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~ Old Northern Dutchess Life

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Category Archives: 19th Century Photos

Mrs. M.J. Manier, artist of Red Hook

31 Thursday Aug 2017

Posted by SKH in 19th Century, 19th Century Photos, 20th Century, Art, Genealogy

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art, lutheran cemetery, Manier, Moul, red hook, victoriana

[Updated with some new information, 6/18/21]

Among the documents, photos, and books I inherited from my grandmother, Clara Losee, were a handful of Victorian miniature paintings created by a woman called “Mrs. M. J. Manier”.

The paper is only 2″ wide. “Above, below, where e’er I gaze, Thy guiding finger Lord I trace” from a hymn “…Lord I view traced in the midnight planets’ blaze”

On the reverse of her carte-de-visite, Clara’s mother-in-law Rosalie Fraleigh Losee had written: “Mrs. M.J. Manier who was an adept at painting flowers in water colors & who decorated the wedding cake for Lucy Irene Curtis when she married John A. Fraleigh June 14, 1871 & who decorated he cake for their daughter M. Rosalie when she married Harvey Losee, Sept. 5, 1906.” Included in the collection are a calling card, her photograph, a larger painting in the pages of a Victorian friendship album, a tiny framed painting, a little packet that unfolds to reveal a Christian verse, and a painting backed with ribbon (perhaps a bookmark) with a Christian verse.

Her work is beautiful but until recently, I didn’t really know who she was. Fortunately, in 1900, she was living in Red Hook with her sister, so the data started to link up to pull her story out of the past and into the light.

More Christian quotes inside…

Mary Jane Moul was born in June 1832 to Philip Moul and Christina Shook of Red Hook. Her parents married 1 Feb 1816 at the Reformed Church in Upper Red Hook–the same that Rosalie Fraleigh Losee and her family attended. The Curtis and Fraleigh families, however, we Methodists.

Mary Jane married William Manier born in 1817–a man 15 years her senior. They had two children, John born c. 1851 and William C. born c. 1854. William died sometime before January of 1854 when John Curtis of Red Hook wrote on 9 Jan 1854 about deaths that had occurred in last two years in his diary:

…and there followed Mr. Manier; in the midst of life and health, he sickened and died. His young wife and child disconsolate. He discovered his errors in time to secure his portion in Heaven.”

Her sons were both clerks throughout their lives. John married Sophie Smith and removed to Binghamton, NY. They did not have any children. John died in 1926 in Binghamton. William C. married Jessie H Lord and had one child, a daughter whose tombstone simply reads “Baby Lu”, died 1 Jan 1885. They are all buried in the Cemetery of the Evergreens in New Lebanon, Columbia County NY.

In 1850, Mary Jane and her husband lived with her parents and sister Hannah (20 Oct 1820-9 Jan 1904, then the widow Shook) and her son Lorin Shook in Red Hook. In 1860, Philip and William had both died and Hannah and Lorin moved out. Lorin was old enough to be on his own (he married after 1860 Harriet Hermance) and Hannah remarried, possibly Isaac Cookingham. This was the same household situation in 1870. According to the New York State census of 1875, Mary Jane and her sons who were in their early 20s moved to Binghamton, they had a domestic servant in the home as well. Also residing there was Alexander Manier and his family, who appears to have been a brother to her late husband William. He, his wife and children, and Mary Jane’s son John and his wife are buried in the Spring Forest cemetery in Binghamton.  

Mr. J. Manier calling card – probably her son, John.

In 1897 Robert W Manier of Binghampton made a request to the people of Rhinebeck in the local paper looking for info on John Manier from Dutchess County who served in the Revolution and his son John Manier of Rhinebeck who was a member of “Captain Obadiah Titus’ company, Delamater’s Regiment of New York Militia” in the war of 1812. He was doing family history research. Robert’s father was James W, son of Alexander, son of John Manier. It is likely that the John Manier in the War of 1812 he was interested in was his great-grandfather (and William Manier’s father).

