USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 20
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 20
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 20
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the office raised from the fourth class to the third class list, and the position of Postmaster made a salaried one. Since then the salary has been increased by five hundred dollars. Mr. Bassler was nominated for the Assembly in 1894, and again in 1896, and in both in- stances ran ahead of his ticket by hundreds of votes. Since 1894 he has been president of the Mutual Fire Insurance Association, which was formed that year by the business men of Mid- dleburg, to embrace Schoharie, Otsego, and Albany Counties, Chenango and Montgomery Counties having been added since. This as- sociation has met with remarkable success, and does a very large amount of business. Mr. Bassler is also a director in the Oak Hill and Middleburg Local Exchange Telephone Com- panies; a director of the First National Bank of Middleburg; director of the Middleburg and Schoharie Railroad; and president of the board of trustees of Starkey Seminary, which position he has held since 1881. He was a trustee of Middleburg Academy for six years,' and for four years of the time president of the board. Ten years ago he founded the Starkey Semi- nary Monthly, of which he was the editor until 1897. Mr. Bassler is an active worker in the Reformed church, and since 1884 has been superintendent of its Sunday-school. From 1882 to 1888 he was secretary of the County Association of Sunday-schools, and subse- quently for five years he was president of the association. Since 1893 he has been president of the Schoharie County Bible Society.
Mr. Bassler's store is in a most prosperous condition. Four assistants are employed in its
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management; and since it is one of the old- established business enterprises in this region, and has always maintained its early reputation for honest dealing and high grade goods, it has the confidence and the patronage of the public.
Mr. Bassler has seen many and important changes in Middleburg since he first began business here. The handsome school-house has been built, many of the big business blocks have been erected, and a water supply system has been introduced into the town. He him- self has aided in many of the more noteworthy improvements. On January 1, 1890, he asso- ciated himself with Mr. G. L. Fox in founding the Middleburg News, a paper advanced in rank and one now growing steadily in favor, as well as one which bears the distinction of being the first Republican paper in this end of the county.
In 1874 Mr. Bassler was united in marriage with Alida, only child of Hezekiah Manning, and a native of this place. Mr. Manning was born here, and spent his entire life engaged in farming. He died in 1889. His wife, whose maiden name was Maria Beekman, was born in Sharon. She resides with Mr. and Mrs. Bass- ler. Since his marriage Mr. Bassler has made his home at the old Manning homestead, which is a very attractive place just outside the vil- lage, the house being sheltered by tall elms and stately pines, surrounded by extensive grounds, and guarded by the dark-browed, lofty cliffs which stand as venerable sentinels at the eastern portals of the Schoharie Valley. Mr. Bassler is a great fancier of poultry, and has model poultry yards, where he raises many
fancy breeds, such as Leghorns, Plymouth Rocks, and Light Bramahs. He makes a feature of egg-producing poultry, and ships eggs West as far as Colorado, and South as far as Maryland. He is also a fancier of Holstein cattle.
OIIN A. MYERS, a veteran agricult- urist of Seward, N. Y., living about two miles from the village of Hyndsville, was born in this town, March 27, 1819, a son of Philip P. and Catherine (Strobeck) Myers. His paternal grandfather, Peter Myers, came from Dutchess County to Schoharie County at an early period of its history, and for a short time lived in Seward. He removed from here to Otsego County, and, purchasing land near the town of South Valley, improved a farm, on which he resided many years. He finally re- turned to Seward, and died at the home of his son, Philip P. He was twice married, and by his second wife, who was the grandmother of John A., had five children.
Philip P. Myers, son of Peter, was reared to farming pursuits, and soon after his marriage settled on the Myers homestead, now owned and occupied by his son, John A. Here he toiled with persistent energy to clear and im- prove a farm, and was numbered among the re- spected and successful farmers of the neighbor- hood. His death occurred at the age of three- score years and ten. He was a strong sup- porter of the principles of the Democratic party, . but never aspired to political office. His wife, Catherine, was born in Seward, being one of the six children of John A.
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Strobeck, a prominent pioneer farmer of the town, and one of its most esteemed citizens. Mr. Strobeck as a young man served in the war of the Revolution, and in one of its battles was severely wounded. fle attained the advanced age of eighty years. Philip P. and Catherine S. Myers reared six children, two of whom are living, namely : John A., the first-born; and Catherine, residing in East Worcester, being the wife of Abraham Smith, who is her second husband.
