USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 13
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 13
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
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
Alexander Granby, father of the third Will- iam, engaged in mercantile business in early life, but later learned the cooper's business,
138
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
and worked at that with farming during the remainder of his life. He was well known and highly respected in these parts, and was very successful in all his business ventures. Politically, he was a Republican, and was Town Clerk and Assessor for some years. He died at the age of sixty-five. He is survived by his wife, Julia, and their three children, namely : Arthur, who resides on the Granby homestead; Susie, who married John R. Berg, of New York; and William. Mrs. Granby is living in New York with her daughter. She was born in Carthage, Jefferson County, daughter of John Kellogg, a shoemaker and dealer of that place. Her parents had a large family of children.
William Granby, the subject of this sketch, grandson of the first William, attended the public schools of the town until about thirteen years of age, and during the next ten years gave his attention to farming. Then for some five years he worked at carpentering, though he still resided on the homestead farm. The estate originally comprised a hundred and forty acres, and of this he inherited a third. Hle was especially interested in dairying, finding his markets in Albany and in New York.
Mr. Granby has shown his interest in the welfare of the community by his attendance on the county conventions every year, excepting one, since he became a voter. In 1893, having been elected Town Clerk, he moved into the village, where he has since resided. He de- clined the nomination for the clerk's office for a second term, but became candidate for Sheriff in the county on the Republican ticket.
Although defeated, he ran far ahead of the ticket, and had the satisfaction of carrying his own town, usually Democratic, by eighty-six votes. lle made the greatest run ever made for the office by a Republican candidate. He has twice declined the nomination for the office of Supervisor, but in 1898 was elected to that office for a term of two years. No better representative could have been sent, and he has the hearty support of his townspeople. Mr. Granby is a member of the Odd Fellows Order, and at present Noble Grand. Shortly after he joined the organization, two years ago, he was chosen permanent secretary. As a musician, Mr. Granby has acquired considera- ble local reputation. For many years he has been leader of the choir at the Methodist church, and for the last five years he has been the church organist.
ENRY VAN BERGEN, the well- known miller of Coxsackie, N. Y., was born in Athens, Greene County, on December 30, 1850, son of Peter and Mary (De Griff) Van Bergen. The founder of the Van Bergen family in this country came from Holland to Albany, N. Y., in early Colonial times, and later, in 1678, with his three sturdy sons, settled in Leeds, now the town of Catskill. One of the immigrant's sons, Peter by name, was born in Albany. From him the line is through his son Henry, followed by three in successive generations bearing the name Peter, the fourth Peter being the father of the subject of this sketch. Ilenry, first,
139
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
and his descendants above named, were all born in Coxsackie. The family is among the very oldest in Coxsackie, and all the land en- braced within the town limits was at one time owned by the Van Bergens. The first Re- formed church, which was built in 1740, stood on land which was the gift of one of the mem- bers of this family.
Peter Van Bergen, the great-grandfather, resided about a half mile from the present vil- lage. He died in 1854, at the age of ninety. His wife's maiden name was Woodbeck. They had a large family of children. Grand- father Peter had a brickyard near the present town of West Coxsackie, or at Lower Landing, which he carried on with great success. He was one of the leading men in the town, and a member of the Assembly in 1846. He was a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. His first wife, the grandmother of Henry Van Bergen, was an Egbertson. She bore him two children. His second wife was before mar- riage Christina Van Wormer. She was born in Glenville, Montgomery County. Of her six children, two are living, namely: Isaac, who resides in New York; and Christina, who is the wife of W. R. Adams, at Four Mile Point.
Peter Van Bergen, father of the subject of this sketch, purchased a farm of his own in early manhood, and later had a part of his father's farm. He lived just across the line in New Baltimore, and died there at the age of sixty-six. Like his ancestors he was an active member of the Dutch Reformed church, and one of its leading officials. His wife, Mary, who survives him, was born in Amsterdam,
N. Y., a daughter of Diedrich De Graff, a farmer, who married a Miss Van Wormer, and had a large family. She is the only survivor of her father's family. Her father died at the age of sixty, and her mother at the age of seventy- five. Three children were born to Peter and Mary Van Bergen; and two, Nelson and Henry, are living, both millers in this town.
Henry Van Bergen, the special subject of this sketch, obtained his education in the com- mon schools, and subsequently assisted his father on the home farm until the latter's death. He then came to the village and built the grist-mill, which he has since so success- fully operated. It is a steam-mill, and has three runs of stone and a set of rollers. A very large custom business is here done in grinding grain, and from this mill large quan- tities of buckwheat flour are put into the market.
