- O. LANSING DeFOREST, a well-known citizen of Janesville Township,
traces his ancestry back
- to the seventeenth century. Three brothers, Hendricks, Isaac
and David DeFOREST, who were Huguenots, came to America, by way
of Holland, in the early part of the seventeenth century. The
name first appears on the old Dutch records of New Amsterdam,
now New York, in 1638. David settled in Stratford, in the New
Haven colony, and from him David C. DeFOREST, founder of the
fund in Yale College, is descended, also J. W. DeFOREST, the
author. Hendricks and Isaac settled in New York. The former
died in a few years without children, but Isaac took out a patent
of land of the Dutch Governor and located on Long Island in 1645.
His descendants are numerous in New York and vicinity. One
of his sons, David, settled in Albany, where the family name
appears at intervals on the public records and in the early wars
of the country. From this branch Mr. DeFOREST of Janesville
is descended.
- The paternal grandfather of our subject, Jacob DeFOREST,
went from Greenbush to
- Guildersland, Albany Co., N.Y., in 1870, and in his later
years removed to Schenectady, N.Y., where his death occurred
in 1854. He was twice married and had nine children. His first
wife, Anna LANSING, whom he married in 1784, was the mother of
his eldest son, Jacob, Jr., father of O. Lansing.
- Jacob DeFOREST, Jr., was born in 1797, and married Anna,
daughter of Hon. Bartholomew
- SCHERMERHORN, of the old Schuylerburg Mansion, near Schenectady,
the birthplace and home of his ancestors for 200 years. Mr.
SCHERMERHORN's wife was Anna TELLER, a descendant of Anneke JANS.
Their daughter, Mrs. DeFOREST, was born in 1799, and died in
1851, her husband surviving until 1882, and was a man greatly
respected. They had five daughters and seven sons, five of whom
enlisted in the Union army during the late Civil War, gaining
by their valor marked distinction. They were Col. Jacob J.,
of Duaresburgh, N.Y.; Bartholomew S., a Quartermaster, deceased,
of Cleveland, Ohio; John Teller, who served as Captain; William
F., a Sergeant, at present residing in San Francisco, Cal, and
Capt. Martin J., of New York City. The other children are O.
Lansing, of Janesville; Richard S., deceased; Mary A., wife of
Julian BURROUGHS, of Chico, Cal.; Catherine L., deceased, wife
of H. VAN VOST, of Schenectady, N.Y.; Cornelia, wife of Archelaus
FELTS, of Niverville, N.Y.; Sarah, deceased wife of Harry PHELPS,
of Albany, N.Y., and Jane, deceased.
- The subject of this sketch, the fifth child of the family,
was born in Schenectady, N.Y., Nov. 15,
- 1828, and in early life removed with his parents to a farm
four miles from that city, where he lived until 1845. When sixteen
years of age he accepted a clerkship in Albany, N.Y., and continued
in mercantile life in that city until 1849, when he removed to
New York, and for three years followed his business in a wholesale
flour and feed store. Returning to Albany, on the 19th day of
January, 1852, Mr. DeFOREST was united in marriage with Miss
Mary PILLING, at Hudson City. She was a daughter of Thomas and
Ann PILLING, of Stockport, Columbia Co., N.Y. Her father was
born in Manchester, England, in 1788, and was descended from
an old family, of which the name was originally spelled PELEN,
later became PELLEN, and subsequent was changed to PILLING.
The family figured prominently in the early history of Lancastershire,
and represented Ireland in parliament before the religious movement
known as the Reformation. They founded the town of Pilling in
that shire, and built the cathedral which was confiscated at
the time of the religious wars. This change brought a reverse
of fortune to the family, and caused their descendants to turn
their attention to other things than politics as a vocation.
Thomas PILLING and his two brothers were engaged in manufacturing,
first in Manchester, England, then in America. His brother Samuel
came to this country in 1816, and a few years after started the
second print works in the United States, at Frankfort, Pa., employing
at one time 1,000 workmen. Thomas PILLING and his family came
to the United States in 1821. After residing in Germantown,
Frankford and Trenton, N.J., he at length settled at West Farm,
N.Y., where he established bleaching works in connection with
the cotton mills of James BOLTON, a brother-in-law. In 1826
he removed his factory to Stockport. Mr. PILLING died in 1835,
leaving nine children. He was a Liberal in the best sense of
that word, and was honored for his charitable spirit. His second
wife, Anne BEAUMONT, was born in Hudderfield, England, in 1790.
Her family were of French origin, went to England by way of
Scotland at an early day, and resided there for some time. Her
immediate family engaged in the manufacture of silk and woolen
goods and in agricultural pursuits. Her father, Luke BEAUMONT,
was one of the younger branch of a titled family. Mrs. PILLING
died in 1877.
- Mrs. DeFOREST was born at Stockport in 1827, and received
her education at the State Normal
- School at Albany, N.Y. Her untiring energy of mind and hand,
so necessary to the pioneer, has contributed in no small degree
to the success of the Waveland Garden. After her marriage Mr.
and Mrs. DeFOREST made their home in Albany for two years, spending
the succeeding year in Claverack. Deciding to remove to the
West, they arrived in Janesville, Dec. 1, 1856, and one year
from that date located a half mile west of the city limits, on
Mineral Point avenue, where they yet reside. Having inherited
a natural taste for horticultural pursuits, Mr. DeFOREST's selection
of a home was made with a view of gratifying his ambition in
that direction. The result was the establishment of the Waveland
Garden, the first market garden in Rock County. In early years
he raised small fruits in connection with vegetables in large
quantities, and was the introducer of the leading varieties of
small fruits and vegetables in general cultivation in this vicinity.
Public improvements of all kinds have ever met with his hearty
approval. He has taken a deep interest in politics, but was
never an aspirant for office. He formerly voted with the Republican
party, but of late years has been independent. He is a free-thinker
in religion, and finds among the associates a sympathizing element
on all subjects pertaining to the welfare of his fellow men.
- Mr. and Mrs. DeFOREST have four daughters and three sons
- Shirlie, Rosamond (deceased),
- Jessie, Beaumont, Anna (deceased), Eugene and John Teller.
Beaumont married Anna HORNE, Jan. 10, 1882, and to them was
born one child, Harry Beaumont. The mother died Dec. 25, 1882,
and on the 10th of February, 1886, he married Florence, daughter
of M. H. SEVERHILL, of Janesville, by whom he has one child,
Annie Florence.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 819-820.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
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