USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 35
USA > New York > Washington County > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 35
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ment and of her liberal, public spirited and patriotic citizen who erected it.
The deceased was a straightforward, honest- hearted man, firm and positive in his convic- tions, endowed with strong and vigorous sense, sincere and hearty in his friendships, and perhaps to some extent in his enmities ; of mental activity, and yet of shrewd and practical capacity for business affairs ; a valu- able and a worthy citizen of high moral chiar- · acter, and an honest man. What higher eulogy can be pronounced ?
G EORGE H. WHITCOMB, a graduate
of the medical department of the univer- sity of the city of New York, and member of the Washington County Medical association, is a physician who has rapidly attained suc- cess within the sphere of his chosen profes- sion. He is a son of Jasper H. Whitcomb and Louisa A. Harris, and was born at Ful- ton, Oswego county, New York, Jannary 10, 1853. His father, Jasper H. Whitcomb, was a native of Rutland, Vermont, but who in early life removed with his father to Fulton, where he grew to manliood. He was a prominent farmer and real estate dealer of that county, and to some extent dealt in lumber and to- bacco. In 1849 he married Louisa A. Harris, of Keene, New Hampshire, by whom he had eight children, six sons and two daughters : George H., Herbert, Mary L., wife of Fred Randall, of Hannibal, New York ; Frank J., Emma F., who wedded Justus Gere, of Ful- ton ; James D., and Charles, at present re- siding on the old Whitcomb homestead ; and Fred, who is residing in the State of Wash- ington. Jasper H. Whitcomb died in 1883, at sixty years of age, after an honorable and successful business life. His wife died in 1888, at the same age. His home was the finest country place in his town. The Whit- combs are of English origin, and were early settlers in New England.
George H. Whitcomb was principally reared 16@
in liis adopted village, receiving an academical education in Valley seminary, at Fulton, and the Cazenova academy, in Madison county, New York. On leaving the academy, lie com- menced the study of medicine in the office of Dr. Leslie Martin, of Lysander (now of Bald- winsville), Onondaga county. After careful preparation under his preceptor, he entered the Albany Medical college, taking one course of lectures, after which he entered the medi- cal department of the university of the city of New York, from which he was graduated in 1876. Immediately after graduation he entered into the active practice of his profes- sion at Phoenix, New York, where he remained for three years, and in 1879 removed to Green- wich, where he has built up an extensive general practice. For several years Dr. Whit- comb has been an active and leading member in the Washington County Medical associa- tion, and has represented the society as a dele- gate in the State Medical association. He is also a member of several other medical soci- eties. He is a member of the Congregational church, and a republican. On August 22, 1879, Dr. Whitcomb wedded Carrie A. Bying- ton, daughter of Rufus S. Byington, of Han- nibal, New York. They have two children, both sons : Carol B. and Homer J. He is public-spirited, and ranks well as a skilled and successful physician, devoted to his pro- fession. His tastes are pre-eminently scientific and habits studious. In the early years of his practice he was instrumental in organizing the Phoenix Science association, of which he became president, and before which he deliv- ered two courses of lectures, each on the sub- jects of Chemical Analysis and Physiology. He was one of the three selected by this so- ciety to give a course of popular science lec- tures. During the eightcen years of his prac- tice he has acquired a library and surgical armamentarium which, for their scope and completeness, are rarely equalled outside large cities. Medical literature has gained by sev- eral articles from his pen, some of which have
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secured permanent abiding places in leading text-books and works of reference. His article on Artificial Infant Foods and Scorbutus (Scurvy), with the report of a case, was the first American case in type. Dr. Whitcomb has been invited to read papers before several of the leading medical societies of the United States. At the instance of the American Electro-Therapeutic association, he prepared a paper which was read at their meeting in the Philadelphia Acacemy of Medicine in September, 1891, which was extensively copied in medical journals.
