town of New Paltz, Ulster Co., N. Y. , and
his family included two sons: Alexander VV. ,
the father of our subject; and Stephen, a car-
riage maker, of Washington. Pennsylvania.
The former was born March i, 1818, upon
a farm in the town of New Paltz, Ulster coun-
ty, where the first seventeen or eighteen years
of his life were passed. He then came to the
town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, and
entered into agricultural pursuits, which he
has followed, with very few years exception,
his entire life; he has held several town offices.
He enjoys in a marked degree the confidence
and esteem of his neighbors; his vote al-
ways being cast with the Democratic party.
He was twice married, his first wife, the
mother of Stephen A. Perkins, was in her
maidenhood Miss Rebecca M. Ackerley, a na-
tive of the town of Poughkeepsie, where her
father, Lemuel Ackerley, engaged in farming.
She was of English lineage, and was called to
her reward in 1856. By her marriage she be-
came the mother of six children: Jacob A., a
business man of Poughkeepsie, who is inter-
ested with our subject in the ice business; Syl-
vester, who was a carpenter, of Pine Plains,
Dutchess county, and died in November, 1S93;
Stephen A., of this sketch; Jane A., who be-
came the wife of J. L. Donaldson, of Ulster
county, who died in March, 1894; Elizabeth
H., who died unmarried; and William J., a
resident of Poughkeepsie, who is interested
with our subject in the coal business.
Upon a farm about three miles outside the
city limits of Poughkeepsie, Stephen A. Per-
kins grew to manhood, attending the dis-
trict schools of the neighborhood, and finished
his education at the Dutchess County Acad-
emy. P'or one year he was then employed as
teacher of a district school, after which he
learned the carpenter's trade, following that
occupation for about five years. He next be-
came connected with the Poughkeepsie &
Eastern railroad, serving in a number of differ-
ent capacities for about eighteen years. In
1888, in connection with his brother Jacob A.,
he entered into the ice business, leasing the
Morgan Lake. He conducted this business
very successfully and made many friends for
himself and brother. In May, 1894, he formed
a co-partnership with his brother, William J.
Perkins, and Herman King in the coal trade,
under the firm name of Perkins, King & Co.
They now do a flourishing business, their
courteous treatment of customers, and upright,
honorable dealings, having won them a liberal
patronage.
In 1875 ^Ir. Perkins was married, the lady
of his choice being Miss Charlotte Holmes,
who was born in the town of Pleasant \'alley,
Dutchess county, and is a daughter of George
Holmes, also a native of that county, and a
farmer and merchant by occupation. He died
about 1886. One child blesses the union of
our subject and his wife: Bertram R. , who is
now a dentist by profession. They are mem-
bers and contribute to the support of the Pres-
byterian Church, while socially, Mr. Perkins
is a prominent member of the Masonic Order,
and politically votes the Democratic ticket.
SAMUEL HILTON AMBLER, who is now
_ practically living retired in the village of
Stissing, Dutchess county, was for a quarter of
a century a prominent merchant of the place.
The Ambler family, of which he is a worthy
representative, was founded in America during
its early history. The first to locate in New
England was Richard Ambler, who was born
in Somersetshire, England, in 1609, and was
one of twenty-four men who organized the
town of Watertown, Conn., taking deed for
the same from the Indians, and he became a
leading resident of that town. He was twice
married, and became the father of three chil-
dren: Sarah, Abram and Abraham. His death
occurred in 1699. Of his family, Abraham,
who was a Baptist minister in Bedford. Conn.,
was born in 1642, and he was also twice mar-
ried, his union with Mary Bates being cele-
brated in 1662; they made their home in Stam-
ford, Conn. Their son John was born in 1668,
and in his family were three children: John,
Stephen and Martha. The birth of John Am-
bler, of this family, occurred at Stamford,
Conn., in 1695, and he became a resident of
Danbury, in the same State, where he died.