John A. Myers was educated in the district school. For three and one-half years after his marriage he lived on the old home farm with his parents, subsequently lived for a year with his father-in-law, and then rented a farm on shares for four years. Having accumulated some money, he next bought a farm of one hundred and nine acres on Winegard Hill, where he lived for eighteen years, when he sold that and purchased a larger farm, of one hundred and forty acres, which he carried on two years. Returning then to the old home- stead, he took charge of it until the death of his father, and after that event he bought out the other heirs, and has since been its sole possessor. This place contains one hundred and twenty-five acres of land, most of which is under cultivation; and he has also another es- tate near by of one hundred and twenty-two acres, which he rents by the year. He has practically given up the management of his property to his son Peter, who lives with him, and they are carrying on general farming and dairying with signal success, and are also en- gaged to some extent in manufacturing lumber.
In politics Mr. Myers is identified with the Democratic party, but has persistently refused to accept all offices excepting those of High- way Commissioner and Collector of Taxes, both of which he filled a short time. He is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he has been trustee and steward, and has been connected with the Sunday-school.
On May 28, 1839, Mr. Myers married Emily B. Youngs, who was born in Seward, a daugh- ter of Adam Youngs, formerly a well-to-do farmer and lumber manufacturer, he having been owner of the saw-mill now operated by Mr. Myers and his son. Mr. and Mrs. Myers have had nine children, six of whom grew to mature years, namely : Adam, a physician in Buskirk, Rensselaer County, who married Mary Diefendorf, and has two children - Victor and Ralph; Millard, deceased, who married Han- nah Shear, and had one child, Emily; Elmira, the wife of Harvey Oliver, a farmer; Peter, who lives on the home farm, married Mary Marks, and has three children - John D., Howard C., and Dewey Willard; Lorenzo, the oldest child, who died leaving a widow, whose maiden name was Lottie M. Simmonds, and one child, Lewis; and Julia, who died at the age of eighteen years.
FREDERICK EISENMENGER, Police
- Justice, Schenectady, N. Y., was born in this city, March 21, 1849, son of Ferdinand and Wilhelmina (Laman) Eisenmenger. The
FREDERICK EISENMENGER.
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parents were born in Germany, the father about the year 1827.
In 1846, having acquired a good education and mastered the machinist's trade, he came to the United States, intending to engage in business. Instead of adhering to his original plan, he entered the employ of the Schenec- tady & Utica Railway Company, with whom he remained about sixteen years. In 1862 be enlisted as a private in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment, New York Volunteers, with which he served in the Civil War until fatally wounded in May, 1864, his death occurring on June 16 of the same year. Mrs. Wilhelmina Eisen- menger, his wife, was left with two children : Pauline, who died in 1865, aged five years ; and Frederick, the subject of this sketch. The mother died in 1886, at the age of sixty- eight.
On August 11, 1862, Frederick Eisen- menger, when but thirteen years old, joined the same regiment in which his father en- listed, and was enrolled in the ranks of Com- pany B, being one of the youngest volunteers to enter the service. He was detailed to serve at division headquarters under Major-general John W. Geary, commander of the Second Division, Twentieth Army Corps, and after- ward Governor of Pennsylvania. While in front of Atlanta he received a severe wound in the jaw, and he was mustered out with his regiment in June, 1865. In 1868 he began a four years' apprenticeship at the machinist's trade in the Schenectady Locomotive Works, and he completed the term. Feeling the need
of a better education, he studied nights, and while still employed at the works he began to read law under the direction of Judge Yates. He practised his profession until May 2, 1882, when he was appointed Police Justice. The duties of this position he has performed with marked ability for over sixteen years. His present term will expire in 1900.
In September, 1874, Judge Eisenmenger married Louisa, daughter of the late Louis Pepper, of this city. They have two children, namely : Frederick, who was graduated from the high school in 1895, and is now in the ex- perimental department of the General Electri- cal Works; and Clara, now a student at the high school.
Judge Eisenmenger belongs to St. George Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M .; is Past Com- mander of Horsfall Post, No. 90, G. A. R. ; and president of the One Hundred and Thirty- fourth Regimental Association. He is a member and has been an official of the Meth- odist Episcopal church. His residence at 105 Union Avenue was built by him in 1887, and he purchased for his mother the house in which she spent her last years.
