USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 6
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 6
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 6
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Mr. Nichols married Hattie A. Hubbell, daughter of Dr. Richtmeyer Hubbell, of Jeffer- son. They have two children - Grace A. and Charles E., Jr.
Mr. Nichols is a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity of Hamilton College, and has reached an advanced degree in the Masonic order, being a Past Master of the Blue Lodge, and the only resident of this town who belongs to the Commandery and the Mystic Shrine. His lucrative practice has enabled him to amass a competency ; and besides holding con- siderable stock in the water company, of which he is a director, he owns some valuable real estate, including agricultural property and village lots. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church.
ILLIAM A. WASSON, M.D., a leading physician of Greenville, N. Y., was born in 1852 in Hamburg, Erie County, this State. He is the only son of Horace and Susan E. (Oberholser) Wasson. His grandfather, John Wasson, was one of the pioneers of Hamburg, coming to that place,
which lay in the old Holland patent, in 1800, at the age of nineteen. There he worked at farming during the remainder of his life, and on the homestead the succeeding generations of the family have been born. He served dur- ing the War of 1812 as a Captain in the mili- tia. He died at the age of seventy-four. His wife, who died in middle life, was before her marriage a Miss Griffin. Of the five children born to her, two are living - Horace and Thomas, both of whom reside in Buffalo.
Horace Wasson was born on the Wasson farm in Hamburg in 1823, and was reared to farm life. In early manhood he showed marked administrative ability, and this secured his appointment to the responsible position of superintendent of the Erie County Insane Asy- lum in Buffalo, the duties of which he dis- charged in a faithful and efficient manner for a quarter of a century. The institution was a large one, having about a hundred and fifty inmates. Mr. Wasson is one of the well- known citizens of Buffalo. He gave up his position in the asylum in 1873, and has since given his attention to his personal business interests in that city. His wife, who is of German stock, was born in Otsego County. Her father, John Oberholser, who reached the advanced age of ninety-four years, was a car- penter, and worked at his trade in Lancaster County when a young man. Later he re- moved to Otsego County, and finally to Am- herst, Erie County, where he resided until his death. He had a family of nine children. Mrs. Wasson is a member of the Church of the Disciples. She has two children : Dr. Will-
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iam A. ; and Carrie, who is the wife of W. S. Turbett, of Buffalo.
Dr. Wasson began earning his own living in his thirteenth year, when he went to work in a broker's office in Buffalo. He was there for a year, and then became an employee in the Erie County Savings Bank for another year. Following this he attended St. Luke's School for a year, and then went to Rochester as gen- eral agent for the Knickerbocker Life Insur- ace Company, this being in 1867 and 1868. Subsequently he was for a year in college at Alliance, Ohio, and he then returned to Buffalo and became an assistant house physi- cian in the Erie County Hospital. This position he held until 1872, when he was appointed house physician. While there he attended lectures at the University of Buffalo, and in 1872 received his degree from that in- stitution. In 1873 he gave up his place at the hospital, and opened an office in Buffalo for the practice of medicine. There he remained until 1880, when he came to Greenville. He has here a large general practice, and is one of the most popular physicians of the town. Ilis present residence, built for him in 1885, is one of the finest in the village and, indeed, one of the finest to be found in any of the villages in the county.
The Doctor was married in 1875 to Carrie E. Wooster, a native of Westerlo, daughter of Charles E. and Melissa (Hitchcock) Wooster. ller parents had a family of four children. For many years they resided bere, her father being one of the well-known farmers of the town. Dr. and Mrs. Wasson have an only
daughter, Alice M., who is the wife of John HI. Sandford, a druggist in this town, and has a little daughter, Ruth.
Dr. Wasson is a Democrat. He is warmly interested in all public matters, but the de- mands of his profession prevent him from tak- ing a very active part in political affairs. Ile is a member of the Greene County Medical Society, and while in Buffalo was a member of the Erie County Medical Society, and also of the Buffalo Medical Club, which has since developed into the Buffalo Academy of Medi- cine. The Doctor occasionally takes a rest from his professional labors by indulging his tastes as a sportsman. He is an excellent shot, and is the owner of several guns and of hunting dogs. He has been actively associ- ated with the Masonie organization since 1877, when he joined the Queen City Lodge in Buffalo. Upon coming here he received mem- bership in the James M. Austin Lodge, and of this he has been five years Master, and was two years District Deputy in the old Eleventh District under Grand Master William Shever and Grand Master Burnham. He has filled all the chairs in the lodge. It was at his instiga- tion that the Greenville Royal Arch Chapter was organized, and he has been its High Priest from the start. Ile was a charter member of Jefferson Lodge, A. O. U. W., of Buffalo, and while in that city was examining physician of the lodge. He has held the office of trustee of the academy, and is at the present time a member of the Board of Education. He is also one of the three fire commissioners of the town and chief of the fire department.
