USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 17
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 17
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 17
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ing a great revival that followed, sixty mem- bers were added to the church in one Sunday, forty of the converts being baptized that day. Coming from there to Middleburg, he has here been exceedingly prospered in his relig- ious work, the church having grown as regards both its membership and its influence. A faithful and conscientious worker in the Mas- ter's vineyard, he has not only endeared him- self to his immediate parishioners, but has won the respect of the entire community.
On July 14, 1875, Mr. Pitcher was married to Anna M., daughter of Abraham and Ann E. (Naylor) Amerman. Her parents were natives and lifelong residents of Somerset County, New Jersey, where the mother died when sixty years old, and the father, who was a prominent citizen of South Branch, a miller and merchant, died at the age of threescore and ten years. Mrs. Pitcher is one of a fam- ily of four children, all of whom are living, the other three being: Theodore; Elizabeth, wife of Abraham S. Beekman; and Louisa, wife of H. V. D. Van Liew. Mr. and Mrs. Pitcher have had two children, namely: Le Roy, who lived but nine months; and Anna Lee. Mrs. Pitcher, a woman of culture, is a thorough musician, being a talented singer and a fine pianist. While at Ringoes she was leader of the church choir, the organist in the Sunday-school, and one of its corps of teachers. She is a very active member of the church and of its various societies, belonging to the Chris- tian Endeavor, the Ladies' Missionary Society, the Ladies' Aid Society, and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She is presi-
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dent of the Woman's Classical Union of Scho- harie County.
The Dutch Reformed Church of Middle- burg is, with possibly an exception in Al- bany and Schenectady, the oldest society and worshipping in the oldest building in this part of the State. This house of worship was built in 1786, and has since been kept in ex- cellent repair. The funds for its erection were collected by committees sent through the colo- nies for the purpose, the struggling little so- ciety here, organized about 1730, being too poor to give much toward it. The meetings were probably held in private houses or barns until a small frame building was put up for its accommodation in 1732. That building, ac- cording to Roscoe, was dedicated in 1737. It was burned with the village on October 17, 1780, and six years later replaced by the pres- ent edifice, in which the first sermon was preached November 18, 1787, the Rev. George WV. Schneider being the minister. From the time of the first regularly ordained minister of the church, Ilendrick Ilager, who was settled in 1713, the following have held pastorates : Fred Hager, 1720; John Jacob Eble, 1730; Reinhardt Erickson, 1732; Michael Weiss, 1736; Johannes Schuyler, 1736-55; John Mauritius Goetschius, 1757-60; Abram Rose- krantz, 1760-65; Johannes Schuyler, 1766-79; Rynier Van Nest, 1780-85; George W. Schneider, 1785-88; J. C. Boeffel, 1788-97; Rynier Van Nest, 1797-1804; David Devoe, 1812-15; John T. Schermerhorn, 1816-27; John Garretson, 1827-33; J. B. Steele, 1834- 38; Joshua Boyd, 1840-42; L. Messereau,
1842-45; Jacob West, 1846-52; I. M. See, 1852-54; E. Vedder, 1855-63; W. E. Bogardus; J. S. Scott, D. D., 1865-70; S. W. Roe, D. D., 1871-76; J. D. Gardner, 1876-80; E. N. Sebring, 1880-85; D. K. Van Doren, 1885-90; and the Rev. Charles W. Pitcher, 1891.
OHN A. FERGUSON, one of the best- known farmers in Duanesburg, N. Y., was born in Princetown, in the same county, Schenectady, January 24, 1822, son of Duncan and Hannah Ferguson. The parents were natives of Princetown, and the paternal grandparents, John and Janet Ferguson, were natives of Scotland. John Ferguson emi- grated prior to the Revolution, and he served as a soldier in that struggle. He was an early settler in Princetown, where he tilled the soil industriously for the rest of his active period, being one of the progressive farmers of his day. Ile and his wife lived to a good old age.
Duncan Ferguson, the father, was a lifelong resident of Princetown, and for many years he carried on general farming with prosperous results. In politics he was at one time a Whig, and later a Republican. His family consisted of eight children, two of whom are living, namely: John A., the subject of this sketch; and Duncan Ferguson, who resides at the homestead in Princetown. The others were: Thomas, Robert, Daniel, Jeanette, Ann, and Mary. The father lived to be eighty-two years old, and the mother died at about
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seventy-eight years old. They were members of the Presbyterian church.