ILLIAM W. BURGETT, M.D., of the village of Fultonham, one of the foremost physicians and surgeons of Scho- harie County, was born in Fultonham, May 14, 1860. He is the son of Charles S. and Julia A. (Teller) Burgett, and is a lineal descendant in the sixth generation of one of two brothers who came from Holland to America in the
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early part of the eighteenth century and set- tled on Manhattan Island. They bought land, and afterward leased one hundred acres near the present site of Trinity Church in New York City, for a term of ninety-nine years. Both married, and both had sons in the Revo- lutionary army. "Burghardt," the original spelling of their surname, was retained until within a comparatively few years.
Millbury Burghardt, or Burgett, the next in line of descent, was a pioneer of Schoharie County, and the founder of the family in Ful- ton, where he reared his eight children, one of whom, Millbury, was the succeeding ancestor. Storm Burgett, son of Conrad Burgett, was the Doctor's grandfather. He was born in Ful- ton, and there he lived and died. He owned the farm now in the possession of Mr. C. E. Markham, of whom a brief sketch may be found on another page of this volume. He was a wagon-maker and carpenter by trade, oc- cupations at which he worked in conjunction with farming, and was well known as one of the most industrious and thrifty men of the community. To Storm Burgett and his wife, whose maiden name was Sally Banner, six children were born, three of whom are living; namely, Charles S., Lydia, wife of Timothy Becker, and Peter.
Charles S. Burgett was born in Fulton, Au- gust 30, 1831, and spent his earlier years on the home farm. Ile subsequently learned the blacksmith's trade, at which he continued to work until 1866, when he bought the hotel which he has since managed successfully. Ile is a stanch Democrat in politics, but has never
been an aspirant for official honors. Both he and his wife are members of the Lutheran church. In 1851 he married Julia A. Teller, who was born August 4, 1832, in Fulton.
Hler father, Cornelius Teller, spent the en- tire sixty-one years of his life in this town, being engaged during his active period in agricultural pursuits on a small farm that he had bought near his boyhood's home. He was one of the leading Democrats of this vicinity, and served as a Tax Collector two terms in the earlier part of this century, when the entire receipts for the year were but one thousand one hundred dollars, against the eight thou- sand dollars collected in 1898. His wife, Lavinia Vroman, was a daughter of Martin Vroman, a lifelong farmer of what is now the town of Middleburg; and Lavinia Vroman's mother, the grandmother of Mrs. Charles S. Burgett, was before marriage a Miss Zeie, who was born in Middleburg in Colonial days, and from the age of seven to fourteen years, during the entire period of the Revolution, lived in the Upper Fort. Cornelius Teller's father, William Teller, was born in Schenec- tady, N. Y., whence he came when a young man to this county, and in 1800 settled in the town of Middleburg, where he lived until his death, at the age of forty-two years. He was a shoemaker by trade. After coming here he married Maggie Feeck, the descendant of one of the original settlers of this part of the county. She survived him, living to the age of fifty-six years. Both were active members of the Reformed church. They reared eight children.
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Of the five children born of the union of Charles S. and Julia A. (Teller) Burgett, three are still living; namely, Marion, the Doctor, and Laura. Marion, after the death of her first husband, Frank P. Haynes, married Warren P. Hollenbeck, a prominent farmer in the town of Broome, N. Y. Laura married first Harland Haynes, of Fulton, who died leaving her with one child, Marion Harland. She is now the wife of F. J. Graham, a shoe dealer of New York City, and has one child by this marriage, Mildred. Both parents are members of the Lutheran church.
William W. Burgett obtained the rudiments of his education in the public schools of Ful- tonham, and was further advanced in learning by a course of study at the high school under Professor Sias, of whom a biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this REVIEW. A short time he spent as a clerk in the store of H. T. Kingsley, and he taught school one term in Fulton. Going then to Schoharie, he read medicine two years with Dr. Layman, after which he entered the medical department of the University of New York City, from which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine in March, 1882, at the age of twenty-one years. In addition to the regular curriculum of the university, he took special clinical ex- aminations at Bellevue Hospital under Profes- sor William H. Thompson, while at the same hospital he received private instruction in physical diagnosis from Professor Alfred L. Loomis, in operative surgery from Professor J. W. Wright, and in urinary analyses under Pro- fessor John C. Draper. Returning to Fulton-
ham immediately after his graduation, Dr. Burgett here began the duties of his profession, and has since built up a large and successful patronage as a general medical practitioner. In 1884 he erected his present residence in the village, and also a substantial barn on the same lot. He has served a number of terms on the local Board of Health, and for six years has been County Coroner. Politically, he is a sound Democrat. He is a member of the Schoharie County Medical Society, of which he has been vice-president and president. He is also a member of Middleburg Lodge, No. 663, F. & A. M., and is at present Master of Fultonham Grange, No. 809.