Rose painted on a page in a Victorian autograph album, probably belonging to Lucy Curtis.


Initials R.C. – label on reverse reads “nee Canfield” or Lucy Curtis’ mother, Rachel Canfield Curtis.

In 1880, Mary Jane and her family were still in the same location, but then with John’s new wife Sophia Smith and her mother Jane W Smith. Son William had moved out. I couldn’t find her or son William in 1892, but in 1900 Mary Jane is back with her older sister Hannah (also listed as a widow) in Red Hook. Hannah died in 1904 so in 1910 Mary Jane got shuffled around again, going to live with her son William and his wife Jessie in Brooklyn. William died 7 Dec 1912 and Jessie died 30 Jan 1919.

Mary Jane Moul Manier died 13 Mar 1917 in Binghamton (probably having had to move yet again to be with her son John after son William’s death) and is buried in the Lutheran cemetery in Red Hook with her husband, sister, and parents.

BURIED AT RED HOOK The remains of Mrs. Mary J. Manier who formerly resided in Red Hook, and who died in Binghamton, March 13 were brought to Red Hook on Thursday afternoon and buried in her plot in the Lutheran cemetery. She was 85-years of age, She leaves one son, John Manier, of Binghamton.

– Hudson Evening Register 14 May 1917

From Mahala Clarke, Tivoli, 22 Jun 1853

05 Thursday Feb 2015

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Letters, 19th Century Photos, Education, Genealogy

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Clarke, Knickerbocker, letters, Losee, tivoli, victoriana

Embossed envelope stamped “TIVOLI N.Y. JUN” and “22” written by hand inside the stamp. Also stamped “PAID” addressed to Miss Mary E Knickerbocker Care of Jacob C Tooker Po’keepsie N.Y.

Embossed envelope stamped “TIVOLI N.Y. JUN” and “22” written by hand inside the stamp. Also stamped “PAID” addressed to Miss Mary E Knickerbocker Care of Jacob C Tooker Po’keepsie N.Y.

Mahala Clarke b. c. 1835 was daughter of Consider (b. c. 1808 in MA) and Mahala (b. c. 1806 in MA) Clarke. Pa lived to at least 1880 and Ma died 26 Mar 1879. The girl who wrote this letter died 17 Jul 1856 at 21 years old. Her sister Sarah (b. c. 1842) married Rev. Edward Tompkins (1830-1905) and did not have any children that survived to adulthood. They are buried at the Old Red Church cemetery in Tivoli. She was about 18 years old when she wrote this letter.


Tivoli June   /53 [seems there’s a space for the date, envelope is marked 22]

My dear Mary,

You must excuse my writing and everything else, for my pen is very poor, and the weather very warm; It is Sunday afternoon and I have just returned from the Methodist church, and thought that I would employ my time in writing to you. I can not think of anything that will be very interesting to you notwithstanding I suppose I must fulfil my promise to you. On Thursday evening I had a call from Henry Arthur, Sarah & Jane Nelson together with two ladies from Po’keepsie Mrs. Moore & Nicholas. I returned with them to Mrs. Moore’s and partook of ice cream and when we were coming home we discovered a small snake in the road.

We went to Po’keepsie according to our intentions when you were home but as Pa’ was with us and had to returned with the 11 o’clock train and we had accomplished our shopping Ma’ chose to return with him and of course I had nothing to do but submit and come home. I was very sorry, for I had intended to have called and seen you and Mrs. Blum[?]

Probably I may be down again in the course of the summer and if I should again have that pleasure, intend calling to see you

Will you be home on the fourth of July or not? I suppose you have given up the idea of being homesick and perhaps nearly forgotten Tivoli friends by this time, your time being occupied with studies and law students across the way.

Your Aunt Emeline and Miss Amanda Lasher called here yesterday afternoon and your Aunt was saying that they had heard from Elizabeth Chapman and she expected Sarah and her uncle & Aunt there Saturday that was yesterday and home Wednesday.

