USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 19
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 19
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 19
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In 1878 Mr. Roe married Arvillia Deyo, a native of Durham, and daughter of Milo Deyo, now the popular blacksmith of Greenville. Of this union four children have been born, by name Milo B., Ford, Mary, and John.
In politics Mr. Roe is a Democrat. He has given valuable service to the town in numerous public positions. In 1890, and the four suc- ceeding years, he was Supervisor, and in 1894 and 1895 he was chairman of the board. llc has been a member of the Board of Education ever since it was organized. While chairman of their board in his last term the Supervisors presented him with a very fine easy chair, this being an expression of their appreciation of his services while a member of the body. In 1897 he was elected Superintendent of the Poor, to serve until 1900. Mr. Roe makes a most efficient manager for the almshouse. Under his cate the place is kept in the best of
repair, and everything about it is neat and or- derly, while the health and comfort of the seventy inmates is carefully looked after.
Mr. Roe is a prominent Mason, being con- nected with James M. Austin Lodge, F. & A. M., and Greenville Royal Arch Chapter, No. 283. He has held all the offices in the lodge, having been warden, deacon, master for two years, and secretary six years. Ilis membership in the lodge dates back twenty- five years. Ile is a charter member of the chapter, and has always been its treasurer. lle is frequently sent by his fellow-townsmen as delegate to county conventions, and is a member of the Town and County Committee. No worthy object fails to receive his warm and active support, and he is often the originator of plans, the carrying out of which proves to be a benefit to the town and the community.
RANK L. CASPER, manufacturer of extension tables and the patentee of table supports for drop-leaf tables, in the town of Cobleskill, Schoharie County, has a large and finely equipped plant at Howe's Cave, not far from the railway station of that village. He was born October 10, 1857, in the town of Cobleskill, and is the only sur- viving son of George Casper, a well-known business man of this section of the county. Hle is of German and Scotch descent, and the representative of a pioneer family of Scho- harie County, his paternal grandfather, whose name was Peter, having been an early settler
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of this town. Peter Casper was a farmer and the owner of a good homestead, which he managed successfully until his death, at the age of threescore years. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Herron, were among the leading members of the Re- formed church. They reared a large family of children.
George Casper left the home farm on be- coming of age, engaged in business for him- self as a miller, purchasing a clover-mill and a saw-mill, and afterward a planing-mill and a cider-mill, all of which, with the exception of the first named, he is still operating with success. With true German thrift he saved each year a portion of his earnings, and soon erected the house in which he is now living. He has also accumulated some other property. A strong Democrat in politics, he takes an intelligent interest in local matters, and has served his fellow-townsmen in various ways. He has held different offices in the Reformed church, of which he and his wife are active members, and for a number of years has been Elder of the church. He married Emeline Berner, who was born in Barnerville, this county, a daughter of John J. Berner. Of their five children three are now living, as follows: Ella, wife of Sylvester Mann, of Howes Cave; Alice, wife of Harvey Boorn ; and Frank L. John P. Casper, who was pre- paring for the ministry at Rutgers College, died at the age of twenty-three years, and a daughter, Ida, wife of Ira Rickard, died on March 13, 1899.
Frank L. Casper in his boyhood and youth
acquired a practical common-school education, and until attaining his majority assisted his father in the care of his different mills. De- sirous, then, of turning his natural mechani- cal ability to some good account, he began the manufacture of furniture on a small scale, and succeeded so well that in the course of a few years he was forced to build an addition to the shop in which he had started his opera- tions. He subsequently leased the main building of the old Braman woollen factory, and, erecting near by a drying kiln, a finish- ing-room, and a wareroom, has here since 1882 devoted his entire time to the making of extension tables. His plant is furnished with the latest improved and approved machinery, much of which he designed and made in his own factory, this being, with a single excep- tion, the only one of the kind between Bingham- ton and Albany. He employs a large force of men all the time in order to meet the demands of his customers in the six New England States, New York, and Pennsylvania, his tables being sold on their merits His trade, already large, is constantly increasing, orders being daily received from firms in different parts of the Union. His factory and resi- dence are both warmed by steam heat and lighted throughout by electricity.
Mr. Casper is a steadfast Prohibitionist in politics, and labors hard to advance the tem- perance cause. He is an active member of the Reformed church, in which he has served as Elder and treasurer, and has also held other offices. He has been connected with the Sunday-school for many years, much of
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the time being its superintendent or the teacher of the Bible class.
