1873, and in 1875 was commissioned Inspector of Rifle Practice with the rank of Captain. He was vice-president of the Holland Society of New York for the County of Ulster, 1898-1901, and has been treasurer of the Kingston Board of Education fifteen years (1887-1902). He is trustee and treasurer of the Senate House Association, member of Kingston City Hospital Association and City Library Association.

On December 3, 1889, he married Mary Swart, daughter of John C. F. Hoes, D.D., pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church of Kingston from 1845 to 1867.

Cornelius BURHANS Biographical Sketch

CORNELIUS BURHANS was born in Kingston, New York, June 3, 1821. He obtained his education at private schools and the Kingston Academy, and at the age of fifteen years entered his father’s store as clerk, where he remained ten years. In 1846 he took the business and with his brother, John Salisbury, continued it until 1871, when he formed a partnership with Titus Felten and engaged in the coal and lumber business. In 1891 this partnership was dissolved, Mr. Burhans retiring.

Mr. Burhans has been prominent in Masonic circles and was treasurer of Kingston Lodge and Mt. Horeb Chapter for over thirty years. As a member of the fire department, he was very active, serving for two years as chief engineer. In 1844 he was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Shaw, of Ulster County. Their children are Jacob, Charles, Wm. S., Augustus and Mary Jane. Jacob Burhans, father of our subject, was one of the foremost citizens in the early days of Kingston and was sixth in descent from Jacob Burhans, who came from Holland and whose first recorded service in this country is on March 28, 1660, as a soldier under Gen. Peter Stuyvesant.

William BURHAMS Biographical Sketch

WILLIAM BURHANS, of Saugerties, New York, is a native of Ulster County, having been born in Kingston, June 16, 1851. The early years of his life were spent near Oberlin, Ohio, and he received his education in Kingston and the public schools in Ohio. He came to Saugerties in 1874 and entered the employ of Burhans & Bernard, bluestone dealers, as bookkeeper, and remained with them four years. In 1886 Mr. Burhans, with Uriah Van Etten, engaged in the coal and lumber business, which they conducted ten years and sold to the Saugerties Coal & Lumber Co. The six years following, he and John C. Davis were engaged in the boot and shoe business. In April, 1902, Mr. Burhans and Joseph Keenan established the furniture and undertaking business which they are successfully conducting today.

Mr. Burhans has served as postmaster eight years, four years under the Harrison administration and four under President McKinley’s. He is now one of the village directors, having been appointed to that office in January, 1906, to fill a vacancy. He also served as chief engineer of the fire department in 1896, and in 1904-5 was Master of Ulster Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M.

Richard Lalor BURTSELL Biographical Sketch

RICHARD LALOR BURTSELL. — The Very Rev. Richard Lalor Burtsell, D.D., was born on April 14, 1840, in the city of New York, where his paternal ancestors had lived for more than a century. His mother, Dorothea Morrogh, of Cork, Ireland, was a granddaughter of Francis Plowden, an English historian of the beginning of the nineteenth century, and a lineal descendant of the Plowden to whom Charles I. gave in 1632 a charter for New Albion, now New Jersey. R. L. Burtsell studied as a boy at St. Francis Xavier’s College in New York, and spent two years in the Sulpician College in Montreal, and continued his studies for nine years in the college of the Propaganda, Rome, Italy, where in 1858 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy and in 1862 the degree of Doctor of Divinity. He was ordained to the priesthood at Rome on August 10, 1862. From November, 1862, to the end of 1867 he was assistant to the Rev. Thomas Preston at St. Ann’s Church, on Eighth Street, in New York. In 1868 he founded the parish of the Epiphany, using the halls of the Demilt Dispensary for divine service. By April 3, 1870, he had completed the erection of the splendid church of the Epiphany, on Second Avenue, near Twenty-first Street, with a fine rectory. He also built a well-equipped parochial school. In 1883, while remaining pastor of the Epiphany, he established the Church of St. Benedict the Moor for the colored Catholics of New York. In 1890 he was appointed by Archbishop Corrigan to the rectorship of St. Mary’s Church, Rondout, where he has given steady attention to the welfare of his parishioners, without neglecting the civic duties which he recognized as due to his fellow citizens of Kingston.

On the occasion of a visit of Dr. Burtsell to Rome in 1904, Archbishop Farley requested Pope Pius X. to honor him by taking him as one of his household chamberlains; this request was acceded to, and hence the title of Monsignor which has been given him. St. Mary’s parish was made by Archbishop Corrigan a so-called irremovable parish, and Dr. Burtsell declared its first irremovable pastor. At the diocesan synod in 1901, Archbishop Corrigan appointed Dr. Burtsell his vicarforane for Ulster and Sullivan Counties. This position was confirmed and renewed by his successor, the present archbishop, Most Rev. John M. Farley, D.D.