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Andrew Rockefeller
Born Nov 30, 1838 Died May 1915
Red Church Cemetery, Tivoli; West of Queen plot — Large granite stone with curved top on base and with Rockefeller name with smaller rectangular stones west and east of main monument located in Section E, Plots 123 and 134 — nine rows west from north entrance of the cemetery in family plot two rows east of intersecting north south road of cemetery. Andrew Rockefeller’s stone is four in with an American flag and marker.
Wife: Mary Francis Rockefeller, Born 1846 Died 1901
Son: Frederick A. Rockefeller, Born Mar 1869 Died 1934
Daughter-in-Law: Mary Frances Rockefeller, Born 1883 Died 1969
Carpenter, Justice of the Peace, & Union Veteran
When Andrew Rockefeller, son of David (1809-1844) and Catherine Fingar Rockefeller (1810-1887), was six, his father died. From that point until he reached adulthood, Andrew resided with aunts and uncles.¹ It’s fitting then, as one follows Andrew’s family through Census information, we see him living with his wife Mary Francis (1846-1901), their son Frederick who was 28, an adopted daughter 20-year-old Mary L. Potts, and a nephew William E. Rockefeller age 11.² Another son, William Perry Rockefeller, who would have been 26 at the time, apparently was no longer living with his parents; he went on to marry and live in Poughkeepsie.³ We can guess that having had others open their homes to Andrew when he was a child, Andrew and his wife returned the favor over their lives.
Born in Germantown, Andrew spent most of his life in Tivoli. He worked as a carpenter and a justice of the peace, as well as a laborer, after he served in the Civil War in the 20th Regiment, New York State Militia, for 100 days in 1861.⁴ His obituary stated, “Mr. Rockefeller was one of the old and highly esteemed citizens of his town, well known and had many warm friends. He was a veteran of the Civil war and a Past Master of Monumental lodge, F. & A. M. Tivoli. This lodge will attend and conduct the funeral services at the grave in the Red Church cemetery.”⁵
The Rockefeller’s eldest son Frederick was at his death “a retired railroad mail clerk. He was born in Madalin and spent most of his time in New York, returning to Dutchess County on his retirement [to Rhinebeck] three years ago,” stated his obituary in the Poughkeepsie Eagle-News of October 18, 1934.⁶ His widow Mary Frances Rockefeller died in 1969.
William Perry Rockefeller died in 1932, and he is buried with his wife Henrietta Potts Rockefeller (1874-1953) in the Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery.
Notes
U.S. Census, 1850.
U.S. Census, 1900.
“W.P. Rockefeller Dies After Lengthy Illness.” Poughkeepsie Eagle News, Poughkeepsie, NY, 21 Mar. 1932. p. 2. Newspapers.com.
“Andrew Rockefeller,” Old Red Church Cemetery, Tivoli, NY. findagrave.com.
Hudson Evening Register, Hudson, NY, 15 May 1913. p. 5. Newspapers.com.“F.A. Rockefeller, 64, Dies; Rites Saturday.” Poughkeepsie Eagle-News. 18 Oct.1934. pg.7. Newspapers.com.