USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 5
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 5
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 5
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Captain John Newell, as he was widely known from his rank in the State militia in the early training. days, built first a log cabin and then a frame house, which he kept as a tavern for many years. He was of sturdy stock that could endure hardships without flinching, and his common sense cqualled his stalwart frame. He was a militia man in the War of 1812. He lived to be over seventy years of age, and his wife also lived to be old. They reared a family of eight children.
JOHN A. NEWELL.
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Andrus Newell, who was born in Durham, became a prosperous farmer on his one hundred and sixty acres. He tore down the building that his father had used as a tavern, and erected in its place the large and handsome house which is now the home of his son Charles. Like his father he was a man of sound judgment and of splendid physical strength, being hearty and hale up to the time of his death, at the age of eighty-six. He was originally a Whig in politics and later a Re- publican, and he held numerous offices during his long and active life. His wife, Julia, died at the age of fifty years. She was a native of Westbrook, Conn. Both were devoted mem- bers of the Congregational church. Of their ten children Louisa died at the age of twenty- seven, Zina died at the age of seventy-one, and Edwin at the age of five years. The living are: John A., Sylvia, Abby, Adelbert, Eliza- beth, Charles, and Eliezur D. Sylvia is the wife of the Rev. S. H. Fellows, of Wauregan, Conn. Abby is the wife of Professor Gilbert, teacher of mathematics in the high school at Albany, N. Y. Adelbert is a prosperous farmer of Coxsackie, N. Y. Elizabeth is Mrs. Dorland A. Peck. Charles is a farmer on the old homestead, and Eliezur resides with him.
John Newell lived with his parents until he was about sixteen and a half years of age, when he came to Windham. He had received a common-school education, and upon coming here he began learning the cabinet-maker's trade with Mr. Potter, his present partner. At the age of twenty-one, having finished his
apprenticeship, he went to New York City, where he worked for two years. During this time he saved a small amount of money, and at the close of his second year he received an offer from Mr. Potter to return to Windham and enter into partnership with him. This offer he accepted, and in 1852 was formed the partnership that is now the oldest in existence in this county. Since that time Messrs. Pot- ter & Newell have built up a very large trade in Windham and the surrounding region. Both gentlemen are skilled workmen in every branch of furniture manufacturing, having made all kinds of furniture by hand. They have in past years done considerable manufact- uring on their own premises, and still continue to manufacture coffins and caskets. Their trade in furniture is extensive, and as they are the only undertakers within a radius of ten miles they practically do all the business in that line hereabouts. No firm is better known in all the surrounding country than that of Potter & Newell.
In 1856 Mr. Newell married Eunice Hunt, who was born in the house in which Mr. New- ell now resides. Her parents were Daniel and Mary (Rowley) Hunt, both of whom were members of the Presbyterian church. Of their family of four boys and five girls three are living and reside in Windham. Mr. Hunt was a leading man in the town and prominent in all public affairs. By occupation he was a miller, and he built the mill now standing here and the mill-race. Mrs. Hunt, who was born in Lexington, died at the age of sixty- three. Mrs. Newell died on October 10,
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1898, dropping suddenly from heart disease, at the age of sixty-seven. Mr. Newell has lost his two children - Ilighland and Mary E. Ilighland Newell, who was a young man of unusual promise, died at the age of twenty- three. He was a member of the HIampden Watch Company, of Springfield, Mass., having learned the watchmaker's trade in his native place. Ile had been in business three years when cut down by a fatal illness. Mary E. died at five years of age.
Politically, Mr. Newell is a Republican. He has served his townspeople in the office of Collector of Taxes and as Auditor of the town accounts, and has been a candidate for Super- visor. He is a member of Mountain Lodge of Masons, No. 529, having joined shortly after the lodge was organized. His interest in Masonic affairs has been active and unremit- ting, and he has held nearly every office in the lodge. lle was Master at the time the Ma- sonic Temple in New York was dedicated. For nearly fifty years Mr. Newell has been an active worker in the Presbyterian church in this place, and for the last thirty years has been the leading tenor in the church choir, which is the best in any town in the county outside of Catskill. He comes of a musical family, all of them being singers. For more than a quarter of a century he has been an Elder in the church, and for nine years he served the Sunday-school as its superintend- ent. Ile can scarcely remember the time when he was not connected with the Sunday- school, either as pupil, teacher, or superin- tendent.
