USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 33
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 33
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 33
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Mr. and Mrs. Larkin's only child, John H., died wlien eleven years old. Mr. Larkin and his wife are prominent members of the Lutheran church at Central Bridge, of which he is treasurer, and both are teachers in the Sunday-school, in which Mr. Larkin has been superintendent for six years. Mrs. Larkin is president of the Home and Foreign Mission- ary Society of Hartwick Synod; and Mr. Larkin has been president of the County Union of the Christian Endeavor Society for five years, attending four meetings each year in different parts of the county. In 1895 he went as a delegate to the convention in Cleveland. Mrs. Larkin is a member of the local W. C. T. U.
LARENCE E. BLOODGOOD, of the firm of Bloodgood & Tallmadge, Cats- kill's well-known attorneys, was born in Jewett on February 3, 1849, son of Jason and Lucinda (Coe) Bloodgood. His father, who is now, at the age of eighty-four, living retired in the village of Hensonville, is the grandson of William Bloodgood, one of
the pioneer settlers of Conesville, Schoharie County, coming to that place from New Jer- sey and originally from Long Island.
William Bloodgood fought for American in- dependence in the Revolutionary War. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Dingle, was from New England. She died in 1833, surviving her husband sixteen years, his death having occurred in 1817. Their son, Lewis, the next in line of descent, was born in Scho- harie County, and spent his life there in the town of Conesville, engaged in farming. He married Catherine Califf. He died about 1821, when his son Jason was a lad of six years.
Jason Bloodgood began his working life when very young. He was engaged for a number of years at farming and lumbering in his native town, and then he removed to a farm in Jewett, where he remained until 1887. Since that time he has resided in Hensonville. He is a Democrat in politics. His wife, Mrs. Lucinda C. Bloodgood, died in 1893. She was born in Jewett on October 1, 1809, being the daughter of Justus and Ruth (Bailey) Coe and one of a family of six children. Her father was born in Goshen, Conn., and came to Jewett in the early days of its settlement, find- ing his way thither by means of marked trees. There he spent the remainder of his days, making his home at first in a tiny log cabin and having but the barest necessities of life. He was a Deacon in the Presbyterian church, which he helped to build, and one of its active supporters throughout his life. He died at the age of eighty-four, and his wife died at the
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age of sixty-five. None of their seven chil- dren are living.
Jason and Lucinda C. Bloodgood were the parents of seven children, of whom six are liv- ing. These are as follows: Levi; Cyrus E. ; Clarence E .; Tremain S., of Jewett; Mary, who is the wife of Mr. Van Valkenberg, of Catskill; and Isaac L. All the men of this family are prominent citizens in the towns where they reside. Three of the brothers have been Town Supervisors. Levi and Isaac are in partnership, and conduct the large general merchandise business at Hensonville. Levi and his brother Cyrus E. bought the business in 1868 of Messrs. Brown & Loughran, and were in partnership for seventeen years, when Cyrus sold his interest to the youngest brother. Levi Bloodgood married Kate Bed- ford, of Delaware County, and has two daugh- ters: Lena, who was educated at Stamford Seminary, and is now a teacher of vocal and instrumental music; and Lettie, who is in school. He is one of the leading Democrats of his county, was Town Supervisor in 1890 and 1891, has been chairman of the Town Committee and many times a delegate to both town and county conventions. He is a mem- ber of the Methodist church and prominent in Sunday-school work. Cyrus E. Bloodgood is at the present time Clerk of Greene County. He was chairman of the Board of Supervisors of the county in 1882. Tremain is a farmer. For two years he represented his town, Jewett, in the Greene County Board of Supervisors.
Clarence E. Bloodgood in his early years at- tended the common schools, and subsequently
a school at Jewett Heights. He then taught two terms in Jewett, and in 1869 entered Stamford Seminary. There he continued his studies until July, 1871, with the exception of one winter, during which he was teaching. In July, 1871, he took the examinations for Yale, passing through New York on the twelfth of the month, while the Orangemen's riot was in progress. In the fall of that ycar he entered the Freshman class, and in 1875 was graduated in the classical department, receiving honors. Among his classmates were the following- named men, who have since been distinguished in national life: John Patton, United States Senator from Michigan; Albert S. Jenks, re- cently elected Judge of the Supreme Court of the Second District of New York State; John S. Seymour, formerly of Connecticut, now of New York City, who was Commissioner of Pat- ents under Cleveland's last administration ; Edward S. Jones, First Assistant Postmaster- General under the same administration; Ed- ward S. Atwater, of Poughkeepsie, candidate for Comptroller on the Democratic ticket in 1898; and Edward C. Smith, at present Gov- ernor of Vermont.
