USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 1
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 1
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 1
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Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
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Gc 974.701 Sch57b 1336482
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01125 9774
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
VOLUME XXXIII
CONTAINING LIFE SKETCHES OF LEADING CITIZENS OF
SCHOHARIE SCHENECTADY
AND GREENE COUNTIES
NEW YORK
Who among men art thou, and thy years how many, good friend ? - XENOPHANES
Gc 974.701 Sch 57b
BOSTON BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY
1899
1
ATLANTIC STATES SERIES OF BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEWS.
The volumes issued in this series up to date are the following : -
I. OTSEGO COUNTY, NEW YORK.
II. MADISON COUNTY, NEW YORK.
III. BROOME COUNTY, NEW YORK.
IV. COLUMBIA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
V. CAYUGA COUNTY, NEW YORK.
VI. DELAWARE COUNTY, NEW YORK.
VII. LIVINGSTON AND WYOMING COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
VIII. CLINTON AND ESSEX COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
IX. HAMPDEN COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
x. FRANKLIN COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
XI. HAMPSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
XII. LITCHFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
XIII. YORK COUNTY, MAINE.
XIV. CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE.
XV. OXFORD AND FRANKLIN COUNTIES, MAINE.
XVI. CUMBERLAND COUNTY, NEW JERSEY.
XVII. ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
XVIII. PLYMOUTH COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
XIX. CAMDEN AND BURLINGTON COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.
XX. SAGADAHOC, LINCOLN, KNOX, AND WALDO COUNTIES, MAINE.
XXI. STRAFFORD AND BELKNAP COUNTIES, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
XXII. SULLIVAN AND MERRIMACK COUNTIES, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
XXIII. HILLSBORO AND CHESHIRE COUNTIES, NEW HAMPSHIRE.
XXIV. PrffSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.
XXV. NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
XXVI. NEW LONDON COUNTY, CONNECTICUT.
X.XVII. MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
XXVIII. ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
XXIX. SOMERSET, PISCATAQUIS, HANCOCK, WASHINGTON, AND AROOSTOOK COUNTIES, MAINE.
XXX. WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
XXXI. BERKSHIRE COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS. SOMERSET AND BEDFORD COUNTIES, PENNSYLVANIA.
XXXIII. SCHOHARIE, SCHENECTADY AND GREENE COUNTIES, NEW YORK.
NOTE .- All the biographical sketches published in this volume were submitted to their respective subjects or to the sub- scribers, from whom the facts were primarily obtained, for their approval or correction before going to press, and a reasonable time was allowed in each case for the return of the typewritten copies. Most of them were returned to us within the time allotted, or before the work was printed, after being corrected or revised; and these may therefore be regarded as reasonably accurate.
A few, however, were not returned to us; and, as we have no means of knowing whether they contain errors or not, we cannot vouch for their accuracy. In justice to our readers, and to render this work more valuable for reference purposes, we have indicated all uncorrected sketches by a small asterisk (*), placed immediately after the name of the subject. They will be found printed on the last pages of the book.
B. R. PUB. CO.
1336482
PREFACE.
NE generation passeth away, and another generation cometh "-an ancient writer thus summarizes the unending story of the life of man on the earth. Multitudes who came and went long, long ago left but scanty memorials of themselves and of their work, and these exceedingly hard to get at, necessitating in our day on the part of the heir of all the ages a new profession, requiring detective ardor and skill - that of the archaeologist. With the advance of the art of living has kept pace both the study of the past and the writing of contemporary records, the present generation being especially mindful of its obligations in this respect to posterity.
For one hundred and twenty-three years has the American republic kept with open door the best and best-attended training school in the world for the develop- ment of individuals, the result being an unrivalled body of intelligent, loyal, serviceable citizens, builders and, if need be, defenders of their country.
The BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW, of which the present issue, devoted to Schoharie, Schenectady, and Greene Counties, New York, is the thirty-third in our Atlantic Series, has for its object to preserve the life stories, with ancestral notes, of numerous repre- sentatives of the American people of to-day, well known in their respective localities - men and women of action and of integrity, helpers in the world's work - to the end that future generations may keep their memory green, may emulate their virtues, profit by their experience, and haply, with increased advantages of learning and resources, better their example.
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY.
OCTOBER, 1899.
78-9-1
$27 50
.