CHARLES A. ROCHON, specialist on
the eye and ear, of Glens Falls, was born in Saint Jerome, Terre-bonne county, Prov- ince of Quebec, Canada, August 19, 1860, and grew to manliood in the city of Montreal, where he received his education at the college of Montreal, from which he was graduated in the class of 1880. On leaving there he en- tered Laval university of the same city and was graduated from the medical department of that institution in 1883 and again in 1884. After a short practice there in 1885 he came to New York State, locating in Glens Falls, where he has been engaged in active general practice ever since ; also making a specialty {of the diseases of the eye and ear, and has succeeded in building up a large and lucrative practice. Dr. Rochon has been twice mar- ried : first, on January 3, 1887, to Olda Rouil- liard, whose death occurred in March, 1890 ; his second marriage was in 1892 to Flora La Rocque, of the same city, and a niece of the Rev. J. S. Ethier, the pastor of the French Catholic church of Glens Falls. By his last marriage he has had one child, a son : H. Emile.
Dr. Rochon is a member of the French Catholic church, and the director of its choir.
Charles A. Rochon is a son of Charles A. and Adele (David) Rochon. Charles A. Rochon was a native of the Province of Quebec, a
lawyer by profession, removed into the city of Montreal, where he was actively engaged in the practice of law up to the time of his death in 1880, aged fifty-two years. He was a meni- ber of the Catholic church, and acted as agent for the Crown's lands. He was a good lawyer and stood high at the bar.
He wedded Adele David, who was born in the Province of Quebec, and at present re- sides in the city of Montreal.
CAPTAIN JAMES HENRY MAN-
VILLE, a valued citizen of Whiteball and a man of long experience in steamboating on the lakes, was born in that village, on Octc- ber 17, 1841. He is a son of Murray and Asenatlı (Searles) Manville, the former a na- tive of the town of Whitehall, and when a boy accepted a position on a sloop traversing the waters of Lake Champlain. He continued to follow the waters from his boyhood days up to the year 1875, during which time he became master and owner of a sloop, and captain of a number of steamboats. In 1875 he quit boat- ing and engaged in the wholesale lumber busi- ness at Whitehall, in which he continued suc- cessfully to within about three years prior to his death, when he retired from all active busi- ness. His death occurred at the age of seventy- nine years, in 1891. He was at the time of liis demise, a member and deacon of the Metho- dist Episcopal church ; a republican in liis political opinion, and chairman of the board of education of his village for a number of years previous to his death. His father (James Manville) was a native of Connecticut, who came and settled on a farm in the town of Whitehall, and was among the early pioneers that made homes in that section. He died at a ripe old age in 1848. His father was born in France, but when a young man emigrated to this country and settled in Connecticut. Up to this time the name of the family was spelled Mandeville, but thinking the "de " superfluous, it was dropped by the grand-
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father of the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Manville (mother), who was also born in Whitehall, was a daughter of Jacob Searle, and is now residing in her native village at the age of seventy-four years ; for many years she has been a member of the Methodist Episco- pal church.
Capt. James Henry Manville grew up in Whitehall, attended the academy of that vil- lage, and afterward took a thorough commer- cial course in Bryant & Stratton's Business college at Albany. On leaving school he en- gaged with his father in steamboating. He first learned engineering, later became pilot, and in 1864 was made captain, which position he held on Lake Champlain until 1881 ; and from that year to 1891 was commander of steamboats that plied the waters of Lake George ; and on October 17, 1891, he became captain of the "Dean Richmond," one of the handsomest steamers of the "People's line," running between Albany and New York city. This place he at present occupies, and it can be safely said that there is no one better fitted by nature and experience than Captain Manville for this important position. He is a stockholder and director of the Saranac & Lake Placid, a mountain railroad twenty miles long, in the Adirondacks ; and is also a stockholder in the New York and Pennsylva- nia long distance telephone company.
Capt. James Henry Manville, in March, 1865, was married to Elmira, daughter of Leonard K. Hatch, of Shelburne Falls, Massa- chusetts, and to this marriage has been born two children, both daughters: Lorett and Clara. Captain Manville is a member of Phoenix Lodge, 96, Free and Accepted Masons, Champlain Chapter, 25, Royal Arch Masons, and of Washington Commandery, No. 33, of Saratoga Springs ; and is a member of Orien- tal Temple of Troy. He is also a member of Lodge 5, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his political tenets he has always been a consistent republican, and represented his district as a member of the New York as-
sembly in the session of 1886-7, and in the session of 1890-1 was elected and served as sergeant-at-arms of that body. Also was ser- geant-at-arms of the assembly of 1894. For seven years he was paymaster of the State assembly, prior to the time of his becoming a member ; and in 1887 was the nominee of his party for the State senate in the district com- posed of the counties of Washington and Rensselaer, but was engulfed in defeat on ac- count of Troy's tremendous democratic vote.
