I happened to come across this while browsing microfilm and captured a copy because it mentions the County Alms House. Thought I would share it here in case it helps anyone as it mentions Mr. Beecher's wife's maiden name. - - - - - The Courier Poughkeepsie Weekly Newspaper Published at Poughkeepsie March 26, 1893 HIRAM T. BEECHER [includes what appears to be a sketched Portrait] Among the best known farmers of Pleasant Valley is Hiram T. Beecher, who from his long and active interest in church affairs and his prominence at all religious gatherings in the vicinity of his home, is often called the Rev. Mr. Beecher, a title which he has justly earned although it has never been bestowed upon him by an ecclesiastical body. Mr. Beecher is an ernest and eloquent speaker, and his life is without reporach. He has been an officer in the Methodist church at Pleasant Valley for many years, where in the absence of the pastor and during intervals when the pastorate was vacant, he has acceptably performed the duties of that office so far as was within the province of a lay preacher. He preached regularly at the County Alms House for several years, and spent the early part of his life in the town of Washington where he married his wife, a Miss White, who is still living. He rmoved to Pleasatn Valley about thirty yeras ago. He has been a public speaker upon almost every local occasion during all of that time. In politics Mr. Beecher was originally a Republican, but during late years he has drifted into the Prohibition party. - - - - - - In the 1850 Census for the Town of Washington, Dutchess County there is a Hiram Beecher age 29 enumerated in the household of a Catherine Beecher age 56 and several other Beerhers. Perhaps this is our Hiram T. living in the household with his widowed mother? - - - - - - Ginny http://www.geocities.com/ginnyflies/ Ginny's History, Genealogy, Historical Preservation, and Poughkeepsie HomeTown Page