AUSTIN A. YATES.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ON. AUSTIN ANDREW : French War. He served as a Captain under YATES, one of the lead- ing attorneys of Schenectady, served with the rank of Cap- tain in the Civil War, and as Major of the Second Battalion, New York Infantry, was on duty with his command in va- rious camps during the Spanish War, but is better known by the title of Judge, having been elected to that office in 1873.
He was born in Schenectady on March 24, 1836, son of the Rev. John Austin and Henrietta Maria (Cobb) Yates. The original ancestor in America was Joseph Yates, an Eng- lishman, who emigrated in 1664 and settled in Albany. Christopher Yates, son of Joseph, and the next in this line, had a son Joseph, who was born in Albany, and settled in Glen- ville, N. Y., where he carried on a large plan- tation bordering upon the river, and owned a number of slaves.
Christopher Yates, second, son of Joseph, second, and great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was one of the well-to-do residents of Schenectady in his day. While serving as a Lieutenant in the Provincial army, he was wounded at the siege of Ticonderoga in the
Sir William Johnson in the engagement at Fort Niagara, and received from King George III. a land grant of nine thousand acres. His term of service as member of the first l'rovin- cial Congress expired just six days prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Entering the Continental army as a Colonel, he served as Assistant Department Quarter- master under General Philip Schuyler, and participated in the battle of Saratoga. He reared five sons, each of whom performed some notable achievement. Joseph C. Yates, the eldest son, was one of the founders of Union College and Governor of New York, 1823-25 ; John B. served as Colonel of a cavalry regi- ment in the War of 1812, was member of Con- gress from Madison County, and built the Welland Canal; Henry was a State Senator from Albany; Christopher was the founder of St. George's Lodge, F. & A. M., Schenec- tady ; and Andrew, Judge Yates's grandfather, known as the Rev. Andrew Yates, D. D., was one of the first professors at Union College.
Dr. Yates was a man of superior intellectual endowments, and was well versed in ancient and modern languages, including Holland Dutch. His professorship at Union College
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was productive of much benefit to that institu- tion while in its infancy. llis whole life was one of useful activity. Laboring diligently to increase the facilities for religious worship, he built thirteen churches, mostly missions of the Reformed denomination, all of which are still standing and are in a flourishing condition. Ile inherited considerable wealth from his father's estate. For his first wife he married Mary Austin, who was of English Puritan stock, and was a relative of the founder of Austin, Tex. Of this union there were two sons - John Austin and Andrew F. Ilis sec- ond wife, who was formerly a Miss looker, of Hartford, Conn., became the mother of three children - Mary Austin, James, and Anna E. Andrew Yates also reared John Dominis, who became the consort of the Queen of the Sand- wich Islands. Dr. Yates died in 1844, and his widow survived him some ten years.
The Rev. John Austin Yates, his eldest son, was born within the precincts of Union Col- lege, Schenectady, in 1801. After graduating from that institution he spent some time in Europe studying the modern languages, and spoke French and German fluently. lle was afterward a tutor at Union College for some years, or until called to the pastorate of a Re- formed church in Jersey City. As a pulpit orator he acquired a wide reputation. The memorable cholera epidemic of 1849 numbered him among its many victims; and his death, which occurred in Schenectady on August 26 of that year, when he was but forty-eight years old, was sincerely lamented in other localities as well as the vicinity of Union College.
In 1829 he married Henrietta Maria Cobb, an adopted daughter of his uncle, Colonel John B. Yates. lle was the father of five children, namely : Henrietta Cobb, who died in infancy; Mary Austin, who married John Watkins, and died in Columbia, S.C., in 1853, leaving a family, of whom John D. and Grace S. Watkins are now living; John B., second, who served as Colonel of the First Michigan Engineers under General Sherman during the Civil War, was later a division engineer on the Erie Canal, and is now in the government service at Grosse Point, Mich. ; Austin A., the subject of this sketch ; and the late Captain Arthur Reed Yates, United States Navy. Captain Yates was graduated from the Naval Academy, Annapo- lis, in 1857, and was thus senior to Schley and Sampson. He was for some time a naval at- taché in Japan. He served upon Admiral Farragut's staff during the Civil War, and re- ceived that officer's hearty commendation in recognition of his gallant conduct at the battle of Mobile Bay. He died at Portsmouth, N. H., November 4, 1892, on the eve of pro- motion to the rank of Commodore. The mother died in March, 1842, aged thirty-one.