By his will he bequeathed his gun and sword
to his only son, John. He was the father of
seven children: John, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary,
Martha, Anna and Rachel. The only son was
born in 1733, and died October 21, 1814. By
his marriage with Huldah Fairchild he had eight
children: Peter, Squire, Stephen, Gilead,
Diodote, Silas, Huldah and Deborah. The
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
b31
father of tliese was sergeant of a company of
lOO men raised in Danbury, May 17, 1775,
which joined the 6th regiment, commanded by
Col. David Waterbury.
Peter Ambler, of the above family, was the
grandfather of our subject. He was born at
Danbury, Conn., September 20, 1759, and
there continued to engage in farming through-
out life, owning the land on which the Dan-
bury fair is now held. During the Revolution-
ary war he served as artificer in the Colonial
army, and later took a prominent part in pub-
lic affairs, being a member of the State Legis-
lature for one term. He held membership
with the Baptist Church, in which he served
as deacon, and died in that faith March 7,
1836. On October 21, 1784, he had married
Miss Hannah Shove, who was born October
27, 1 76 1, and was the daughter of Deacon
Benjamin and Sarah Shove, and their family
included the following children: Fairchild,
Benjamin. David, Thomas, Joseph, Silas,
Sarah, Rachel and Hannah. The mother of
these died April 22, 1S43.
Rev. Silas Ambler, Baptist minister, father
of our subject, was born at Danbury, Conn. ,
March 12, 1798. He was married August 29,
1822, to Miss Eunice D. Olmstead, who was
born October 28, 1800, at Wilton, Conn., and
died October 3. 1892, at Stanford, N. Y.
They had a family of seven children: Samuel
H., our subject; Mary E., who makes her
home in Greene county, N. Y. , is the widow
of Ezekial Griffin; Augustus, born April 19,
1829, died April 22, 1852; Catherine, born
May 23, 1 83 1, is the widow of Levi Boyce, of
Greeneville, N. Y. ; Sarah, born January 31,
1835, is the wife of Henry Ivnickerbocker, of
Bangall, N. Y. ; Emeline. who was born April
6, 1837, and died April 3, 1869, was the wife
of Charles Sheldon, now deceased; and John
P., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere. The
father was for a time a minister in the Baptist
Church, having charge of congregations at
Cornwall and Norfolk, Conn., but in 1840, on
account of ill health, he gave up preaching and
located upon a farm in the town of Stanford.
Dutchess Co., X. Y., near Stissing, which is
now owned by our subject. He there spent
his remaining days, dying November 22, 1857,
honored and respected by all.
The birth of Mr. Ambler, the subject of
this review, occurred at Danbury, Fairfield
Co., Conn. , June 3. 1824, but most of his early
life was passed at Norfolk, in the same State,
where he attended school and remained a
member of the parental household until his
marriage, March 20, 1851, in the town of
Stanford, Dutchess county, to Miss Olive
Boyce, a daughter of Jacob and Olive fMorse)
Boyce. To our subject and wife have come
the following children: Franklin A., born De-
cember 31, 1856, died at San Jose, Cal., June
II, 1884; he had married Hattie Vassar
(daughter of John E. Vassarj, by whom he
had two children — Alice May and Edward
Vassar. Emma D. was born May 20, 1858.
Asa T. , born March i, i860, wedded Mary
Deuell, and they have two children — Chester
Franklin and Olive Martha. Charles, born
February 2, 1S64, married Elizabeth \'ande-
water. Alfred Silas, born November 25, 1867,
is now the medical superintendent of the
Kingston Avenue Hospital, at Brooklvn. New
York.
For twenty years after his marriage. Mr.
