USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 29
USA > New York > Washington County > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 29
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The family from which Mr. Thompson is descended is of Scotch ancestry, and among the oldest in America, having been settled in the colony of Connecticut prior to the Revo- lutionary war. From that State they came to Washington county, New York, about 1780. Here Andrew Thompson (paternal grand- father) was born and passed a long and active life engaged in agricultural pursuits. He was a whig and Presbyterian, and lived to be eighty years old. His son, Col. Andrew Thompson (father) was born in the town of Jackson, in 1808, and died here August 10, 1891, aged eighty-three. He was a farmer and general business man, accumulated con- siderable property, and was twice elected to the State assembly, beside occupying many other positions of trust and responsibility. When only twenty-one years of age he was elected colonel of the 30th New York State militia. In 1840 he married Eliza Stevens, a daughter of Simeon Stevens, of this county, and by that union had a family of six children :
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Simeon A., James H., Margaret, LeRoy, William A. and Frank. Margaret died in early youth, but the sons all attained manhood and are still living. For additional facts see sketch of Jamies H. Thompson, found else- where in this volume. Mrs. Eliza Thompson survives her husband, and now resides in the village of Greenwich, in the seventy-ninth year of her age. She is a member of the Reformed church, as was Colonel Thompson, and in her long and active life has abundantly exemplified the characteristics which distin- guish true Christian womanhood.
H IRAM W. VANDEWERKER,
M. D., of Sandy Hill, who now ranks with the most successful and skillful physi- cians of the county, and of northeastern New York, was born at Fort Miller, Washington county, October 8, 1855. He is a son of James H. and Mary (Wheeler) Vandewerker, both natives of Saratoga county. Martin M. Vandewerker (grandfather) was one of four brothers, who emigrated from Holland to this country in early colonial days and took up a tract of land and settled in the town of Northumberland, Saratoga county ; and from them all the Vandewerkers of this section have descended. Hiram Wheeler (maternal grandfather) was a son of Alonzo Wheeler, and was born and reared in Saratoga county, New York, and in the early stage days, kept the old Wheeler tavern, located midway be- tween Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls, and a number of years later on he owned and con- ducted a store at Fortsville. James Vande- werker was born in 1829, at Northumberland, and learned the trade of jeweler, and was for many years a prominent jeweler at Fort Mil- ler, where he now lives a retired life.
Dr. Hiram W. Vandewerker was reared to manhood in his native village, attending the schools of that place, and afterward entered King's institute at Fort Edward, from which he
was graduated in 1875, and immediately began teaching school. With the desire of better equipping himself with a literary education, he went to Albany and became a student in the State Normal school, located at that place, graduating therefrom in 1877. In the same year he went to Poughkeepsie, New York, and took a thorough business course in Eastman's Business college, and was the third time graduated in 1880. For two years he taught in the seminary at Glens Falls. In 1884 he went to New York city, where he be- came an apothecary of the Homeopathic hos- pital, and during the first year of his connec- tion with that institution, served as apothe- cary, and for the two succeeding years he was both apothecary and assistant house sur- geon. He matriculated at the New York Homeo- pathic Medical college and hospital, and after a thorough course of study was graduated from that prominent institution in 1888. In Octo- ber of the same year he went to Hartford, Connecticut, and took a course known as a doctor's practice, remaining there until 1890, when he came and located at Sandy Hill, where he met with immediate success and soon had a large and lucrative practice. After his graduation he did not begin practice with the idea that he knew it all. On the contrary he remained and still is an earnest student of the healing art, keeping in touch with the leaders of his profession, and alive to every new thought or improved method discovered or suggested by the experienced men of the medical world. To this end he early became an active member of the State Homeopathic society of New York, and of the American Association of Homeopathy, and is a constant reader and frequent contributor to some of the leading medical journals of his school of practice.
Dr. Vandewerker, on June 20, 1883, wedded Mary Andrews, of Patten's Mills, this county: He is medical examiner for several of the leading life insurance companies doing busi- ness in this section.
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JAMES DOREN, one of the prominent and active business men of the county, and deputy collector of customs at Whitehall, was born in Pomfret, Connecticut, February 16, 1822. In 1837 he came to Whitehall, where he has made his home ever since. He received a common school education and learned with his half-brother, Oliver L. Steere, the trade of carpenter and joiner, which he followed in connection with contracting up to 1852. In that year he engaged in the furni- ture and undertaking business and carries a larger and better assorted stock of furniture and burial caskets than is usually found out- side of a city. He does a large and lucrative business, having a patronage that is rapidly increasing each year.
