Stephen P. Hallock, of Coxsackie, N. Y., dealer in provisions, grain, hay, and straw, was born in New Baltimore, N. Y., on March 5, 1838, his parents being Joseph Z. and Phoebe (Herrick) Hallock. His paternal grandfather, Zebulon Hallock, was either born in New Baltimore or came there as a child in the early days of its settlement. He was a tanner and shoemaker, and worked at those trades all his life. He died at the age of seventy-two. His wife was before her marriage Sally S. Kidmore. They had a large family of children.
Joseph Z. Hallock was a farmer. He spent all his life in New Baltimore, and died there on January 28, 1899, at the age of eighty-four years. He was a prominent citizen in his town and a farmer on a large scale. He was a member for sixty-four years of the Christian church, and held leading offices in the church. His wife, Phoebe, was born in New Baltimore, daughter of John Herrick, a well-known farmer of that town. She is still living at the age of eighty-two. Of the five children that have been born to her, four are living, namely: Stephen P.; Andrew, who resides at the Upper Village; Leander; and Charles.
Stephen P. Hallock received a practical education in the public schools of his native town. The first twenty-four years of his life were spent on his father's farm, and at the end of that time he came to Coxsackie, and entered the dry-goods store of Collier & Van Vliet as clerk. Three years later he purchased Mr. Van Vliet's interest in the business, and the firm became Collier & Hallock. This partnership continued until 1880, when Mr. Hallock sold out to Mr. Wolf, and bought out the grocery business of David Hallock. He was then located on the opposite side of the street, but a few years after he bought out Platt Coonley's business, with his entire stock of groceries and provisions, and then removed to his present stand. In 1896 his son Roscoe was admitted to partnership in the business. This is the largest grocery in Greene County, carrying on besides its immense retail trade a large wholesale department. Mr. Hallock is the oldest grocer in the town, and in course of his long business career he has seen many changes in the village and a great increase in population.
Mr. Hallock was married in 1864 to Carrie Webber, who was born in this town, daughter of William Webber. She is of Holland descent on her grandfather's side, her grandmother having been a native of Connecticut. Her father spent his life on a farm in this town, and was not only a farmer but the leading auctioneer of Coxsackie. He was a prominent Democrat, and held a number of town and county offices, among them being that of county superintendent of the almshouse at Cairo. His death occurred at the age of seventy. He and his family attended the Dutch Reformed church. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Vermillia, was born in Coxsackie. She died at the age of seventy-five, having been the mother of seven children — Christina, Millisson, Robert, Carrie, John W., Addie, and Sallie. Of these two are deceased, namely: Millisson, who married J. H. Brandow; and Robert. Christina, who is a widow, married for her first husband Richard Halstead and for her second husband Richard Cornwall. Addie is the wife of O. T. Schermerhorn, of Cairo, and Sallie married J. O. Cornwall. Mrs. Hallock's paternal grandmother lived to be ninety-two years of age, dying on the farm where her son William was born and where he lived and died. Mr. and Mrs. Hallock have an only child, Roscoe, who has always been in his father's store except during the four years when he was Assistant Postmaster. He bought an interest in the business in the spring of 1896.
Mr. Hallock is a Republican and a strong advocate of the principle of protection. He has served many years on the Board of Education, for several terms as Trustee and Treasurer of the village, and has always taken an active part in all public matters. He was one of the most earnest promoters of the beautiful new school-house, which was erected at a cost of thirty thousand dollars. For more than thirty years he has been a member of the Second Reformed Church, of which also his wife and son are members. Mr. Roscoe Hallock is a member of Ark Lodge, F. & A. M., of Coxsackie. Although Mr. Hallock's best energies have been given to his store, he has found time to devote to other business interests. For a number of years he operated the Hallock steam-mill and the foundry connected with it. This was started by his brother David, who erected the buildings, but the plant was burned in 1892. It was an important industry in Coxsackie for many years. At one time Mr. Hallock carried on a feed, grain, and salt business at West Coxsackie. During early life, for a number of years, he taught school in the winter time.