Austin Andrew Yates's birth took place while his father was an instructor at Union College, and he was the second representative of the family born within its limits. He at- tended the public schools until entering the Schenectady Lyceum for his preparatory course, which was completed when he was but thirteen years old; and in September, 1849, he began his classical studies at Union. Leav-
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
ing college in 1850, he spent two years in Western Massachusetts, where he continued his studies under the tutorship of David M. Kimball, and, passing a successful examina- tion for the Junior class, he completed the course and was graduated from Union College in 1854. He read law in the office of the late Judge Potter, and was admitted to the bar in 1857, when twenty-one years old. During the first few years of his practice he devoted a part of his time to newspaper work, first as editor of the Schenectady Daily Times and later of the Evening Star.
Enlisting in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, New York Volun- teers, during the Civil War, he was promoted from the rank of Lieutenant to that of Cap- tain. He was in the reserve force during the battle of Fredericksburg, and at Chancellors- ville he received such severe injury to his eyes as to necessitate his discharge for disability. Re-enlisting as Captain of Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, United States Veteran Reserve Corps, he participated in some en- gagements near Washington, and on the occa- sion of a sudden attack made by the enemy under General Jubal A. Early, he assisted Pres- ident Lincoln, who happened to be present, from the field. In November, 1863, he was sent with three companies to suppress a riot among the miners in Carbon County, Pennsyl- vania. Among the various official duties of his command after the close of hostilities was that of the execution of Mrs. Surratt and the other conspirators, which is one of the most unpleasant recollections of his military ser-
vice. He was brevetted Major in 1865, and appointed Judge Advocate under Joseph Holt, Judge Advocate General, and after his dis- charge from the army in 1866 he resumed his law practice in Schenectady.
Politically, Judge Yates is a Republican. In 1867 he was unsuccessful as a candidate for the Assembly, owing to a factional discord in the party. He was elected District Attorney in 1868, re-elected in 1871, and in 1873 was elected Judge by a large majority. He was a candidate for the State Senate in 1885, but lacked ten votes of being elected. In 1887 he was successful in his candidacy for the Assem- bly, and was re-elected in 1888. Upon the expiration of his term as Judge he once more returned to his practice, and is now conducting a profitable general law business.
On December 18, 1865, Judge Yates was joined in marriage with Josephine de Vendell, daughter of John I. Yates. They have one daughter, Henrietta C.
In September, 1880, Judge Yates was com- missioned Captain of the Thirty-sixth Separate Company, National Guard, State of New York, and later he was commander of the Fifteenth Battalion. In May, 1898, as Major of the Second Battalion, New York Infantry, he led his command to the field in the Spanish War, and served in camps on this side of the water at Hempstead, Lytle, Chickamauga, Tampa, Fernandina, and Camp Harden. He retired in October, having served through all the camps and service which have been the cause of such caustic criticism ; and, though his regi- ment lost thirty-one by death, he brought
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home every one of his four hundred and thirty- six men alive.
Judge Yates was president of the National Guard's Association in 1890, and for a number of years Commander of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is a Master Mason, as were many of his ancestors, includ- ing his father, grandfather, and great-grand- father.
A NDREW J. GUFFIN, M. D., a suc- cessful physician of Carlisle, was born in Greenbush, Rensselaer County, N. Y., June 6, 1846, son of John and Hannah (Dings) Guffin. The Guffin family is of Scotch-Irish antecedents, and was founded in America by the Doctor's grandfather, Andrew Guffin, who was born in Newry, County Down, Ireland, in 1756.
Andrew Guffin emigrated to America when a young man, settling first in Dutchess County, New York. Later he moved to Scho- dack, near Nassau, Rensselaer County, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1842. He was extensively engaged in farm- ing. In politics he was a Whig, and his religious affiliations were with the Dutch Re- formed church. In 1781 he married Hannah Ostrom, who was born in Dutchess County, New York, of German ancestry. She died in 1835, at the age of seventy-three. They were the parents of fourteen children ; namely, Eliz- abeth, Rebecca, Andrew G., Sarah, James, John, Thomas, George, Mary, Josiah, Henry, Hannah, Elijah, and Jonas. Elijah became a
teacher in an asylum for deaf-mutes. All the other sons were farmers.
John Guffin, the Doctor's father, followed agriculture in Albany and Rensselaer Counties successively until the last fifteen years of his life, which he spent in retirement as a resident of the city of Albany. He was very success- ful financially, owning a number of farms and other real estate. In politics he was a Repub- lican and in his religious belief Presbyterian. Ile died in 1879, aged eighty years. His wife lived to the age of about eighty-two. She was the mother of four children, namely : Emma, who is no longer living ; Andrew J., the subject of this sketch; Charles W., a clerk in the American Express Office in New York City; and John C., who was formerly secretary of the American Sewing Machine Company of New York.