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ILLIAM T. WADDELL, Super- visor of the town of Duanesburg, N. Y., was born where he now resides, son of William and Jane (McMillan) Waddell. His father, who is still living, was born near Edin- burgh, Scotland, May 5, 1815, and his mother was born in Rotterdam, N. Y., about the year 1820.
William Waddell emigrated when nineteen years old, first locating in Rotterdam, and for a time he followed the tailor's trade. Turning his attention to agriculture, he came to Duanes- burg over fifty years ago, and, purchasing the farm which his son is now cultivating, he tilled the soil successfully for the rest of his active period. Jane, his wife, became the mother of two sons, namely : James McMillan Waddell, a Civil War veteran, who is now a lumberman in the West; and William T., the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Jane M. Wad dell died in June, 1891. William Waddell has been a Republican in politics since the formation of the party, and in his religious be- lief he is a Presbyterian.
William T. Waddell was educated in the common schools. From his youth upward he has made general farming his chief occupation, having assisted his father until taking the entire management of the property. Besides the original home farm of one hundred and six acres he owns ninety-five acres of adjoining land. He raises large and superior crops, and makes a specialty of breeding full-blooded Guernsey cattle and Shropshire sheep. His industry and progressive tendencies are dis- played to excellent advantage, and his farm,
which is desirably located, contains good, sub- stantial buildings.
In 1871 Mr. Waddell married for his first wife Jennie Wilkins. She died in 1873, leav- ing one son, Samuel W., who married Eliza- beth Mead, resides in this town, and has one son. In 1875 Mr. Waddell married for his second wife Louisa Schrade, a native of Duanesburg. By this union there is one son, Harry.
Mr. Waddell has long been prominently identified with local public affairs, having served as Inspector of Elections several years, Overseer of the Poor two years, Justice of the Peace six years, while he is now serving his sixth term as Supervisor, being indorsed by both parties. In politics he is a Republican. He belongs to St. George Lodge, No. 6, F. & A. M., of Schenectady. He has held all of the important chairs of Bethany Lodge, No. 524, I. O. O. F., and is a Past Master and now secretary of Empire Grange, No. 784, Patrons of Husbandry. He attends the Epis- copal church.
EWIS SHELMANDINE, formerly a prosperous farmer and cattle dealer of Jefferson, was born in this town, July 16, 1811. He was a son of John and Lizzie (Washburn) Shelmandine and grandson of Richard Shelmandine an Englishman, who was one of the first settlers in Jefferson. Richard Shelmandine married a Miss Kniskem, of Blenheim, and resided upon a farm in this town for the rest of his life. He and his wife
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reared four sons and one daughter; namely, Henry, Borant, Benjamin, John, and Mary. Henry was a lifelong resident of Jefferson. Borant, who was in his younger days a hunter, later went to Oil Creek, Pa. Benjamin settled in Pennsylvania. Mary married Oba- diah Ruland.
John Shelmandine, father of Lewis, was born in Jefferson, and here spent the active period of his life in tilling the soil. In 1801 he married Lizzie Washburn, of Danbury, Conn. She became the mother of nine chil- dren, namely : Kate, who is no longer living; Joseph, who died in Jefferson in 1888; Re- becca, who died in Farmington, Pa. ; Rheda, who died in Illinois; Lewis, the subject of this sketch; Daniel, who died in Blenheim; Reuben, who died in Jefferson in 1894; Sally, who died in New York; and Charles, who died in Ohio. John Shelmandine died at the age of forty-seven years, leaving his wife with a large and dependent family. She, however, was an exceedingly capable woman, and suc. ceeded in bringing up her children. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a devout Christian.
