USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 2
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 2
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 2
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
Since March 25, 1878, Mr. Frisbie has been president and general manager of the Middle- burg & Schoharie Railroad, much of whose success is due to him. This road, which was constructed under the authority of a legislative enactment of May 8, 1867, is six miles in length, and connects Middleburg and Scho- harie villages. The road and trains are con- tinued five miles farther north to a junction with the Delaware & Hudson, but the Scho- harie valley road has greatly handicapped the Middleburg Company, since the latter de- pends upon the northern stretch as an outlet. At one time it would have been possible to purchase the Schobarie road, and Mr. Frisbie strenuously urged that this might be done, offering to make a subscription of five thousand dollars for the purpose. Since then it has been impossible to buy it. It may be inter- esting to review here in brief the history of the inception and growth of the Middleburg branch. When the Delaware & Hudson had been built as far as Onconta, and the people of Schoharie had determined to connect with it there, a few prominent men of this town met at a hotel, and, after carefully considering the matter, decided that they would also make a junction at Schoharie by raising one hundred thousand dollars, half of which would be sub- scribed by the town and the other half by pri- vate individuals. As a matter of fact, the total capitalization, fully paid in, was but ninety-two thousand dollars. The town was
bonded but comparatively little to raise the full amount of its subscription. The bonds of the company, which were placed at par (seven per cent. interest), were retired in 1893, prin- cipal and interest, by James Borst, railroad commissioner. The individual subscribers to the stock numbered about seventy-five, and in- cluded many small holders in and about Mid- dleburg, about seventeen thousand dollars being in Albany holdings and the balance in New York. No indebtedness was incurred in the construction and equipment of the road, as one of the first resolutions passed by the di- rectors had been that work was to stop as soon as funds were wanting. The road is now in paying condition, and shows clearly that it has been most efficiently managed. Mr. Frisbie is one of the first and largest local subscribers to the stock of the First National Bank, and from the time of its organization has been its vice-president.
In 1858 Mr. Frisbie was united in marriage with Kate Dodge, daughter of Daniel D. Dodge, late of this town. Mr. Dodge was a prominent merchant and for one year member of the State Assembly. Mrs. Frisbie departed this life in June, 1898. She was the mother of four children, namely : Daniel D. and George D., the sons above mentioned; and two daughters, Laura and Emma. Laura is now the wife of Dow Beekman, whose biog- raphy may be found on another page of the REVIEW. All these children are graduates of Hartwick Seminary in Otsego County, an in- stitution of which Mr. Frisbie has for many years been treasurer and trustee. Mr. Frisbie
19
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
and his family are members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Frisbie is an Elder in the church. He was for several years superin- tendent of the Sunday-school.
ENRY T. BOTSFORD, a leading farmer of Greenville, Greene County, N. Y., was born in this town on De- cember 18, 1845, son of Dr. Gideon and Maria L. (Tallmadge) Botsford. Dr. Botsford's grandfather, Gideon Botsford, Sr., resided in Newtown, Conn. He was possessed of liberal means, had large influence in his community, and represented his town in the councils of his State. Amos, one of his thirteen children and the grandfather of Henry T. Botsford, was born in Newtown on February 13, 1780.
Having obtained an academic education, Amos Botsford entered upon the study of medicine at the age of eighteen years, received his diploma at twenty-one years, and im- mediately afterward came to the new town of Greenville and settled for the practice of his profession. Dr. Amos Botsford was married on September 20, 1801, to Elizabeth Clark, daughter of Joseph Clark, of Connecticut ; and his house-keeping began in what has since been known as the Ell. Knowles place. A few years after he purchased a lot and built the house in which Pierce Stevens now resides. Later he purchased of Jonathan Sherrill the lot and dwelling now occupied by his son-in- law, Dr. B. S. McCabe, and there resided until his death.
" For many years Dr. Amos Botsford was
the only physician of standing or professional ability in this section of the country, conse- quently his services were much sought and his labors were arduous. His custom when visit- ing his patients was to ride on horseback. Few men possessed a finer physique than the Doctor. Of dignified appearance, he com- manded the respect of all, even at first sight. He was a faithful, intelligent, and successful practitioner for over fifty years. He repre- sented his town in the Board of Supervisors in the years 1826, 1827, 1831, 1834, and 1849. He was one of the incorporators of Greenville Academy. He was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church in Greenville, and for many years an acting Elder in it. He died on August 16, 1864. His wife died Decem- ber 3, 1855.