John A. Ferguson was educated in the dis- trict schools of Princetown. In 1843, when twenty-one years old, he bought his first real estate, consisting of a farm of one hundred and fifty-five acres in Duanesburg, where he has since resided, and he is now the owner of other valuable lands. For a few years he was engaged in mercantile business at Esperance, Schoharie County; but general farming has been his chief occupation, and aside from growing the usual field and garden products of this locality, he raises cattle and sheep.
In 1844 Mr. Ferguson was joined in mar- riage with Elizabeth Humphrey, who was born in Charlestown, Montgomery County, in 1823, daughter of William Humphrey. Two daugh- ters, Almira and Delia A., were born of this union, which lasted a little more than fifty years. Mrs. Ferguson died February 1, 1895.
Mr. Ferguson's farm contains substantial buildings. He is still cultivating it, and under his careful treatment it is made to yield large crops. His easy circumstances are the result of patient industry, and he possesses other excellent qualities which command the respect of all who know him. Politically, he acts with the Republican party. In his relig- ious belief he is a Presbyterian.
AVID ENDERS, a prominent and well-to-do resident of Esperance township, N. Y., was born at Scho- harie Junction, September 10, 1833, son of
Jacob P. and Eva (Kniskern) Enders. He is of the fifth generation in descent from Bar- drum Enders, who emigrated from Ilolland, and, settling as a pioneer in this county, became a large land-owner. A deed for twelve hundred and seventy acres, now in the possession of Mr. David Enders, was originally conveyed from King George in 1729 to Augustus Van Cort- land, who in turn transferred it to a person by the name of Holland. The latter transferred it to Mr. Dow, from whom it went to Bardrum Enders and his descendants. John Enders, son of Bardrum, reared a family of four chil - dren, one being a son Peter, who served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Peter En- ders became the owner of all but one-seventh of his grandfather Bardrum's property, and was an extensive farmer. He had a family of two sons and six daughters, and among the latter were: Maria, who married John Enders; Christina, who married Joseph I. Borst ; Nancy, who married Philip Deitz; and an- other, who married Harmon Beecher. The sons were : Peter I., and Jacob P., the father of David.
Jacob P. Enders followed general farming throughout the active period of his life, and like his predecessors was noted for his energy and ability. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed church, was kind-hearted and char- itable, and his high character gave him consid- erable influence with his fellow-townsmen. In politics he was a Democrat. He was the father of nine children ; namely, Peter, Jolin, David, the subject of this sketch, Maria, Elizabeth, Christina, Eva, Katharine, and Ma-
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tilda. Of the daughters four married. Peter resides in Esperance; John, who lived on the old homestead, was accidentally killed by a runaway horse.
David Enders received his education in the district schools, at the Richmondville Acad- emy, which was destroyed by fire some nine weeks after its opening, and at the Schoharie Academy, where his studies were completed under Professor Briggs. Ile resided at home until after his marriage, when he purchased a piece of property known as Slingerland farm, upon which he remained nine years, and then removed to the farm where he now resides. Ilis homestead is considered one of the hand- somest in Sloansville. Ile takes a keen inter- est in the advancement of the town, and as one of its wealthiest and most public-spirited resi- dents his aid and influence are visible in all measures instigated therefor. He served as Railroad Commissioner for fifteen consecutive years, or until the board was abolished. He was elected to the Assembly in 1896, on the Democratic ticket, and served with ability upon the Committees on Interior Affairs, Vil- lages, and Agriculture. His interest in pub- lic affairs has in various ways proved beneficial to the community, and his well-known persis- tency is a sufficient guarantee that whatever he undertakes will be successfully accomplished. This was recently demonstrated by the comple- tion of a fine new bridge over the Schoharie River at Sloansville, an improvement which was strenuously opposed by many, but through his instrumentality was finally built.
Mr. Enders married for his first wife Mary
E. Larkin, daughter of Daniel Larkin. Two children were the fruit of this marriage, namely : Jacob, who died at the age of four years; and Nancy. For his second wife he married Emma Williams, daughter of Olaff 11. Williams.
Mr. Enders is a Master Mason, and belongs to Schoharie Lodge, No. 492. In his relig- ious belief he favors the Baptists, but contrib- utes toward the support of other churches. Mrs. Enders is a Lutheran.
ILMER E. KREIGER, proprietor of a well-known restaurant in Prattsville, and a citizen prominently identified with the public affairs of this town, was born in Ash- land, N. Y., March 7, 1861, son of Edward and Mahala (Benjamin) Kreiger.
