The Dusenbury Family (cont'd)
| William A. Dusenbury |
| The Portville Historical and Preservation Society |
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| 17 Maple Avenue Portville, NY 14770 www.portvillehistory.org |
Portville, New York
William Addison Dusenbury, the eldest of three sons born
to William A. and Helen Dusenbury, was born on
September 24, 1879, in Newton Mills, Pennsylvania. He
was just a young boy of eleven when his father passed
away unexpectedly in 1890.
Their mother, Helen Truesdell Dusenbury, made sure the
boys had every opportunity to excel. She moved the
family to Portville in 1892 so that her sons could be
raised with the fatherly influence of their uncles, Edgar
and John. Will and his brothers received their early
education in Portville's school, but he and Edgar both
attended prep school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and
later, Princeton University. Will followed in his uncles'
footsteps and joined the First National Bank of Olean,
where his business prowess earned him the position of
president upon the death of his uncle Edgar G. in 1920.
He remained a bachelor all his life. (Read more about
William A. Dusenbury).
to William A. and Helen Dusenbury, was born on
September 24, 1879, in Newton Mills, Pennsylvania. He
was just a young boy of eleven when his father passed
away unexpectedly in 1890.
Their mother, Helen Truesdell Dusenbury, made sure the
boys had every opportunity to excel. She moved the
family to Portville in 1892 so that her sons could be
raised with the fatherly influence of their uncles, Edgar
and John. Will and his brothers received their early
education in Portville's school, but he and Edgar both
attended prep school in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, and
later, Princeton University. Will followed in his uncles'
footsteps and joined the First National Bank of Olean,
where his business prowess earned him the position of
president upon the death of his uncle Edgar G. in 1920.
He remained a bachelor all his life. (Read more about
William A. Dusenbury).
William Addison Dusenbury
September 24, 1879 – June 10, 1942
September 24, 1879 – June 10, 1942
Edgar T. Dusenbury was born on May 8, 1885, in
Newton Mills, Pa. Like his brother, Will, Edgar was
a highly educated young man. Instead of banking, he
sought a career in the family's lumber business and
when he was 27 years old, he left Portville and made
his way in California. Edgar never married and died
very young at just 51 years old.
(Read more about Edgar T. Dusenbury).
Newton Mills, Pa. Like his brother, Will, Edgar was
a highly educated young man. Instead of banking, he
sought a career in the family's lumber business and
when he was 27 years old, he left Portville and made
his way in California. Edgar never married and died
very young at just 51 years old.
(Read more about Edgar T. Dusenbury).
| Edgar T. Dusenbury "Home from Lawrenceville" (photo taken in front of his Uncle Edgar's home) |
| Carl Dusenbury Matz and his brother, John Dusenbury Matz |
| Don with his mother-in-law, Nellie Page, and his son, John |
Born in 1862, Elizabeth Dusenbury was the oldest
child of John E. Dusenbury and his first wife, Hattie.
Her mother and little brother died when she was just
three years old.
Elizabeth married Herman Lewis Matz on October 12,
1886, and they made their home in Chicago, Illinois.
Matz was vice president of the S. S. Kimball Brick
Co. from 1902 to 1926 and the president of
Howard-Matz Brick Co. from 1926 to 1929.
Elizabeth and Herman Matz had two sons, Carl
Dusenbury Matz (1887-1950) and John Dusenbury
Matz (1890-1964).
Elizabeth died in 1920 and is buried in the family plot
in Chestnut Hill Cemetery. Carl and John and their
wives' ashes are also there in a different section.
child of John E. Dusenbury and his first wife, Hattie.
Her mother and little brother died when she was just
three years old.
Elizabeth married Herman Lewis Matz on October 12,
1886, and they made their home in Chicago, Illinois.
Matz was vice president of the S. S. Kimball Brick
Co. from 1902 to 1926 and the president of
Howard-Matz Brick Co. from 1926 to 1929.
Elizabeth and Herman Matz had two sons, Carl
Dusenbury Matz (1887-1950) and John Dusenbury
Matz (1890-1964).
Elizabeth died in 1920 and is buried in the family plot
in Chestnut Hill Cemetery. Carl and John and their
wives' ashes are also there in a different section.