OHN D. CAMPBELL, who owns and occupies the old Campbell homestead in Rotterdam, N. Y., was born in Albany this State, May 14, 1844, son of Daniel D. and Julia A. (Sitterly) Campbell. Mr. Camp- bell's father, who was adopted by an aunt, was a son of Jacob and Angelica (Bradt) Schermer- horn. Jacob was a son of Simon and Sarah (Vrooman) Schermerhorn. Simon was a son of Jacob and Margaret (Teller) Schermerhorn. Jacob was a son of Ryer and Ariantje (Bradt) Schermerhorn; and Ryer was a son of Jacob Janse Schermerhorn, the emigrant ancestor, who was born in Waterland, Holland, in 1622, and who married Jannettie Segers Van Voor- houdt.
John D. Campbell was reared in Albany, and acquired his education in the schools of that city. Since early manhood he has been extensively engaged in agricultural pursuits, and is now the owner of the Campbell home- stead of three hundred acres and the Vedder farm. His place, with its Colonial brick mansion, is one of the most pretentious and attractive country seats in this section, the spacious grounds being shaded by grand old trees, thus adding to the comfort as well as the beauty of the surroundings.
On August 23, 1871, Mr. Campbell was joined in marriage with Elizabeth Clute, who was born in Schenectady, N. Y., October 30, 1848. She is now the mother of four children, namely : David, born December 3, 1873; Julia A., born June 22, 1876; John D., Jr., born March 25, 1878; and Bessie B., born Au- gust 7, 1880.
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Mr. Campbell is one of the most noted agri- culturists of Rotterdam, and he makes a spe- cialty of raising thoroughbred cattle and horses. Politically, he is a Democrat, and was a member of the Assembly in 1882.
NDREW G. BALDWIN, proprietor of one of the best dairy farms in Gilboa, N. Y., was born in Greenville, Greene County, this State, December 11, 1827, son of Harvey and Eliza (Boyd) Baldwin. His father was born in Woodbury, Conn., Septem- ber 7, 1799, and his mother was born in Greenville, March 17, 1800. His paternal grandfather, Andrew Baldwin, who was a native of Connecticut, and lived there a num- ber of years after marrying, removed with his family to Greenville, and later from there to Mount Morris, N. Y., where he died. He was an industrious farmer. He had six children, namely : Deborah, who never married; Nancy, who was the wife of Judge Reuben Hine, of New York City; Harvey; Andrew, who died while young; Hannah, who married James Conkey, of Mount Morris; and Harriet, who married William Barnes, of Monmouth, III.
Harvey Baldwin, father of Andrew G., was fourteen years old when his parents settled in Greenville. He remained there until 1837, when he removed to a farm in Conesville, Schoharie County, where his death occurred on December 14, 1849. He was the father of five children, two of whom are living, namely : Andrew G., the subject of this sketch; and
William L. Baldwin, a lawyer of Breakabeen and ex-district attorney. The others were: Ann Jane, wife of the late Dr. E. R. Mackey, of Catskill, N. Y. ; John H., M. D., who died in Olive City, Ulster County, N. Y., in 1889; and James Harvey, who died at the age of ten years. The mother died September 7, 1857.
Andrew G. Baldwin acquired his education in the schools of Greenville and Conesville. He aided in carrying on the home farm until his father's death, and continued to reside in Conesville for five or six years afterward. Coming to Gilboa in 1855, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1861, when he pur- chased a farm, on which he lived about three years. For the past thirty-four years he has occupied a residence in the village, but still manages his agricultural property, which con- sists of two farms, one containing one hundred and ninety-seven acres and the other one hun- dred and twenty-three acres. With the aid of hired assistants he carries on general farming and dairying. He has dealt somewhat exten- sively in cattle, and at one time handled Ca- nadian horses.
For more than thirty years Mr. Baldwin has served as a Justice of the Peace, and in that capacity he transacts most of the minor legal business in this vicinity. During his four years upon the Board of Supervisors he was chairman of the legislation and printing com- mittees, and was a member of the committee on accounts of County Treasurer. He has also held other offices. He was always strongly opposed to slavery. His first Presi- dential vote was cast for the Whig candidate in
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1852. His allegiance to the Republican party dates from its formation, when he assisted in perfecting the local organization. He has served upon various committees, and has missed but one town election since becoming a voter.
