USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 3
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 3
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 3
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Thus it will be seen that George Haner started in life with no great advantages, but such as he had he turned to the very best ac- count. All that the common schools of Pratts- ville had to give he devoured with avidity, and speedily made his way at eighteen years of age from the pupils' bench to the teacher's desk. Quiet and reserved though he was, his efficient work soon called the attention of trus- tees and school commissioners, and he suc- cessively and successfully taught in the schools of Red Falls, Jewett Centre, Windham, and l'rattsville in Greene County, and Gilboa, Gal- Iupville, and Middleburg in the neighboring county of Schobarie. With the power to teach came the love of and eraving for more knowledge and he very soon proceeded to Fort
Edward Institute, where he took an advanced course of study. A period was, however, put to his attendance at this school through lack of funds, but, nothing daunted, he turned to manual labor to supply his needs in this diree- tion. He obtained work as a carpenter, and it was while thus engaged that a direction was given to his mind which determined his choice of a lifework. He was assisting to build a house for Dr. D. M. Leonard at Broome Centre, Schoharie County, and in discussing his future with that gentleman he was advised by him to adopt the profession of medicine. Taking this advice, he at once began his studies with Dr. Leonard, with whom he remained until he entered the Medical College of the New York University, from which he was graduated in the class of 1877. Thus equipped, Dr. Haner took up his residenee in the town of Conesville, where he practised with success until 1880, when he came to Tannersville.
In 1880 Tannersville was only a small vil- lage, and the arrival of a young doctor with a university diploma and some experience was indeed an acquisition. He very speedily im- pressed the inhabitants with his professional knowledge and ability, and as the years have rolled along his practice has increased and his reputation as a skilful physician has continued to grow. For ten years he praetised without opposition. Besides his ordinary practice he has a large clientèle among the many city boarders who visit Tannersville during the summer months, and among whom he is de- servedly popular, both from a professional and social point of view. His present residence
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was erected in 1881, but it has been recently enlarged and beautified and made complete by a most convenient suite of offices.
In politics the Doctor is a Democrat. He has twice represented his town as Supervisor, and during the latter term was chairman of the board. The esteem of his fellow-citizens has also been manifested in his election to the office of Coroner for three terms of three years each.
His public spirit has led him to take an active interest in all that concerned the pros- perity and development of the village in which he resides. He was one of the incorporators and its first president. He took measures for the laying out of its sidewalks, and was a member of the building committee which erected the first public school-building.
In 1877 Dr. Haner was united in marriage to Miss Agnes More, of Roxbury, Delaware County, a daughter of Andrew and Ann E. (Hardenburgh) More and a third cousin of the late Jay Gould. She had two sisters, Cornelia and Kate, and she has one brother, Samuel P. Kate was married to Mr. M. L. Benham. Samuel P. More is a publisher in Great Bend, Pa. Dr. and Mrs. Haner have one daughter, Helen.
The Doctor is a charter member of the Mount Tabor Lodge, F. & A. M., and be- longed formerly to the Gilboa Lodge. He is a member of the County Medical Society, of which he has been secretary for three years, and also of the New York Physicians' Mutual Aid Association.
Dr. Haner is also a prominent and enthusias-
tic member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and actively and generously participated in the movement which resulted in the erection of the present beautiful edifice in Tannersville be- longing to that body. He worked indefatiga- bly in the erection of the Methodist Episcopal parsonage, and to these objects combined has contributed upward of five hundred dollars.
His interest in Sunday-school work dates back to his Conesville days, when he was su- perintendent of the school; and ever since he came to Tannersville he has been ready with hand and brain, sympathy and purse, to advance the work of God in the church of his choice. He has held almost every office that a layman can hold, representing his brethren at both the district and annual conferences, and is at the present time a trustee.
Dr. Haner is yet in the prime of life, and if spared will be of inestimable service to the community amid which he resides.
IMEON LAPE, a thriving general merchant of Charlotteville, N. Y., was born in the town of Summit, Schoharie County, N. Y., October 19, 1827, son of Samuel and Lana Lape. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Lape, who was the grand- son of a German immigrant and the father of several children that grew to maturity, was formerly a thriving farmer of Sand Lake, N. Y. Somewhat late in life he accompanied his son Samuel to Summit, and his last days were spent in this town. He was a member of the Lutheran church.