Mr. Van Bergen's marriage occurred in 1886, his wife being Phobe J., only child of the late Captain James Delamater, for many years one of the best-known pilots on the Hud- son River. She has borne him two children -- Mamie and Lawrence.
Mr. Van Bergen upholds the time-honored principles of his family in his adherence to the Democratic party ; but he believes in putting in office the best man, regardless of party affil- iations. In 1887 and 1888 he was Supervisor in the town of New Baltimore. In 1888 he was a candidate for County Clerk, and was elected by one hundred and fifty-one votes, all the other members of the ticket being de- feated by three hundred votes. After serving
140
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
three years he was again nominated in 1891, and was re-elected by a thousand majority, running six hundred ahead of his ticket. Three years later, in 1894, he was again nomi- nated, but failed of election, going down in the Democratic "land slide." In 1896 he was Presidential Elector from this district. He was on the County Committee, being its chairman in 1892, and was re-elected in the following year, but resigned. He has at dif- ferent times refused the nomination both to the State legislature and to Congress. He is one of the Town Water Commissioners, and has served on the Board of Education for the last three years, having under his charge the school at West Coxsackie. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias, and he and his fam ily are adherents of the Dutch Reformed church.
HARLES S. BURNETT, M. D., of Summit, Schobarie County, N. Y., was born in Eminence, N. Y., Sep- tember 13, 1850, son of Francis and Melissa (Germond) Burnett. Both the father's family and the mother's are of English origin. The Burnetts came here from Connecticut. Mat- thias Burnett, Dr. Burnett's grandfather, who was born March 8, 1778, and died April 19, 1848, was an early settler in Jefferson. After locating here he was married to Susan Guerin. She was born March 25, 1780, and she died February 27, 1844. They were the parents of nine sons and four daughters. All of the sons became prosperous farmers.
Francis Burnett, Dr. Burnett's father, was born in Jefferson, September 25, 1821. Early in life he engaged in general farming in Eminence, where he tilled the soil energeti- cally for the rest of his active period, and he died July 7, 1890. He was the father of four children, namely: Lucetta F., who married Charles Hubbell, of Jefferson; James, who is engaged in mercantile business in Summit ; Byron, a resident of Cobleskill; and Charles S., M. D., the subject of this sketch.
Charles S. Burnett acquired his carly educa- tion in the schools of Eminence, N. Y. On leaving school he was employed for a time as a clerk in his brother's store, and then going to Newark, N. J., he worked at the carpenter's trade. Ilis medical studies were begun under the direction of Dr. F. B. Beard, were contin- ued with Dr. Bigelow, of Albany, and later at the Albany Medical School, which he entered in 1876. His expenses there he defrayed with funds saved from his earnings. Ile displayed such marked proficiency in his studies that when he was graduated, in 1879, he was chosen orator of his class, the majority of whose members had pursued a classical course prior to entering a professional school. l're- ferring a country practice, he first settled at North Blenheim, where he resided seven years, at the expiration of which time he came to Summit, succeeding to the practice of Dr. Beard. Ile has gained a high standing among the leading physicians in this section.
In politics he is a Democrat. In 1897 he was elected Coroner for a term of three years. He belongs to the County Medical Society,
JAMES W. WADDELL.
143
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
takes a lively interest in the advancement of science, and as a progressive, public-spirited citizen he is actively concerned in all matters relative to the improvement of this town. The residence he now occupies was erected by him in 1893.
Dr. Burnett married Nannie Buckingham, daughter of Merritt Buckingham, of Gilboa. Mrs. Burnett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
AMES W. WADDELL, former Super- visor of Duanesburg, N. Y., was born where he now resides, June 1, 1826, being the only son of David and Mary (Coie) Waddell. His father was born in the north of Ireland, August 14, 1794; and his mother was born there, February 15, 1792.
February 28, 1824; James W., born, as above mentioned, June 1, 1826; Margaret, born April 3, 1829; Hannah, born March 25, 1831; and Sarah M., born September 1, 1833. Of these, four are now living, namely: Fidelia, who resides at the old homestead; Mary Jane, the wife of Thomas H. Turnbull, of Rotterdam Junction, N. Y. ; James W., the subject of this sketch; and Margaret, now the widow of S. Putnam, and living in South Schenectady, N. Y. Ruth, the eldest, was the wife of Elijah Rockwell; and Hannah, the seventh child, was the wife of Dr. D. S. Kellogg.