His father, who is a native of Germany, was engaged in a revolutionary movement there which resulted in his being obliged in 1847 to seek refuge in the United States. Locating in Prattsville, he was in the employ of Smith & Offer for five years, at the end of which time he moved to Ashland, where for the succeeding nine years he was engaged in farming. Next coming to Huntersfield, he continued to carry on general farming until 1888, when he re- tired from active labor. He is now seventy- five years old, and is residing in the village of Prattsville. His first wife, Mahala, who was a daughter of Joseph Benjamin, of Prattsville, became the mother of four children, all of whom grew to maturity. One son was acci- dentally killed while gunning in 1893, at the
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age of thirty-four years. The living are: Frank, who is residing on the farm in Hun- tersfield; Kate, who married Merritt Alberti ; and Elmer E., the special subject of this sketch. Mrs. Mahala Kreiger died in 1863, aged thirty-six years. Edward Kreiger mar- ried for his second wife Mary Ham, by whom he has one child, a son, who is residing in this town.
Elmer E. Kreiger was educated in the pub- lic schools. He remained at home until twenty-two years old, when he became an as- sistant on the Stanley Hall farm, and at the end of one year was given the entire charge of that property, which contains five hundred acres. During his fourteen years as manager of this establishment he met with good financial results. After leaving Stanley Hall he bought a farm of two hundred acres in the town of Gilboa, which he sold to good advan- tage a year later, and, coming to Prattsville in 1894, he engaged in the restaurant business. He was also quite an extensive speculator in cattle prior to relinquishing agricultural pur- suits, and in that business he became widely known throughout this section of the State. As a prominent Democrat he takes a lively in- terest in political affairs, and is very popular with his fellow-townsmen. He was elected to the Board of Supervisors for the years 1893, 1894, 1895, 1896, and 1897 by a large major- ity, and during those years he frequently acted as temporary chairman of that body.
Mr. Kreiger is unmarried. He was made a Mason at the age of twenty-two, and is now Junior Warden and a trustee of the Blue
Lodge in this town. lle is a director, and superintendent of grounds, of the Prattsville Agricultural and Horticultural Association, and is always ready to assist in forwarding publie improvements. While not a church member, he contributes toward the support of the various denominations, and is in close sympathy with the different moral and relig- ious societies of the village.
OLONEL ALONZO FERGUSON, of Cobleskill, N. Y., secretary of the Schoharie and Otsego Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in the town of Nassau, Rensse- laer County, this State, on March 19, 1820, son of German and Elizabeth (Sliter) Fergu- son. His parents were both natives of Nas- san. One of his great-grandfathers, a German of the name of Sornberger, was a pioneer set- tler of Dutchess County. His paternal grand- father was Jeremiah Ferguson, and his mater- nal grandfather, John Sliter, both of Nassan, and the latter a Revolutionary soldier and pensioner.
In 1826, about three years after the death of his wife Elizabeth, which occurred when their son Alonzo was only three and a half years old, he came to Cobleskill. Here he spent the rest of his life, and died at the age of seventy-six. In religion he was a Meth- odist.
Colonel Ferguson was only six years old when his father came to Cobleskill. Here, up to his fifteenth year, he received what little
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education the common schools of that day afforded in winter, and in summer he was em- ployed on farm work. At the age of seventeen he was apprenticed to learn wagon-making, and for the succeeding nine years he worked at that trade. At twenty-six he entered a village store at Carlisle as clerk, and there remained for a year. In the spring of 1847 he became a partner of the late Charles Courter at Coble- skill, continuing the connection until 1851, when he engaged in the hardware business at Cobleskill on his own account. This he car- ried on for four years, and at the end of that time sold out to the late Charles 11. Shaver. In 1850 and 1851 he was Clerk of the town of Cobleskill. In 1855 he removed to the city of Buffalo, and in 1862 entered the government service in the commissary department of the army.