Lewis Shelmandine was but fourteen years old when his father's death made it necessary for him to become self-supporting, and he began industrial life as a farm assistant. While still a young man he engaged in farm- ing on his own account, and shortly after his marriage he returned to the homestead farm. Ilis energy and thrift soon placed him among the leading dairy farmers and cattle dealers of the county, his farm in the meanwhile having
been increased from about one hundred to four hundred acres. Hle raised, bought, and sold live stock, took many prizes at fairs, purchased premium cattle, which he sold at a profit, and became widely known as an excellent authority in all matters relating to the live-stock busi- ness. Ile was a progressive as well as an industrious man, and quick to appreciate every improvement in agricultural machinery, being the first farmer in Schoharie County to pur- chase a mowing machine. In 1856 he built a new farm residence, and in 1871 he erected a handsome house in the village, where his last days were spent.
On March 6, 1834, Mr. Shelmandine was joined in marriage with Harriet Pitcher, who was born in the town of Summit, February 5, 1813, a daughter of Horace Pitcher. Eight children were the fruit of their union; namely, Charles, Elizabeth, Phœbe A., Catharinc, Sarah M., Mary, Emeline, and Rominda. Charles married Lydia Brockway, and resides in Eminence, N. Y. Elizabeth is the wife of Frank Hannay, of Eminence. Sarah M., who married David G. Proper, of Summit, died February 28, 1870. Mary first married Will- iam I .. Proper, who died leaving one son, Lewis. She afterward married David S. Palmer, a resident of Jefferson. Emeline mar- ried T. O. Burnett, and resides in Summit ; and Rominda married Byron Burnett, and resides in Cobleskill. Charles and Elizabeth were formerly school teachers. All the chil- dren united with the Methodist Episcopal church.
In politics Mr. Shelmandine went from the
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Whig party to the Democratic party, became a Republican at the breaking out of the Civil War, and in his last days joined the party of Prohibition. He assisted in building the Methodist church at East Jefferson, of which he was for some years a steward and trustee. Benevolence was one of his leading traits, and he relieved the suffering of the poor with a willingness free from ostentation. He died March 5, 1889, surviving his wife some nine- teen years, her death having occurred February 23, 1870. Mrs. Shelmandine, like her hus- band, was an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both were mourned as a severe loss to the community.
ENRY F. OLMSTEAD, Catskill agent of the Greene County Bible Depository and a retired agent of the American Express Company, was born in Ridgefield, Fairfield County, Conn., Novem- ber 22, 1813, son of Nathan and Martha (Watrous) Olmstead. His parents were both natives of that town, and his paternal grand- father, Jared Olmstead, followed farming there as long as he lived. Nathan Olmstead was a carpenter by trade, and besides following this mechanical calling he taught school many years. His death occurred in Ridgefield at the age of fifty-seven. He was a member of the Congregational church. His wife, Martha, who was a daughter of John Watrous, a farmer, was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She died at thirty-four years of age, having been the mother of seven children.
Henry F. Olmstead is now the only survivor of his father's family. In his boyhood he at- tended the common schools of Ridgefield, and subsequently, both prior to and after complet- ing a course at Hilton Academy, he taught school in Norwalk. Relinquishing educational work, he went to Hudson, N. Y., to learn the trade of a hatter, and worked as a journeyman there two years. In 1842 he came to Catskill, where he continued his trade on his own ac- count for two years, and opening a retail hat store continued it for a period of nearly twenty-five years, during the latter part of the time occupying the building in which he now has an office. For fifteen years, beginning in 1851, he conducted in addition to the other the business of the local agency for the American Express Company. In 1886 the express busi- ness had become so developed in importance that he disposed of his hat business. He con- tinued to represent the company until Decem- ber, 1880, when failing health compelled him to relinquish the arduous duties of his posi- tion. As a reward for his long and faithful service the company placed him on their emer- itus list, retiring him upon half-pay. Since 188I he has transacted a real estate business, has been the local agent for foreign steamship lines, has looked after the Clark estate, and for the past five years has been the Catskill agent for the Greene County Bible Depository. In politics he was originally a Whig, and, fa- voring the principles of the Republican move- ment, he was instrumental in organizing that party in this locality. He was Civil Justice for sixteen years, and three years Police Justice,
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and was noted for the impartial manner in which he disposed of all cases coming under his jurisdiction.
In 1844 Mr. Olmstead was united in mar- riage with Lydia H. Utley, daughter of Ralph and Sarah (Huntington) Utley. He has had two children, namely : a daughter, Mary How- ard Olmstead, who is organist of the Presbyte- rian church, and who teaches music; and a son, Henry F., who died aged four years.