In 1846 Mr. Doren married Lovina Fran- cisco, of West Haven, Vermont, who died in 1855, leaving three children ; a son, George D., surviving. In 1857 Mr. Doren was uni- ted in marriage with Arabella Francisco, also of West Haven, Vermont, and by his second marriage has four children : John J., Charles A., James E. and Fred C. Charles A. is a contractor and builder ; the other sons are engaged with their father in the furniture and undertaking business.
In politics James Doren is a strong repub- lican, and his services have been in constant demand by his party. He has served repeat- edly as a member of the Republican county committee, of which he was chairman several times. He was deputy sheriff for nine years, held the office of coroner for six years, and served as canal collector for seven years. He was appointed as deputy collector of customs of his district in 1885 by President Harrison, and still holds that position. Mr. Doren has served for nearly thirty years as a member of the board of education of his village, where he was a member for fourteen years of the fire department, being assistant and chief engineer for eight years. In connection with operating his furniture and undertaking establishment, he has been successfully engaged for thirty
years in the fire insurance business, represent- ing the old and reliable Etna Fire Insurance Company, of Hartford, Connecticut. Mr. Doren is a member and past grand of White- hall Lodge, No. 5, and a member and past chief patriarch of Whitehall Encampment, No. 69, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is among the oldest and most reliable busi- ness men of the village ; energetic and enter- prising, he discharges all of his transactions with promptness and fidelity.
I ANSING M. HOWLAND, treasurer
of the Howland Paper Company, and prominently identified with the manufacturing interests of Sandy Hill, is a son of Enos and Susan C. ( Murphy) Howland. ( See sketch of Amasa Howland.) He was born in the village of Sandy Hill, Washington county, New York, August 19, 1850. His father, Enos Howland, was a brother of Amasa Howland, and a native of the town of Galway, Saratoga county, and when a young man removed with his father to Sandy Hill, where for a few years he was engaged in the book binding business. A few years later, with his father and brother, he engaged in the paper manufacturing busi- ness, and they were among the pioneer paper makers of the Upper Hudson.
Enos and Amasa Howland removed their business to Fort Ann, where they were suc- cessfully engaged in paper making until 1867. In that year the former retired from active business. He died at his home in Fort Ed- ward in 1877, at the age of fifty-seven years.
Lansing M. Howland was principally reared in Fort Edward, excepting a period of ten years' residence at Fort Ann. Since 1867 he has resided between Fort Edward and Sandy Hill, where he has recently completed one of the most costly and tastily arranged residences in Washington county. His education was mainly received in the Fort Edward institute, and in the year 1873 Mr. Howland became a partner of his uncle's in the old Howland
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Paper Company, at Baker Falls. He is presi- dent of the Fort Edward Electric Light Com- pany, and a director of the First National bank of Fort Edward. For many years Mr. Howland has been prominently identified with the various industrial enterprises of his sec- tion, and has given his aid and influence to every movement for the development or im- provement of the same.
In December, 1871, Mr. Howland married Harriet C., a daughter of David M. O'Dell, of Fort Edward. He is a member and deacon of the Baptist church of Fort Edward. In his political tenets he is a republican, taking an active interest in the success of his party. For three years he filled the office of super- visor of his town, and since 1892, the reor- ganization of the paper company, he has served as treasurer of the Howland Paper Company.
L IEUT. JOHN KING, one of the old-
est business men of Salem, and ex-treas- urer of Washington county, is a son of Henry and Huldah ( Cook) King, and was born at Salem, Washington county, New York, Janu- ary 18, 1823. His paternal grandfather, Henry King, sr., was a native of Massachusetts, and came to Whitehall, where he died at an ad- vanced age. His son, Henry King ( father ), was born at Whitehall, and in early life re- moved to Salem, where he died in August, 1822. Henry King was a farmer by occupa- tion, and married Huldah Cook, who was a native of Dorset, Vermont, and died in 1854, at seventy-one years of age. Mrs. King was a daughter of Shubal Cook, of Connecticut, who served in the Revolutionary war and had two sons who were soldiers in the American army during the second war with England.
