My Genealogy Hound

HENRY K. DEY. On the banks of Lake Seneca lies one of the most beautiful homes of Seneca County, and here Mr. Dey and his family reside. The place consists of seventy-two acres, upon which may be found all the improvements of a model farm, the land having been brought to a high state of cultivation and improved with a substantial set of buildings. In addition to this property, he owns another farm of seventy-three acres, the aggregate of his possessions being one hundred and fifty-five acres.

Industry and perseverance have been the chief factors in the success secured by Mr. Dey. With the thrift and stability of his Holland ancestors, he combines the American characteristics of pluck and push. It is not strange, therefore, that he is numbered among the most prosperous farmers of the county where he has always made his home. While gaining financial success, he has also gained the esteem of his associates and the regard of a host of warm personal friends, who place the utmost confidence in his opinions and uprightness of character.

The history of the Dey family in America is one of more than ordinary interest and extends back to a period very early in the settlement of this country. Dey Street, New York, is named after the original progenitor of the family in this country, who, crossing from Holland, made settlement on Manhattan Island. In the records of the Reformed Dutch Church of New York we find the marriage, on the 28th of December, 1641, of “Dirck Janszen j. m. Van Amsterd, en Jannetze Theunis j. d. als Voren.” The bachelor and spinster were both from Amsterdam. According to the Dutch custom, the first son was named Jan after his paternal grandfather, and the second, who was baptized September 24, 1656, received the name of his maternal grandfather, Teunis (or Theunis).

In the same records is found the marriage of this “Teunis Deij j. m. (or Dey) Van N. Yorck en Anneken Schouten j. d. als Voren Veijde wonende alhier.” This Teunis owned a farm of five and one-half acres, three hundred and nine feet front on Broadway, and eight hundred feet deep to the Hudson River, the same being now crossed by Dey Street. Teunis had a son Dirck, who was baptized March 27, 1687. October 9, 1717, he bought six hundred acres of land for L120 from the heirs of Thomas Hart, one of the original twelve proprietors of East Jersey, the land being situated in the county of Bergen, province of East New Jersey. In 1730 he purchased from Peter Sonmans a tract of two hundred acres in the same neighborhood, for which he paid L50.

Dirck Dey is mentioned in the records as a “yeoman.” He left a son Teunis (or Theunis), who was the great-grandfather of our subject, and who erected the dwelling at Preakness in which Washington made his headquarters during the first three weeks of July, 1780. He was Colonel of a Bergen County regiment of militia in the early part of 1776, and served under Washington. Tradition says that when the illustrious General came to Bergen County, the room in the stone house in which he made his headquarters was papered at his expense, and the paper was never removed until about 1869.

Derrick (or Richard), a son of Teunis Dey, was a Captain in the regiment to which his father belonged, and served under General Washington. Teunis was a member of the New Jersey Assembly in 1776, and in 1779-80-81 represented Bergen County in Council, returning to the Assembly in 1783. In 1780 the wives of Teunis and Richard Dey were appointed on a committee of Bergen County ladies to raise funds for the relief of American troops. Soon after the close of the Revolution Richard Dey became Sheriff of Bergen County. He also served as County Collector, and was made a General in the militia. In 1801 he sold his homestead, with three hundred and fifty-five acres of land, for L3,000. He was born at Preakness, N. J., followed the occupation of a farmer, and lived in the stone house built by his father.

A son of Richard, named Anthony Dey, who was a lawyer by profession, was one of the founders of Jersey City, and for many years was one of the most prominent men of the place. Others of the family moved to Onondaga County, N. Y., and the name of Dey has entirely disappeared from Preakness, and the land has passed into other hands. Another son of Richard was Pierson Dey, the father of our subject. Pierson was born near Paterson, N. J., in 1780, and was twice married, his first wife dying in early life, at the birth of her only child. At that time Mr. Dey, who was a seafaring man, was absent on a voyage to China and other ports, which consumed so much time that the child was eighteen months old when he returned. His second marriage took place in Brooklyn, N. Y., in 1806, and the clergyman who officiated was “Dominie” Law. This second wife, Sarah Conover, who was born on Long Island, was the mother of our subject.