On March 5, 1879, Mr. Casper married Miss Belle Becker, daughter of Francis Becker, a prominent manufacturer of Scho- harie County, owning and operating mills at Central Bridge, Galupville, and Berne. Mr. and Mrs. Casper have two children - Le Roy and Le Grand, the oldest a pupil in the Coble- skill High School, class of 1899. The younger son will enter Cobleskill High School the coming fall.
IL. SE ILLIAM II. STEWART, proprietor of the Stewart house in Athens, N. Y., and a representative citizen of this place, was born in Jacksonville, now Earlton, in the town of Coxsackie, Greene County, on December 8, 1849, son of William C. and Margaret (Hardick) Stewart. William C. Stewart, who was born in Coxsackie, was a lawyer by profession, and practised in his na- tive town for over a quarter of a century. He was a leading man there, and for a number of years was justice. In his later life he made his home with his son William. His death occurred in 1884, at the age of sixty-eight. Ile was a Republican in politics. His wife was born in the town of Athens, and died in Earlton at the age of sixty-three. She was the daughter of Jacob Hardick, who carried on farming on what was known as the Ilardick farm. She bore her husband six children, only two of whom are living ; namely, William 11. and his sister, Lucy J. The latter, who
now resides in McHenry, Ill., is the wife of Isaac Wentworth, formerly of Athens, Greene County, N. Y.
William H. Stewart's early years were spent in Jacksonville in the town of Coxsackie, and he attended the public schools there until he was fifteen years of age. He then went to work as errand boy in the store of Daniel Whiting, who dealt in general merchandise, and also carried on a brick manufactory and a wood yard. Young Stewart rose from the humble position of errand boy to that of clerk, and in this capacity worked for Mr. Whiting some ten or twelve years. Subsequently to that he was clerk for a year in the Wormer House, now the Arlington House, of Athens, and at the end of that time, in 1875, he purchased his present property. The small house then stand- ing on the lot was torn down, and the finely appointed Stewart house of to-day erected in its place. The building is three stories high, and is fitted with all modern improvements, such as steam-heating apparatus, electricity for call bells and for lighting, hot and cold water and sanitary bath tubs. Besides the main house, Mr. Stewart owns the three adjoining houses and the dock where the ferry boat from Iludson lands. Ile has accommodations for about fifty guests, and as a landlord is desery- edly popular. He has always taken an active part in politics, and has been trustee of the village a number of years and also school trustec.
Mr. Stewart was married in 1877 to Idla Ilollenbeck, who was born at Guilderland Centre, in Albany County, daughter of Garret
GEORGE W. ANDERSON.
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and Harriet (Van Valkenberg) Hollenbeck. Her father, who was a farmer, died when only forty years of age. Her mother, who was born in Albany, is still living, being now sixty- nine years of age. Of Mrs. Hollenbeck's three children, Mrs. Stewart is the only one living. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart have one child, Hattie W., who lives with them. They lost a son, Wilfred D., at the age of ten years.
Mr. Stewart is a member of Custer Lodge of Odd Fellows, No. 508, and of the Knights of Pythias, No. 129, of Athens. He has served several years as a member of Mackawack Hand Engine Company, but is now exempt from duty with that company, though he is an active member of the Hook and Ladder Company, which is said to be one of the finest in the State. He is also a member of the Horse Thief Detective Association, and one of its riders. He is the oldest hotel man in this town, and with one exception the oldest in the county. His wife and daughter attend the Re- formed church. In connection with his hotel Mr. Stewart carries on a livery, which is one of the best in the town.
EORGE W. ANDERSON, the lead- ing business man of Hunter, Greene County, N. Y., dealer in wood and coal and building supplies, and proprietor of the Cen- tral House, was born in New Sharon, Mon- mouth County, N. J., May 12, 1850, his parents being Jacob and Matilda (Brown) An- derson. His grandfather Anderson resided in Perrineville, N.J., in which town Jacob was
born in 1814. llis grandmother, whose maiden name was Mary Baldwin, was the daughter of Thomas Baldwin. Her father lived to the advanced age of ninety-three. She died at the age of fifty, having been the mother of five children.
