My Genealogy Hound

FLAVIUS W. NORTHRUP, who is engaged in a general commission business at Beaver Dams, is a representative of one of the old families of Dutchess County. He was born in that county September 17, 1840, being one of a family of twelve children born to Ora and Eliza (Ward) Northrup, both born in 1801, the former in Dutchess County, and the latter in Seneca County. The father, who was a highly respected citizen of Dutchess County, and who for some years was Justice of the Peace, died in 1853. The Northrup family were of English origin and were among the early settlers of Dutchess County, Solomon Northrup, the grandfather of our subject, being a native of that county. He was a large farmer, and on their marriage gave to his twelve children $1,000 apiece, besides leaving considerable money at the time of his death.

Flavius W. was but eight years of age when his father died, and but twelve years old when the family removed to Elmira, N. Y., where for a time he was employed as a clerk in a boot and shoe store. In the public schools of his native place, and also at Elmira, he obtained a good English education. After the age of fifteen, his elder brothers having married, the care of the family and widowed mother devolved, to a great extent, upon him. When eighteen he rented a farm near the city, which he operated with reasonable success for four years, when he gave up farming and entered a shoe store as clerk. After remaining in that capacity one year, he engaged in the boot and shoe trade for himself, in which he continued three years. On account of failing health, he was compelled to give up the business, and for the succeeding four years was engaged as a traveling salesman for a boot and shoe house.

October 7, 1869, while engaged in traveling, our subject married Miss Josephine Seaman, a native of Dutchess County, born August 18, 1845, and a daughter of Egbert C. and Eliza (Van Wagner) Seaman. The latter was a sister of William Van Wagner, the “learned blacksmith” of Poughkeepsie, and also of James Van Wagner, the “Beecher of the West,” who was for years pastor of the Congregational Church at Sedalia, Mo., and while there was called to Texas to establish the first Congregational Church in that state. He was an eloquent man, and one season, while Henry Ward Beecher was absent, Mr. Van Wagner filled his Brooklyn pulpit. By our subject’s marriage three sons and one daughter were born: Evelyn I., the wife of Prof. I. C. Corbett, Professor of Horticulture and Forestry in the West Virginia University at Morgantown; Leonard E., who is still at home, and who is interested in business with his father; Arthur H., a student in the medical department of Columbia College, New York City; and Seaman F., who is a student at Cook’s Academy, and who proposes to adopt the profession of law.

After his marriage, our subject located in Elmira, but after traveling two years again engaged in business for himself. Two years later he sold out, and in 1874 removed to Beaver Dams, where he purchased a stock of boots and shoes and continued in business until 1880, when he sold out and again took up traveling, this time for a wholesale grocery house. With the latter establishment he remained two years, and then for ten years was with the Robert Seaman Company, of New York. At the expiration of that time, although not severing his connection with the New York house, he engaged in his present business, making a specialty of handling wool and general farm produce, buying and shipping all the wool from this part of the county. He also handles in large quantities apples, potatoes and butter.

Mr. and Mrs. Northrup are members of the Presbyterian Church, and he is a strong temperance man, having at times been connected with the Sons of Temperance and Good Templars. He is also identified with the Knights of Honor, and in each society mentioned has held an official position. In politics he is a Republican, and cast his first Presidential vote for Lincoln.