" There were born to them two sons and two daughters. Eliza, the eldest, born June 5, 1807, was married to Charles Callender, and died April 4, 1871, leaving three children - John, Charles, and David. Of these John is engaged in the manufacture of brick in Boston. Charles (deceased) was a manufacturer of paint in Newark, N.J. David is now deceased. Clark Botsford, the second child of Dr. Amos, was born September 15, 1808. He was grad- uated from Union College at the age of nine- teen. He then studied law, and subsequently practised his profession in the western part of the State. Mary L., the youngest child, mar- ried Dr. B. S. McCabe, and has continued to reside in the house where she was born and in which her parents died."
Gideon Botsford, third child of Dr. Amos,
20
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
and father of Henry T. Botsford, was born on June 5, 1811. He obtained a good education at Greenville Academy, and subsequently, in 1832, was graduated from the Fairfield Medical College. He began the practice of medicine with his father, and for fifty years continued to devote his entire energies to the work of the profession he so much loved. Like his father he was a man of commanding appearance and agreeable address, and like him he won and enjoyed the respect and confidence of the com- munity. Ever active, and having in view the improvement of his native village, he never lost an opportunity to promote the public wel- fare. He was for many years an Elder of the Presbyterian church, of which from early life he was a faithful member. He served as a promi- nent member of the Board of Trustees of Green- ville Academy. The Doctor's wife, Maria L., was the daughter of Dr. Henry Tallmadge, and a sister of Mrs. John G. Hart. (See sketch of John G. Ilart.) Of the four chil- dren born to her, two are living - Henry T. and Anna M. Dr. Botsford was a Democrat in politics, and served the town as Supervisor for two terms.
Henry T. Botsford resided with his father up to the time of the latter's death. In 1878 he purchased of Robert Ilawley a farm that he owned for eleven years, and in 1890 he bought the farm which is now his home. His house, which is the finest in the village, was begun in 1891 and completed in 1892. Mr. Botsford is one of the largest land-owners in the town. He now carries on the homestead farm of twenty acres opposite his own, the Gideon
Hickock farm of one hundred acres, and the George Conklin farm of two hundred and twenty acres. Hle is a man of wide reading, and especially well informed on topics of pub- lic interest.
Mr. Botsford married in 1882 Mary, daugh- ter of Thomas and Emily Robbins, and a native of Greenville. Her father was a car- penter by trade, and he also carried on a farm. He died at the age of seventy-one, having been twice married. His wife, Emily, who was born in Greenville, died in 1891. Of her two children Mrs. Botsford is the only one living. Mr. and Mrs. Botsford have one child, Frances Helena by name. In politics Mr. Botsford is a Democrat. He has dealt to quite an extent in real estate. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and he has been one of its trustees for many years.
ARMON BECKER, whose death oc- curred January 18, 1897, at the home- stead in Cobleskill, N. Y., now occupied by Mrs. Becker and her daughters, was during his long life an esteemed citizen of this town and one of its successful farmers. He was born June 19, 1813, at Duanesburg, Schenectady County, and was a son of Nicho- las Becker. He came from patriotic stock, both his paternal grandfather, Captain John Becker, and his maternal grandfather, John Ferguson, having fought as brave soldiers in the Revolutionary War, the former command- ing a company of minute-men.
Nicholas Becker lived in Duanesburg some
21
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
years after his marriage to Jean Ferguson of Edinburgh, Scotland; but in 1823 he came with his family to Cobleskill, and, taking up a tract of forest-covered land, began the laborious task of clearing a farm and establish- ing a home.
Harmon Becker was a lad of ten years when he came here with his parents. He assisted in the pioneer labor of reclaiming a farm from the forest, and, having subsequently succeeded to its ownership, was here industriously and pros- perously engaged in general farming and saw- milling to the close of his life of eighty-three years. He was a stanch Democrat in his po- litical affiliations for the greater part of his life, and served as Supervisor two terms and as School Inspector a number of years. In his last years he voted with the Prohibition party, believing strongly in the equal suffrage plank of its platform. A valued member of the Lu- theran church, he held nearly all the offices connected with that organization, and for thirty-six consecutive years was superintendent of its Sunday-school.