James W. Waddell spent his early boyhood years in attending the district school and as- sisting his father upon the farm, and later during the winter months attended school at Charlotteville and Fort Plain Seminaries. Succeeding to the ownership of the prop- erty, which contains two hundred and thirty acres, he has improved it by erecting new buildings, carries on general farming ener- getically, and keeps from twenty to twenty- five head of stock.
Shortly after their marriage, which took place May 23, 1816, David Waddell and his wife came to the United States, settling in Duanesburg; and about the year 1825 he bought the farm which is now owned by his son. A sturdy, industrious, and progressive farmer, he labored diligently to maintain a On September 3, 1873, Mr. Waddell was united in marriage with S. Electa Howard, who was born in Duanesburg, January 27, 1843. Four children were born of this union, and two of them are living, namely : George WV. H., born August 8, 1879; and William D., born May 13, 1881, both of whom are at- tending a business college. The others were : Mary; and another daughter, who died in in- fancy. Mrs. Waddell died January 26, 1899. Politically, Mr. Waddell acts with the comfortable home for his family ; and, being a worthy, upright man, he gained the sincere esteem of his fellow-townspeople. In politics he supported the Democratic party, and in his religious belief he was a Presbyterian. David Waddell died May 7, 1862, and his wife died May 7, 1871. They were the parents of eight children, namely: Ruth, born November 22, 1817; Rose Anna, born May 24, 1820; Fi- delia, born July 11, 1822; Mary Jane, born , Democratic party at national elections. He
144
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
has been Supervisor and Road Commissioner, holding each of these offices three terms and rendering capable service to the town. He takes a lively interest in the public institu- tions of the town, and is ever ready to aid in improving the general welfare of the commu- nity. Mr. Waddell attends the Presbyterian church.
FORGE L. FOX, editor of the Mid- dleburg News, is a native of Middle- burg, N. Y. He was born on April 3, 1871, son of Lewis and Elizabeth (Wilbur) Fox. His father, who is now living retired, was for- merly engaged in the paper manufacturing business in l'en Yan, and later in Baldwins- ville and Middleburg. His mother was born in Schoharie. His parents had a family of five children.
Mr. Fox received his education in the com- mon and high schools of Middleburg; and in 1888, shortly after leaving the high school, he began the publication of The American Youth, a monthly story paper. This was issued from Middleburg, and had a circulation in every State in the Union. The following year it was sold to a publishing house in Boston, and sub- sequently Mr. Fox purchased the South Orange, N. J., Journal, and moved it to Mid- dleburg. Associating himself with Welling- ton E. Bassler, a prominent business man and a Republican, he began the publication of the Middleburg News, a weekly paper. At first the venture seemed most unpromising, and the field was a limited one, but the energy and perseverance with which the proprietors have
worked, the fortunate methods employed by the business management, and the enterprise shown in the news columns have together united to push the paper into the front rank of Republican weeklies. It is now one of the leading news organs of the county, and has a large circulation. While its columns give ample space to events of national importance, it does not forget to emphasize matters of local interest, and is always foremost in agitating local improvements. At various times it has been designated by the Republican leaders as the organ in which the State laws should be printed.
Mr. Fox was married on October 28, 1897, to Mabel Almy. She was born in Franklin- ton, and is a daughter of E. C. Almy, who was formerly a farmer of that town, and is now re- tired and living in Middleburg. Mr. Fox is a member of Middleburg Lodge, No. 663, F. & A. M., and has held the office of Junior Dea- con of the lodge. He is a member of La Bas- tile Lodge, No. 494, I. O. O. F., and has filled nearly all the offices in the lodge, being now l'ast Noble Grand. He is also a member of Oucongena Tribe of Red Men. Profession- ally, he is a member of the New York Edito- rial Association and the New York Press Asso- ciation. He and his wife attend the Methodist church.
UGH B. GARA, proprietor of the West End Hotel, Hunter, N. Y., was born in Manch Chunk, P'a., April 15, 1855, son of John and Mary (Mc- Intire) Gara. His father was born in Ire-
145
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
land, and here he learned the trade of a shoe- maker, which he followed as long as he lived.