Mr. Baldwin married Charlotte E. Stryker, daughter of Peter B. Stryker, who came with his parents from New Jersey in 1785, the Stryker family being the very first to settle in this section. Mrs. Baldwin's grandfather came from Holland. Her father was quite active in public affairs, and prominently identified with the Dutch Reformed church. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have had five children, namely : Carrie E., who married William Ha- garton, M. D., for twenty-four years a well- known physician of Gilboa; Minnie E., who married Henry Carpenter, and is no longer living; George S., M.D., who is now practis- ing in New York City; Lewis C., a dentist, who also practises in the metropolis; and Grace A., who is studying music.
Mr. Baldwin joined the Dutch Reformed church in 1865, and during his period of men- bership has served as Elder, Deacon, treasurer, and superintendent of the Sunday-school.
OIIN H. GRAY, proprietor of a general store in Tannersville, Greene County, N. Y., was born in Olive, Ulster County, this State, January 13, 1853, son of Morgan and Rachel (Freileigh) Gray. Ilis grandfather, Martin Gray, was a lifelong resi-
dent of Columbia County and a prosperous farmer.
Morgan Gray, father of John H., was born in Saratoga, and he there followed farming some years. He later came to Greene County, and remained a short time, then went to Olive in Ulster County, and in 1868 settled upon a farm in Saugerties, where he is still residing. He is now seventy-five years old, but possesses the activity of a much younger man. He is a member of the Dutch Reformed church. His wife, Rachel, was born in Saugerties, daughter of Samuel Freileigh, a prosperous farmer of that locality. She died at the age of fifty-six, having been the mother of seven children, of whom six are living; namely, Samuel M., John H., Carrie, Mary, Abbic, and Charles. Carrie married Daniel York, Mary married Orville Smith, and Abbie is the wife of Frank Smith.
John H. Gray was educated in the common schools. He assisted his father on the farm until he was thirty-one years old, when he pur- chased the general store conducted up to that time by his brother Samuel M., and, adding other goods, carried on the business for four years. Selling out to his brother-in-law, he came in 1890 to Tannersville, and purchasing land in the centre of the town, on the west side of Hunter Turnpike, erected his present store, in which he has carried on a profitable business ever since. The store is sixty by one hundred feet, and two stories high, the upper floor being used for storage purposes. He carries a large and varied stock, including dry and fancy goods, boots and shoes, hay and grain,
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paints and oils, groceries, hardware, house- furnishing goods, carpets, crockery, harnesses, robes, all kinds of patent medicines, wines, liquors, cigars, and tobacco. He also has a millinery department. He opens in April and closes January 1. With the aid of twenty-one employees, he transacts a large business, sup- plying all of the hotels and park resorts in this locality. He buys by the carload, and the character of his trade demands the handling of the finest quality of foreign and domestic goods. In connection with his store he carries on a well-equipped livery stable, keeping an average of thirty horses.
In 1882 Mr. Gray married Jennie Carnright, a native of Quarryville, Ulster County, daugh- ter of Wynkoop and Abbie (Freileigh) Carn- right. Her father was born in West Hadley, Ulster County. He moved from there to Quarryville and later to Malden-on-the-Hud- son, where he has resided for the past twenty- five years and is general overseer on the stone dock. Her mother also was born in Quarry- ville. She was a daughter of Samuel P. Frei- leigh, a farmer of that town, who was of Dutch descent. Mrs. Carnright, who is no longer liv- ing, was the mother of two children : Jennie, who is now Mrs. Gray; and Carrie, who married James Hommul. Having a good common- school education and possessing excellent busi- ness ability, Mrs. Gray is a valuable assistant to her husband, and has a general supervision of the store. She attends to most of the buy- ing, and gives her particular attention to the millinery department, which is well stocked with seasonable goods. Mr. and Mrs. Gray
have one daughter, Maud S., aged fourteen. She is attending the academy in Kingston, and makes a specialty of music.
Mr. Gray is a Democrat in politics. He is a great lover of horses, and keeps a number of speedy animals, and Mrs. Gray is also fond of driving.
RCHIBALD TINNING, one of the leading farmers of Princetown, N. Y., was born in Glen, Montgomery County, this State, August 6, 1824, son of James and Hannah (Bradt) Tinning. The father was born in Scotland in 1785, and in early life he followed the useful calling of a school teacher. He later kept a store on the Erie Canal, and in 1840 he settled in Patter- sonville, where he ran a general store in con- nection with farming for eleven years. He then moved to Florida, N. Y., where he spent the rest of his life, and died in 1868. Politically, he acted in his later years with the Republican party, and in his religious belief he was a Presbyterian. Mrs. Hannah Bradt Tinning, his wife, who was born in Glen in 1795, and died in 1838, was the mother of six children, three of whom are living, namely: Archibald, the subject of this sketch; Susan, who is now Mrs. Dougal, of Glenville; and Jane, who resides in Monte- rey, Cal. The others were: Catharine, who became Mrs. Dorman; Margaret, who became Mrs. Brownell; and Joseph Tinning. The mother died in 1838.
