USA > New York > Schoharie County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 7
USA > New York > Schenectady County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 7
USA > New York > Greene County > Biographical review : containing life sketches of leading citizens of Schenectady, Schoharie and Green counties, New York > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41
Upon his return he went to Saugerties, N. Y., where he was engaged in farming for two years. Later he worked in the chair factory at Susquehanna, and followed this occupation for twelve years in different towns. Coming to Hunter in 1874, he was employed in the chair factory for four years, and then turned his attention to carpentering, doing a consider- able business in this line in towns along the Hudson for six years. When Onteora, Elka, and Twilight Parks were opened, he engaged in contracting for the building of cottages ; and he has erected a number at each place, employing a large force of men.
In 1874 Mr. Green was joined in marriage with Alice M. Lester, of Hunter. They have had four children - Jeanette, William, Robert, and Jasper. Jeanette, who is a graduate of the State Normal School, is now engaged in teach- ing. Jasper died at the age of nineteen.
Mr. Green is a Republican in politics, but has declined public office. He is a comrade of A. N. Baldwin Post, No. 263, G. A. R., of Hunter, and has served as color-bearer for seven years.
EORGE LINTNER DANFORTH, one of the leading lawyers of Scho- harie County and a resident of Middleburg, was born here on July 19, 1844, son of Judge Peter and Aurelia (Lintner) Danforth. All the traditions of his family and the surround- ings of his youth lent their influence in preparing him for the legal profession. His grandfather, George Danforth, who died in the South, was a lawyer of pre-eminent ability,
72
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
and his father was perhaps the most eminent practitioner of law that the county has pro- duced. His grandmother, whose maiden name was Cornelia Swart, was born in Schoharie County of Dutch parentage. One of his uncles, General George E. Danforth, acquired a high reputation in public affairs, and distin- guished himself as a brigade commander in the Civil War.
Mr. Danforth's father, Judge Peter S. Dan- forth, lived to the age of more than threescore and fitteen years, and in his long and honor- able career filled many public positions. In 1872 he was made Justice of the Supreme Court. He was a member of the Dutch Re- formed church. His wife was a member of the Lutheran church until her marriage, when she united with the Reformed church. Mrs. Danforth died at the age of seventy-one. She was a daughter of the Rev. George A. Lintner, D. D., who was for many years president of the Lutheran Synod and for twenty-five years pas- tor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church at Schoharie, N. Y. He died at the age of seventy-five, leav- ing two children - Mrs. Danforth and Joseph Albert Lintner. The latter has been for many years entomologist for the State of New York. Judge and Mrs. Danforth had three children ; namely, George 1 .. , Cornelia, and the Hon. Elliot Danforth. Cornelia married Isaac W. Ferris, a son of Chancellor Isaac Ferris, of New York University.
George L. Danforth, the subject of the present sketch, in his boyhood attended the common schools of Middleburg, a select school, and Schoharie Academy; and later,
after continuing his studies for a while under a private tutor, he entered Rutgers College, from which he was gradated in 1863. From his early years he had spent much time in his father's office, and in reality he was in practice at the age of nineteen. At the age of twenty- one he was admitted to the bar, and since that time he has been in active practice. His clients come from all parts of the State, and he has practised in all the State courts, in- cluding the United States Circuit Court of this district. He is at the present time, with few exceptions, the oldest member of the bar in the county. He has been referee in many impor- tant cases, and counsel in a large number of cases involving intricate points of law and title to real estate, and trustee of estates in this and adjoining counties. For some time past he has been counsel in the celebrated case in the First Department known as the Coal Oil Johnny Soap Case, a suit involving hundreds of thou- sands of dollars. Whether as counsel for prosecution or defence, he has met with remark- able success in winning legal contests for his clients.
On December 15, 1869, Mr. Danforth was united in marriage with Anita Whitaker, a native of New York and daughter of George and Hannah (Daggett) Whitaker. Her pater- nal grandfather, the Rev. Jonathan Whitaker, was a Unitarian clergyman, and preached mainly in Massachusetts, where he died at the age of sixty. Among his sons were several clergymen, a judge who resided in New Or- leans, and a well-known government official. Mrs. Danforth's father was engaged in mercan-
F. P. BEARD.
75
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
tile business, shipping and importing South American products. He spent the greater part of his life in New York, but died in Massachu- setts at the age of fifty-four, at the home of a brother. His wife was the daughter of a wealthy ship captain and philanthropist of Edgartown, Mass. She died at the age of seventy-six years. Mr. and Mrs. Danforth have lost two children. They have one son living - Pierre W. Danforth, who is now studying law with his father, and has for some time been engaged in newspaper work. He is the youngest editor in the county, and now edits and publishes the Middleburg Press, a six-column quarto, which is an enterprising weekly paper.