In the fall of 1875 Mr. Bloodgood was elected School Commissioner of the First Dis- trict of Greene County; and this position he held for nine years. In 1879 he began the study of law in the office of J. B. Olney, of Catskill, and in January, 1885, was admitted to the bar. He immediately began the prac- tice of law, and twelve years later formed the partnership with Mr. Tallmadge. The firm has one of the largest law libraries in the
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county, and its practice is very extensive. Both partners have a wide circle of acquaint- ance throughout this section of the State, and command universal confidence.
In 1891 and 1892 Mr. Bloodgood served as State Senator from the Fourteenth District, which then included Greene, Ulster, and Schoharie Counties. He was a member of the Judiciary Committee, of the Committee on Finance, and of the Committee on Canals, Roads, Bridges, and Poor Laws, and was chairman of the last two. He introduced some bills of importance, among others one that had been many times before presented and as often failed to pass. Against the opposition of members from large cities he secured the passage of the law, enlarging the scope of in- vestments for savings-banks. Mr. Bloodgood believes in "sound money." He has been continuously active in all duties of good citizenship since he graduated from college. In 1895 he was chairman of the Democratic County Committee. He is at the present time a member of the State Committee for the Twenty-fifth Senatorial District. He has been a member of the State Bar Association since 1892. In 1897 he was elected vice- president of the association for the Third Judi- cial District of the State of New York, and last January was re-elected to the same posi- tion for the current year. In 1896 also he was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior spe- cial commissioner to investigate certain mat- ters connected with the Osage Indians; but, as the acceptance of the position would require him to spend an indefinite time in the Indian
Territory, he felt obliged to decline the honor. Mr. Bloodgood was married in 1892 to Joseph- ine L. Case, of Catskill, daughter of Hiram Case. Mrs. Bloodgood was born in what is known as Potter's Hollow, Albany County. Mr. Bloodgood during the two years, 1895 and 1896, was president of the Rip Van Winkle Club, which is the leading social club of Cats- kill. He is secretary and treasurer of the Com- mercial Mutual Fire Insurance Association of Catskill.
OW FONDA VROMAN, a leading citizen of Middleburg and represen- tative of one of the oldest families in the county, was born in this town on a farm adjoining his present dwelling-place on No- vember 14, 1831, his parents being Henry and Catharine (Hagadorne) Vroman.
The first title to Schoharie lands known to have been recorded was obtained by his ances- tor, Adam Vroman, from the Indians, and has since been known as Vroman's land. It is located two miles south-west of Middleburg. The conveyance is dated Schenectady, August 20, 1711. Adam Vroman obtained a royal patent to these lands from King George on August 26, 1714. On March 30, 1726, he obtained a new grant from the Indians. Twenty families of Hollanders settled here, and there was considerable friction between them and the Palatinates before friendly rela- tions were established. Adam Vroman was born in Holland in 1649, and came to this country with his father, Hendrick Meese Vro- man, in 1670, settling first in Schenectady.
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The father was killed in the massacre there in 1690. Adam's two brothers were named Jan and Bartholomew. He lived in Schenectady during the greater part of his life, and is bur- ied there; but his death occurred in Middle- burg in 1730, at the home of his son. He was three times married, successively to Engeltie Ryckman, Grietje Van Slyck, and Grietje Takelse Hemstreet. His first wife and her infant child were killed in the massacre.
Adam's son Peter was born in Schenectady on May 4, 1684. Hle came from that place, and settled in Middleburg, in the part now called Fulton, on the banks of the Schoharie River, where he cleared a large tract of land. Hlis relations with the Indians were most friendly. He died in 1777. His wife, Grietje Van Alstyne, who was born in Albany of Dutch parentage, was the mother of twelve children, seven sons and five daughters.
Adam Vroman, second, son of the above named Peter, and great-grandfather of Dow F. Vroman, was born at Fulton on September 21, 1707, and died of consumption in 1754. De- spite his feeble health, he was a man of much energy, and one of the most progressive farmers of this region.