On September 25, 1883, Dr. Burgett mar- ried Miss Maggie E. Schaeffer, who was born in Fulton, daughter of Hendrick Schaeffer, a retired farmer of Fulton. Among the pioneer settlers of the town of Schoharie was Christian Schaeffer, one of the largest landholders of that locality, whose son, Jacob Henry, born in Schoharie in 1808, was the grandfather of Mrs. Burgett. Grandfather Schaeffer was a lifelong agriculturist of Schoharie, where he spent his eighty-eight years of earthly existence, and was one of its most esteemed citizens. He was a Republican in politics, and served as an Overseer of the Poor. He contributed liber- ally toward the support of the Lutheran church, of which he was one of the oldest and most in- fluential members. His wife, Ann Alida Groesbeck, who died at the age of eighty-four years, bore him ten children. Hendrick Schaeffer married Helen Borst, a native of Middleburg, and a daughter of Peter H. Borst,
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the representative of an early family of Scho- harie County, and himself one of the most wealthy and prominent of its farmers. He was a member of the Lutheran church, and his death, at the age of sixty-five years, removed from that organization one of its substantial supporters. His wife, Nancy Effner, a life- long resident of Middleburg, died in 1861. Mr. and Mrs. Hendrick Schaeffer reared four children, of whom three are living, as follows : Charles, a farmer in Schoharie; Alida, wife of Seneca Haynes; and Maggie E., now Mrs. Burgett. Peter, a carpenter, died at the age of thirty-five years.
Dr. and Mrs. Burgett have two children, namely : William Layman, who was named for one of the Doctor's early preceptors; and Charles Leland. Dr. Burgett is an elder and one of the trustees of the Lutheran church, and Mrs. Burgett also is an active church member, and for many years has been a teacher in the Sunday-school.
ILLIAM H. MEAD, M.D., the vet- eran physician and surgeon of Wind- ham, Greene County, N. Y., was born in Jewett, this county, on April 6, 1833, to Stephen and Caroline (Hosford) Mead. His great-grandfather Hosford, whose Christian name was Gideon, was a prominent farmer and land-owner in Farmington, Conn., and Dr. Mead has in his possession some of the ances- tral deeds bearing the seal of King George.
Philip Mead, the Doctor's paternal grand- father, was born in Dutchess County, New
York, and grew up on a farm. He removi to Jewett when his son Stephen was five ears old, finding his way hither by folloing marked trees. He lived first in most jimi- tive fashion in a log hut, but in time clared a goodly tract of land and erected a com odi- ous frame house. He was a lifelong faner. After spending some years in Jewett, ho vent to Cayuga, near Weedsport, where he raided until his death, at sixty years of age. The maiden name of his wife was Hannah 'own- send. They had a large family of childr ).
The Doctor's father, Stephen Mead was born in Dutchess County, and reared to farm life. When he became of age he pur ased a farm in Jewett, where he spent the rem nder of his life, and where he died at the ge of eighty-six. He followed agriculture anc lum- bering, and did a large business in slling bark to tanners. He and his wife, Ca line, were members of the Methodist Epicopal church. Mrs. Mead died at the age of sixty- nine. She was the daughter of Joel and Iaria Hosford, farmer folk of Jewett. Her ather died at the age of eighty-four, and her mother, who was of Dutch descent, died while dite a young woman, although she lived to be; four children. Stephen and Caroline Mea were also the parents of four children, three o vhom are living, namely : Dr. William H., of Vind- ham ; Dr. J. H. Mead, of Hunter, a skich of whose life is to be found on another pag; and Adeline, who married Alanson Woodwith, of Hunter, whose biography also appears ) this volume.