After his second marriage Pierson Dey engaged in the sawmill business at Paterson, N. J., and five children were born there. In 1812 he moved to Seneca County and located on the farm where our subject now lives. At that time the place was a dense forest, giving little indication of its present cultivated state. The journey to Seneca County was made with a three-horse team in eleven and one-half days, the entire household possessions being brought at the same time. The trip at the present time requires only eight hours.

Arriving at his destination, Pierson Day purchased one hundred and fifty acres on the east shore of Lake Seneca. He had never been accustomed to farm life, and found it extremely difficult to clear the land and place it in a condition for cultivation. During the first year his home was in a log house on the bank of the lake. As time passed by, he became more prosperous, and finally acquired a large amount of valuable property, including another farm which bordered on the lake. Especially interested in fine horses, he introduced the breeding of the “Messenger” stock in Seneca County, going to Long Island for the start. In early life a Whig, he became a Republican on the organization of the party, and was a strong anti-slavery man. Never an aspirant for office, he preferred the quiet discharge of his duties as a citizen to the active and unpleasant turmoil incident to politics. In his fraternal relations he was a Mason. After a long and honorable life he passed away in December, 1863, and his body was interred in the family burying-ground near the old homestead. His wife, who died in 1867, was buried by his side.

In the family of Pierson Dey there were eight children, three of whom were born after coming to Seneca County. Our subject, who was the youngest of the family, was born February 19, 1824, on the homestead where he still resides. In boyhood his time was passed in the usual manner of farmer lads, alternating attendance at school with work on the old homestead. He succeeded, though under some disadvantages, in securing a fair education, and is to-day a man of broad information. At the age of twenty-one he began to work for his father on shares, continuing in that way until the death of the latter.

The first marriage of Mr. Dey took place in 1848, his wife being Miss Williampe Conover, of New York City. This lady was born in Monmouth, N. J., but at the age of five years was taken to New York City, where she made her home until her marriage. She died in 1881, leaving no children. November 11, 1884, Mr. Dey was united in marriage with Miss Isabelle Youells, who was born in Allegany County, N. Y. When she was five years of age, her parents moved to Van Buren County, Mich., where she lived until 1873, receiving in girlhood a common-school education. She is the daughter of Elijah and Melvina (Smith) Youells, the former of whom died in June, 1892, while the latter is still living in Michigan. Mr. and Mrs. Dey are the parents of a son, Henry K., who was born on the home farm in the town of Fayette, September 8, 1892, and who is now (1895) a bright and intelligent child of three years.

At the death of his father, Mr. Dey, having saved $1,700, bought out the other heirs to the homestead, and here he has continued to reside, devoting his attention to farm work. As a farmer, he is intelligent and progressive, and is always interested in the improvements that will benefit the farmer. In the rotation of crops he displays intelligence and good judgment. The appearance of his farm, with its neat buildings and fields separated by good fencing, indicates his thrift and orderly spirit.

During his early life Mr. Dey voted the Whig ticket. His first Presidential ballot was cast in 1848, for Taylor. At the organization of the Republican party, he joined its ranks, and in 1856 voted for John C. Fremont for President. Following the sound advice given by his father, he has avoided politics and has refused official positions. The chicanery and trickery which too often have characterized politicians have disgusted him so much that of late years he has not even gone to the polls. With his wife, he holds membership in the Presbyterian Church at West Fayette. He is a man whose life has been successful, but whose success has been achieved by energy, perseverance and shrewd business qualities. He is known for his careful judgment, his energy and uprightness, and his business transactions have been conducted with such a regard for fairness, honesty and integrity that not a stain rests upon his reputation.