Mr. Danforth and his family are members of the Dutch Reformed church, and Mr. Dan- forth has been an Elder in the church for some thirty years. He is warmly interested in Sunday-school work, and teaches the Bible class ; while his wife has a class of boys. For many years he has been sent as a delegate to the General Synod. He devotes much time to literary work, frequently delivering addresses and lectures and contributing articles to news- papers and periodicals. Of fine executive ability, he readily manages the many interests which press upon his personal attention, and which would puzzle the average man to manage at all. He is a trustee of Rutgers College, and president of its alumni association, and is also president of the Schoharie County Histori- cal Society, trustee of the Union Free School and Academy of Middleburg, director of the First National Bank, and treasurer of the
Middleburg & Schoharie Railroad Company. Since the organization of the fire department, ten years ago, he has heen its chief. He has given considerable attention to fraternal soci- eties, and is an active worker in both the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities.
Mr. Danforth's home is the spacious man- sion in the prettiest portion of the valley, where the Danforth family has lived and exer- cised hospitality for many years.
@ RANKLIN PIERCE BEARD, M.D., of Cobleskill, Schoharie County, well known as a skilful physician and surgeon and a large real estate owner, was horn November 29, 1852, in Jefferson, N. Y., a son of Jacob L. and Polly (Wilsey) Beard. He comes of pioneer ancestry, his great-grandfather Beard having been an original settler of that part of Schoharie County that was named, in his honor, Beard's Hollow. There the Doctor's paternal grandfather, John Beard, a prosperous farmer, spent his long life.
Jacob L. Beard was born and educated at Beard's Hollow; but when eighteen years old he left the ancestral farm and came to Warner- ville, this county, where he served an appren- ticeship at the wagon-maker's trade. After following this calling as a journeyman and also in business for himself for several years in that town, he removed to Jefferson, and in 1863 transferred his business and his residence to the neighboring village of Summit, where he was engaged in farming for a quarter of a century. In 1889 be came to Cobleskill; and
76
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
from that time until his death, in 1893, he resided with his son, Dr. Beard Hle was a steadfast Democrat, and for a score of years served as Justice of the Peace. His wife, Polly Wilsey, who was born in Warnerville, was a daughter of Colonel Wilsey, an officer in the Revolutionary army. She bore her hus- band seven children; namely, David, Samuel, Rose, Franklin Pierce, Marion, Adelle, and John. The mother died at the age of sixty- eight years, in 1889. Both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Franklin l'. Beard received a practical com- mon-school education, and in his early man- hood taught in a district school five terms. Leaving home then, he turned his attention to the study of medicine, having for his instruc- tors successively Dr. Cornell, of Richmond- ville; Dr. Spaulding, of Summit; and Dr. Wood, of Jefferson. He subsequently entered the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1875. Beginning the practice of his profes- sion in Eminence, he continued there about two years. He then located in Summit, and for ten years ranked as the leading practitioner of that vicinity. Dr. Beard came to Cobles- kill in 1886; and here, also, his eminent skill and his close attention to his professional duties has ranked him the leading physician of the county, his opinions being largely sought after in consultations extending to adjoining counties.
He is a member of the Schobarie County Medical Society and of the Cobleskill Lodge, F. & A. M. Hle was a Supervisor in Summit
in 1882, a Coroner in Schoharie County nine years; and from October, 1895, until October, 1897, he was examining surgeon of the Pen- sion Department.
Dr. Beard is the proprietor of two fine farms in Richmondville, this county, one in Blen- heim, and one in Summit of two hundred acres, and ninety acres of land in Cobleskill. The latter has been platted and divided into building lots, a street being laid out through one portion. He has likewise valuable building property in the village, including lots on Elm Street, west of the Catholic church; and he owns a fine business block in Summit.
In April, 1873, Dr. Beard married Miss Alice D., daughter of John Chickering, of Summit, a well-known mechanic. Dr. and Mrs. Beard have five children; namely, G. Claude, John J., Leona, Mildred, and David. G. Claude, who married Lulie Kilts, is a successful agri- culturist in Richmondville. John J., who was graduated from the Albany Medical School in 1897, is a physician in Sharon Springs, N. Y.