Jacob Anderson was a carpenter and builder by trade, and for thirty-five years carried on business in Hightstown, Mercer County, N. J., where he was a prominent citizen. The last years of his life were spent on a farm. In politics he was a Republican. He was an ac- tive member of an Odd Fellows organization. His death occurred in 1890, at the age of seventy-six. His wife, Matilda, who was born in Hightstown in 1824, and died in 1896, was the daughter of Captain George W. Brown, who commanded a company of militia stationed at Sandy Hook in the War of 1812. Both Jacob Anderson and his wife were members of the Methodist church. Of their family of five sons and two daughters, only one, a son Jacob, is deceased. The living are: Abijah A., William W., George W., Carrie M., Thomas B., and Lilly B. Carrie married John W. Brown, and Lilly is the wife of Bills Flock.
George W. Anderson lived with his parents and attended the common schools until he was about sixteen years old, when he began life for himself. At first he worked on a farm, and then he learned the carpenter's trade. His brothers, it may be mentioned, are also en- gaged as carpenters and builders. He worked at his trade in Hightstown, Freehold, New Brunswick, and Newark, N. J., and at College Point, Long Island. Coming to Hunter in
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1876, Mr. Anderson worked for four years as a wheelwright, but at the end of that time en- gaged in the building business, His success has been remarkable. He has seen the town double in size since he came here, and has him- self put up the more important of the new buildings. He built the Methodist church and the Kaatsberg Hotel, remodelled the Hunter House, built the church and the chair factory at Edgewood, and many houses in Ilunter, Edgewood, and Tannersville. During busy seasons he employed thirty hands, carrying on the largest contracting business anywhere in this section. During a number of years he has supplied large quantities of lumber to other builders, and for some time he was the only lumber dealer in five towns of this sec- tion. He is consequently widely known. Mr. Anderson's house, which is one of the fin- est in the village, was built by him, as was also the building in which his office is now located, and which was from 1880 to 1887 used as a sash and blind shop. Since 1884 Mr. Anderson has done little or no building, but has given his time and attention to the man- agement of his large lumber yard and carriage repository. In connection with this he does a large business in coal, wood, and grain, and carries a line of paints, oils, and hardware sup- plies, and all kinds of building material used by both carpenters and masons. Ile is the only coal dealer in Hunter, Windham, Ash- land, or Jewett.
Mr. Anderson was married in 1872 to Julia E. Lake, daughter of Hiram and Bathsheba (Lounsberry) Lake. She was born in Free-
hold, N. Y. Her father, who was a farmer, died at the age of sixty, and her mother died at the age of fifty-three. Of their two chil- dren, Hiram and Julia E., Mrs. Anderson is the only one living. Mr. Lake was twice married. By his first wife, formerly Julia Rockwell, of East Durham, N. Y., he had two sons - James M. and Charles E., the latter now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have two daughters, namely: Mabel, who is yet in school; and Anna Bell, who is the wife of Elmer E. Goodsell, telegraph operator and agent on the Stony Clove & Catskill Mountain Railroad. (See biography on an- other page.) There are three grandchildren - Marguerite, Anderson, and Vera.
Mr. Anderson has always shown a vital in- terest in all public affairs since first he canie to HIunter. Ile has served the town in the office of Assessor for three years, as Commis- sioner of Streets, as trustee and clerk of the School Board, as one of the Trustees of the vil- lage, and is at the present time a member of the Town Committee. His political affilia- tions are with the Republican party. He and his family are members of the Baptist church, but they attend the Methodist church in Hunter, Mr. Anderson being a trustee of the church and treasurer of the board. Ile can always be depended upon to work for any good cause in the church as well as outside. He was one of the projectors of the Maplewood Cemetery Association, and for many years has been its president. Fraternally, he is a mem- ber and treasurer of Mount Tabor Lodge, No. 807, F. & A. M., and of Mountain Chapter,
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R. A. M. He was one of the charter members of Catskill Chapter at Catskill.
ARED VAN WAGENEN, a well- known and prosperous agriculturist of Lawyersville, Schoharie County, own- ing and occupying the valuable estate known as Hillside farm, was born January 13, 1835, near Sharon Hill, in the neighboring town of Seward. Son of Rynear Van Wagenen, he is of Dutch ancestry, being a lineal descendant of Aart Jacobsen Van Wagenen, who emigrated from Wageningen, Holland, a town not far from the Rhine, to Bergen, N. J., in 1650, and whose name, with that of his wife, Annetji Gerrits, was recorded as a member of the Dutch church of Kingston, Bergen County, June 24, 1661.