On January 17, 1849, Mr. Becker married Miss Julia A. Myer, who was born in Barner- ville, N. Y. Her father, Stephen Myer, was of Dutch extraction. The emigrant ancestor of the Myer family came to America from Hol- land in old Colonal times, and was one of the original settlers of Ulster County, in this State. Mrs. Becker's paternal grandfather, Peter L. Myer, was born and brought up in Saugerties, Ulster County. Removing thence to Schoharie County, he devoted his energies to tilling the soil. His death occurred at the
venerable age of ninety-one years. He, too, served with honor in the Revolutionary War. Stephen Myer continued during his life in the occupation to which he was trained, and in addition to general farming carried on a sub- stantial business as a miller, owning and op- erating both a saw-mill and a grist-mill. He lived to be eighty-one years of age. His wife, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Mowers, was born in Ulster County, a daughter of Jacob Mowers. Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Myer had four children, two of whom are still living, namely : Mrs. Becker; and her sister, Sally C., who is the wife of Charles Ryder. Mrs. Myer died at the age of eighty-one years. Both she and her husband were active mem- bers of the Lutheran church, in which he filled all the offices. He was also prominent in local affairs, and for a number of years served as Highway Commissioner.
Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Becker - Elizabeth Jean and Mary Isadore. Mrs. Becker and her daughters live on the home farm, which they have managed with success since Mr. Becker's death. They carry on general farming, using judgment in all mat- ters pertaining to the care of their one hundred and seventy-five acres. A part of the land is devoted to grazing, and a part to the raising of wheat, corn, and hay. They also continue the saw-mill business. Mrs. Becker and the Misses Becker are faithful members of the Lutheran church, and also of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union.
The history of the Harmon Becker home- stead is unique in that for fifty-six years no
22
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
death occurred on the place, either of its owners or family, or of the men or maids employed by them during that time. The carefully-kept records show that more than ninety souls lived, either permanently or tem- porarily, on the farm during those years.
TEPHEN A. CURTIS, an account- ant in the Schenectady freight office of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company Railway, was born on January 8, 1850, in Blenheim, Schoharie County, N. Y. That town was the native place of his parents, Stephen L. and Eliza (Maham) Curtis. His grandfather, Benjamin P. Curtis, who did gar- rison duty at Sackett's Harbor, N. Y., during the War of 1812, went to Blenheim from Duanesburg, Schenectady County, N. Y. Jo- seph Curtis, the father of Benjamin P., came from Litchfield, Conn., to New York State soon after the close of the Revolutionary War, and, clearing a farm in the wilderness, suc- ceeded through his energy and perseverance in establishing a comfortable home. Of the chil- dren of Stephen L. and Eliza Curtis there are but two survivors: Stephen A., the subject of this sketch; and Stanley D., who is now sta- tion agent for the Delaware & Hudson River Railway at Plattsburg, N. Y. He married Harriet Gardner, and has three sons, namely : Stanley, born in 1886; Charles, born in 1889; and George T., born in 1892.
Stephen A. Curtis acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of Blenheim and Jefferson, and completed his studies at the semi-
nary in Stamford, N. Y., where he was fitted for educational work. For a number of years he was a successful teacher in Schoharie and Broome Counties. Coming to Schenectady in 1881, he entered the freight office of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company Railway as book- keeper, and here after eighteen years of faith- ful service he remains at this day, a valuable member of their clerical force.
Mr. Curtis married Ella M. Danforth, daughter of Elijah Danforth, of Jefferson, N. Y. They have one daughter, Adeline. She is the wife of lra Brownell, of Schenectady, and has one child, Eleanor, born in 1897.
Mr. Curtis has been quite active in public affairs, having served as Excise Commissioner and upon the board of United States Supervi- sors. Politically, he acts with the Democratic party. He is Past Dictator of Lodge No. 3715, Knights of Honor; is a charter member and by dispensation First Prophet of Saugh-Naugh- ta-da Tribe, No. 123, Improved Order of Red Men. He attends the Congregational church, and is now serving as a trustee.
ON. SIMON J. SCHERMERHORN, an ex-member of Congress, one of the most prominent men of Rotter- dam, N. Y., was born in this town, September 26, 1827, son of Jacob I. and Maria (Vedder) Schermerhorn. His father was born in Rot- terdam in 1789, and his mother was born here in 1788. Mr. Schermerhorn is a descendant in the eighth generation of Jacob Janse Scher- merhorn, who arrived from Holland about the
JOSEPH MALCOLM.