IRBY WILBER, an enterprising mer- chant of Quaker Street, Duanes- burg, Schenectady County, N. Y., was born in this town, September 25, 1820, son of Kirby and Mercy (Allen) Wilber. He at- tended school until fourteen years old, when he entered the employ of Job Cleveland as a store clerk, and remained with him two years. After a short time spent in a store at Sche- nectady he returned, and for the next three years worked for James E. O'Neil. In 1840
77
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
he went to Brainard Bridge, Rensselaer County, where he clerked in a general store conducted by Hastings & Smith, cloth manu- facturers, for eight years, at the end of which time he purchased the stock, and for the suc- ceeding five years carried on business in com- pany with his brother, E. G. Wilber. Selling out his interest in 1853, he returned once more to Duanesburg; and, associating himself with his brothers in a shoe manufactory in the lo- cality known as Quaker Street, he was for the next few years engaged in selling their prod- ucts on the road. This business was started in 1845 by R. P. U. Wilber, who began mak- ing shoes for the retail trade; but five years later he established a manufactory to supply the wholesale dealers only, and continued in business until his death, which occurred in 1854. The present store of Wilber & Co. was opened in 1860, and carried on in connec- tion with the factory until 1867, when the firm was dissolved. The business was con- ducted by Kirby, E. G., and Charles C. Wilber until 1874, since which time Kirby and his son Charles C. have been sole proprietors of the mercantile establishment, consisting of a well-stocked general store having a large pat- ronage. The senior partner is one of the old- est business men of this section in point of experience, and through his ability, integrity, and other commendable characteristics he has acquired success. Aside from his mercantile business he deals quite extensively in real estate. His own residence is one of the hand- somest in town.
Mr. Wilber contracted the first of his two
marriages in 1843, with Lucy Ann Crego, of Chatham, Columbia County. She died in 1877, and in 1880 he married Mrs. Phobe J. Auchampaugh, born Stevens, a native of Wright, Schoharie County. He is the father of five children, all by his first wife, namely : Ellen M., who married the Rev. Milton Tator, and died at the age of fifty-one years; Emily W., wife of Arthur D. Mead, of Schoharie; Augusta A., wife of Charles E. Hoag, of Quaker Street; Adeline C., wife of Walter Briggs, of Schenectady; and Charles C. Wil- ber, who is in business with his father. Mr. Wilber has ten grandchildren. In politics he is a Democrat. He is a member of the Chris- tian church.
Charles C. Wilber was born at Brainard's Bridge, May 30, 1847, and was educated in the schools of Duanesburg. Like his father he entered mercantile pursuits when fourtecn years old, and is an excellent business man. He acts with the Democratic party in politics, and served with ability as Postmaster for three years. On December 21, 1870, he married Emily Moon, who was born in this town in September, 1847, daughter of John and Emily Moon. She is the mother of one son, Archie M. Wilber, who was born March 13, 1880.
ALTON VAN LOAN, of Catskill, N. Y., publisher of the Catskill Mountain Guide, was born in New York City on January 8, 1834, son of Matthew D. and Julia A. (Thompson) Van Loan. His grand- father, Isaac Van Loan, a resident of Catskill,
78
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
was a mason by trade, but was engaged for a long period as captain of a passenger sloop plying between Catskill and New York. Cap- tain Van Loan died at the age of seventy-two. His wife, Jane Dics, who was born in Gilboa, died at the age of seventy-four.
Matthew D. Van Loan was one of a family of four children. He was reared in this town and educated in the common schools. In 1841 he went to New York City and opened a da- guerreotype studio, being the first man in the United States to make a business of producing portraits by the new process. He continued taking pictures for ten years in New York, and from there went to Philadelphia and later to Washington, engaging in the same business. Subsequently and up to the time of his death, in 1856, he was employed in the custom- house in San Francisco. Widely known as a daguerreotype artist both in this country and abroad, he took many prizes in American cities and was given special honors in Eng- land. While in New York he had a revolving gallery in the Delmonico Building, the only one ever known. llis wife, Julia, who died at the age of seventy-seven, bore him three children, two of whom are living. These are Walton and Spencer. The latter, who was a soldier in the Civil War, resides in this vil- lage. Both parents were communicants of the Episcopal church, the father being one of the vestrymen.