John King was reared at Salem, received his education in the common schools and Washington academy, and at an early age became a clerk in a store, where he remained for seven and one-half years. At the end of that time, in 1847, he succeeded the firm at
Salem in the general mercantile business, with the late Dr. J. H. Guild as partner, and after- ward with several other partners, which he followed up to 1876, when he disposed of his establishment on account of ill health. In two years after retiring from the store his health was so far recruited that he established his present fire insurance business, in which he has been successfully engaged ever since.
In 1863 Mr. King married Elizabeth C. Shepard, a daughter of Chauncey L. Shepard, of St. Lawrence county, New York. She died in 1887. They had three children, one son and two daughters living : John S., Julia and Fannie. The son, John S. King, is now engaged in the banking business in Omaha, Nebraska.
In 1862 Mr. King enlisted in the 123d regi- ment, New York volunteers. He was pro- moted to first lieutenant and quarter master, and served from July 23 to November 12, 1862. He is now a member and the adjutant of A. L. McDougall Post, No. 570, Grand Army of the Republic. John King was a democrat up to the birth of the Republican party, and since then has been active in its councils and success. He has served in various village, town and county offices, beside holding the position of deputy collector of revenue of Warren and Washington counties from 1878 to 1883. He has served as village trustee, member of the school board, and postmaster of Salem, and was treasurer of Washington county from January 1, 1859, to January 1, 1862, and from January 1, 1885, to January I, 1888. Mr. King is a member of the United Presbyterian church, and has been active and useful in religious and moral work, serving for the last fifteen years as financial agent for the Presbytery of Argyle, and for forty years as treasurer of the Washington County Bible society. He has always been active and en- ergetic in whatever enterprise he has engaged, and at the present time does a fire insurance business, . representing reliable and leading companies.
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A MASA HOWLAND, president and founder of the Howland Paper Company, of Sandy Hill, is one of the pre-eminently successful business men and public spirited citizens of Washington county and northern New York. He has been for nearly four decades closely identified with the industrial and moral progress of his village, and is the eighth in direct line from Henry Howland, a Quaker immigrant, who became the progeni- tor and founder of the Howland family in America. He arrived in 1625 and joined the Plymouth colony, accompanied by his brother Arthur, his brother John having preceded them, and was one of that immortal little band of pilgrims who left their native land on account of religious and political intolerance and landed at Plymouth rock in the Mayflower in 1620. Henry Howland's death occurred in 1671, and among his children was Zoeth Howland in direct line, who was born at Duckbury, Massachusetts. Zoeth Howland suffered much oppression on account of his devotion to the Quaker religion. He was a member of the Plymouth colony, and was killed in the King Philip war in 1676. Among his children one in direct line was Henry Howland, who was born on the 30th day, sixth month, 1672, and took to wife Deborah Briggs. Of his children, one was Stephen Howland, the great-grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was born at Dartmouth, Massachusetts, on the 14th day of fifth month, 1716, and wedded Mary Briggs. Of this marriage was born Stephen Howland (grand- father) on the 21st day of sixth month, 1754, in Dutchess county, New York, from wlience he removed to Saratoga county and became one of the first settlers in the town of Galway. He married Anna Reynolds, and died in 1831, ninth month, twentieth day. Of his children was a son, Stephen, the father of Amasa Howland, and who was a native of Dutchess county, New York, where he was born in 1793, fifth month, twenty-ninth day. He wedded Susan McOmber in 1812, who was born in 14
1789, eighth month, twelfth day, and died in 1879, on the 8th day of the seventh month. She was a devoted Friend and a daughter of Garner McOmber, who was of Scotch descent. Stephen Howland left the town of Galway in 1844 and came and settled in Sandy Hill. Here he, with his sons, built the paper mills at Baker's Falls, the first of the kind in the State of New York, thus becoming the pio- neers in one of the most important industries at Sandy Hill. He rented his half interest to Amasa Howland, the other half being owned by his son Enos, and retired from all active business in 1852. He died in 1862, and was known as an industrious and enterprising manufacturer who commanded the esteem and friendship of all.
Amasa Howland was one of eleven children, and was born in the town of Galway, Saratoga county, New York, June 29, 1827. He wedded Mary L. Green, who died in 1864. By her he had one child, Mary Louise, who is also deceased. Mr. Howland married for his second wife, Lydia Groesbeck, of Fort Ann, by whom he has two children, both sons : James Edward, who was born March 17, 1861, married Jennie E. Ottman, of Fort Edward, and is vice-president of the Howland Paper Company; and Frederick Derby, born June 17, 1865, married Cora Woodward, of Saratoga county, and is also a stockholder in the How- land Paper Company.