William H. Mead's early life was sint on
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his father's farm in Jewett. He attended the common schools of the town, and later became a teacher in them and in the schools of Hunter. After teaching for several years he took up the study of medicine with his brother Joel, then settled in Hunter, and he subsequently attended the Albany Medical College. After his grad- uation in 1868 he began practice in Ashland, where he remained until 1879, when he came to Windham. He has now been in continuous practice here for thirty years, and, barring one or two exceptions, is the oldest medical practi- tioner in service in the county. He has given much attention to surgery, and has performed some remarkable operations, his skill being known throughout the county. His career as a general practitioner has also been a distin- guished one.
In 1856 Dr. William H. Mead was united in marriage with Matilda Winter, daughter, and one of a number of children, of Moses Winter, a farmer of Jewett. Mrs. Mead died November 26, 1896. Of the three children born to her, one died at the age of ten months, and another at the age of five years. A daugh- ter, Eugenie, is living. She is the wife of Emery A. Hill, a well-known Windham farmer, and has two children - Blanche and William Henry.
Dr. Mead is a stanch Republican. His first Presidential vote was cast in 1856, and he has voted every election since with the exception of one. He has held a few minor offices in the village, but in the main has refused public office. He is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity in this town, and was elected Junior
Warden within two weeks after joining the organization. He has been a member of the Greene County Medical Society ever since it was started, twenty-five years ago. His church connections are with the Methodist society of this place, of which also his wife was a mem- ber. For many years he was steward in the church, but within a short time he has tendered his resignation of that office. For many years, too, he was a teacher in the Sunday-school and chorister of the church. During their resi- dence in Ashland Mrs. Mead also was a teacher. Throughout his long and useful life the Doctor has been a promoter of every good and philanthropic cause, and has been actively interested in every effort to promote the well- being of his fellows.
OHN ROSSMAN, M.D., a prominent physician of Schoharie County and a resident of Middleburg, was born in the town of Fulton on March 8, 1847, his parents being George and Marietta (Beard) Rossman. His first ancestors in this country came from Germany, and were among the early settlers of Columbia County, Yew York. His grandfather, whose name was Christopher, was born in that county, and lived there during early life. Before the birth of his son George, Christopher Rossman removed to Schoharic County and settled in Summit, where he passed the remainder of his life. In politics he was a Republican, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist church. Mrs. Rossman, whose maiden name was Lana
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Mickel, was born in Schoharic of an old fam- ily. She was the mother of fourteen children, all of whom grew to maturity. They were named as follows: George, Mary, John, Betsy, William, Christina, Nathaniel, Phoebe, David, Lucy, Charles, Huldab, Jane, and Cassie.
Dr. Rossman's father was born in Summit, received his education in the common schools there, and subsequently removed to Fulton, where he bought a farm and resided until his death, at the age of forty-seven. Politically, George Rossman was at first a Republican and Jater a Democrat. For twenty-two years he served as a Justice of the Peace. He was twice married. His first wife, Marietta, who died when their son John was four years of age, was born in Richmondville. She was a daugh- ter of Jacob Beard, and one of a family of four children. Her father was a farmer of that town, and subsequently of Fulton. Late in life he removed to Geneseo County, where he died at the advanced age of ninety. Mrs. Marietta B. Rossman was the mother of two children. Her daughter, Louise, is deceased. The second wife of George Rossman was before her marriage Marcia Holmes. She also was born in Fulton, of one of the old families. She died at the age of forty.
John Rossman in his boyhood and youth se- cured a good common-school education in the public schools, which he attended both summer and winter. In 1865 he began to read medi- cine with Dr. J. D. Wheeler, of Middleburg, and in 1868 he was graduated at the Philadel- phia University of Medicine and Surgery. He began practising with Dr. Wheeler, but at the 1
end of a year went to West Fulton and started an independent practice. Three years later he returned and again engaged with his former partner, but after a year of joint work the two doctors severed their connection, and since then Dr. Rossman has worked alone. He has built up a large general practice, and is now the oldest physician in town in point of service.
The Doctor married his first wife, Mary, the daughter of Cornelius Bouck, in 1869. She died at the age of twenty eight, leaving three children - Marietta, Anna A., and Charles HI. Marietta married M. J. Vroman, and is the mother of three children - Cecil, Lena, and Marguerite. Anna is the wife of Dr. Simpkins of this town. Charles married Agnes McLean, and has one child, Marion, by name. The Doctor's second wife, whose maiden name was Lizzie B. Smith, is a native of Middleburg, and the daughter of Silas Smith. She is a member of the Episcopal church, but an attendant of the Reformed church.
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