EORGE SHERRILL, superintendent
of the Springbrook Water Company, and one of the substantial business men of Sandy Hill, is a son of George B. and Angeline (Ben- nett) Sherrill, and was born October 25, 1859, at Sandy Hill, Washington county, New York. His paternal grandfather, Darius Sherrill, was of Dutch descent, and while residing in the town of Kingsbury, served as sheriff of Waslı- ington county from 1832 to 1835. He mar- ried, and one of his sons was George B. Sher- rill, the father of the subject of this sketch. George B. Sherrill was born at Sandy Hill, where he resided until his death, which oc- curred in 1889, when he was in the sixty-sixth year of his age. He was a Presbyterian and democrat, and followed contracting for a num- ber of years previous to his death. Mr. Sher- rill married Angeline Bennett, who is a Pres- byterian in religious belief, and still resides at Sandy Hill. Mrs. Sherrill is a daughter of Robert Bennett, who was a native of Fort Edward, and in middle life removed to Ball- ston Spa, in Saratoga county, where he died at an advanced age.
George Sherrill was reared in his native vil- lage, receiving his education in the public schools of that place. Leaving school he was variously engaged until 1881, in which year he became a partner in the hardware business with A. C. Vaughan & Co. This firm con- tinucd until the death of Mr. Vaughan, in 1884, when Mr. Sherrill purchased the inter-
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.
est of the Vaughan heirs, and since then has conducted a very successful hardware busi- ness. Mr. Sherrill has a very large and hand- some two-story hardware establishment, where he carries a fine and well assorted stock of hardware, stoves, and tinware, roofing, and plumbing and heating supplies. His trade is not confined to Sandy Hill and its immediate vicinity, as he has numerous patrons at a con- siderable distance from the village. Mr. Sher- rill is identified with the public interests of Sandy Hill, and has served for some time as superintendent of the Springbrook Water Company. He is a Presbyterian and demo- crat, being a trustee alike of his church and village. Mr. Sherrill is a member and the present master of Sandy Hill Lodge, No. 372, Free and Accepted Masons.
In 1881 Mr. Sherrill was united in marriage with Carrie B. Vaughan, daughter of the late A. C. Vaughan, of Sandy Hill. Mr. and Mrs. Sherrill have three children, two sons and a daughter : George V., Amos C. and Julia M.
M ILO INGALSBE was born in Kings- bury, New York, May 29, 1818, and was a son of James Ingalsbe and Fanny Ingalsbe, the daughter of Zadock Harris and Abigail Harris, nee Dean, representatives of two old Connecticut families, who shortly after the birth of their daughter, Fanny, in 1795, moved from Plainfield, Connecticut, to Hartford, New York.
James Ingalsbe (father) was born in Gran- ville, Washington county, New York, and was one of the eleven children of Aaron Ingalsbe and Polly Ingalsbe, nee Hicks. The Hicks' were from Vermont.
Aaron Ingalsbe (grandfather) was one of the six young men who came to Hartford together about the year 1780-SI, and were the first white settlers of the town; Aaron was the ninth of fourteen children of Ebenezer In- galsbe and Susannah Ingalsbe, nee Robins.
Ebenezer Ingalsbe (great-grandfather) was
born February 10, 1730, and his wife October 18, 1729. Their earliest known residence was Boylston, Worcester county, Massachusetts. Afterward they lived in Worcester, and later in Shrewsbury. From the latter place they came to Hartford' about 1790. Earlier than Ebenezer Ingalsbe the history of the family is as yet hardly removed from the realms of tra- dition, but at Milo Ingalsbe's death he was actively engaged in working it out, and this work will be continued by his son. The old world home of the family was on the Scottish border, but whether in Scotland or England has not yet been determined.