Mr. Olmstead was formerly a member of the Sons of Temperance. For many years he has been an Elder of the Presbyterian church. He is a permanent Deacon, and was superin- tendent of the Sunday-school for nearly twenty years. He has outlived the majority of his business contemporaries, having participated in the development of Catskill from a small hamlet to its present size. He still has in his possession the old hand sled, built by him forty- five years ago, upon which he transported the American Express packages during the early days of that company's existence.
ETER V. VAN EPS, a well-to-do farmer of Glenville, N. Y., was born in this town, November 13, 1825, son of Albert and Anna (Swart) Van Eps. The family is of Dutch origin, as the name im- plies. Its immigrant progenitor was Dirk Van Eps, who settled in Schenectady County as early as 1662 or 1663. Johannes Dirksie Van Eps, son of Dirk, and the next in line, was killed in the Indian massacre of 1690. He had four sons and four daughters; and
Evert Van Eps, one of his sons, great-grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was twice married, and had five sons and five daughters. Johannes Baphst Van Eps, the grandfather, was born in Glenville, May 13, 1731. When a young man he located upon a tract of wild land, which he cleared into a good farm, and the rest of his active years were devoted to its cultivation. He married Anna Vedder on May 2, 1761, and had a family of thirteen children. He died January 11, 1813.
Albert Van Eps, the father, was born in Glenville, May 16, 1785. A sturdy and a thrifty farmer, he made excellent use of the resources at his command; and he resided here until his death, which occurred March 17, 1831. Politically, he acted with the Whig party. He was a member of the Reformed church. Mrs. Anna Swart Van Eps, his wife, was born in this town, January 16, 1790, and died July 22, 1841. They had nine children, four of whom are living, namely: Ann Eliza, born September 16, 1819; Sarah, born Sep- tember 12, 1823; Peter V., the subject of this sketch; and Josiah, born February 11, 1828. The others were: John A., born December 14, 1813; Jacobus S., born December 24, 1815; Harmanus S., born August 13, 1817 ; Josias, born December 11, 1821, died in infancy ; and Susanna, born June 18, 1830.
Peter V. Van Eps was educated in the schools of his native town. While still a youth he began to assist in the work of the farm; and, having succeeded to the ownership of a portion of the homestead property on com- ing of age, he has tilled the soil with ener-
PETER V. VAN EPS.
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getic diligence and resulting prosperity for the past fifty years. His farm is situated in the fertile valley of the Mohawk, not far from Hoffman's Ferry, and in the immediate vicin- ity of the spot where his ancestor erected a primitive abode in the pioneer days. The region abounds in charming natural scenery, including Wolf Hollow; and the traveller who goes out of his way to ride through this pictur- esque ravine is amply paid for his pains. The cries of the wild beasts heard by the early set- tlers have given way to the more welcome sounds of implements of industry, and the valley is now dotted on either side with well- kept farm-houses.
On June 3, 1851, Mr. Van Eps was united in marriage with Mary Ann Davenport, who was born in Troy, N. Y., March 23, 1828, daughter of David Davenport. Mrs. Van Eps is the mother of three sons, of whom the fol- lowing is a brief record: Jewett Edwin, born December 25, 1852, married Mary Conda, and is now cashier of the First National Bank, Schenectady; David Augustus, a prosperous farmer of Glenville, born September 15, 1854, married Annie R. Van Loan, and has two children - Jewett E. and Helen M. ; and Frank Stanley Van Eps, born July 4, 1859, married Marion Bosworth, and is now a Chris- tian Science healer in Chicago.
Owning one of the oldest farms in Glen- ville, Mr. Van Eps keeps up with the times in the way of improvements, and occupies a hand- some modern residence. In politics he is a Republican. He is esteemed both for his manly characteristics and as a representative
of one of the most highly reputable families in this section of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Van Eps are members of the Reformed church, and are socially prominent.
- ICHOLAS BRADT, a prominent resi- dent and representative of one of the oldest families of Woestina (Rotter- dam Junction), N. Y., was born in this town, September 14, 1824, son of Abram N. and Maria (Vedder) Bradt. He is a descendant of Arent Andriese Bratt, or Brat, the first of the family to settle in Schenectady County, who died soon after his arrival here in 1662. He married Catalyntie De Vos, daughter of Andries De Vos, who was Deputy Director of Rensselaerwych. The first ancestor to locate in Rotterdam was Abram A. Bradt, who was an industrious farmer, and who died at Woes- tina. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Van Patten. Nicholas A. Bradt, the grand- father of the subject of this biography, was born in Rotterdam, N. Y., August 15, 1773. He was in his younger days a blacksmith, but later turned his attention to farming, which he followed energetically for the rest of his active years. He was at one time Alderman from the Third Ward of Schenectady, Albany County, and also held minor offices. In poli- tics he was a Jeffersonian Democrat. He died July 9, 1850. He married Margaret Mabee, who was born in Rotterdam in 1776, and died December 13, 1850. They were members of the Dutch Reformed church, and the grand- father was an Elder for more than twenty years.