Andrew J. Guffin, having completed his gen- eral education at the Albany Classical Insti- tute, enlisted for service in the Civil War ; and subsequent to his discharge he began the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. J. R. Boulware, a leading physician of Albany. He then took the regular course at the Albany Med- ical College, where he was graduated in 1868. After a year's experience as physician at the almshouse, he settled for practice in Nassau, N. Y., whence he went to Canaan Four Cor- ners, and still later to New Canaan, Conn., from which place he removed to Clifton Park, Saratoga County, N. Y. In 1897 he came to Carlisle, where he has already built up a good practice.
Dr. Guffin is a member of the Schoharie
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
County Medical Society. Politically, he is a Republican, and is now serving as Health Officer. A member of the Presbyterian church, he was formerly president of the local branch of Christian Endeavor Society, and is now its treasurer.
Dr. Guffin married October 21, 1869, Vira Phillips, of Nassau, Rensselaer County, N. Y., daughter of John and Mary Phillips. Of this union was born one child, a son, Jolin C. Mrs. Guffin departed this life in 1890. John C. Guffin was graduated from the Cobles- kill High School, and is now book-keeper at William V. Downer's Life Insurance Agency.
R ENWICK DIBBELL, general mer- chant, Tannersville, Greene County, was born at Platt Clove, in this town, July 5, 1861. His parents were Har- mon B. and Deborah M. (Hummell) Dibbell, his father a native of Colchester, Delaware County, and his mother a native of Platt Clove, His grandfather, Amos Dibbell, who was a native of Holland, settled in Delaware County, New York, as a pioneer, and resided there until 1834, when he went to Platt Clove. He was a millwright by trade, following that occu- pation a number of years, and his death oc- curred at the age of eighty-four. His wife, formerly Charlotte Williams, of Colchester, died at eighty-nine years of age. They had a family of ten children.
Harmon B. Dibbell learned the trade of a millwright, which he followed at Platt Clove for a time, later moving to Kingston,
where he engaged in manufacturing. After- ward he went to Elka Park, erecting there a mill, which he conducted for the rest of his life. In 1863 he raised Company E of the Fifteenth Regiment, New York Volunteers, engineer corps, and this company he commanded until mustered out at the close of the war. Ile was a Democrat in politics, acted as a Justice of the Peace for some time, and was a prominent man in the community. He died at the age of seventy-one. His wife, Deborah, was a daugh- ter of Jeremiah Hummell. Her father was a farmer and an early settler of Platt Clove, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred when he was ninety years old. Har- mon B. and Deborah M. Dibbell were the parents of six children, three of whom are liv- ing - Egbert, Renwick, and George W. Dib- bell. Egbert is now residing in South Dakota. The mother still survives, and resides with her son in Tannersville.
Renwick Dibbell came to Elka Park with his parents when six years of age. He attended the common schools, and assisted his father in the lumber business until his father's death. Forming a partnership with a Mr. Goslen, he entered the contracting and building business at Elka Park, erecting a number of cottages there, also the Poggenberg Hotel, the Scho- harie Mansion, and the Catherine Tower. This structure is built of stone and is fifty feet high. It is fourteen feet at the base, and has stone steps on the inside leading to the top. In 1888 Mr. Dibbell took up the profession of a civil engineer, and did considerable survey- ing in different parks, also laying out roads
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and running farm lines. In 1895 the firm purchased the store of C. F. Gray, one of the largest mercantile establishments in town, in which they carried a full stock of groceries, boots, shoes, notions, and other merchandise. This store was conducted in connection with their contracting business until October 14, 1898, when the partnership was dissolved. Since that time Mr. Dibbell has carried it on alone. Mr. Dibbell has resided here since his early boyhood, and takes an active interest in local public affairs. Through his efforts a post-office was established at Elka Park, and he has been Postmaster there for the past five years. Hle also succeeded in causing the ex- tension of the telegraph and telephone lines to Elka Park and Schoharic Mansion, he being the owner of the telephone line. He has control of the switch office for the Catskill Mountain Telephone Company, and is local agent of the Western Union Telegraph Com- pany. Having a long distance telephone, they can converse with New York, Boston, and other cities. At the present time he devotes his entire attention to his mercantile enter- prise, the telegraph and telephone agencies, employing five assistants.