From there they emigrated, in the seven- teenth century, to Maine, settling at the point where Bangor now stands. From there they removed to Massachusetts, representatives of the family living at one time in Boston. In- ured to warfare from their location on the Scottish border, they took a hand in the King Philip and other early Indian wars.
Ebenezer Ingalsbe was a sergeant in Capt. Robert Andrews' company of minute men, which marched from the second parish of Shrewsbury to Cambridge on the Lexington alarm, April 19, 1775. He was in service at different times during the Revolutionary war, attaining the rank of captain in 1777, when he was in the field several months on the Ben- nington alarm, probably reaching the Hudson river. His sons as soon as their age allowed, were also in the patriot service. A man of great physical vigor, his health was ruined by his exposure in the service, and after his final discharge he was never well, dying in Hart- ford, August 17, 1802.
The family has been noted for its longevity. Milo Ingalsbe's parents died at the ages of sev- enty-eight and ninety-one years; his grand- parents at the ages of eighty-three, eighty-six, eighty-four, and eighty-seven years, and his great-grandparents at the ages of seventy-two . and seventy-six years. The twelve brothers and sisters of parents attained the average age of over seventy-one years, and the four
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brothers and sisters of grandparents of over eighty-one years.
When Milo was two years old his parents moved from Kingsbury to Hartford, where he afterward resided till during his last illness. Three weeks before his deathı he was moved to the residence of his son, Grenville M. In- galsbe, in the village of Sandy Hill, in his na- tive town of Kingsbury, and there he died on November 28, 1893. His remains were in- terred in Union cemetery, near Sandy Hill. Rev. Dr. Sawyer paid him a fitting tribute at his funeral in Sandy Hill, from which we may quote :
" In what I may say at this time of our friend who has been taken from us, my aim will be to direct attention to some facts which speak best for themselves, and to lessons which may easily be drawn therefrom. Each one's life supplies its own sufficient testimony to its quality and worth, and neither fervid eulogy nor frigid criticism can affect that testi- mony. Words of public commendation are not needed for the living ; and to the dead can do no good. Character ever makes its own sure impress, and the influence of years worthily spent can, in no case, be lost. No man who lives rightly and truly need fear that he will fail of that place to which he is enti- tled in the intelligent judgment of his fellows, and the higher one's ideal of living the less solicitude felt in regard to what that judgment will be.
" The prominent facts of this life history, run- ning through a period of more than three score and ten years, can be briefly stated, but no full statement can be made of what is implied in those years of labor performed, of duty dis- charged, and of a mission fulfilled. Some of these facts have already been given by the press of this vicinity. The life of Milo In- galsbe began in this town, where, last Tuesday morning, it came to its earthly close. He was born in 1818. In his infancy his father moved to the neighboring town of Hartford, and there, except some brief intervals, his
whole life was passed. His early education was obtained in the common school, and at the academy in Castleton, Vermont. At the early age of sixteen he began teaching school, and to that work he devoted parts of several succeeding years. For a time he pursued the study of medicine, attending lectures at the medical college at Albany.
"The life work which he mapped out for himself was that of a physician or teacher, but with a thoughtful and unselfish regard for the education of the younger members of the family, he abandoned his chosen plan, and sacrificed his youthful ambition to return home and work on the farm. There he settled for life and there he established for himself a home, the grateful and sacred memories of which extend over a period of fifty-one years.
"Certain features of Mr. Ingalsbe's life and character have been specially impressed on my mind ; of these I would briefly speak. He was a pattern of industry. Through all those years he was busily engaged in various lines of activity. Never physically strong, yet by a careful and strict observance of the laws of health, by knowing how to use to the best ad- vantage the means and appliances of labor, he was able to accomplish what comparatively few men have done. He was impatient of all careless and slipshod work, and whatever he attempted was done thoroughly and well. In addition to the constant manual labor con- nected with his vocation, he did more brain work than that of many a man in a successful professional career. Under the old common school system of our State, he was town super- intendent for several years, and for fifty years he was clerk of his school district, keeping ac- curate records which have been of much value in tracing the necrological annals of the neigh- borhood. For twelve years he served as jns- tice of the peace, and during the time of the war he was supervisor of his town, giving much time and active interest to the discharge of the duties of a member of the war committee. He was one of the founders of our county
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agricultural society, and twice was chosen its president. For eleven years he was an active member of the executive committee of the State agricultural society, and for one year its president. From the time of the organization of the United States bureau of agriculture, thirty years ago, to the time of his death, he was the county correspondent, and his published papers on subjects relating to the agricultural interests of the State were especially instruc- tive and valuable. He was also, for a long time, correspondent and observer of the Smith- sonian institute and signal service department. A simple reference to these facts enables us to judge of the amount of work crowded into these busy years.