25
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
year 1650, and founded the family which since that date has been prominently identified with Rotterdam and vicinity. The majority of its representatives have been extensive farmers. Jacob I. Schermerhorn, the father above named, was a leading spirit in local public affairs, and served with ability as Supervisor.
Simon J. Schermerhorn acquired the usual district-school education provided for the chil- dren of his day, and he certainly made good use of his meagre opportunities. Reared a farmer, like most of his neighbors, he has fol- lowed farming with unusual success, and he still has large agricultural interests. He has also dealt extensively in broom corn, and for thirty years he was engaged in the manufacture of brooms. He has business interests in other directions, and is vice-president of the Mohawk National Bank of Schenectady.
On February 4, 1857, Mr. Schermerhorn was joined in marriage with Helen Veeder, who was born in Woestina, March 29, 1837, daugh- ter of Harman and Eleanor (Truax) Veeder. Her father was born in Rotterdam, and her mother was a native of Schenectady. Mr. and Mrs. Schermerhorn have five children living; namely, Mary V., Sarah, Alice A., Andrew T., and Simon.
Mr. Schermerhorn's public record, which is familiar to the readers of the REVIEW, deserves more space than can consistently be allotted to a brief sketch. His efforts in behalf of improvements during his several terms as Super- visor, as well as the advance made in educa- tional facilities while he was Commissioner of that department for this county, fully merited
the hearty commendation which they received. He ably represented this district in the Assem- bly during the session of 1862, was a Presiden- tial Elector on the Cleveland ticket in 1888, and as a member of the Fifty-third Congress he supported such measures as were in his es- timation calculated to bestow the most benefit on the nation as a whole. Mr. and Mrs. Scher- merhorn are members of the Dutch Reformed church.
OSEPH MALCOLM, of Catskill, N. Y., head of the firm of Malcolm & Co., and one of the oldest woollen manufacturers in the State, was born in Middlebury, Vt., on August 24, 1838, son of Joseph and Harriet (Brundage) Malcolm. His paternal grand- father, James Malcolm, was a silk weaver, who lived and died in Paisley, Scotland.
Joseph Malcolm was born in Scotland, and lived there until sixteen years of age, when he came to America and found employment as a mill operative in Middlebury, Vt., where in time he worked his way to the superintendency of a large mill. Later he had a mill of his own in Matteawan, N. Y., and subsequently one in Pittsfield, Mass. He retired from busi- ness in Pittsfield, and died there at fifty-two years of age. In religious faith he and his wife were Presbyterians. Mrs. Harriet B. Malcolm was born in Cornwall, Orange County, this State. She died at the age of seventy, having been the mother of eight chil- dren. Of these, two died in infancy. Will- iam and Abraham are now deceased, and James, Joseph, Samuel, and George are living.
26
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
Samuel Malcolm resides in New York City, and James and George are in Pittsfield.
Joseph Malcolm began his working life at twelve years of age, going into a woollen-mill at Pittsfield, Mass., as a wool sorter. He had worked his way up to being in charge of the card and spinning room, when he enlisted, in 1857, in Company D of the Eighth United States Infantry, which during his connection with it was on duty at Castle Williams and at Fort Columbus, New York Harbor. Dis- charged in 1859, Mr. Malcolm returned to his position in the Pittsfield mill, and he subse- quently remained there until some time after the breaking out of the Civil War. For one hundred days in the early part of the struggle for the Union, he was in the Allen Guard, sta- tioned at Worcester and in Boston. On Sep- tember 18, 1862, he enlisted in Company A, Forty-ninth Regiment, Massachusetts Volun- teers, which left the State in November under command of Colonel William F. Bartlett, sailed for New Orleans in January, 1863, and a few months later took part in the memorable siege of l'ort Hudson, where occurred some of the most desperate fighting of the war. Pri- vate Malcolm, always showing his sturdy Scotch determination when duty was most per- ilous, was the first man to volunteer for the storming party. He doubtless inherited mar- tial ardor, as his mother's father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and her grandfather in the Revolution. His five brothers also enlisted, and were in service from two to four years. One lost his life in the war, and one was wounded.