Jonas Vroman, grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in Middleburg, now Ful- ton, on April 1, 1735, and died on April 16, 1804. Upon reaching his majority, he moved to the farm which adjoins Dow F. Vroman's property, and there built in 1792-93 the house, the main part of which is still stand- ing. He was a lifelong farmer. His wife, whose maiden name was Deliah Hager, died
in 1830, at the age of ninety-one. They were the parents of two sons.
Of these Henry, above named, was born on the farm his father had settled, and there he continued to reside thoughout his life. Upon the death of his father he came into possession of the propety. He was a man of considera- ble prominence hereabouts, and was at differ- ent times Lieutenant and Captain in the militia. Both he and his wife Catherine were members of the Dutch Reformed church. The latter was a native of Middleburg, now Ful- ton, and daughter of John Hagadorne. She died at the age of seventy-nine; and her hus- band died on March 2, 1859, at the age of eighty-two. Of their family of ten children, three are living ; namely, Dow Fonda, Adam, and Susan, who is the wife of Isaac Borst.
Dow F. Vroman received good mental train- ing in the public schools, and resided at home with his parents until he was twenty years of age, at the end of which time he left home and travelled for about four years. Returning then to Middleburg, be purchased the farm of forty acres adjoining his father's estate, which has since been his home. In 1854 he married Margaret Smith, one of a family of ten chil- dren born to Martin Smith, a farmer of Albany County, New York. Of this union nine chil- dren have been born, 'namely: Eugene, who resides in Middleburg; Charles, who married Mary Best, and is engaged in business here; Henry, who is a farmer in California; Kate, who resides with her parents; Dow, a lawyer of Tonawanda, Niagara County, a graduate of Union College and Albany Law School;
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Smith, an engineer in California; Margaret, who resides with her parents; Guy, who is a civil engineer, a graduate of Union College, Schenectady, in the class of 1898; and Roy, who is attending the high school. Mr. Vro- man is a man of superior intelligence, and pos- sesses a wide and thorough knowledge of men and affairs. He has made a careful study of the family history, and is an authority on all points connected with it. In politics he is a Democrat ; but, although he is one of the lead- ing men in his party, he has never cared to hold public office. In 1890, 1891, and 1892 he served as Supervisor of Middleburg. His wife and two daughters are members of the Re- formed church.
HAUNCEY W. HINMAN, attorney- at-law and Justice of the Peace, resid- ing at Schoharie, N. Y., was born in Middleburg on June 4, 1835, son of John S. and Margaret (Pausley) Hinman. His grandfather, Justus Hinman, by occupation a mechanic, was a native of the State of Con- necticut. He removed to Kinderhook, Co- lumbia County, in this State, among the early settlers, and he lived there during the re- mainder of his life. He died at the age of eighty-one. His wife, who was before her marriage Alice Spencer, was also born in Connecticut. She lived to be eighty years of age, and reared a family of eight children. Of these only one son, Franklin by name, is living. Both parents were members of the Baptist church.
John S. Hinman was born in Kinderhook, and was brought up in that town. When a mere boy he left home, and for some years subsequently he journeyed from one place to another, until at length he settled in Middle- burg and carried on wagon-making, later en- gaging in the practice of law. He became an attorney of some note, and continued practice for a quarter of a century. Ile was also Jus- tice of the Peace for many years. In politics he was a Democrat. His death occurred at the age of fifty-six. His first wife, Margaret, the mother of Chauncey W. Hinman, was the daughter of Frederick and Christiana Pausley, the father a lifelong farmer and during his last years a resident of Middleburg. She was bern in Schoharie, and died at the age of thirty-three. Of the six children born to her, four are living, the record being as follows: Chauncey; Charles; Helen, who is the widow of William Bouck; and Mary Jane, who is the wife of Jacob L. Zimmer, of Wright. Mrs. Margaret Hinman was a de- voted member of the Methodist church. The second wife was a sister of the first, and she was the mother of John, Justice, Albert, Alice, and Catharine, of whom John and Jus- tice are living. She died at the age of fifty- eight.