Obituary of Mrs. Mahala Clarke, this girl's mother

Obituary of Mrs. Mahala Clarke, this girl’s mother – click to enlarge

I had to hear your Tuesday letter Sunday afternoon and prepare for evening service. Mr. Thompson preached for us yesterday and today has been uncomfortably warm so much so that we hardly knew what to do with ourselves. How has it been with you?

Ma’ was over to your house yesterday and your Ma’* wished me to say to you that they were all well and that she should omit writing to you for a day or two as I was writing to you, Libby & Emily called here a few moments last evening and Libby said that she should write you as soon as Sarah returned and then she might have more interesting reason[?]

We have a Ticket master from Barrytown a Mr. De Groot, Mr. Roose has left.

I think I have exhausted my budget of news tonight as Sarah would say

Pray excuse all imperfections (for they are many) and destroy it as soon as possible

I remain yours faithfully

Mahala Clarke

To Mary E Knickerbacker

PS Please answer as soon as convenient M Clarke


*This is MEK’s step-mother Catherine Sharpe 1821-1893. Her own mother, Eliza Ann Beckwith died in 1843.

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Poughkeepsie Female Academy

29 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, 20th Century, Education, Genealogy, Urban Renewal

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education, Knickerbocker, Losee, poughkeepsie, poughkeepsie female academy, tivoli

My great-great grandmother Mary Elizabeth Knickerbocker of Madelin (Tivoli) NY (later Mrs. Dr. John E Losee of Upper Red Hook) attended the Poughkeepsie Female Academy, graduating probably in 1855 at 18. At the time, most children received an “8th grade education” which was not something to look down upon. Those who cared to and could afford to would send their children on to academies and colleges which were often also boarding schools.

I have a half-dozen letters sent to her from her academy friends Mahala Clarke, Emma Robinson, Almira Culver, Kate Roosa, and Mollie Harris that I have transcribed and will begin a series of posts for each in February and March, but thought a little context and background might be handy, first.

Poughkeepsie Female Academy

Poughkeepsie Female Academy (New York Public Library)

When Mary Elizabeth Knickerbocker attended the Poughkeepsie Female Academy, the principal was Jacob C. Tooker. He was born c. 1800 and when he died in 1856 his widow Caroline Warring ran the Academy in his stead until 1859. They may have had two daughters, Sarah b. c. 1836 who appears in the 1850 census with them, and Ada b. c. 1851 who married John Warnick (they are buried in the same plot with her parents). Caroline died in 1891.

Jacob got a Masters from Union College in 1826. He was from Goshen and resided Montgomery, Orange Co in 1830 and 1840. In the early 1840’s he was a superintendent of Orange County public schools. From 1846-48 he was principal of Brockport Collegiate Institute, an academy west of Rochester (today, SUNY Brockport) where he…

“…was the outsider who was hired as the permanent principal. …There are contradictory remarks about the type of man he was, ranging from “fussy and difficult” to “jovial and well liked.” Principal Tooker and Mrs. Bates, who still ran the boarding establishment after her husband’s death, did not get along. The Trustee Board had to step in on several occasions to settle their battles. Principal Tooker also clashed with the students and was a strong disciplinarian. By the end of the school term in 1848, the board of Trustees had tired of Principal Tooker’s demands and complaints and terminated his relationship with the Institution.” – College at Brockport website

In the 1850 census he was the principal of the Female Academy in Poughkeepsie.  He, along with 60 men like Vassar, Hooker, and Adriance, loaned $300 each in 1853 to the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery Association and “were given the option of either being paid back once the cemetery began to sell plots, or using the investment to pay for a family plot.” “A Brief History of The Cemetery”

The Female Academy building was a “fine brick structure on Cannon street, near Market” with “heavy Doric columns” built when the school opened in 1837 per The History of Duchess Co NY, J. H. Smith. It does not exist today, not having survived urban renewal (search this blog/use the tags for posts regarding this topic).