After being mustered out at Pittsfield, Mass., September 1, 1863, Mr. Malcolm went to Little Falls, N. Y., and was there for two years as superintendent of the Mohawk Wool- len Mills. Following that he was succes- sively superintendent in the knitting-mill at Amsterdam, N. Y., in Troy, again at Amster- dam, then in Cooperstown, N. Y., where he was both superintendent and a partner in Groat Van Brocklin's Mill. Going back once more to Amsterdam, he started a woollen in- dustry in company with one of his present partners, Mr. Pettingill. In 1886 he came to Catskill, where he has since been most success- ful in the management of his woollen-mill. In this plant one hundred and seventy hands are employed, and all kinds of men's, women's, and children's underwear are manu- factured. The mill is the second largest in this section.
Mr. Malcolm's first wife was before her marriage Julia Marsh. She died leaving one daughter, Hattie L., now the wife of Hamil- ton Jones, a plumber of Catskill, of the firm of H. T. Jones & Sons. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have one child, Dorothy. Mr. Malcolm's sec- ond wife, whose maiden name was Jennie Lewis, is the mother of one child, James L.
In politics Mr. Malcolm is a Republican. He has been a member of the Catskill Board of Education, and he takes a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the general welfare. He is a director in the Catskill National Bank, and was formerly a director in the Young Men's Christian Association. He is a Mason, having membership in the Blue Lodge of
27
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
North Hoosick and in the Royal Arch Chapter of Catskill. Of the last-named body he is a charter member, and he has served it as scribe. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias of this town; of J. W. Watson Post, G. A. R. ; of the A. O. U. W .; and of the Rip Van Winkle Club. He has been delegate from the post to the State commandery, but in general has refused offices in the various fraternal or- ganizations to which he belongs, as the de- mands of his business leave him little leisure. Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm are members of the Reformed church.
EORGE HANER, M.D., an able physician and prominent citizen of Tannersville, Greene County, N. Y., was born in Prattsville, Greene County, on the 6th of August, 1847. His sole heritage was that of an unsullied name and a constitution which had been developed through generations of in- dustrious sons of the soil. For three genera- tions the Haners and their wives have been hard-working, persevering, and in some degree successful citizens of Greene County.
Martinus Haner, the Doctor's great-grand- father, was one of the pioneers who came to Prattsville from the more settled regions of Columbia County. He immediately engaged in peeling bark for the tanneries, which at that time formed the chief industry of the neigh- borhood. This pursuit he followed as long as his health permitted him to work. His son Martin continued the gathering and sale of bark, but besides this he cleared a large farm
and won by his diligent application a degree of prosperity and comfort.
Martin Haner married Miss Shoemaker, a native of Columbia County, by whom he had seven children, namely : Isaac; Henry; Will- iam M., the Doctor's father; Patty M. ; Eliza- beth; Lavinia; and Mima Ann. Patty M. married Samuel Chamberlain, who is no longer living; Lavinia became Mrs. Spencer; Mima Ann was married to Henry Palmer; and Elizabeth became the wife of Edward Cronk. Martin Haner brought up his children in such a way as to fit them for the battle of life; and, if he did not leave them a fortune, he at least taught them to win their own way to respect and independence. His wife died at the age of fifty, but for a few years more he remained with his family, closing an honorable life, with the love and respect of all who knew him, at the age of sixty-six.
William M. Haner, like his brothers and sisters, obtained his education in the common schools of the town. In the course of time he took possession of a part of the old homestead property, which he farmed with some success until 1866, when he removed to Jewett. There he purchased a farm, but he only occu- pied it one year; and then selling it he re- moved to the town of Roxbury, near Grand Gorge, Delaware County. Here he purchased a large dairy farm, which he continued to occupy until 1895. He is now (July, 1899) seventy- six years of age, and is living with his children at Tannersville. He is a Democrat in poli- tics, and has held office as Road Commissioner and Overseer of the Poor.
28
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
His wife, Cornelia, was a daughter of Jacob and Jennie (Stanley) Maginnes, who also were among the first settlers in Prattsville. She be- came the mother of eight children, four of whom are still living, namely: George, the subject of this sketch; Jennie E. ; Homer H. ; and Clark R. Jennie E. is the wife of Charles Voss, the genial Postmaster of Tan- nersville, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in the REVIEW. Homer has been for twenty years general agent for the Davis Sewing Machine Company, and for upward of three years he represented their interests in Australia. Clark is a book-keeper and elerk, and resides at Tannersville. Mrs. Cornelia M. Haner died on May 15, 1899, at the age of seventy-three. She was for many years a useful and honored member of the Methodist Episcopal 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.