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Samuel Lape, the younger, Simeon Lape's father, served in the War of 1812. He came to Summit when a young man, and, settling here upon a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which he afterward enlarged, he became one of the most extensive farmers in this section. Though not a seeker after place, he consented to hold some of the minor town offices. Origi- nally a Democrat in politics, he afterward be- came a Republican. As one of the most active and influential members of the Lutheran church, it was generally his lot to entertain the preachers, and his family was taught to believe that religious devotion was just as necessary at home as in a place of public wor- ship. He died at the age of seventy-three, his wife surviving him several years. They were the parents of sixteen children, of whom ten died in infancy and six lived to maturity, the latter being: Luther, Simeon, John, George, Josiah, and Elizabeth. Luther and Josiah occupy the homestead. John is a resident of East Worcester, N. Y. ; and Elizabeth, who is the eldest, married Abraham Harrington, of Worcester, where she resides. George, who is living in Brooklyn, N. Y., was for a time en- gaged as teacher in the New York Conference Seminary and in civil engineering.
Simeon Lape was educated in the common schools of Summit. Beginning industrial life as a farmer, he followed that occupation until thirty-eight years old, when, in partnership with a Mr. Decker, he purchased the general stock of goods of the store of La Monte & Co., of Charlotteville, N. Y. This copartnership lasted but about five months, at the end of
which time Mr. Decker withdrew, leaving his associate sole proprietor of the establishment, which for the past thirty-one years Mr. Lape has carried on alone. As his trade developed, he enlarged his facilities and increased his stock, and for a number of years he has transacted an extensive general mercantile business. Like his father he adheres to Re- publican principles ; and, while he invariably has refused to become a candidate for local offices, he accepted the appointment of Post- master, which he held in all for about twenty years.
In 1848 Mr. Lape was united in marriage with Miss Lucy La Monte, of Charlotteville, daughter of Thomas W. and Elizabeth Maria (Payne) La Monte. Mrs. Lape was a descend- ant of John La Monte, of Coleraine, County Antrim, Ireland. Her first American ancestor was Robert La Monte, who came to this coun- try with his mother, the widow of John, and settled in Columbia County, this State.
ller great-grandfather, William La Monte, son of Robert, served in the Revolutionary War, and was present at the surrender of Gen- eral Burgoyne. He married for his first wife Mrs. l'hæbe Perkins, born Goss, and settled upon a farm in North Hinsdale, N. Y. After her death he moved into the then wilderness of Schoharie County, locating in what is now the town of Fulton, where he lived to an ad- vanced age. Mrs. Lape's grandfather, also named William, was born in Hinsdale, Janu- ary 16, 1784. When a young man he settled in Fulton, but about the year 1806 removed to Charlotteville, where he acquired possession of
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some seven hundred acres of land. An enter- prising business man, he kept a country store, and operated saw and grist mills. Being familiar with common law, he acted as legal adviser to his neighbors, pleaded their cases in the lower courts, and was several times elected a Justice of the Peace. In his religious belief he was a Methodist. He died September 5, 1847. His wife, Jane, a daughter of Thomas Stillwell, died August 25, 1863, aged eighty years. They were the parents of six sons and five daughters, all of whom married and be- came the heads of families.
Thomas W. La Monte, Mrs. Lape's father, was born in Fulton, August 29, 1803. He was a prominent business man of Charlotte- ville in his day, and proprietor of the store which is now owned by Mr. Lape. He was also active in political and religious affairs, and was one of the founders of the New York Con . ference Seminary. He died June 3, 1853. His wife died April 7, 1898, aged eighty- seven years. She was the mother of thirteen children : Jacob, Lucy, Elizabeth, William and David (twins), Thomas, Jennie, George, Kate, Austin, Hannah, Maria, and Julia. All the children received a good education. Thomas was for a time engaged in teaching at the Conference Seminary, but later became a Methodist minister. George, who taught school for some time in the South, became a successful paper manufacturer and the owner of a valuable patent.
In 1850 Mr. Lape joined the Methodist church, which he has since served as steward, trustee, and superintendent of the Sunday-
school, also contributing liberally to its sup- port. Mrs. Lape died October 18, 1896, leav- ing no children. She was a member of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union and of the Independent Order of Good Templars.