Ambler engaged in agricultural pursuits, but in
1870 he sold his farm, as he had been ap-
pointed agent on the N. D. & C. R. R.. and
erected a store building at Stissing. where he
was engaged in general merchandising for
twenty-five years, which store is now
ducted b}' his sons. Charles and Asa T.
was made postmaster of the village, and
served as agent for the P. & E. R. R.
politics, Mr. Ambler casts his ballot is support
of the men and measures of the Republican
party, and has held the office of e.xcise commis-
sioner. For forty years he has been a member
of the Baptist Church, at Bangall, and his
genial, social nature makes him a popular
citizen.
con-
He
also
In
LFRED ALLENDORF (deceasedj was
.^^ born September 17, 1829, a son of Philip
and Elizabeth (Stickle) Allendorf, prosperous
farming people of the town of Red Hook,
Dutchess county.
After completing his literary education Mr.
Allendorf began his mercantile career as a
clerk, and gradually worked his way upward.
At the close of a few years of preparatory
labor in this line, he left the firm by whom he
was employed, and established a general mer-
chandise store at Upper Red Hook, which
they conducted some three years, then coming
to Red Hook, they opened a store under the
firm name of Conkling & Allendorf, which ven-
ture proved highly successful. Through hon-
332
COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
orable and upright dealing they soon gained
the confidence of the public, which they suc-
ceeded in holding for over twenty years, at
the end of which time the partnership was dis-
solved, Mr. Ailendorf taking the store and Mr.
Conkling the lumber and coal business.
On October ii. 1854, our subject was mar-
ried to Miss Catherine A. Shook, \\\\o was
born July 6, 1830, at the old homestead of the
Shook family, where her father was engaged
in farming. Two daughters blessed this union:
(i) Nellie S., born at Red Hook, February 28,
1856, who became the wife of Silas S. Schoon-
maker, October 30, 1878, and they now re-
side at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; they have one
child — A. Ailendorf, born January 14, 1880.
(2) Fannie L. , born at Red Hook, April 27,
i860, married Charles B. Hoffman, and they
have two children — Bessie C, born November
II, 1881 ; and£. Marjorie, born May 15, 1885.
Mrs. Schoonmaker and Mrs. Hoffman received
their primary educations at the schools of Red
Hook, completing their studies at the De-
Garmo Institute, Rhinebeck.
John Shook, the father of Mrs. Ailendorf,
was also a native of the town of Red Hook,
where his entire life, was devoted to agricult-
ural pursuits. He wedded Miss Nellie Shoe-
maker, daughter of George Shoemaker, of
Red Hook, and they became the parents of the
following children: George Adam, born May
3, 1803, was educated for the ministry of the
Reformed Dutch Church, at Carlisle, but ow-
ing to ill-health was prevented from accepting
a call, and died in 1836; Anna Maria, born
March 18, 1805, became the wife of Moses
Ring; Cornelia, born June 22, 1807, married
Lewis Elseffer; Helen, born September 20,
1809, wedded Everet Traver; Aaron, born Sep-
tember 6, 181 I, married Catharine Cramer;
Gertrude C, born December 21, 1813, re-
mained single; Walter, born April 4, 18 16,
married Eliza A. Allenford; Alonzo, born May
4, 1818, died in infanc}-; Archibald, born Julv
24, 1820, wedded Elizabeth Lamoree; Ale.\-
ander, born October 6, 1822, married Clar-
issa Squires; John A., born July 3. 1825, mar-
ried Frances Lathrop; and Catherine A. (wile
of our subject) completed the family.
The integrity of Mr. Ailendorf stands as
an unquestioned fact in his history — endowed
by nature with a sound judgment and an accu-
rate, discriminating mind, he did not fear the
labprious attention to business so necessary to
achieve success. This essential quality was
ever guided by a sense of right which would
tolerate the employment only of the means
that would bear the most rigid examination,
by a fairness of intention that neither sought
nor required disguise. He was a thorough
Christian, a devout member of the Lutheran
Church, and was prominently identified with
the Masonic fraternity and the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, being at the time of
his death one of the members of Christian
Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Red Hook.
OX. EDWARD HARRIS THOMPSON.
