In 1861 a brewer with this last name gave $408,000 to the trustees at a Poughkeepsie women's college
They 
were the first of the Family name that left their Fatherland and were induced to 
seek this .... Matthew Vassar was elected trustee of the village of Poughkeepsie, 
which around... [DOC] [TLE] Matthew Vassar - Vassar College Encyclopedia - Vassar College [PAR] Matthew Vassar, business entrepreneur and founder of Vassar College, was ... 
By 1804, after his family had settled in Dutchess County, Vassar had ... After 
becoming a Poughkeepsie village trustee in 1819, Vassar began ... the education 
of women," (9) and to present the board with $408,000 for the opening of the 
college.