Conrad Van Wagenen, grandfather of Jared, was born January 15, 1752, in Somerset County, New Jersey, whence in early manhood he removed to Charleston, Montgomery County, N. Y., as one of its earliest settlers. He took up unimproved land, and, having cleared a portion of it, devoted himself to gen- eral farming, in conjunction with which he operated a small tannery. He subsequently came to Schoharie County, and, buying a farm near Sharon Hill, resided there until his death, at the venerable age of ninety years. Tradition says that he was present as a guard at the execution of Major Andre on October 2, 1780, at Tappan.
Rynear Van Wagenen with his numerous brothers and sisters was brought up on a farm,
spending his earliest years in Charleston, N. Y., and completing his education in the dis- trict schools of Sharon, whither he accompa- nied his parents when a boy. On reaching man's estate he bought land in Cobleskill, where for a number of years he was engaged in farming. His death occurred at the home of his son Jared, in the seventieth year of his age. He was quite active in local matters, serving his fellow-townsmen in various offices besides that of Justice of the Peace, which he held several terms. In politics he was a strong adherent of the Democratic party. Ilis wife, Emily Goodyear, was born on Hillside farm, then owned by her father, Jared Good- year, who was born and reared in IIampden, Conn. Mr. Goodyear on removing to New York became a pioneer settler in a small town near Ithaca, which was named Goodyears. On account of malaria he left that place, and coming to Schoharie County bought two hun- dred acres of woodland in Cobleskill, and here spent the remainder of his life. He erected a log house for his first dwelling, and then began the improvement of his property. He cleared a considerable tract of his land, and, being an energetic, progressive man, he was very successful not only as a farmer, but as one of the most popular tavern-keepers of this vicinity. Four sons were born to Mr. and Mrs. Rynear Van Wagenen, and three of them survive, as follows: Jared, of Lawyersville ; Albert, of Boston, Mass. ; and James, who re- sides with his brother Jared. Both parents were members of the Reformed church.
Jared Van Wagenen lived at home until
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nine years old, when he became an inmate of the household of his uncles, Willis and George Goodyear, who brought him up, their home being the farm where he now resides. He attended the district school and assisted in the farm labors until the death of his uncles, and since that time has had entire charge of this magnificent farm of two hundred and fifty acres, one of the finest in its improvements of any in this section of Schoharie County. He makes a specialty of dairying, keeping a herd of thirty or forty cows, and manufactures a fine grade of butter, which he sells to special cus- tomers in this vicinity. A few years ago Mr. Van Wagenen built his large barn, three stories in height, one hundred and thirty by eighty - seven feet, with all modern equip- ments, including an engine and two silos of two hundred tons capacity.
lle has been an active member of the Coble- skill Agricultural Society; also of the New York State Agricultural Association; and is vice-president of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank. In politics he is a loyal Democrat, and has been Supervisor of the town two years. lle contributes liberally toward the mainte- nance of the Dutch Reformed church, of which he and his family are members, and in which he has held many of the offices.
On November 18, 1858, Mr. Van Wagenen married Loraine McNeill, the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Brazillia McNeill. Iler mother is still living, a capable woman of eighty-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Van Wagenen have one son living; namely, Jared, Jr., born May 14, 1871; and have been bereft of one, Albert,
who died at the age of fifteen years. Jared Van Wagenen, Jr., obtained his elementary education in Lawyersville, and after his grad- uation at the Cobleskill High School took the Bachelor's degree in 1891, and the Master's de- gree in 1896 at Cornell University, where he has since taught in the Dairy Department. He is now assisting his father on the home farm. lle married Magdalena Lamont, the only child of E. W. Lamont, a prominent farmer of this town. Two children have been born of this union ; namely, Sarah Lamont and Loraine McNeill.
R" UDOLPH BESTLE, M.D., a leading physician and surgeon of Hunter, N. Y., was born in Troy, this State, on August 20, 1866, his parents being John and Wilhelmina (Shutheis) Bestle. His father, who was of German birth, came to Troy, N. Y., before marriage, and engaged in the restaurant business. He died when only thirty-four years of age. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Bestle also was born in Germany, being one of a family of several children. She is still liv- ing at Kingston, this State. Her father, who was a druggist and medical practitioner, lived to the advanced age of ninety-eight years. Of her eight children, four are living, namely : George, who resides in New York; Henrietta, who married William Weston, of Rondout ; August ; and Rudolph, the special subject of this biography.