On October 17, 1883, Mr. Dibbell was joined in marriage with Miss Alice Bishop, of llunter, daughter of Asa and Ann (Brown) Bishop. Her father spent most of his life as a farmer in Ulster County. He died in West Saugerties. Mr. and Mrs. Dibbell have four children -- Flavius, Estella, Agnes, and El- mira.
Mr. Dibbell is a Democrat in politics. 1Ie
has served on town, county, and State commit- tees, has been a delegate to a number of county and State conventions, and was Tax Collector two terms. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, in which he has held a number of the offices, and belongs to the Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He and Mrs. Dibbell are members of the Methodist Episco- pal church.
HOMAS R. POTTER, a prosperous farmer of Glenville, Schenectady County, N. Y., was born in this town, Decem- ber 2, 1837, son of Johnson and Susan M. (Romeyn) Potter. His parents were born in Saratoga County, the father in Galway, June 25, 1803, and the mother in Clifton Park, July 1, 1807. The paternal grandfather was Simeon Potter, who came to Glenville about the year 1809, and settled upon a farm in the north-west part of the township, where he re- sided for the rest of his life. His funeral was the first one held in the Glenville Re- formed church. The maiden name of his wife was Phœbe A. Beach.
Johnson Potter, the father, came with his parents to Glenville when six years old, and was reared to agricultural pursuits. He became one of the stirring men of his day, and owned a farm of one hundred and forty- eight acres, which is now occupied by his son, Spencer S. Potter. He served as a Trustee of the town and as Commissioner of Highways. In poli- tics he supported the Democratic party. John- son and Susan M. Potter were the parents of
G. N. FRISBIE.
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BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
seven children, all of whom grew to maturity, and four are living, namely: Jedediah D., a resident of Chicago; Thomas R., the subject of this sketch; Spencer S., who resides at the homestead, as above mentioned ; and J. Antoi- nette, wife of William H. Hollinbeck, of Hoffman's Ferry. The others were: Phoebe Ann, Harriet N., and Fannie E. The father died July 5, 1891, surviving the mother, who died January 20, 1885.
Thomas R. Potter acquired a district-school education. Like his ancestors he has followed agriculture with success, for many years culti- vating a farm of one hundred and twenty-six acres.
Mr. Potter contracted the first of his two marriages January 6, 1861, with Jane Ann Van Wormer, who died June 9, 1893, leaving two children - Frank and Eliza J. Frank, who is in the insurance business, married Nellie F. Bennett, of Lansingburg, Rensselaer County, and has four children - Lelia B., Jennie E., Thomas R., and Henry B. Eliza J. is the wife of Elmer W. Kelderhouse, of Hoffmans, and has one daughter, Hazel L. On January 26, 1898, Mr. Potter married for his second wife Mrs. Effie C. Van Wormer, daughter of Abram S. and Bernetta M. (Dunham) Lode- wick and widow of Oscar Van Wormer. Her father was a native of Schodack, Rensselaer County, and her mother of Lexington, N. Y. Mrs. Potter had four children by her first marriage, namely : Nancy B., Bessie R., and Blanche L. Van Wormer, who are living; and Jennie Inez, deceased.
Politically, Mr. Potter is a Democrat, and
served with ability as Supervisor five years. He belongs to Touareuna Lodge, No. 35, I. O. O. F., and he and Mrs. Potter are mem- bers of Gold Medal Lodge, No. 554, Patrons of Industry.
RANDISON N. FRISBIE, of Mid- dleburg, N. Y., president of the Middleburg & Schoharie Railroad and an ex- tensive dealer in real estate, is a native of Roxbury, Delaware County, this State, born on May 24, 1831, son of William and Marilla (Norton) Frisbie. He received a common- school education, and at seventeen years of age was apprenticed to learn the harness- maker's trade of his brother at Fultonham. Three years later he became equal partner. Subsequently he bought out the business and conducted it alone for some time. In 1854 he began the manufacture of harnesses in Middle- burg, and, being the only person engaged here in that line of industry, met with great success, and did a most profitable business. In 1867 he purchased a half-interest in the general store of Charles Earles; and some years later he bought a half-interest in the firm of W. G. Lounsbury & Co., in the hard- ware trade. Subsequently his two sons, Daniel D. and George D., were taken into partnership; and in time the entire manage- ment of the business passed into their hands, Mr. Frisbie himself giving his attention to real estate and insurance, which have since been his principal lines of activity. He has managed large real estate transactions, and has
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built a number of fine houses. His present residence, which is one of the finest in town, is one which he has remodelled.
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