In 1855 Amasa Howland, with his brother Enos, disposed of their paper interests at Sandy Hill and went to Fort Ann, where they built a mill which they successfully operated until 1865, when Mr. Howland sold his inter- ests there to his brother Enos and returned to Sandy Hill. In the same year he associated with himself in business Guy Clark and Dr. Miller, under the firm name of Howland, Clark & Company, and built one of the pres- ent immense paper mills at Baker's Falls. In 1873 Dr. Miller died ; Mr. Clark having retired from the firm in the same year, Mr. Howland became sole proprietor, and the
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name of the firm was succeeded by that of Howland & Company, taking into partnership his two nephews, L. M. Howland and John H. Derby. On December 1, 1893, this com- pany was succeeded by the Howland Paper Company; Amasa Howland was chosen presi- dent ; J. E. Howland, vice-president ; John H. Derby, secretary, and L. M. Howland, treasurer, and the stock of the company cap- italized at one million dollars. These mills, including the bag factory, furnish employment to about three hundred operatives.
Amasa Howland has permanently linked his name with the most successful manufac- turers of New York, being a man of fine ex- ecutive ability and great capacity for looking after the various details of an immense busi- ness. In his religious belief he adheres to the Friends' religion, as did all his ancestors back to the member who joined the Plymouth colony and founded the American branch of the family. But in his religious opinion, as on many other important questions, Mr. How- land is very liberal in his views, and is not actively connected with any church.
R OBERT A. LINENDOLL, A. M.,
M. D., who has been engaged in the con- tinuous and successful practice of his profes- sion at Fort Edward for the last fifteen years, was born at Fort Edward, Washington county, New York, September 15, 1845, and is a son of John and Hannah (Caldwell) Linendoll. His paternal grandfather, Capt. John Linen- doll, came with his mother from Prussia in I 775 or 1776, and settled at Rhinebeck, Dutch- ess county. He served as a captain of cav- alry in the Revolutionary war, and lived to be ninety-two years of age. He was a saddler and harness maker by trade, but was chiefly engaged during his active years of life in farm- ing and lumbering. Captain Linendoll was a Lutheran, and married Catherine Shoemaker, by whom he had eight children : John, George, Jacob, Walter, Thomas, Helena Bell, Maria
Robinson and Serena Stewart. John Linen- doll served as a private in the war of 1812, and then engaged in lumbering, which he fol- lowed for many years. He was a democrat and an Episcopalian, and died in May, 1869, at seventy-eight years of age. He wedded Hannah Caldwell, and their children were: John, who is in the lumber business at Gar- land, Pennsylvania ; Stephen, now dead, who served on the police force of New York city for twenty-five years; William, who died at twenty-eight years of age; Antoinette, and Dr. Robert A.
The early education of Dr. Robert A. Linen- doll was in the Fort Edward public schools. He attended Fort Edward collegiate institute and afterward finished his education in Mon- treal, Canada. Returning from Canada, he taught in New York as a private tutor for three years, and at the end of that time, in 1875, commenced the study of medicine with Drs. Cornell and Little. At the close of his office reading he took a course in Homeopathy at the Boston Medical college and another course at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and then entered Albany Medical college, from which he was graduated in the class of 1879. After gradua- tion he returned to Fort Edward, where he has practiced his profession successfully ever since. He is democratic in political senti- ment, and for several years has been a mem- ber of the New York State Homeopathical society.
On January 18, 1884, Dr. Linendoll wedded Anna L. Nash. Dr. and Mrs. Linendoll have two children : Mildred and Edith.
C EORGE FREDERICK UNDER-
WOOD, a prominent business man of Fort Edward, and who carries on the most extensive lumbering operations in the Adiron- dack mountains, is a son of Christopher C. and Mahala (Griffin ) Underwood, and was born at Horicon, Warren county, New York, July 18, 1845. His paternal grandfather,
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Jonathan Underwood, was a native of Massa- chusetts, but spent the larger part of his life at Mulberry, Vermont, where he had a grist and saw mill and did considerable of a lum- bering business. His children were: Oliver, David, John, Christopher C., Samuel, Hooton, Mills and Rosanna, wife of Lorenzo Hem- minway. Christopher Underwood married Miss Griffin, and removed to New York.