JJA The family of which the subject of this
sketch is a distinguished representative orig-
inated in England, where it has held an hon-
ored position from an early period, its coat of
arms bearing the motto, "In liniiinc luce",
being an interesting reminder of the olden time.
The head of the American branch. Anthony
Thompson, came to this country with his wife,
two children and two brothers, John and Will-
iam, in the company of Governor Eaton, Rev.
Mr. Davenport and others of Coventry, Eng-
land, arriving at Boston, June 26, 1637, ac-
cording to Winthrop's Journal, or July 23,
1637, as stated by Cotton Mather. Like
many other dissenters from the Church of Eng-
land at that day, they sought in the New
World freedom to worship in accordance with
their own faith, and relief from the persecu-
tions and burdensome ta.xation which were
their lot in their native land. The party led by
Messrs. Da\enporl and Eaton had a larger pro-
portion of wealthy and energetic men than any
other which had arrived up to that time, and
several towns made tempting offers to the
emigrants, but it was Quinipiac, or New Hav-
en, that was finally decided upon as a location.
Anthony Thompson signed the Colony Con-
stitution June 4, 1639, and all ihe brothers
soon secured farms in the vicinity. John's
estate at New Haven, where he died Decem-
ber II, 1674, is said to be still in the posses-
sion of some of his numerous descendants.
Anthony and William resided at New Haven.
Anthony died March 23, 1647, and left a large
estate, which was divided under his will be-
tween his six children and his second wife.
His original purchase and the house thereon
was given to his son John, and the lands after-
ward acquired, to Anthony, Jr., while with the
exception of a certain sum to his daughter
Bridget, a child of his first wife, on condition
C^c
C
COMMEMORATIVE BIOQRAPEICAL RECORD.
33S
that she would marry in accordance with the
wishes of the deacons of the Church, the re-
mainder was left to his wife, Catherine, and
her three daughters. The wife's share was
conditional upon her widowhood, and as she
married Nicholas Camp, July 14, 1652, it
probably reverted to this family. Anthony,
Jr., made his will December 26, 1682, while
on a visit in Milford, and died three days
later. The greater part of his property was
left to his brother, John. William Thompson
was probably a bachelor as at his death in
1682 his will, which was made Ocfober 6th of
the same year, distributed his property among
his relatives, particular mention being made of
his nephew John.
John Thompson seems to have been a
sea captain. He died June 2, 1707, and an
inventory of his estate is on record. Three
children are named in the registry of the town,
viz.: Mary, born September 9, 1667; Samuel,
born May 12, 1669; and Sarah, born January
16, 1 67 1, but he probably had two or three
previously. Samuel was married, November
14, 1695, to Rebecca Bishop, daughter of the
Lieutenant Governor, and lived at the Beaver
Pond, now Westville, about two miles from
New Haven. He was captain of the military
company in New Haven, and must have been
a man of great physical vigor, as in his eighty-
second year he rode from New Haven to
Goshen, about fifty miles, on horseback, this
trip being among the reminiscences of his
grandson Hezekiah, who rode behind him.
<»amuel died at Goshen. His children's names,
with dates of birth, are as follows: Samuel,
December 2, 1696; James, June 5, 1699;
Amos, March 3, 1702; Gideon, December 25,
1704; Rebecca, February 23, 1*708; Judah,
June 10, 1710 (died August 5, 1712); Judah
(2d), October 5, 17 13; and Enos, August 18,
1 71 7. Most of this family lived to an ad-
vanced age, and some settled in what is now
the town of Stanford, Dutchess county, others
in Connecticut. Samuel located on the east
line of the town of Stanford, near Federal
store, and in 1785 he, or Ezra [Enos.'], built
a brick house, which has been occupied by the
family ever since. In 17S3 his son Caleb built
a brick house in the same locality. James
Thompson died in 1737. as a result of a fall
from a cherry tree, and his son, Hezekiah,
then two years old, was placed under the
guardianship of his uncle Enos, who bound
him out at the age of fourteen to learn the
saddler's trade. The boy had higher ambi-
tions, however, and, as soon as he could,
began the study of law at Woodbury, where
he rose to prominence in the profession and
built himself a stately residence. He died in
March, 1803, leaving two sons: W^illiam, who
lived in Sullivan county, N. Y. , was the first
judge of that county, and died December 9,
1847; and John, an Episcopal clergyman at
New Durham, Greene Co.. N. Y., and died
August 4, 1864.