" Mr. Ingalsbe not only kept abreast with the times, but his progressive spirit, joined with admirable judgment, made him a leader in the community in education, and every wise project of moral reform. Very rarely, indeed, does one, in the quiet walks of country life, exhibit and maintain an interest so deep in all that is going on in the busy world around.
" Naturally studious, he spent no little time with his books, of which he gathered a large and choice collection. From their first pub- lication, the Atlantic Monthly and Harper's could be found on his table ; and he conscien- tiously kept informed of the current news as supplied by the daily press. The taste for study and habit of reading were kept up with advancing years, and during the past year he was engaged, for a portion of his time, in pre- paring and writing out chapters of history which he felt might be prized by those who would come after him. It is only a little while since he remarked : ' I have a hundred years of work yet mapped out to do.' I speak of these things more particularly, not only as re- vealing the character and habits of the man, but also as pointing out a lesson for younger men, as showing what can be accomplished by one in various lines of useful labor, though in the comparative retirement of country life, and as illustrating the pleasure and profit that
may be found in a life so far freed from the feverish excitements, for which is commonly felt, in the present day, so eager a craving.
"No small portion of his time and labor was given by Mr. Ingalsbe for the benefit of others. Having the confidence of the com- munity in which he lived, many came to him for advice and counsel, and it is a significant fact, which may be maintained in this con- nection, that, as an executor, confidential ad- viser, he settled more than a hundred and fifty estates, performing that labor usually without any pecuniary reward. In the com- mon use of the term he was not a politician. He never sought office for himself, and re- fused it beyond such a service as he felt called upon, from time to time, to render to his own town. But he was earnestly interested in the history and principles of political parties, and in all that pertains to the public welfare. His religious thinking was along the lines of New England Congregationalists, but his was that discerning and catholic spirit which sees and acknowledges the good that may be found under varying forms of religious creed. His faith in the Bible was vigorous and clear. That faith was impressively affirmed in draw- ing near life's close, as he remarked : ' Any- body would know that I was a believer in the Bible. One who read it so much could not help it.' But the most convincing testimony to his belief in the Scriptures as the word of God, was given in a life governed by its di- vine teachings."
The country schools of that day were the primitive district schools, but the neighbor- hood where Milo's father moved when Milo was two years old, and the one where he made his permanent home, two years later, were noted for the superiority of their schools. In attendance before school age was reached, be- ing able to read, and not able to remember when he could not do so, he proved a prodigy in study, mastering every branch, which the teachers of those days were capable of teach- ing, and taking excursions into the then almost
-
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unknown realms of the higher mathematics and the natural sciences. In his sixteenth year he commenced teaching, winters, earning money enough thereby to enable him to take a short course of study at the Castleton Academy, Castleton, Vermont. Here he took the highest rank, standing in the classes on even terms with those who had been for years in the school. In 1840-41 he took a partial course in medicine at the Albany (New York) Medical school, then newly organized under the leadership of Drs. March and Armsby. Seward was at that time governor, and Albany was enjoying a period of unexampled intellec- tual and political activity. The young man here got a view of life which led him toward the educational field for his life work, and flattering positions were offered him in various sections of the country. The west presented the most inviting field. But his father, a poor man, heavily in debt for his farm, with several younger sons to rear and educate, besought him to return to the farm and help him and his younger brothers through.
Probably few fiercer conflicts were ever waged in the human bosom than the one that followed. Finally, Milo Ingalsbe renounced a life work which could not have resulted in other than the highest measure of success on wide and public fields of action, and returned to the farm. His after life was a sacrifice for others, but he did not repine. He spent no time in idle regrets. Wherever he was, what- ever his work, he was born to be a leader.
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