Duncan Cameron Dusenbury
April 21, 1890 - February 16, 1977
April 21, 1890 - February 16, 1977
Donald Mather Dusenbury was born on December 29,
1884, to John E. and Delle Mather Dusenbury in Portville.
He arrived just two years after the tragic deaths of Mabel
and Buddy, John and Delle's other two children, from
scarlet fever.
Mr. Dusenbury was married to Marie Page of Olean at
Portville in August, 1906. They had one son, John E.
Dusenbury, born in 1921. In 1924, they moved into the
family home at 65 Temple Street. Donald and Marie did
extensive remodeling on the home in 1936, giving it its
characteristic Greek columns. Marie died in 1958 and
Donald died the following year.
(Read more about the home, and more about Donald M.
Dusenbury; Marie Page Dusenbury; and their only son,
John E. Dusenbury.)
1884, to John E. and Delle Mather Dusenbury in Portville.
He arrived just two years after the tragic deaths of Mabel
and Buddy, John and Delle's other two children, from
scarlet fever.
Mr. Dusenbury was married to Marie Page of Olean at
Portville in August, 1906. They had one son, John E.
Dusenbury, born in 1921. In 1924, they moved into the
family home at 65 Temple Street. Donald and Marie did
extensive remodeling on the home in 1936, giving it its
characteristic Greek columns. Marie died in 1958 and
Donald died the following year.
(Read more about the home, and more about Donald M.
Dusenbury; Marie Page Dusenbury; and their only son,
John E. Dusenbury.)
Elizabeth Dusenbury Matz
1862 - 1920
1862 - 1920
| Donald Mather Dusenbury |
The Three Sons of Helen T. Dusenbury
| Katherine Dusenbury and her girlfriends at the Bear's Cave |
Edgar Truesdell Dusenbury
May 8, 1885 – January 30, 1937
May 8, 1885 – January 30, 1937
The Three Children of John E. Dusenbury
Donald Mather Dusenbury
December 29, 1884 - April 12, 1959
December 29, 1884 - April 12, 1959
Duncan C. Dusenbury, the youngest son of William A. and
Helen Truesdell Dusenbury, was one of the Dusenburys
that people living in Portville are still likely to remember.
Except for his first two years, he was a lifelong resident of
Portville, living in the same house for 82 years of his
almost 87 years.
He was born in Tidioute, Pa., on April 21, 1890, just
months before the death of his father. In 1892, his
mother, Helen Dusenbury, moved Dunc and his two
brothers to Portville. In 1895, she built a big house for her
family, right across the street from the boys' Uncle Edgar.
Duncan was known for his generosity and gave to many
charitable causes. Like his brothers, he remained
unmarried. After his death in 1977, the countless
heirlooms of the home were auctioned and the house was
sold. The auction was truly an event and to many of us in
Portville, it felt like the end of a dynasty.
(Read more about Duncan C. Dusenbury).
Helen Truesdell Dusenbury, was one of the Dusenburys
that people living in Portville are still likely to remember.
Except for his first two years, he was a lifelong resident of
Portville, living in the same house for 82 years of his
almost 87 years.
He was born in Tidioute, Pa., on April 21, 1890, just
months before the death of his father. In 1892, his
mother, Helen Dusenbury, moved Dunc and his two
brothers to Portville. In 1895, she built a big house for her
family, right across the street from the boys' Uncle Edgar.
Duncan was known for his generosity and gave to many
charitable causes. Like his brothers, he remained
unmarried. After his death in 1977, the countless
heirlooms of the home were auctioned and the house was
sold. The auction was truly an event and to many of us in
Portville, it felt like the end of a dynasty.
(Read more about Duncan C. Dusenbury).
| Duncan C. Dusenbury (photo taken in 1910 as a member of the Presbyterian Mens Group) |
Katherine Dusenbury Anderson
March 30, 1890 - March 28, 1961
March 30, 1890 - March 28, 1961
Katherine S. Dusenbury was born on March 30, 1890. She grew up with her brother, Don, and
lived in the family home until the death of her mother in 1922. She eventually married William
Anderson and lived out her days in Santa Barbara, California. She died on March 28, 1961, just
before her 71st birthday.
lived in the family home until the death of her mother in 1922. She eventually married William
Anderson and lived out her days in Santa Barbara, California. She died on March 28, 1961, just
before her 71st birthday.