lle was ordered to duty in Kentucky, and followed the army to Pittsburg Landing. Ilaving contracted a fever, he was obliged to return north about the first of June, but shortly after was commissioned Adjutant by Governor Morgan to organize the quota of the Twentieth Senatorial District of New York under the call of President Lincoln for three hundred thou- sand volunteers, and he immediately reported to Colonel Richard Franchot at Mohawk, Herkimer County, where camp was estab- lished. This was early in July, 1862, and on the twenty third of the following month the One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment went to the front with one thousand and ten men. A second regiment being needed to complete the quota, at the earnest request of
the war committee, he was again assigned by the governor to the task, and on October 15, 1862, the One Hundred and Fifty-second Reg- iment was mustered into service, thus complet- ing the enlistment of more than two thousand men within the space of three months. Gov- ernor Morgan commissioned him Lieutenant Colonel of the One Hundred and Fifty-second Regiment, and on October 21 he left with his command for the front. In January of the fol- lowing year he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. He was with his regiment at the siege of Suffolk, Va., under General Peck, in April and May, 1863, and from there was or- dered to the Peninsula, thence to Washington, and thence, in July, on to New York to sup- press the draft riots. llis was the first volun- teer regiment to arrive in that city. Order being restored, he was directed by General Canby, who was in command at New York, to proceed to Schenectady and be present there during the enforcement of the draft. He was then ordered back to New York, where his command remained on detached duty until Oc- tober, when he was ordered to join the second corps of the Army of the Potomac. About the first of December the Colonel was obliged to resign on account of impaired health, not being willing to remain in the service unless he could perform active duty.
Returning North he engaged in business in the city of New York, and subsegently in the State of Florida. In 1876 he served as a member of the State Senate of Florida, being sent from the first district of that State. He was at the capital when the arguments on the
ANDREW J. VANDERPOEL.
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Tilden and Hayes returns were made, knew the officials who canvassed the returns, and learned from the lips of the secretary of State all that related to the question. Returning in 1879 to his old home, he here engaged in the hardware business, but later sold out and started an in- surance business. In this line he has been very successful, having been agent for most of the standard companies. In October, 1895, he organized the fire insurance company of which he is now secretary. During his recent residence here he has been chairman of the Republican county committee for four years, and for two years he was a member of the state committee.
Colonel Ferguson was married in March, 1847, to Mary Courter, of this town. She was born in Schoharie, and died in 1859, at the age of thirty-two, leaving two children : Charles, who is now a travelling agent in the West; and Sarah, who died at the age of thirty-three. The latter was the wife of Frank M. Goodrich, and the mother of two children, one of whom is living. The Colonel was married in April, 1865, to Libbie M. Pegg, a native of Springfield, Otsego County, and daughter of George A. Pegg, a well-known hotel-keeper of that town. By this marriage there is one son, Howard P., who is now in business with his father. He was for six years in New York as a hotel clerk.
The Colonel is a member of Cobleskill Lodge, No. 394, F. & A. M., having joined in 1865. He takes an active interest in town affairs. Colonel and Mrs. Ferguson are mem- bers of the Lutheran church, of which he has
been an Elder for a number of years, being also treasurer of the society.
APTAIN ANDREW J. VANDER POEL, dealer in ice, a highly re- spected citizen of New Baltimore, N. Y., was born in this town on May 7, 1838, his parents being Andrew and Jane (Van Slyke) Vanderpoel. His grandfather, also named Andrew, was a native of Columbia County. He spent his life there engaged in farming, and died there at the age of fifty- eight. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smith, was born in Connecticut. None of their seven children are living. Her death occurred at the age of seventy-eight. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and had a brother who was an Elder in that church.
Andrew Vanderpoel, the second, father of the subject of this sketch, came to New Balti- more when a young man, purchased a farm here, and subsequently engaged in farming until about the age of sixty years when he retired and moved to New Baltimore vil- lage, and at the age of seventy-nine he died. He was a Deacon in the Dutch Reformed church and for many years an Elder. In pol- itics he was first a Whig and later a Republi- can. He was a man of sound judgment, and his advice and counsel were sought by many. His wife, Jane, was born in this place; and was a daughter of Tunis Van Slyke, a farmer and large land-owner. She was one of a fam- ily of eight children. Of the six born to her,
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four are living, namely : Tunis, who resides in New Baltimore; Andrew J. ; Peter, who is in Massachusetts ; and Mrs. Alida Mead of this town. The mother died at the age of ninety years.
Captain Vanderpoel in his boyhood attended the district school, and at the age of twenty studied for a time in Claverick Institute. He began his working life on his father's farm, and subsequently went into business, forming a partnership with a Mr. Smith under the firm name of Smith & Vanderpoel, and for six years carrying on a general merchandise store. At the end of that time he disposed of his inter- est in the business to Mr. Holmes. A little later he started a coal yard in New Baltimore, also entered the ice business, also ran boats to New York. He then bought back his interest in the store from Mr. Holmes, retaining it until 1880, when he sold it to Mr. Nelson. During the next six years he was captain of the " City of Hudson," the day boat which ran from Catskill to Albany. While occupying this position he removed his family to Catskill, where he continued to reside until 1887, when he returned to this town. After he left off running the "City of Hudson," he was en- gaged in the transportation of freight to New York, but in 1897 his dock buildings burned, and he discontinued the freight trade. Since then he has carried on an ice business, housing twenty-six thousand tons of ice a year and dis- bursing it in large quantities in New York at wholesale. In 1890 the Captain bought his present beautiful estate, which is a fine farm devoted principally to fruit orchards. It is
known as the Dr. Cornell homestead, and over- looks the gliding Hudson.