Illustrated Poughkeepsie p.37

Building used as “Women’s Christian Temperance Union” in 1906

Miss Cordelia A. Jackson

22 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, Education, Genealogy

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Curtis, education, Fraleigh, indian territory, Jackson, methodist cemetery, red hook

Born April 1825 in NY, she might have been a daughter of Eldad Jackson of Ithaca, NY called “Delia” when younger, but there is nothing to prove this.

Cordelia Jackson

On the porch at Rose Hill, the Fraleigh farm house in Red Hook.

1860 Red Hook Journal article mentions a “private school” kept by “Miss Jackson” and in 1877 her “virtues as teacher of the Primary School are above comments.” In 1879 she taught at the public school and in the early 1880’s she taught “Sabbath” school at the Red Hook Methodist church. While she was a teacher, she resided with the John and Jane Curtis family in Red Hook in 1860 and 1870. In 1880 she boarded with Misses Mary, Gertrude, and Charlotte Benedict in Red Hook.

On 7 Oct, 1884, she left Red Hook for Indian Territory “having accepted a position as teacher in Spencer Academy, and Indian Mission School of Choctaw Tribe.” She spent two years out there and returned in the fall of 1886. The Spencer Academy was in what would be Choctaw Co, OK. It had reopened in 1882 but shut again in 1886, which, presumably is why Cordelia came home.

The Choctaw, one of the Five Civilized Tribes of the southeastern United States, wanted to have their children educated. In fact, they placed a high priority on education before and after their removal to the Indian Territory (present Oklahoma) from 1831 to 1834. They saw education as necessary to survive in the white world that was encroaching upon them. Choctaw principal chief Isaac Garvin (1878-80) declared, “I say educate! Educate! Or we perish!”

– Oklahoma Historical Society’s Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture

 In the Red Hook Journal of 2 May 1890 thobitere is a mention that she was from New York, formerly from and visiting friends in Red Hook. She’s a “visitor” in the home of John and Susan Van Home in Manhattan in 1900. How they knew each other is a mystery, but she was 65 years old and was probably retired from teaching at that point. She died 10 Mar 1905 at the home of Herbert Jackson Curtis (the author’s g-grandmother’s brother) and is buried at the Methodist Cemetery in Red Hook with the Fraleigh and Curtis families.

Jordan & Harris

15 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, Genealogy

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evergreen cemetery, genealogy, Harris, Jordan, Knickerbocker, pine plains

Josephus JordanJosephus Dunham Jordan was born 16 Jan 1808 to William Jordan and Rhoda Sackett Allen in Hillsdale, Columbia County. He studied law with his uncle, Ambrose L Jordan. After his admission to the bar he practiced his profession at Hudson, N. Y as well as in Dutchess Co. He came to Pine Plains in the 1830s. He supported the Republican party. His grandfather, Major William Jordan fought in the American Revolution. On 13 Jan 1844 he married Mary Elizabeth Knickerboker (19 Oct 1819 – 29 Dec 1870), daughter of John Knickerbocker and Maria Benner (the author’s 4th great-grand parents). They had three children, Mary Burnap, William Burnap, and Laura Ailing.  Later in life, Josephus was a farmer by profession. He lead the choir at the Pine Plains Presbyterian church from 1837 until 1879 and helped raise money for the church’s first pipe organ. He died 12 Sep 1885.

Mary JordanMary Burnap Jordan (left) was born 2 Mar 1846 and died 13 Dec 1874. She never married. At 23 in 1870 she was listed in the census as “at home” rather than any occupation. She played the organ at the Presbyterian church in Pine Plains and gave lessons. Their next-door neighbor was a retired farmer named Cyrus Burnap, which is probably the reason for two of the children having Burnap for a middle name.  William Burnap Jordan was born 4 Dec 1848 in Pine Plains. He married first Mary Elizabeth Harris (portrait below) from Grand Rapids, Michigan (07 March 1854 – 16 November 1889). They had three children, Mary Elizabeth Jordan born 1877, Cyrus Victor Jordan born 1880, and William Burnap Jordan born 1885. After Mary Harris died, William married second her half–sister Myra Harris (1866 – 1953). They had one child together, Isabel Knickerbocker Jordan born 1898. William any Myra are pictured below in December, 1923. He died 31 Mar 1933.