George F. Underwood received his educa- tion in Fort Edward Union school and Fort Edward collegiate institute, and afterward took the full course of Eastman's Business college, from which he was graduated in the class of 1867. Leaving the college be became general manager for the lumber firm of Bradley & Underwood, at Fort Edward, and remained with them for fourteen years. At the end of that time he assumed the management of the Bloomingdale lumber business at Sandy Hill, which he left in 1880, to engage in lumbering wholly for himself. From year to year he in- creased his working force and widened out his field of work, until he now employs as high as two to three hundred men and one hundred and fifty teams, and owns large tim- ber tracts in various parts of the State. He has valuable tracts of timber on Schroon and Indian lakes, Canadaqua creek, Saguendago river, and in various parts of the Adirondack mountains, with all of whose gorges he is ac- quainted. He is one of the largest contract lumber dealers in the State, while he also speculates in timber, selling in 1892 over ten thousand acres of timber land. Mr. Under- wood takes interest in the material prosperity and advancement of his own village, and has invested there largely in real estate, owning the Hotel Hudson and much other valuable property. Republican in politics, and a strong supporter of the Presbyterian church, he has served as trustee of the village and has aided considerably in religious work for the good of the community.
On June 24, 1875, George Frederick Under- wood was united in marriage with Jennie
Gregory, of Lewis county. To their union have been born four children : Grace F., Maud S., Harry G., and an infant that died when but a few days old. Mrs. Underwood is a daughter of Simeon R. Gregory, a native of Pawlet, Vermont, who was a hatter by trade, and removed to Martinsburg, in Lewis county, where he was a deacon in the Presbyterian church, and where he resided until his death. Samuel R. Gregory wedded Jane D. Underhill, whose mother was a Miss Cushman before marriage, and who was a lineal descendant of Robert Cushman, who tradition says came over in the Mayflower and preached the first sermon to the Pilgrims after landing at Plymouth rock.
S AMUEL K. GRISWOLD, one of the representative business men of Washing- ton county, is a son of Isaac C. and Eliza G. (Ketelas) Griswold, and was born at White- hall, Washington county, New York, January 28, 1844. He was reared in his native village and received his education in the common schools, and pursued a special course in a school at Claverick, this State. Leaving school he entered his father's store, where he served as a clerk until 1866. In that year he succeeded his father, and has conducted ever since one of the largest general mercantile businesses in northern New York. Mr. Griswold owns a large amount of real estate at White- hall, including eight store buildings and the opera house.
On June 19, 1867, he was united in mar- riage to Martha Eddy, daughter of W. S. Eddy, of Whitehall. They have one child, Morgan Billings, who is now in his senior year at the Cornell university.
Samuel K. Griswold is a democrat, but his large business interests have always possessed a charm for him greatly superior to all the allurements of office seeking or office holding. However, deeming it a duty of good citizen- ship to serve the true interests of his village
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when possible to do so, he accordingly ac- cepted the office of trustee for one term at the time the water works were constructed. Pos- sessed of a capacity for work, and a natural aptitude for business, he has achieved well deserved success in the line of his chosen pursuit. Essentially a man of action his knowledge of affairs has not been derived merely from intuition, but from actual obser- vation and experience and after careful reflec- tion. Mr. Griswold is a member and trustee of the Whitehall Presbyterian church, and ranks in the county as a man of character and business ability.
The Griswolds are of English lineage, and honorable mention of the family occurs at an early day in the history of New England. Isaac C. Griswold, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Benson, Ver- mont, and in 1827 came to Whitehall, where he served for five years as a clerk in a store. He then engaged in the general mercantile business, which he followed successfully until 1866, when he retired from all active life pur- suits. Mr. Griswold was a man of promi- nence and influence in his neighborhood. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church ; and a whig and afterward a democrat in politics. He held several of the village offices, and was vice-president of the First National bank. He was a large real estate holder, and died in 1879, at sixty-nine years of age. Mr. Griswold wedded Eliza G. Ket- telas, who passed away in 1892, when in the seventy-fifth year of her age. Mrs. Griswold was a native of Whitehall ; reared and died in the faith of the Presbyterian church, of which she was a life-long member.
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