NDREW J. McMILLAN, who in the fall of 1898 was elected Assemblyman from Schenectady, is a thriving farmer of Rotterdam, N. Y. He was born upon the McMillan farm, a part of which he occupies, on February 9, 1856, being the only son of Andrew and Ellen (Darrow) McMillan. His father was born here on January 12, 1832, and his mother was born in Schenectady in 1832. This farm was the property of his pa- ternal grandfather, James McMillan, a native of New Scotland, who settled here about seventy years ago, and who lived to be ninety- one years old. The maiden name of James McMillan's wife was Margaret Wingate. She died at sixty-five.
Andrew McMillan, the father, succeeded to the homestead, and is still actively engaged in its cultivation. He has made various improve- ments in the property, and is widely known as a practical and successful agriculturist. In politics he acts with the Republican party, and in his religious belief he is a Presbyterian. Ellen, his wife, whom he married in 1844, has had but one son, Andrew J., the subject of this sketch.
Andrew J. McMillan was educated in the district schools. As a youth he assisted his father, from whom he obtained a good knowl-
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edge of farming, and since reaching manhood he has tilled the soil upon his own account. He has at his disposal one hundred and seventy- seven acres, which he devotes to general farm- ing, and raises excellent crops.
In November, 1882, Mr. McMillan was united in marriage with Anna L. Liddle, who was born in Duanesburg, daughter of Alexan- der Liddle. A sketch of her family will be found on another page of the REVIEW. Mr. and Mrs. McMillan have one son - Everett, who was born December 25, 1884.
Mr. McMillan is now in his third year as Supervisor, and is rendering efficient service in that capacity. Politically, he is a Republican. Ile belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being a member of Lodge No. 171, of Mount Pleasant.
L.MER E. GOODSELL, of Hunter, sta- tion agent, telegraph operator, and agent of the American Express Company on the Stony Clove & Catskill Mountain Rail- road, was born in Jewett on April 17, 1865, to Amos and Harriet (Egbertson) Goodsell. His great-grandfather Goodsell was one of the pio- neer settlers of Jewett, coming to that place from the State of Connecticut. His grand- father, John Goodsell, who finished clearing the tract of land taken up by the great-grand- father and spent his life engaged in farming, died at the age of fifty-seven. John Goodsell's wife, whose maiden name was Samantha Peck, married for her first husband a Mr. Bogardus. She died at the age of fifty-four. By her sec-
ond marriage she had ten children, as follows : Amos, Amelia, Mansfield, Amanda, J. Emory, Lois, Adela, Anna, Elbert, and Sarah.
Amos Goodsell was reared on a farm, and during boyhood he attended the common schools of Jewett, his native town. For over twenty years be carried on his farm in Jewett Centre. He then sold out, and since that time he has been working where he pleased. He is a Republican, and bas held a number of town offices. His wife, Harriet, who died in 1884, at the age of forty-eight, was a native of Jew- ett, and the daughter of Jacob Egbertson, an early settler and a farmer of that place. Mr. Egbertson and his wife both died at the age of eighty-two. They had nine children; namely, John, Justus, Eliza, Sally, Tully, Caroline, Harriet, Jane, and Maria. Amos and Harriet Goodsell reared a family of three children; namely, Ella, George, and Elmer E. The daughter, Ella, is the wife of D. Clarence Gibbony, attorney-at-law, of Philadelphia; and her brother George is employed by the Mis- souri, Kansas & Texas Railroad at St. Louis. The parents were active members in the Meth- odist Episcopal Church of Jewett.
Elmer E. Goodsell received a common-school education. Ile then served some time as a teacher, and he subsequently attended Green- ville Academy and Eastman's Business Col- lege. Ile was graduated at the last-named in- stitution in June, 1888, and shortly after came to the Hunter station as assistant to Mr. Bur- hans, who was the agent until 1894. When Mr. Burhans left the place, Mr. Goodsell was appointed to succeed him, and in the few years
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he has held the position he has made himself exceedingly popular with both officials and patrons of the road. He is furnished one as- sistant the year through, and sometimes in the summer three. Most of the telegraphing he does himself. The Hunter station is the lar- gest on the line, being moreover the terminal station; and Mr. Goodsell is the oldest station agent on the line as to time of service for this company.
In 1891 Mr. Goodsell was united in mar- riage with Anna Bell Anderson, daughter of George W. Anderson, coal and lumber dealer, whose biographical sketch appears on another page of this work. Mrs. Goodsell, who has one sister, Mabel Anderson, is the mother of two children - Marguerite and Anderson.