Chauncey W. Hinman attended the public schools until sixteen years of age, when he left home and went to work in Franklinton and Livingstonville, where he remained for a short time. He subsequently worked in Utica and elsewhere in Oneida County, in Al- bany, and in Ohio, as a clerk, and then re-
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turned to Middleburg, where he learned the harness-maker's trade, and subsequently car- ried on business until 1862, when he enlisted in Company D of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment as a private. He was in active service, and through successive pro- motions rose to the rank of Second Lieuten- ant and finally to that of First Lieutenant. He was at Chancellorsville and at Gettys- burg, and at Tilton, in the fall of 1864, was taken prisoner by the rebel forces. He was carried to Andersonville, and there for six months endured horrors worse than those of open warfare. From being a solid, well-built man weighing one hundred and sixty-eight pounds, he became reduced to a mere skele- ton, and escaped death only by the fortunate circumstance of his release. He saw thou- sands of men breathe their last in the prison, victims of starvation and disease. The daily rations, which were never varied, were one- half pint of corn meal, the same quantity of beans, and one spoonful of molasses or two ounces of meat. To this was added, once in three days, a small tablespoonful of salt. Thirty men of Mr. Hinman's company shared the horrors of prison life with him.
With peace came his release and subsequent discharge from the army. Returning then to Middleburg, Mr. Hinman began the business of harness-making, but in 1867 he came to Schoharie and began the study of law. Two years later he was admitted to the bar, and at once formed a partnership with his brother, which continued until 1871. Since that time Mr. Hinman has been alone. He is the sec-
ond oldest lawyer in practice in the town. For eight years he has been a Justice of the Peace and for many years a trustee of the Union School.
Mr. Hinman was married in 1872 to Alice ver Plank, who was born in Wright, a daugh- ter of Alanson ver Plank and one of a family group of five children. Of this union six children were born, as follows: Nellie M., Douglas A., Herbert W., Mabel, Alice, and C. Ford. Nellie M., who is a graduate of Vassar College, is the assistant principal of the Union School. Douglas is a graduate of the Albany Law School and a practising lawyer in Berne, Albany County. Herbert W. is in business with a florist in Saratoga Springs. Mabel, who was educated at the Young Ladies' Seminary at Binghamton, is now in Europe. Alice is a student in the Union School, Schoharie. C. Ford Hinman is studying law in his father's office.
Mr. Hinman is an Odd Fellow of To-wos- scholer Lodge, No. 546. He is a member and trustee of the Stock Growers' Associa- tion. He has a general law practice, and also acts as pension attorney. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Hinman and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is a trustee of the society. Both he and his wife have been teachers in the Sun- day-school.
A GRAND I. TREADWELL, a pro- gressive farmer and prominent citizen of Jefferson, Schoharie County, N.Y., was born in Harpersfield, Delaware
JAMES T. WYATT.
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County, this State, October 7, 1845, son of James T. and Eliza A. (Buckingham) Tread- well.
His father, James T. Treadwell, was a na- tive of Harpersfield, N. Y., born August 6, 1812. He was one of the leading men of his town, where he held the office of Supervisor. He was also a Colonel in the militia. A stanch Republican in politics, he was a great admirer of Lincoln, Grant, Seward, and other great men of his party who had proved their fitness for high place by the magnitude of their services to their country. In religion he was a Methodist and a prominent officer of that church. His wife, Eliza, who was born in Jefferson, Schoharie County, July 14, 18II, was a daughter of Isaac and Sally Buck- ingham, her father being a prosperous farmer. She died in her native town, February 27, 1896, having survived her husband nearly twenty-five years, he having passed away April 26, 1871. Their children were: Orrin, Sarah, Cassius, La Grand, and Addie.
La Grand I. Treadwell received a good dis- trict-school education. He began early to ac- quire a practical knowledge of agriculture, and since his youth has been engaged in farm- ing. His present farm of one hundred and ten acres is well located, and, kept by him in a high state of cultivation, it produces satis- factory financial results. Mr. Treadwell is a man of good business capacity, progressive in his methods, an untiring worker, and thor- oughly wide-awake to every opportunity for the improvement of his property. That he stands high among his fellow-townsmen may
be inferred from the fact that he has been called upon to serve them as Commissioner of Highways and as Supervisor. He attends the Methodist church. He belongs to the Ma- sonic order, being a member of Lodge No. 554, F. & A. M., of Jefferson.
He married September 22, 1885, Miss Jean- ette C. Grant, a native of Stamford, Delaware County, N. Y., and a daughter of Alfred B. and Maria A. (Davenport) Grant. Mr. and Mrs. Treadwell are the parents of one child, J. Logan Treadwell, who was born August 12, 1887.
AMES T. WYATT, ex-Supervisor of Glenville and a veteran of the Civil War, was born in Halifax, N. S., Octo- ber 22, 1834, son of John F. and Charlotte (Stewart) Wyatt. His father was a native of New Jersey, and his mother of Nova Scotia.