WB Jordan and 2w Myra Harris Dec 1923Mary E Harris

Laura JordanLaura Ailing Jordan (right) was born 07 Nov 1852. She married Lucius Allen Pitcher and they had two children, Henry Burnap Pitcher born 1874 and Laura May Pitcher born 1880. She died 06 May 1884.

Josephus, his wife Mary, and their children are all buried in the Evergreen cemetery in Pine Plains.

Hermans & Husted

08 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, Genealogy

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genealogy, Hermans, Husted, Link, milan, Olivette

James W -Jim- HermansAnne Olivette Mrs Jim Hermans

James William Hermans was born in June of 1834 in the Town of Milan to Henry Hermans and Gertrude “Gitty” Link (the author’s 3rd great-grandparents). He, like his father and numerous siblings, was a farmer. He married c. 1863 Anna W Olivett, daughter of Isaac Olivett and Maria Kipp. They had two children, but only one (daughter Emily) is known to have lived to adulthood. James was known as Jim to his family and died 17 Jul 1920 in Staasburg. Anna died 6 Jul 1927 and they are both buried at Wurtemburg cemetery.

Charles and Emma Hermans HustedEmily A Hermans (or Hermance) was born in 1865. She married c. 1889 Charles H Husted. In 1900 they were living with her parents and had no children. Emily died 7 Mar 1928 in the Town of Clinton. She was an invalid and mostly helpless for several years before her death. She and Charles are buried at the Schultzville cemetery. Charles was born May of 1857 son of Orin and Harriet of Hyde Park. He died in 1930. His daughter from a prior marriage, Mabel (who married Harry W Johnson of Poughkeepsie), inherited over $1,300 from him when he died on 3 Sep, 1930. His funeral was on 5 Sep 1930 at the Schultzville Church. They are pictured at right.

Feller & Fraleigh

01 Thursday Jan 2015

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, Genealogy

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Delamater, Feller, Fraleigh, genealogy, Saulpaugh, Schmidt

William J Feller and his wife Catherine Fraleigh at rightCatharine Fraleigh and Wm Feller

William was born 23 Aug 1798 in Taghkanic, NY to Jacob Felter and Anna Delamater. Catherine was born 22 Aug 1800 in NY to Peter P Fraleigh and Elizabeth Schmidt. Peter P Fraleigh was one of this author’s ancestors. William and Catherine married 7 Oct 1821 according to her father’s bible. They had at least two children: Mary Feller 1827-1913 who married Alfred Rennsalaer Westfall and George W Feller.

George was born 15 Dec 1831 presumably in the area of Germantown, NY. He married first Barbara Anna Younghanse (born c. 1835 daughter of Henry Jonkhans of Gallatin) on 2 Oct 1854. It’s presumed that she died before 1870 as in that census, George was married again to Sarah Saulpaugh, a daughter of John I Saulpaugh. Sarah died 3 Mar 1898. George left a large sum of money to his sister Mary when he died and they did not have any children. George and Sarah lived in Nevis, a hamlet south of Clermont, NY. Their portraits are below and they might be buried at a Lutheran cemetery in the area.