Emigrating to America in 1848, John Gara settled in Mauch Chunk, and in 1855 he re- moved to Hunter, where his death occurred in 1859, at the age of thirty-nine years. In pol- itics he was a Democrat. His wife, Mary, also a native of Ireland, is now seventy years old. Her father, Hugh McIntire, was a shoe- maker and tavern-keeper. He came to Amer- ica on a visit, and after his return to Ireland he continued in business until his retirement, when he was succeeded by his brother. Hugh McIntire had a family of seven childen. Of these the four now living are: Mrs. Gara; Joseph, who is in a post-office in Ireland; Katy, widow of Thomas Haggerty, who died in Mauch Chunk, Pa. ; and Patrick, who is a hotel proprietor in Ireland. John and Mary (McIntire) Gara were the parents of eight children, of whom two are living; namely, Mary and her brother, Hugh B., the subject of this sketch, with whom she resides. The others were: Patrick, who died March 7, 1889, aged thirty-nine; John F., who died November 4, 1888, at the age of twenty-nine; Hugh, first, who died in Ireland, at seven years of age; and three children who died young.
Hugh B. Gara was brought by his parents to Hunter when six months old. He was ed- ucated in the common schools, and at the age of twelve entered the chair factory, where he was employed until eighteen. He continued to follow his trade as a journeyman one year in a chair factory in Newburg, from which
place he went to New York City, and a year later became a travelling salesman in the dry- goods business. Prior to this his brother, John F., had erected the present West End Hotel in Hunter, which was opened in 1887; and Mr. Gara left the road to assist him in this enterprise, in a general way. Upon the death of his brother, Hugh took control of the house, and has since conducted it.
The West End is pleasantly located near the terminus of the Stony Clove and Catskill Mountain Railroad. It is sixty by thirty feet, with a wing twenty-eight by seventy, four stories high, and has accommodations for one hundred and thirty guests. The rooms are large, well ventilated, well furnished, and lighted with gas. The bath accommodations are ample, and the sanitary arrangements are unexcelled. The house is within easy reach of Hotel Kaaterskill and Laurel House, and of Onteora, Elka, and Twilight Parks. There is a good livery stable in connection.
On October 12, 1898, Mr. Gara was united in marriage with Mary E. O'Carroll, daugh- ter of David and Kate (O'Neil) O'Carroll, of Dungarvan, County Waterford, Ireland. Her paternal grandfather, Michael O'Carroll, a sca captain, was also a native of that town. Her father, who was reared to sea life, became master of a vessel plying between Ireland and France, and was also engaged in trade be- tween Cork and Liverpool. Abandoning the sea, he opened a ship-broker's office in Cardiff, Wales, and conducted that business until his death, which occurred in 1884, at the age of fifty-seven. His wife, Kate, was a sister of
146
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the Rev. Hugh O'Neil, a sketch of whom ap- pears elsewhere in the REVIEW. She died in 1877, at the age of forty-one. She was the mother of three children. The only survivor of these is Mary E., who was educated in the Mercy Convent, Dungarvan, and is now Mrs. Ilugh B. Gara. She is a fine pianist, and also received special instruction in painting and the French language. She kept house for her father until his death, and with the aid of two assistants continued his business until coming to the United States in 1886. Fre- vious to her marriage she resided with her uncle, the Rev. Father O'Neil. Mrs. Gara is a valuable assistant to her husband, being a woman of much executive ability.
ERBERT L. ODELL, M.D., an able physician and specialist of Sharon Springs, N. Y., was born in Sum- mit, this county, July 18, 1859, son of Isaac L. and Harriet L. (Baldwin) Odell. The family was founded in America, late in the seventeenth or early in the eighteenth century, by the great-great-great-grandfather, who emi- grated from England and settled on Long Island.
Isaac I. Odell, the father, who was born in Jefferson, N. Y., in 1815, moved to Summit when a young man, and carried on quite an ex- tensive business as a cooper. He took consid- erable interest in public affairs, serving as Town Clerk and in other offices. In politics he supported the Democratic party, and in his religious belief he was a Methodist. His wife,
whose maiden name was Harriet L. Baldwin, was born in 1818. They were the parents of five children, namely : Daniel; George W .; Peter L .; Julia E., who married H. A. Wright, of Worcester, N. Y. ; and Herbert L., the subject of this sketch. The father died in 1893, the mother's death having occurred a few months previous. Daniel, George W., and Peter L. Odell reside in Summit.