Archibald Tinning was reared and educated
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in Montgomery County. He began life as a clerk in his father's store, and later engaged in mercantile business on his own account. He became a property holder in Schenectady County in 1840, purchased his present farm in Princetown in 1849, and has resided here since 1850. He now owns about three hundred acres, which he uses for general farming and pasturage. He raises large and superior crops, and realizes good financial results. He keeps from twenty to thirty head of fine cattle, also raises sheep, and his stable contains some ex- cellent horses.
In 1848 Mr. Tinning married Sarah Mc- Gee, who was born in New York City, daugh- ter of William and Maria (Weast) McGee, who came to reside in Princetown several years prior to her marriage. She is the mother of five children; namely, James, Will- iam, Frances, Maria, and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Tinning have eight grandchildren.
Having acquired a competency, Mr. Tin- ning has practically retired from active labor, and will henceforward enjoy a well-earned rest at his comfortable home. In politics he acts with the Republican party. He and Mrs. Tinning are members of the Dutch Reformed church.
Of late years Mr. Tinning has found the winters too severe, and he and Mrs. Tinning have made several journeys to California to enjoy that delightful climate, and visit friends and relatives, making his headquarters with his son William, who is a successful lawyer. He has visited the Yosemite and other natural wonders of the State, also taking great interest
in the sugar beet factories and other great in- dustries and improvements that are being car- ried on.
RANK X. STRAUB, the founder and manager of the telegraph line and bus- iness in Middleburg, N. Y., is of German birth and parentage. lle was born in Altheim Oberamt Horb, Würtemberg, on June 1, 1847, son of Michael and Wallpurga Noll (Von Hürr- linger) Straub. Ilis father, who was born in Würtemberg, of an ancient and honored family, came to this country in 1851.
In the Fatherland Michael Straub had been a farmer and the owner of a large vineyard, where he manufactured wine on quite an exten- sive scale. He was a man of note in his na- tive place, and esteemed by all who knew him. After coming here, he settled in Williamsburg, on the outskirts of Brooklyn, where he kept a hotel until 1863. His wife, who was one of twins, was born in 1816, and died on June 28, 1852, not long after her arrival in America. Both parents were members of the German Catholic church. Of their five children one, Rosa, is deceased. Those living are: John; Carl A., who has been for thirty-two years in the regular army; Marie S. ; and Frank X., of Middleburg, whose personal history is given below.
Frank Straub received his education in a German school in Brooklyn, N.Y. He learned the machinist's trade in that city. Later he joined the Union army and was stationed at Fort Schuyler under General
FRANK X. STRAUB AND GRAND-DAUGHTER, MILDRED WELLS.
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Schofield. At the close of the war he learned the barber's trade in New York City, and there worked at it for some years. Coming to Middleburg in 1868, he opened a barber shop here, and has since been in active business in this town. He has been interested in every important movement which has touched closely the welfare or progress of the town during the last thirty years.
The fire department, which is considered one of the best volunteer organizations in the State, owes him a special debt of gratitude. It was started on December 31, 1887, by a vote of the village trustees. A commodious brick engine-house was built at a cost of two thon- sand dollars, and a steamer and a hook and ladder company formed. Mr. Straub raised fifteen hundred dollars for the hook and ladder company, and made a personal contribution of one hundred dollars toward the steamer. He was foreman of the old Eagle engine, and was foreman of the hook and ladder company under the new organization. He has always since been connected with the fire department, and takes an active interest in all matters connected with it. He was also a pioneer mover in be- half of the water company, and together with Mr. James C. Borst laid the first line of pipe on October 26, 1894. He assisted in survey- ing and in making maps at the time the vil- lage was incorporated. For twelve years he had control of the telephone and of the local office of the United States Signal Service. The telegraph line, which he manages and op- erates, was built in June, 1889. This is pat- ronized by all the leading business men in
Middleburg, and is now regarded as an indis- pensable element in the transaction of daily business.