Walton Van Loan resided in Catskill until he was twelve years of age, and then went with his father to different eities. For a time he attended the public schools in Philadel-
phia. When about thirteen years of age he se- cured an appointment as page in the national House of Representatives. This position he held from 1846 to 1850, receiving in payment sixty dollars per month in gold. In 1852 he went to Californa via Nicaragua to join his father, and paid his own fare. He carried a letter of introduction from Daniel Webster to the custom-house officials in San Francisco, and shortly after his arrival was given a posi- tion in the custom-house. But he remained in it only a short time, leaving to go as clerk in a large book store. After four years in that business he returned to Catskill and bought out a store, which he conducted for the next twenty years, up to 1878. In that year he started his present business, which has proved to be most successful. He has issued about thirty-six thousand guide books and about fifty thousand maps of the Catskills, taking in the entire chain. He is conceded to be the most reliable authority on points concerning the geography and topography of the Catskills, and no man in the country can approach him in extent of information con- cerning this beautiful region. He has been to the top of nearly every peak in the entire range.
Mr. Van Loan was married in 1874 to Lucy Beach, a native of Michigan. He has now lived in Catskill for forty-three years, and in his present residence ever since 1862, when it was built. He is a member of St. Luke's Church, and has the unparalleled record of having been its treasurer for thirty years. Ilis wife is also a member of the same church,
79
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
and both are active religious workers. The society has just completed a stone edifice, which was opened on June 6, 1899. This is said to be one of the most beautiful buildings to be found on the banks of the Hudson.
REDERICK LEROSS FRAZEE, the editor and proprietor of the Jefferson Courier, Jefferson, N. Y., was born in the town of Gilboa, N. Y., June 24, 1872. His father, Charles Osborn Frazee, is a much respected and well-to-do farmer.
Mr. Frazee traces his paternal ancestry back to Benoni Frazee, his great -great-grandfather, who was of Scotch descent, and who during the Revolutionary War was a resident of New Jersey and aided the patriot cause by hauling supplies for the American army. Benoni Frazee lost his little property through the worthlessness of Continental money. With his wife and eight children, he migrated, about the year 1783, to Schoharie County, then almost an unbroken wilderness, and settled on a farm one mile from the present village of Gilboa. Very soon thereafter he died, leaving his widow and children to take care of them- selves.
Benjamin, the second son, who was born March 8, 1774, remained on the farm with his mother until he became a man. About the year 1797 he married Margaret Monfort, of Dutch lineage. Two years later he settled on the farm now known as the Frazee home- stead, at South Gilboa. He had five chil-
dren, two sons and three daughters. He died August 11, 1862, aged eighty-eight years.
Hiram, the second son of Benjamin Frazce, was born November 19, 1804, and until his death, which occurred April 2, 1850, he lived on the farm with his father. On February 13, 1833, Hiram Frazee married Phoebe H. Osborn, by whom he had five children, only two of whom survived him.
Charles Osborn, the father of the subject of this sketch and the eldest son of Hiram Fra- zee, was born on the ancestral farm, April 27, 1836. After the death of his grandfather he bought the place which is still his home. January 28, 1864, he married Phoebe A. Clark, a descendant of the Clark family of Blenheim. Five children were born of this union, but only two are now living, namely : Harriet Estelle, who is now the wife of John T. Shew, and lives at Harpersfield, where Mr. Shew is engaged in the mercantile business; and Frederick Leross, who is now, as above noted, in the newspaper business at Jefferson.
Frederick Leross Frazee in his early years received a good common-school education, and, entering Stamford Seminary in the fall of 1888, finished a college preparatory course of study there in 1891, receiving a regent's cer- tificate and a diploma, which graduated him from that school. In the fall of the same year he entered Union College at Schenectady, N. Y. Here he pursued his studies for two years.
In college Mr. Frazee was popular both in society and athletics, and stood high in his class. He was a member of his class foot-ball
80
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
team, and he belongs to the Greek letter soci- Working Lodge, No. 554, F. & A. M., and ety, which is one of the largest and most pros- perous college fraternities in the world. On leaving college he returned to his home at South Gilboa and soon after went to the State of Illinois. In 1893 he returned to his former home, where he remained until February, 1894, when he came to Jefferson and embarked in the newspaper business.
