My Genealogy Hound

RICHARD HUYCK, a very prominent man in agricultural and business circles throughout the town of Sheridan until his death, was a son of Richard and Catharine (Huyck) Huyck, and was born in Columbia county, this State, in 1789. His family were of Dutch extraction, the paternal grandfather having come from Holland. Richard Huyck, Sr., was a native of Kinderhook, Columbia county, New York, and was closely related to the Van Rensselaer family, distinguished Hollanders. Catherine Huyck, a distant relative, became his wife and bore him three children, two sons and one daughter: John went to Michigan, settled there and died; Catherine married Silas Wood, a lawyer by profession, a native of Long Island and who served several terms in Congress.

Richard Huyck was educated at the common schools, and, although the course was not thorough nor the instruction advanced, by his deep application he managed to get a knowledge that, at the time, was considered superior. He worked with his father until 1831 and then came to Sheridan in wagons and purchased a farm of one hundred and seventy-five acres. He lived upon it and from the money saved he continued buying until he owned six hundred acres, which shows his economy and business tact, as it all came from the products of his original farm.

Richard Huyck married Nancy Chapman, a daughter of Andrew Chapman, of Rensselaer county, and reared to maturity nine children: Andrew C. (dead); Louise married Lyman Brownell, a son of Benjamin Brownell, also from one of the old families of the county; Jane; William, entered the civil war and served for a short time; he is now farming in Michigan; Ansell (dead); Silas (dead); Catherine married Frank Chapin, a farmer in Nebraska; Elizabeth is the wife of George Eacker, a farmer in Sheridan, this county; and Susan, who married Philander Warren, a carpenter residing in Silver Creek.

Richard Huyck was an honest, industrious and charitable man, and although never a church member, he was a liberal contributor towards their support. Politically he was a republican and an anti-secret society man.