Mr. Straub was married in 1870 to Emma- rette E. Gernsey, daughter of Montreville Gernsey, of this place. She was born in Mid- dleburg. Her father is a native of this county, and her mother, whose maiden name was Alida Becker, was a native of Breakabeen. Mrs. Gernsey died at the age of thirty-six, having been the mother of nine children. Of these the following-named six are living : Mrs. Straub, Julia, Edith, Rosa, Roxy, and Lett. Mr. and Mrs. Straub are the parents of three children - Inez, Charles A., and Arthur F. The first of these is the wife of Frank Wells, a well-known druggist of Middleburg, and is the mother of one child, Mildred. Charles A., who is a graduate of the Union College of Pharmacy, is a druggist in Troy. Arthur is a baker in Albany.
Mr. Straub is a communicant of the Episco- pal church and a vestryman. He was con- firmed in St. Luke's Church, Middleburg, in 1869, by the Right Rev. William C. Doane. All the members of his family were baptized in the Episcopal faith. In 1886 Mr. Straub made a trip to Europe and visited his birth- place, where he was accorded a most generous reception.
Mr. Straub is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Columbian Literary Society and of other fraternal organizations. The fol- lowing record is of interest in this connection :
He was elected Quartermaster Sergeant of Steuben Zouaves, Twenty-fifth Regiment, Com-
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pany I, in 1865; joined Good Templars, Albany, in 1867; raised to the sublime degree of Master Mason at Middleburg Lodge, No. 663, F. & A. M., in 1877; secretary of same lodge from 1881 to 1886; trustee of lodge from 1896 to 1901 ; elected to membership of La Bastille Lodge in 1882, and elected secretary of La Bastille Lodge in 1885; reorganized Eagle Engine Company and elected foreman of same in 1884; organized Scribner Hook and Ladder Company in 1888, and elected foreman of Scribner Hook and I.adder Com- pany for two years; elected assistant chief of Middleburg Fire Department, and elected member of Oncongena Tribe, No. 242, Im- proved Order of Red Men, 1898; elected mem- ber of Middleburg Encampment, No. 129, 1894; appointed under Governor Morton No- tary Public, 1895 to 1901 ; elected Trustee and Collector of village of Middleburg, 1897.
HARLES E. NICHOLS, a prominent lawyer and ex-Supervisor of Jefferson, Schoharie County, was born in this town, May 2, 1862, son of Hiram O. and Eliz- abeth (Totten) Nichols. His great-grand- father, Ezra Nichols, who was a pioneer in Delaware County, went there from Danbury, Conn., when the grandfather, Daniel Nichols, was eight years old. The latter became a prosperous farmer in llarpersfield. He had a family of nine children, namely: Laura; Fanny; Sally; Daniel S. ; Ezra; Betsey, who became Mrs. Becker Clernen; Whitman ; llannab; and Hiram O., above named.
Hiram O. Nichols, father of Charles E., formerly carried on mercantile business in con- nection with farming. He is now retired. His wife, Elizabeth, is a daughter of John and Amanda (Davis) Totten, of Harpersfield. They have had three children : Charles E., the subject of this sketch; Orson, who died at the age of twenty-six years; and Rollo, who is a prosperous dairy farmer in Harpersfield, is an influential member of the Republican party, and served as a Justice of the Peace.
Charles E. Nichols was graduated from the Delaware Literary Institute, Franklin, in 1882, and for a time attended Hamilton Col- lege. His law studies were completed in Schoharie, and, having been admitted to the bar in 1885, he in August of the following year opened an office in Jefferson. The skil- ful and energetic handling of some of his first important cases was the means of gaining a numerous and profitable clientage, and he has become a well-known practitioner before the courts of Otsego, Delaware, Greene, Ulster, Albany, and Schoharie Counties. He has figured prominently in several hotly contested suits, one of which, an action brought by certain parties for the recovery of taxes, neces- sarily aroused the interest of the general pub- lic; and his able management of another notable case, which had its origin in a politi- cal dispute, resulted in a victory for the local Republican organization. As one of the most able and active supporters of that party he has rendered valuable committee service, has been a delegate to various conventions, including the one which nominated Governor Black, and
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was a candidate for District Attorney in 1888. While holding the office of Supervisor in 1892- 93, he was chosen chairman of the equaliza- tion committee and a member of the com- mittee that erected the new almshouse, was instrumental in securing an appropriation for the repair of the fort, and rooms of the Historical Society at Schoharie. He has held other posi- tions of trust.
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