Mr. Goodsell is an ardent Republican, but he has refused all public offices. He is a member of Mount Tabor Lodge, No. 804, F. & A. M., of Hunter, and both he and Mrs. Goodsell are members of the Methodist church and workers in the Sunday-school. Mr. Good- sell was formerly secretary and librarian of the Sunday-school.
EYMOUR BOUGHTON, a promi- nent resident of Charlotteville, was born in Summit, November 17, 1834, son of Seymour and Phoebe (Mix) Boughton. The father came here from Con- necticut, settling first in Charlotteville, and later moving to Summit village, where he kept a hotel. He afterward engaged in the cooper business, and also ran a distillery.
Studying law, he was admitted to the bar in 1840, and thenceforward carried on a profitable general law business.
Actively interested in public affairs, Sam- uel Boughton, the elder, was elected to the Assembly on the Anti-rent ticket in 1845, was twice elected Supervisor as a Democrat, was for some years a member of the county committee, served with ability as Excise Commissioner, and was Postmaster for eight years. He was very popular with all classes irrespective of party, and his personal charac- ter was such as to fully merit the high esti- mation in which he was held. He was an active member of the Baptist church. He re- turned to Charlotteville in 1866, and died here in 1871, aged eighty-one years. Nine chil- dren were born to him and his wife, Phoebe, namely : Lucius, who died December II, 1826; Harvey; Mary; Squire, who died De- cember 9, 1819; Phobe; Polly; Louisa; llar- mon K., who died in 1851, aged twenty-four years; and Seymour, the subject of this sketch, he and his sister Mary being the only sur- vivors.
Seymour Boughton after finishing his educa- tion learned the carriage painter's trade in Cobleskill, mastering it without much diffi- culty, as he had a natural genius for handling the brush. Engaging in business for himself, his first contract, which amounted to two thou- sand three hundred dollars, was tendered him by parties in Gallupville; and he subsequently enlarged his business. For many years he conducted the largest carriage-making estab- lishment in the county. He also did most of
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the repairing and painting in this and the ad- jacent towns, and at one time be carried on two shops. Of late he has been gradually withdrawing from business, but still continues to follow his trade to some extent. Mr. Boughton's connection with public affairs began as a boy in the Assembly at Albany, and he was elected Town Clerk the year he be- came a voter. Hle afterward served as Con- stable two years, held some minor town offices, was elected Supervisor in 1878, re elected in 1879, was County Clerk from 1881 to 1888, was Postmaster under Andrew Johnson and the second Cleveland administration, and has been a member of the Democratic Town Committee for many years. His political record is a most honorable one, and it is worthy of note that while some of the offices' to which he was elected were hotly contested, his candidacy for a second term as Supervisor was without oppo- sition, a fact which demonstrates the confi- dence of his fellow-townsmen in his ability and integrity.
Mr. Boughton contracted his first marriage with Maggie Ferguson, daughter of Thomas Ferguson. She bore him four children, namely : Arthur J., Frank, and Thomas G., none of whom are living; and Charles F., who is a painter by trade and a musician of local repute. For his second wife he married Emma Nadley, daughter of Christopher Nad- ley, and by this union he has two children - Edith and Horatio S. Boughton.
Mr. Boughton belongs to Jefferson Lodge, No. 554, F. & A. M., and John L. Lewis Chapter, No. 229, R. A. M.
ENRY C. VAN ZANDT, M.D., a prominent physician of Schenectady, is a native of this city. Ile was born on January 11, 1844, son of Gilbert and Myra (Halliday) Van Zandt. The family of which he is a representative was founded in America by Johannes Van Zandt, who came from Anheim, Holland, in 1660, and whose grave is still visible in Trinity Churchyard, New York City.
Peter P. Van Zandt, a grandson of Johan- nes, settled in Schenectady, and several of his descendants have won distinction in this local- ity. He was elected a member of the Assem- bly, and while in Albany he married a Miss Munson, of Schoharie. Dr. Van Zandt's grandfather was Garrett Van Zandt, who served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was stationed at Sackett's Harbor. The Doc- tor's mother was a daughter of Judge Halliday, of Rochester, N. Y.
Henry C. Van Zandt prepared for his col- legiate course at the Schenectady High School, and was graduated from Union College with the class of 1865. His preliminary med- ical studies were pursued under the direction of Dr. Vedder, of Schenectady ; and after grad- uation from the Albany Medical School he began the practice of his profession in this city, where he has gained a high reputation. He is also engaged in the drug business, and has one of the best equipped apothecary estab- lishments in this vicinity.