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Abram N. Bradt, the father above named, was born in Woestina, August 22, 1793. Ile was an able farmer and a leading citizen, serv- ing as Supervisor in 1846 and filling other town offices. In politics he voted with the Democratic party. He was an active member and an Elder of the Reformed church. Maria, his wife, whom he married May 2, 1818, was born December 5, 1801. She became the mother of seven children, three of whom are living, namely : Jemima, who married John V. Van Patten, of Glenville; Nicholas, the sub- ject of this sketch; and Harman Bradt, who resides in Petersburg, Va. The others were: Margaret, Simon, Sarah, and a child that died in infancy. The mother died May 12, 1833; and the father, who survived her many years, died November 5, 1878.
Nicholas Bradt was educated in the district schools of Woestina, and working with his father acquired a good knowledge of general farming. He has made agriculture a profitable employment, and since 1860 has resided on the farm of one hundred acres which he is still carrying on with energy. He also owns the homestead farm, which contains the same number of acres, and he ranks among the well- to-do residents of this section.
On September 29, 1857, Mr. Bradt was united in marriage with Hester Bradt, who was born in Rotterdam, November 13, 1834. Mrs. Bradt became the mother of seven children, namely : Helen E., born February 15, 1862; Aaron Frank, born June 29, 1865 ; Margaret, born October 13, 1869; Elizabeth, born June 17, 1872, now the wife of Martin H. Scher-
merhorn; Simon V., born January 29, 1875; Maria, who married Simon V. Veeder, and died at the age of twenty-one years; and Abram, who died at the age of twenty-four. Mrs. Bradt died May 1, 1889.
Mr. Bradt has been a Trustee of the town, was an Assessor for some time, and has ren- dered efficient services in other town offices. Politically, he is a Democrat. He attends the Reformed church, and his children are mem- bers.
ELSON O. GREEN, contractor and builder, of Tannersville, Greene County, N. Y., and a Civil War veteran, was born in Hunter, this county, May 25, 1844, son of Giles and Sarah (Warner) Green. His father was born in Hunter, May 23, 1800, and his mother, who was of Dutch descent, was a native of Conesville, Schoharie County. His paternal grandfather, Seth Green, who came from Connecticut, found his way here by the aid of marked trees, and was the third to settle where the village of Hunter is now located. Taking up a tract of land, he erected a log house and followed farming. Ile was quite prominent here in his day, and served as Justice of the Peace. He died at the age of eighty-seven. He had a large family of children, six of whom lived to be over eighty years old.
Giles Green, father of Nelson O., obtained his education in the common schools, and in his youth worked upon the home farm. Later he had one hundred and twenty-five acres of the homestead property, upon which he erected
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a dwelling and engaged in farming, becoming well-to do. Besides this property he owned a number of houses in Hunter. In politics he was a Democrat. He died at eighty-nine years of age. His wife, Sarah, died at the age of eighty-four. She was the mother of four children, three of whom are living; namely, Nelson O., Emma E., and Gilbert. Emma E. Green is the widow of George Pollock, and Gilbert is a resident of this town. The par- ents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Nelson O. Green began his education in the common schools of Hunter. He resided at the parental home until he was thirteen years old, when he went to Romeo, Mich., twenty-eight miles from Detroit, where he remained two years, attending school and following various kinds of employment. Returning East, he en- listed in 1862 in the One Hundred and Twen- tieth New York Regiment, with which he served three years in the Civil War. He saw a great deal of active service, and was slightly wounded. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettys- burg - at the last-named place the regiment losing one thousand out of fifteen hundred men in a short time - the battles of Mine Run, Spottsylvania, Tolapotamie, Chickahominy, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg, where on March 25, 1863, he was taken prisoner. He was confined in Libby Prison until paroled, when he rejoined his regiment in Washington. He was made Second Ser- geant, but declined further promction, and was mustered out at the close of the war.
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