John Wyatt, his grandfather, who was born in Charleston, S.C., served in the Revolution- ary War, and for some years was a planter in his native State. Coming North, John Wyatt resided in New York State for a time, but his last days were spent in Nova Scotia. The family is of English origin. Probably its first representative in this country was Sir Francis Wyatt, one of the early Colonial governors of Virginia, the first term of his wise and pacific administration beginning in October, 1621.
John F. Wyatt, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a carpenter, and followed his trade during his active years. Moving from Nova Scotia to New York State, he resided in Albany until going to Cattaraugus County;
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and he died in Jamestown, Chautauqua County, at the age of eighty-three years. In politics he was a Republican. llis wife, Charlotte, was the mother of seven children, four of whom are living, namely : John A. and James T., both residents of Glenville; Eleanor, wife of M. G. Martyn, of Jamestown; and William H. Wyatt, of Akron, Ohio. The others were : Eliza C., Harriet, and Adelaide. Mrs. Char- lotte S. Wyatt died in Akron, Ohio, at the age of seventy-six years. In religions faith the parents were Episcopalians.
James T. Wyatt was reared in Albany and educated in the schools of that city. When a young man he entered the grocery business as a clerk, and remained in that employment for four years. In October, 1861, he enlisted as a private in an independent organization known as the Havelock Battery, which was raised in Albany, and became attached to the Army of the l'otomac. He participated in some of the most stubbornly contested engagements of the Civil War, including the battle of Chancellors- ville, where he was wounded, and rose to the rank of First Lieutenant, being discharged as such, January 24, 1865. The State of New York gave him the rank of Brevet Major. Re- turning to Albany, he in 1866 became travel- ling salesman for Burton & Co., dealers in mouldings, picture frames, and similar wares, and remained with that concern for eight years. In 1877 he bought his present farm in Glen- ville, containing one hundred and forty-two acres of desirable land situated in the beautiful and fertile Mohawk valley, one of the finest agricultural regions in the State. He displays
unusual practical ability and good judgment in managing his property, which yields a good income, the energy of its owner being visible on every hand.
In June, 1867, Mr. Wyatt was united in marriage with Anna M. Rector, who was born in Glenville, May 25, 1835, daughter of Will- iam Rector and a representative of an old fam- ily of this town.
Politically, Mr. Wyatt is a Republican. lle served with ability as Supervisor during the years 1882, 1883, 1884, and 1886. Ile is a comrade of Horsfall Post, No. 90, G. A. R., of Schenectady. Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have no children. They attend the Episcopal church.
IRNEST E. BILLINGS, M. D., the lead- ing physician of Gilboa, Schoharie County, N. Y., is a native of Broome, this State. He was born on September 29, 1859, to Peter L. and Amelia (Brayman) Billings. His great-grandfather Billings came to this place from Connecticut. He was of English ancestry.
The Doctor's paternal grandfather, John Billings, lived and died in this county, and was a lifelong farmer. His children were as follows: Thaddeus; Peter; Charles; William; Emma, who is the wife of Lewis Brazee; Ellen, who is the widow of Emerson Camp- bell; and Luther, who died at the age of twenty-one years. Charles and William Bill- ings both reside in this county.
Peter Billings during the greater part of his active life was engaged in farming at Broome,
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but he lived for a time in Greene County. Politically, he was a stanch Republican. For a number of years he was l'oormaster. He was a member of the old school Baptist church and one of its most zealous upholders. llis four children were: Ernest E. and Erwin B., twins; Anna, who married Albert Palmer; and Burton, who died at the age of twenty- three years.
Ernest E. Billings during his boyhood at- tended school at Broome and subsequently at Rensselaerville Academy. In his early years he had access to a well-selected library, which probably in a measure determined the course of his later life. This library consisted largely of works of science and history. It had been accumulated by his maternal grand- father, Benjamin Brayman, who resided in Broome. Mr. Brayman was a genuine lover of books. Not a volume on his shelves but was one of value and standing, and not one that he had not read and digested. His mem- ory for facts was wonderful, and no one here- abouts could equal him in extent of knowl- edge. He was extremely logical, and could floor any one in an argument. Withal, he was a successful man of affairs. At that time, when good books, or indeed books of any sort, were difficult to get, his library unquestion- ably exerted a great influence in moulding the future of his grandson.
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