George Feller son of Wm Sarah Saulpaugh Feller dau of Wm

A Fleeting Namesake

18 Tuesday Feb 2014

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, Genealogy

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genealogy, Miller, millerton, railroads

Recently, I was doing some genealogy work on families from Millerton, NY – my home town (village, actually). I wondered if the village’s namesake, Sidney G. Miller had descendants who yet lived in the area or beyond. There is a large Miller family (which I also have in my heritage) from Columbia County – perhaps he was a part of this clan. Looking online for “Sidney G. Miller” generally brings up statements like those found at the Tri-State Chamber of Commerce’s website – that the village was named “in honor of Sidney G. Miller, the congenial and sympathetic civil engineer, in charge of railroad construction.”

Millerton is a vibrant little place with two main roads that bring much-needed traffic to its businesses, restaurants, cafes and boutiques. Until the 1990s or so, Millerton was a village in decline as the local agricultural industry faded. The Harlem line of the current MTA out of Grand Central Station in New York City ends at Wassaic, but trains once ran from there through Millerton and connections were available to Connecticut. Passenger service to and from Millerton ceased in 1976 and shortly after that, freight trains stopped as well.  The trains that had previously transported both people and milk and were for more than 100 years the link that made Millerton a bustling hub were brought to the area by Sidney G. Miller and his company on contract with the New York and Harlem Railroad.

There is in Millerton (as with many small Northern Dutchess towns and villages) a love-hate relationship between the full-time residents of the locale and the visitors or second-home owners from “The City”. No one can deny that the influx of those of a more southerly origin has brought a higher level of prosperity to our Main Street. It is obvious in the many wonderful places to eat and the boutique stores found there. But this influx has also brought high price tags on both meals, antiques, and real estate that those who are originally from the area find disquieting. Thus, “City People” get a bad wrap (and often worse monikers).

 I was surprised and amused to find that Sidney G. Miller was not a local; that in fact, the man for whom Millerton was named, was a “City Person”.

miller

This image is from “A Beckon Call To A Village – Early Millerton, NY” by Diane Thompson for the North East Historical Society

Sidney Green Miller was born c. 1817 in New York City. He was the son of Silvanus Miller (1772-1861, a New York City Surrogate Court Judge) and Margaret Ackerley from Long Island. He married Sarah Frances Williamson (1824-1896) daughter of (first name unknown) and Sarah (maiden name unknown, born c. 1791) on 15 Nov 1846 in Warren, MS. Frances’s mother Sarah Williamson died 23 Sep 1854 in Saugatuck (Westport), Connecticut where her daughter’s family lived at the time. Miller was a civil engineer and contractor, working for various rail road companies at the height of the mode of transport’s expansion.

They had many children, including Cecily born c. 1848, Kate born c. 1851, and Sidney born c. 1854 in Connecticut, Frances born c. 1857, Theodore Williamson born 4 Dec 1859 (who married Edith Louise Gates), George W. born c. 1864, and Helena W. born c. 1868 in Virginia. The family moved quite a bit, probably following Miller’s work. In 1850 they were living in New York City and in 1854 in Westport, CT. It was at this time that Miller worked as a partner of Morris, Miller, and Schuyler – the company contracted to work on the New York and Harlem Railroad that went through the village that would be named for him.

In 1856, the family of seven (at the time) moved to Alexandria, VA, renting a house called the Lee-Fendall House until 1863 when they were “forced to leave their home as the (house) was seized by Surgeon Edwin Bently of the 3rd Division General Hospital of the United States Army of the Potomac. From 1863 until 1865, the house was converted into a wing of the Grosvenor House Hospital.” Two more of their children were born in Virginia after this date. Miller’s son Sidney died in 1861 in Alexandria, VA.

In 1870, they lived in Savannah, Georgia with four servants listed in their household during the census: three white and one black. In 1880 and 1885 they were in Chatham, Morris County, New Jersey and a grandson, Arthur W Myers, born c. 1870 in Georgia was with them. Their daughter Katherine Myers is listed as divorced. Sidney G. Miller died 24 Dec 1900 in New York City at age 84. Below is his obituary.