Captain Vanderpoel has been twice married, the first time, in 1869, to Elizabeth Randall, and the second time in 1882 to Ella Jennings. The first Mrs. Vanderpoel was a Nova Scotian by birth. She died at the age of thirty-nine, having been the mother of five children, namely : Weston R. and Frank, who are in California; Martha and Margaret who are in New Jersey, and Andrew, also in California. The second Mrs. Vanderpoel was born near Durham. Hler father, Daniel D. Jennings, was a well-known hotel-keeper in his native town of Cairo. Ile died when his daughter Ella was a young girl. Ilis second wife, Eleanor Souser, a descendant of the noted Salisbury family which came from England, was born in Jefferson in the town of Catskill. She bore him four children, of whom there are living: Peter, of New York ; Irving, a Catskill lawyer and bank president ; and Mrs. Vanderpoel. Captain and Mrs. Vanderpoel have one child, Peter Jennings, now eleven years of age. They lost two little sons - John Benham, at two years of age; and Worthington, who died an infant.
The Captain is a Republican ; but he refuses to accept nomination for public office, though frequently asked to do so. Ile is a Mason, being formerly associated with Ark Lodge of Coxsackie and at present a member of Social Friendship Lodge of New Baltimore. Of the latter he is a charter member, one of three, and since its organization has been treasurer of the lodge. Mrs. Vanderpoel is a member of the Dutch Reformed Church of Catskill.
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ILLIAM HENRY DECKER, SI- pervisor of the town of Gilboa, Schoharie County, N. Y., and by occupation a dairyman and fruit-grower, was born in Gilboa on November 12, 1846. His parents were Jacob and Betsy Ann (Shew) Decker, and his paternal grandfather was Tunis Decker, whose immigrant progenitor was one of a colony of Dutch emigrants who settled in Deckertown, N. J., and Columbia County, New York.
Tunis Decker was born in 1765 in Columbia County, and lived there for some time. IIe came eventually to Gilboa, and purchased a tract of three hundred acres, part of which es- tate is where his grandson William now re- sides. Although ostensibly a farmer, he was a man of varied talents, and could turn his hand to almost any kind of work. He came here in 1833, and died some twenty years later, in his eighty-ninth year. His remains were the first to be carried into the Shew Hol- low Methodist church for funeral services. No other place seemed so fitting as the church for which he had worked and sacrificed, and to whose interests he was so thoroughly devoted. His wife, whom he had married shortly after the Revolution, survived him some years, dy- ing at the age of eighty-eight. Of their fam- ily of twelve children three died in infancy. The nine that continued life's journey were : Cornelia, Jacob and Sophia (twins,) Polly, Catherine, Susan, Eliza, Cornelius, and George. Eliza Decker died on Long Island of yellow fever. Tall stature was a family char- acteristic. The three sons became farmers, and each upon settling in life for himself was
given a hundred acres of land from the paternal estate. Cornelius died in New London, Wis. He had three sons, only one of whom is living. This one and William Henry Decker are the only living male descendants of Tunis Decker bearing his name. George had two sons, but both are deceased.
Jacob Decker, who was born June 30, 1811, at Conesville, Schoharie County, N. Y., and died in Gilboa, N. Y., on Christmas Day, 1879, was a carpenter, and followed his trade for twenty-two years, being considered one of the most skilled workmen in these parts. He lived with his parents until his marriage, and then settled on the lot his father gave him, living first in the log house on the premises which became the birthplace of the subject of this sketch and most of his brothers and sis- ters. Later Jacob Decker built a large house. He was a Republican from the formation of the party, and a leader in all local affairs. He was deeply interested in the progress of the church, and was one of those who helped build the Methodist church edifice at Shew Hollow. He was class leader for fourteen years. In- deed, this family has been and still is noted for its liberal support of all religious organ- izations both in a moral and a financial way. Jacob Decker's wife, Betsy Ann, was a grand- daughter, on her mother's side, of Captain Hagar, who won renown during the days of the Revolution by his valiant service in behalf of the colonists. His brother Joseph was shot during the war, and his father was carried a prisoner to Canada, and detained there until the end of the struggle. One of three pewter
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