Amos Thompson settled near Thompson's
Pond, now Hunn's Lake, in the town of Stan-
ford, Dutchess county, about 1746. He and
his wife Sarah (Allen), whom he wedded in
1726, had seven children: Allen, born in
1727; Rebecca, in 1729; Amos, in 1 731: Ezra,
in 1734; Sarah, Eunice and Mary. .Allen
died soon after the removal to Dutchess county.
Amos was educated at a college in New Jersey,
and became a Presbyterian minister, locating
first at North Canaan, Conn., and later in
Loudoun county, Va., where he died in 1804.
He married Miss Jane Evans, of Maryland.
Gideon Thompson lived at Goshen, Conn.
Rebecca married Mr. Austin, of New Haven,
and had a son. Deacon Austin, who became a
citizen of that place. Judah (2d i probably lived
and died in New Haven. Enos had a son.
Smith Thompson, who became a judge of the
Supreme Court of the United States, and later
was secretary of the navy. Enos Thompson
Throop, a grandson of Enos, was governor of
New York State and charge d'affairs at Naples.
'' â– Arrros Thompson, born in 1731, married
Mary Smith, of Suffield, Conn. Asa Allen
John, their son, born January 12, 1760, married
Mary Knap, January 19, 1783, and died May
28, 1813. Their son, Allen Thompson, our
subject's grandfather, was born August 10,
1783, on the old homestead at Thompson's
Pond, now known as Hunn's Lake, in the town
of Stanford, and passed a considerable portion
of his life there, following his chosen work of
farming, in which he was unusually successful.
In later life (in 1825) he moved to a farm in
the town of Pine Plains, now occupied by C.
C. More, where he died May 20, 1849. His
wife, Eliza (Pugsley). to whom he was married
March 18, 1806, died December 29, 1S61.
They had five children, whose names, with
dates of birth, are here given: Edward P.,
born February 6, 1807; John Allen, November'
6, 1808; Cornelius Allerton, December 20,
1 8 10 (died November 15, 1832); and Corne-
;i34
COMMEMORATIVE BIOORAPBICAL RECORD.
lius, March lo, 1824. John Allen Thompson,
our subject's father, was born at Thompson's
Pond, but his life was spent mainly in the town
of Pine Plains, Dutchess county, where he
owned a farm of 120 acres southwest of the
village of Pine Plains. From a business stand-
point, he was very successful, accumulating a
fine property, and he was also prominent and
influential in local affairs. He was a leading
member of the Presbyterian Church, holding
office for many years; but he never sought or
held political place, although he supported
stanchly the principles of the Whig party in
early life, and later espoused with equal ear-
nestness the Republican faith. An earnest
student of his times, he was well-informed on
all the topics of general interest. On May 9,
1855, he was married to Lucy Ann \'iele, a
member of one of the most prominent families
of Washington county, N. Y., and her father,
Stephen L. Viele, was a member of the State
Assembly in 1S36.
The subject of the sketch, the only son of
this marriage, was born at Pine Plains, Sep-
tember 25, 1856, and was educated at the
Hudson Academy. In 1882 he entered the
Millerton National Hank as bookkeeper, George
S. Frink being president, and William M.
Dales, cashier. On the death of the latter in
1883, Mr. Thompson was elected to the vacant
position, and in 1886 he was chosen president,
which office he held until 1895. On June 9,
1 886, he married Rachel Irene Carpenter,
daughter of Hon. Edmund T. Carpenter, who
was mayor of Hudson City, N. J. They have
had three children: Harry Scott, Lucy Irene,
and John Allen.