Sidney Green Miller, some years ago a well-known civil engineer – and railroad builder, died at the home of his son, G. W. Miller, 62 West Ninety-third Street, last night. Mr. Miller was eighty-four years old, and was born in this city. He was the only surviving son of Judge Sylvunus Miller, who was graduated from Columbia College In 1793 and was the first Surrogate of New York. Mr. Miller was associated with Ferris Bishop In the building of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad and the Naugatuck Road, and also built a number of railroads in Virginia and the South. He is survived by four daughters and two sons.

– New York Times, 25 Dec 1900

Sources:

  • Thompson, Diane. (2001) A Beckon Call To A Village – Early Millerton, NY: North East Historical Society
  • Mississippi, Marriages, 1800-1911, index, FamilySearch
  • US Federal Census 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880
  • New Jersey, State Census, 1885, index, FamilySearch
  • Fridley, Beth. Alexandria Co, VA Births, 1853-59 p. 38
  • New-York Daily Tribune, 27 Sep 1854
  • New York Daily Tribune, 6 Mar 1861
  • Louis Berger Group, Inc. (2011) Archaeological Investigation for Restoration of the Lee-Fendall House Garden, Alexandria, Virginia, Washington, D.C.
  • Find A Grave Memorial# 103853024

We Remember Sterling Smith 1892-1898

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, Genealogy

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genealogy, jackson corners, milan, photography, Smith, victoriana

Looking through my Hermans family pictures, I found a memorial card and it inspired this entry. I don’t doubt that it has been more than 100 years since anyone has memorialized the subject of this post and that today no one remembers him at all.

The census is often the amateur (or armchair) genealogist’s first glimpse into a family they know little about. Through the lenses of the 1900 census, a little boy who was born after 1890 and died before 1900 would appear only as the difference in a pair of numbers. A column of data filled in after the mother of each household is labeled “Mother of how many children” and the one directly to the right of that is “Number of these children living”. For the 1900 listing for the family of Irving and Annie Smith of Milan, Dutchess County, NY, these numbers are 2 and 1, respectively (1900 Census Milan, Dutchess Co NY page 5, ed. 14, family 96). The one living child is their daughter, Ruth. The difference in the numbers is their little six-year-old son, Sterling Smith.

Sterling Smith 1892 – 1898

Irving and Annie Smith

Irving Smith, a farmer, and his wife Anna May “Annie” Edleman married c. 1890. Irving Smith was born 21 Jan 1869, son of Freeman Smith and Margaret E Hermans, daughter of Henry Hermans, my 3rd great-grandfather. Irving’s family also resided in Milan so he was most likely born there. Annie was born 16 Feb 1868 and was probably the daughter of Phillip (a child of German immigrants) and Margaret Edleman of Ancram, Columbia County, just to the north. In 1900, they lived in the area north of what is now Rt 199 in Milan, NY between Red Hook and Pine Plains called Jackson Corner, down the road from my grandparent’s farm. Now-a-days, we add an “S” and call it Jackson Corners.

Ruth Smith

At right is Sterling’s little sister Ruth Smith (later Mrs. Joseph Bruyette) 16 Sep 1893 – 29 May 1976. She would later be a member of the same DAR Chapter that I am regent of, today.

An online newspaper archive, like Old Fulton Post Cards is invaluable for its record of the goings-on in small country communities like the one that the Smiths called home. In these columns, a local “reporter” would note who had visited, who was born, married and who was ill, among other important social happenings.

Sterling Smith was “on the sick list” as announced in the March 18th 1898 Pine Plains Register which noted that “a number in this place (Jackson Corner) are sick, two of which have the pneumonia.” In the following week’s paper, it is announced that Sterling died Thursday, March 16th. Two weeks later, the local reporter had only one story to report for Jackson Corner.

Sterling was aged 6 years, 5 months and ten days. This sweet memorial card is the same size as the “cabinet card” photos found in one of our antique family photo albums.

Funeral services were held on Saturday, conducted by Rev. W. W. Wilcox and E. A. Bishop. Rev. Wilcox’s card is found in the same album as the memorial card.