Dr. Van Zandt is a member of the sur- geons' staff of Ellis Hospital, of Schenectady, also a member of the Schenectady County
1336482
H. C. VAN ZANDT.
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Medical Society and of the State Medical Association. He belongs to St. George Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M .; is a Trustee of Schau- Naugh-ta-da Tribe, No. 123, Improved Order of Red Men; and is a member of the Holland Society.
He married Hattie Hilderbrand, daughter of Henry Hilderbrand, of Schenectady, N.Y. In his religious belief the Doctor is an Episco- palian, and is a warden of Christ's Church.
HOMAS DORMADY, a retired locomo- tive engineer and a member of the Schenectady Board of Aldermen, was born in the town and county of Carlow, Ireland, Sep tember 10, 1827, son of Andrew and Bridget (Rice) Dormady. Coming to Schenectady with his parents when two years old, Thomas Dormady passed through the common schools of this city, and was graduated from the high school. After learning the machinist's trade in the railway shops at Albany, he followed it as a journeyman for a year, and then became a locomotive engineer on the Mohawk & Hudson River Railroad, which is now a part of the New York Central system. His first engine, which was imported from England in 1831, was originally called the "John Bull," but on being enlarged was renamed the "Rochester." For over forty years be ran a regular day train be- tween Schenectady, Albany, Utica, and Syra- cuse, and in 1894 he practically retired. In 1871 he was elected to the Board of Aldermen for three years, and he was afterward re- elected for the two succeeding terms. As the
Democratic candidate for Mayor in 1879, he lacked but three votes of being elected. In 1890 he was again a member of the upper branch of the city government, and in 1897 he began his fifth term in that body. The ward he represents is considered a Republican stronghold, a fact which amply attests his ability and popularity.
Mr. Dormady married Mary Sheean, a native of Troy, N. Y., a daughter of Philip Sbeean (deceased). His children are: Thomas, born in 1858, a graduate of the high school and now a telegraph operator in Schenectady; Annie, a graduate of St. John's Convent School; Libbie, now the widow of J. J. Mur- phy; and Philip, also a graduate of the high school and at present in the employ of the city.
Mr. Dormady belongs to the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and has served as local chief of Division 83, now Division 172.
OHN T. BENHAM, M. D., of Cones- ville, N. Y., one of the best known phy- sicians in this part of the country, was born in Hudson, N. Y., October 19, 1823, son of Dr. John P. and Elizabeth (Smith) Benham. He is a descendant in the ninth generation of his emigrant ancestor, who was an Englishman, and is the fourth representative of the family in a direct line to practise medicine. The great-grandfather was Dr. Cornevius Benham, who practised in Catskill, N. Y., for many years; and his widow, who was of Dutch de- scent, married for her second husband Dr.
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Van Buren, a relative of President Martin Van Buren. Dr. Thomas Benham, the grandfather, practised in Ashland, N. Y., where he died at the age of eighty-nine years; and two of his sous, namely, John P. and Jacob, became suc- cessful physicians.
Dr. John P. Benham, the father, resided in Hudson for many years, and then, moving from that town to Conesville, practised there for the rest of his life. He was favorably known over a wide circuit as a capable physi- cian, whose powers of endurance were unusually vigorous ; and at the time of his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-three years, he was the oldest active medical practitioner in this county. He reared two children : John T., the subject of this sketch; and Margaret E., who married Edwin Il. Marshall and resides in Troy, N. Y.
John T. Benham began his education in the district schools, and advanced in learning by attending the Schoharie Academy. After working at the carpenter's trade some twelve years, he took up the study of medicine with his father, who carefully directed his prepara- tions. He also attended lectures at Woodstock and Castleton, Vt., and at the Berkshire Medi- cal College, Pittsfield, Mass. He subse- quently spent a year at the Broadway Hospital, New York City, where he obtained much valu- able experience, and returning to Conesville he entered upon the practice of his profession in company with his father. For over fifty years he has labored diligently and success- fully in his calling, visiting the sick in all kinds of weather, apparently oblivious of his
own health or comfort ; and he is still remark- ably vigorous and active.
Dr. Benham married for his first wife Ro- sanna Hoogland and for his second Anna M. Lader. He has two daughters by his first union, namely : Donna I., who married Oscar Mervin; and Margaret E., wife of Julian Myers.
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