Mr. Thompson is a man of fine physique
and great industry. His energy and ability
have not been confined to business life, his
success there, combined with his high reputa-
tion for integrity, winning him the confidence
of the people, and leading to his election on the
Republican ticket to various positions of pub-
lic trust and responsibility. His interest in
local movements has always been recognised as
a strong influence for progress, and E. H.
Thompson Hose Co. was named in his honor.
He was a trustee of the village for five years,
and was its president at the time for the build-
i, ing of the water works of which he was one of
the chief promoters. In 1892 he was elected
supervisor of the town without opposition, and
in the same year he was chosen to represent
the first district of Dutchess county in the As-
sembly by 419 plurality over James H. Rus-
sell, Democrat, and Tiel, Prohibitionist. In
1893 Mr. Thompson submitted to the Assem-
bly a bill amending the charter of the city of
Poughkeepsie, and one relating to the Mattea-
wan State Hospital for Insane Criminals. On
returning to the Assembly in 1894, having been
re-elected in 1893, bj- a plurality of 843 over
Oakly I. Xorris, Democrat, and \'. M. Buck,
Prohibitionist, he was appointed chairman of
the committee on Banks and a member of the
committee on Railroads, and the committee
on Charitable and Religious Societies. That
year he introduced a bill amending the bank-
ing law, and one incorporating the Poughkeep-
sie and Wappinger Falls Electric Railway Co.
He was again re-elected in 1894, receiving
4,692 votes against 3,418 cast for S. M.
Davidson, Democrat, and 210 for C. N. Nich-
ols, Prohibitionist. In 1895 he was chairman
of the committee on Commerce and Naviga-
tion, and a member of three important com-
mittees — on Ways and Means, on Banks and
on Military Affairs. In 1895 Mr. Thompson
introduced a bill largely increasing the scope
of investments of savings banks of the State.
The banks had for years endeavored to secure
such legislation, but failed. By his untiring
efforts the bill became a law, and is known as
the "Thompson Law," and is highly regarded
by the banks. On May i, 1896, Hon. F. D.
Kilburn, superintendent of banks of the State
of New York, appointed Mr. Thompson a bank
examiner, located in the City of New York.
HARVEY BRETT, a venerable and highly
respected resident of Matteawan, is a de-
scendant of one of the oldest families of Dutch-
ess county, being a direct descendant of Mad-
ame Brett, whose ability and forceful charac-
ter, no less than her extensive landed posses-
sions, made her a leading figure among the
early settlers of this section. She was the
only daughter and heir of Francis Rombout,
the patentee of the Rombout tract, which pat-
ent was granted to him October 17, 1685, and
from whom the first titles to lands in Fishkill
were derived by the settlers. He was a native
of Holland, and was sent as supercargo to
New Amsterdam (New York) by the Dutch
East India Compan)'. At the expiration of his
apprenticeship he engaged in business in that
city with Gulian \"erplanck, forming a co-
partnership which lasted several years. He
COMMEMORAriVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.
335
was for several years alderman of New York,
and mayor of that city in 1679. In Septem-
ber, 1683, he married Mrs. Helena Van Bal-
leu (lu'c Teller), whose first husband was
named Bogardus. Only one child graced this
union: Catharyna, who was born in New
York, and at the age of sixteen married Roger
Brett, an Englishman, and a merchant of New
York City. A few years later she and her
husband took up their residence in Fishkill,
on lands which, after the death of her father
m 1691, became her heritage. The precise
year of their settlement here is not known; but
January 10, 1709, they gave a joint bond
(they previously partitioned the tract between
themselves so as to hold it in severalty) to
Capt. Gylob Shelly, of New York City, to se-
cure payment of ^'399, 6s, with which it is be-