Rest in peace, Sterling.

 

Urban Renewal Part 3

23 Wednesday Nov 2011

Posted by SKH in 19th Century Photos, 20th Century, Urban Renewal

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poughkeepsie, urban renewal

Today, two views of the same Poughkeepsie block, Market Street between Main and Cannon. Click to enlarge each set.

Market Street from Main, South

You’ll note the Bardavon sign and marquis on the west side of the street in the 2011 image on the right. In the 1906 image, the theater was called the Collingwood Opera House until it became a movie theater in 1923, then renamed the Bardavon. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I don’t think I can do a better job than the Bardavon itself in describing its history, so for more information see their website – or better yet, October through June, the theater offers historic tours.

A structure which survives today (on the west side of the street a few doors up from the Bardavon with the peaked roof) still has evidence of a painted sign, clearly painted over at least once that read “Smith Brothers Restaurant”. The below entry can be found in the Illustrated and Descriptive Poughkeepsie, N.Y booklet, page 29. As it states, between the cough drop plant and the restaurant they provided almost 300 jobs for city residents which vaporized as time marched on. Another example of how different the world was at the turn of the 20th century lies in the fact that the most successful restaurant/caterer in Poughkeepsie didn’t serve a drop of alcohol.

“SMITH BROTHERS’ RESTAURANT AND SMITH BROTHERS’ COUGH DROPS – Nos. 13 and 15 Market Street. The name of Smith Brothers is well known all over the English speaking world as the manufacturers of the famous cough drops of that title. There is hardly a pharmacy or confectionery store, however small, that does not include this firm’s name in their stock in trade. The business is one of old establishment, having been founded in 1847. The cough drop business is the largest of its kind in the world. There are about two hundred persons employed in the manufacture of these drops; the capacity of the plant is between six and seven tons per day. In addition to this business, which has made their name so famous, they are better known locally by the fine restaurant they conduct and by the confectionery and bakery business, the latter being the largest and finest in the city, requiring five wagons to supply the patrons with goods; about ninety people are employed in these departments alone. The restaurant is the most modern and up to-date in the city and seats two hundred people. Also a large feature of their business is in catering, supplying parties, suppers, wedding spreads, dinners, etc., with every requisite, except in supplying or serving intoxicating drinks either in their own business or in the homes where they may be engaged to cater – a rule which has always been strictly adhered to. The kitchen is a model of perfection in cleanliness and sanitary equipment.”

Market Street from Cannon, North

There is no note or description about what’s going on in the 1906 image above, but there is a child with an American flag on the lower right. In the south view above you can also see a large American flag hanging in the middle of the Smith Brother’s Restaurant building. Chances are, the crowd is waiting for a parade. Also interesting are all the modes of transportation visible if you click to enlarge the set – from left to right are a horse and buggy, an early automobile, a trolley car and a bicycle. Structures that escaped urban renewal include the Collingwood/Bardavon and the bank building on the right. The building on the left is the 20th century expansion of the Nelson House hotel, abandoned since the 1980’s. There have been plans to demolish it and replace it with a parking lot. Sadly, the original historic hotel to the north of this was taken down in the 1960’s and the County office building (the white building with no windows on its south side) took its place.

  • Illustrated and Descriptive Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Enterprise Publishing Co, Pougkeepsie NY 1906.
  • Hudson Valley Ruins website
  • Thomas E. Rinadi & Robert J. Yasinsac, Hudson Valley Ruins – Forgotten Landmarks of an American Landscape, University Press of New England, NH 2006 p.
  •  “A Time of Readjustment: Urban Renewal in Poughkeepsie 1955-75” by Harvey K. Flad from New Perspectives on Poughkeepsie’s Past – Essays to Honor Edmund Platt. Clyde Griffin ed. Dutchess County Historical Society 1987 P. 165

Next time, a Thanksgiving break! Then two more posts in this series.

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