Rudolph Bestle received his elementary edu-
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cation in the common schools, and at the age of eighteen began the study of medicine with Dr. MeLane, a leading physician of Troy, and Dr. O'Conner of the Troy Hospital. He sub- sequently entered the Albany Medical College, and was graduated at that institution in 1888, at twenty-one years of age, standing high in his class. He immediately began the practice of his profession in Troy, but eighteen months later removed to Burke, in Franklyn County, N. Y., where he remained for the next six years. He then came to Hunter, where he has since been in practice. He is a general prac- titioner, and also a surgeon of unusual skill, having performed many difficult operations. During his two years in the Troy Hospital, and for several months while he was in the New York Polyclinic, he had a large amount of val- uable experience in attending cases of appendi- citis, and in his subsequent practice he has had remarkable success with the many cases of that nature brought to him for treatment.
Dr. Bestle is a member both of the Greene County Medical Society and of the Medical Society of Northern New York. He is also a member of the Sixth Separate Company of militia of Troy, and of the Arba Reed Steamer Company of that city. Fraternally, he holds membership in Frontier Lodge, F. & A. M., of Chateaugay. In politics the Doctor is a Re- publican, and in religious faith an Episcopa- lian, being connected with St. Paul's Episco- pal Church of Troy. Although he has been in Hunter a comparatively short time, he has al- ready built up a large practice, and is very popular both socially and professionally.
ELLINGTON E. BASSLER, one of the leading business men of Middle- burg, N. Y., was born on August 19, 1848, son of David and Augusta (Tibbits) Bassler. His paternal grandfather was Henry Bassler. He was born in Knox, Albany County, and spent his early years in that place. After his mar- riage,he came to Huntersland, this town, and settled on what is now known as the Bassler homestead, where he spent the remainder of his life, and where he died at the age of forty- four. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Saddlemyer, was also a native of Albany County. She lived to reach the age of eighty- nine. Of the ten children born to her, five are living, namely : Amanda, who married Re- solved Macomber; Amaziah; Eliza Ann, who married Peleg Cook; Sylvester, who occupies the old homestead; and Lucy, who married Salem Smith, and resides near Rensselaerville, Albany County.
David Bassler, who was born in Hunters- land, March 22, 1822, and died September 13, 1893, was reared on the home farm, and up to 1859, with the exception of one year, was en- gaged exclusively in agricultural work. In 1860 he went into mercantile life in Hunters- land; and in 1869 he bought the Luther Vroman store in Middleburg, at the corner of Main Street and Railroad Avenue, and thus became the proprietor of what to-day, under the efficient management of his successors, is one of the leading stores in town. David Bassler's wife, to whom he was married in October, 1847, was the daughter of Harry and Betsy (Styles) Tibbits, of Huntersland, early resi-
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cents of the town. Mr. Tibbits lived to be eighty-five years of age, and Mrs. Tibbits lived to be sixty. Mrs. Augusta T. Bassler, who died on September 7, 1880, at the age of fifty- two, was one of four daughters born to her parents. She was a member of the Christian church at Huntersland. Her children were. Wellington E. Bassler; Ida, who married Peter Wormer; and Ella, who married George B. llyde, of Middleburg.
Wellington E. Bassler was educated in the public schools, and at Starkey Seminary, from which he was graduated in June, 1869. Fol- lowing this he was clerk in his father's store for two years, and then in 1871 he was admitted to a half-interest in the business, which as- sumed the name of D. Bassler & Son. In April, 1875, John HI. Cornell bought the elder Mr. Bassler's interest, and the firm name was changed to Bassler & Cornell. On January 1, 1880, Mr. Cornell retired. In 1887 Mr. Bass- ler took into partnership two of his clerks, C. L. McBain and George B. Wheeler, and the firm name has since been W. E. Bassler & Co.
Mr. Bassler is a wide-awake man, and is in- terested in varied enterprises of a progressive character. IJe is a warm-hearted Republican, and has been connected with the Republican County Committee for some time, six years as its chairman, and a number of years as secre- tary of the committee. On April 1, 1889, he assumed the duties of Postmaster of Middle- burg. He held this position five years, and in that time he greatly improved the postal ser- vice of this town, had the satisfaction of seeing
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