The place then supported two newspapers, the Courier and the Schoharie County Chron- icle. The former, which was an old estab- lished journal, was then edited by George M. Proper, and the latter, founded in 1891 by Albert C. Mayham and Charles H. Shutts, was the property of Mr. Shutts, who has pur- chased Mr. Mayham's interest in the estab- lishment. Mr. Frazee purchased both of these newspaper plants, and, merging the Chronicle into the Courier, enlarged the same. His ca- reer as a newspaper editor has been a success- ful one. He receives the hearty support of the business men of Jefferson, and a good pat- ronage from the people at large. He is not only a pleasing writer, but a practical printer as well, having learned the mechani- cal as well as the editorial part of newspaper work, so that he is familiar with all the de- tails of the business. He owns one of the best equipped country offices in the State.
On July 16, 1895, Mr. Frazee assumed matrimonial responsibilities, being united in marriage with Miss Nellie Hubbell, a highly esteemed young lady of Jefferson, daughter of C. B. Hubbell.
Mr. Frazee is a member and an officer of
also a church member, belonging to the Dutch Reformed church at his former home, South Gilboa. In the spring of 1899 Mr. Frazee was elected Town Clerk of Jefferson for two years by a handsome majority. He is much interested in the welfare and development of his town, is a loyal Republican in politics, and an ardent worker for his party. He pos- sesses a genial disposition, is wide-awake and enterprising, and never can do too much for a friend.
ACOB L. KILTS, an energetic farmer of Carlisle, N. Y., was born in this town, September 2, 1846, son of Will- iam and Julia A. (Empie) Kilts. 1le repre- sents the fourth generation of his family in America, being a great-grandson of Peter Kilts, who came from Germany, and settled on a farm in Stone Arabia, now the town of Palatine, Montgomery County, N. Y.
Four of the sons of Peter Kilts located in Sharon, one of the number being John, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. John Kilts spent the active period of his life in Sharon, and died at the age of eighty-seven years. He married a Miss Smith, and his children were: William; Benjamin; Conrad; George; Kate, who married Solomon Empie; Margaret, who married David Empie; Susan, who married Gideon Empie; Sophia, who married Daniel Shafer; and Magdalene, who married Ed Pointer. Of these the survivors are: Margaret, Susan, and Sophia. All of
CHARLES DICKINSON.
83
BIOGRAPHICAL REVIEW
the grandfather's sons reared families. They were members of the Lutheran church.
William Kilts, the father above named, was reared and educated in Sharon, his native town. He assisted in carrying on the home farm until after his marriage, when he moved to Carlisle and settled upon a farm of one hundred acres, known as the Hilsinger place, which is now owned by his son, Jacob L. He engaged in general farming and stock-raising, made a specialty of hay and grain, and realized good financial returns as the result of his in- dustry. Politically, he acted with the Demo- cratic party. For years he was one of the main pillars of the Lutheran church, serving as Deacon and Elder, and frequently as a del- egate to the Synod. He was well informed, especially upon subjects relating to religion. William Kilts died November 20, 1890, aged seventy-five years. Julia A. Empie Kilts, his wife, was a daughter of Adam Empie. They were the parents of ten children, three of whom are living, namely: Jacob L., the sub- ject of this sketch; Wesley H .; and Cynthia A., wife of Charles J. Warner. The mother died in 1884.
Jacob L. Kilts passed his boyhood and youth in attending the district school and assisting upon the home farm. When a young man he managed the property jointly with his brother Wesley, but later succeeded to its ownership. He has seventy acres under cultivation. Aside from producing hay and grain, he raises cattle and sheep, and has ac- quired a wide reputation as a stock dealer. He also deals largely in clover seeds, produc-
ing an original variety which is cleansed by machinery, and whose superiority makes it eagerly sought for by the neighboring farmers.
Mr. Kilts married Melvina Shafer, daugh- ter of Sylvester Shafer, and has four children ; namely, Beardsley W., Bertha E., Avis M., and Aurie J.
In politics Mr. Kilts is an earnest sup- porter of the Democratic party. He has fre- quently been solicited to accept nominations to town offices and to serve upon committees, but has always declined. He is a Deacon of the Lutheran church, is also a class leader, and prominenty identified with the Sunday- school.
HARLES DICKINSON, M.D., who was for many years the leading physician in Seward valley, Scho- harie County, was born in Henrietta, Monroe County, N. Y., on May 31, 1833, son of Lyman and Harriet A. (Webster) Dickinson. He is a descendant of early colonists of New England.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.