Herbert L. Odell acquired his early educa- tion in the public and select schools. His medical studies were begun under the direction of Dr. F. P. Beard, then of Summit and now of Cobleskill, with whom he remained four years. He was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1883; and, while pursuing his course in that city, he studied with Dr. Jacob S. Mosher. Locating for practice in Hobart, N. Y., be remained there until March, 1892, when he came to Sharon Springs. Dur- ing the last six years of the time spent at Ho- bart he was associated in practice with Dr. J. S. McNaught. While preparing for his profession, Dr. Odell made a special study of dermatology; and, since entering into prac- tice, he has given much attention to the treat- ment of rheumatism, in which he is remarka- bly successful. During the summer a large number of patients come to Sharon Springs, in order to avail themselves of his treatment and at the same time to receive the benefits of the sulphur baths. Dr. Odell attends, also, to most of the obstetric practice in this locality. Ile was formerly president of the Delaware County Medical Society, is president of the Schoharic and a member of the Albany County
GARRET W. MATTICE.
149
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Medical Societies. Progressive as well as energetic, he keeps in touch with advanced ideas by making frequent visits to the hospitals of the metropolis.
Dr. Odell and Eva L. Hoose, only daughter of Robert J. Iloose, of Hobart, N. Y., were united in marriage on May 13, 1885. They have three daughters - Grace, Eloise, and Beatrice.
Politically, Dr. Odell acts with the Demo- cratic party. He is a Master Mason, belong- ing to the Blue Lodge in Sharon Springs, and is also an Odd Fellow. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is now serving as steward.
EORGE H. FAULKNER, Supervisor and Justice of the Peace, Lexington, Greene County, N. Y., was born in this town September 6, 1842, son of Alfred and Sarah (Cross) Faulkner. His paternal grandfather, William Faulkner, was a native of Liverpool, England. He came to Lexington before mar- riage, and, settling on a farm, engaged in its cultivation, and also followed the trade of a shoemaker. A man of considerable natural ability, in politics he was a Democrat, and represented his district in the Assembly. He married Abigail Drake. They lived to an ad- vanced age, and had a large family of children.
Alfred Faulkner grew to manhood upon the home farm. Later he cultivated a farm of his own in Halcott, where he resided for the rest of his life, and was quite active in public affairs. His first wife, Sarah, died about the
year 1845. She was a daughter of George Cross, a farmer and lifelong resident of Lex- ington. She had three children: Mary, who married Frank Moore, of this town; Victor, who is in Fleischmanns, Delaware County ; and George H., the subject of this sketch. For his second wife he married Ann Faulkner, who at her death left two children - James and Sarah. Alfred Faulkner died at seventy-three years of age.
George H. Faulkner spent his early years with an uncle on a farm about a mile below the village, and was educated in the common schools. He followed agriculture until 1886, when he came to the village, and engaged in selling farming implements. He also trans- acts a great deal of legal business and has con- siderable practice in the minor courts.
In 1890 Mr. Faulkner married Miss Mary M. Banks, daughter of Joseph Banks, a farmer of Hardenburg, N. Y. One son, Leon, has been born of this union.
Politically, Mr. Faulkner is a Democrat. He has been Justice of the Peace since 1882. He was Justice of Special Sessions one term, is now serving as Supervisor, and has been Tax Collector two years. He is a trustee of the Baptist and Methodist churches, and Mrs. Faulkner attends the Baptist church of Lexing- ton.
ARRET W. MATTICE, a well- known and highly respected agricult- urist of Schoharie County, owns and occupies a farm on the Middleburg road in the town of Fulton, about two miles from Fultonham. He
150
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
was born June 2, 1830, a son of Adam L. Mattice, and is a direct descendant of Nicholas Mattice, who emigrated from Germany in the early part of the eighteenth century and took up a tract of wild land in the vicinity of the Upper Fort, Schoharie County.
Conrad Mattice, son of Nicholas and the next in line of descent, was a lifelong resi- dent of this part of the State. In his early manhood he located on land in Middleburg, where his son Lawrence, the grandfather of Garret W., was born.
At the time of the Revolution, Lawrence Mattice, though but a boy of sixteen, was em- ployed at the Middle Fort, and with Murphy and other brave soldiers marched out to meet the enemy. On one of his hasty expeditions he and a companion succeeded in taking pris- oner a man by the name of Adam Chrysler, whom they carried to the fort. He continued in service until the close of the war, when he settled on a farm, and from that time until his death, at the venerable age of eighty-six years, was engaged in cultivating the land. He was quite prominent in the management of town matters, and at one time was nominated to the State Assembly. His wife, Maria Brown, a native of this part of the county, bore him seven children, none of whom survive. She lived to be upward of eighty years of age, and died at the old homestead. Both she and her husband were members of the Lutheran church.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.