USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 51
USA > New York > Washington County > History and biography of Washington county and the town of Queensbury, New York > Part 51
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Lyman Jenkins was reared to manhood in his native village, where he received the ad- vantages of only a common school education. After leaving school he removed with his pa- rents to the town of Queensbury in 1864, and resided and worked on a farm for several years, and was later engaged in the saw mill and lum- ber business in the town of Queensbury. Re- linquishing work of this nature, to take up the study of law, he accordingly entered the office of H. A. Howard, of Glens Falls, and after taking the required course of study, he was duly admitted to the bar in 1886, and has ever since been actively engaged in the practice at Glens Falls. His political career commenced in 1891, when he was nominated by his party and afterward elected to the office of district
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attorney, being the present incumbent of that office, the duties of which he has discharged with signal ability and great fidelity to the in- terests of the people. Previously, however, to his election to his present office, he served acceptably two terms as justice of the peace of the town of Queensbury.
In 1871 Mr. Jenkins was united in marriage with Myra Murray, a daughter of Nelson Mur- ray, of Washington county. Her death oc- curred in 1888, leaving one daughter : Mary C. In 1894 Mr. Jenkins was the second time married.
Mr. Jenkins is a member of Glens Falls Lodge, No. 121, of Masons ; Glens Falls Chap- ter, No 55, and Washington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Templar, of Saratoga Springs. He is also a member of Horicon Lodge of Odd Fellows, and of the Tribe of Red Men. Mr. Jenkins has one of the best law libraries found in this county, a rapidly growing prac- tice, and is destined to win permanent success at the bar.
C HARLES S. FENTON, the whole- sale dealer in grain, wood, timber, north- ern white plaster and paving quartz, was born in the town of Fort Ann, Washington county, New York, June 10, 1849, and is the son of Clark Fenton and Hannah Ann Washburn. Clark Fenton was also a native of the town of Fort Ann, and one of the leading farmers of that town up to his death in 1881, aged seventy years. He was a democrat and a prosperous and suc- cessful farmer, who was also, in his early days, engaged in the lumber business. Samuel Fen- ton (grandfather) was born in the town of Cambridge, and removed to the town of Fort Ann when he was twenty-six years of age, where he carried on farming and lumbering up to his death, at the age of eighty years.
He was a member of the old home militia, and in the second war with England he started to Plattsburg, but the war was closed before he got there. For many years he was deacon
in the Methodist Episcopal church. The Fen- ton family were among the first settlers of Washington county. Clark Fenton married Hannalı Ann Fenton, a daughter of E. Wash- burn, who was born in the town of Fort Ann, is a member of the Baptist church, and is now in the seventy-fifth year of her age.
Charles S. Fenton grew to man's estate on the farm in his native town, receiving an or- dinary education in the schools of the neigh- borhood. Leaving school he did general farm work for two years, when he engaged in spec- ulating in potatoes, cord wood, ice and grain, handling about one thousand five hundred cords of wood per year, and at present he is extensively engaged in lumbering. Mr. Fen- ton has been a resident of this village for the past six years. In addition to his other inter- ests he has a controlling interest in the north- ern white plaster stone works, which is the only quarry in the country that grinds the stone, and which is used on land to enhance the productiveness of the soil. This plaster is equal to the celebrated Nova Scotia plaster, and there is a great deal of it used.
Mr. Fenton, with his mother, owns the old homestead farm, which is managed by Mr. Fenton, and he has the farm well stocked with fine horses and cattle. In 1868 he wedded Lucy J., a daughter of Phipps H. Lamb, of the town of Fort Ann. They have one child, a son, Charles L.
Charles S. Fenton is a member of Mount Hope Lodge, No. 260, Free and Accepted Masons, and is a republican in politics.
F REDERICK A. BRATT, a lawyer of Fort Edward, is descended from a Holland-Dutch family. Hisgreat-grandfather, Daniel Bratt, resided between Albany and Schenectady, where he kept a tavern, and where the grandfather was born. He was a carpenter and farmer by occupation, and re- oved to the town of Easton, where he died. Charles, Daniel N., Stephen, V. R., William
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P., George and Christiana were among his children.
William P. Bratt was bornin 1818, and died in the town of Easton, where he had removed with his father, on January 24, 1893, at the age of seventy-five years. He wedded Jemi- mah Van Antwerp. Their marriage was blessed with the birth of six children, all sons, four who died in childhood, and Frederick A. and M. E., who is a farmer by occupation, married Sarah A. Hall, and resides at Schagh- ticoke.
Frederick A. Bratt was born in the town of Easton, Washington county, New York, De- cember 2, 1854, and received the rudiments of his education in the schools of that town and Schaghticoke. He afterward entered the academy at Mechanicville, which was supple- mented by a term at the Fort Edward Colle- giate institute ; also attended Cleverick col- lege and Hudson River institute. In 1878 Mr. Bratt, having determined upon the law as his life's calling, entered the office of Judge Wait as a student at law at Fort Edward, and while here he was admitted to practice in the courts of Washington county, at Albany, in 1882. He is a member of the Presbyterian church, and has been choir instructor for sev- eral years in that church.
On September 20, 1881, Mr. Bratt was mar- ried to Fanny Parish.
C ORNELIUS HOLMES, M. D., a lin-
eal descendant of the Holmes' who came over in the Mayflower, was born at Plymouth, Massachusetts, June 15, 1774, and died at Greenwich, January 29, 1865. His parents both dying when he was only three years of age, he was taken and reared by his uncle, Cornelius Hood. He read medicine with Doc- tor Graves, of West Rupert, Vermont, for some time, and then served two years as principal of Washington academy, after which he com- pleted his medical studies with Doctor Fitch, and was licensed to practice medicine in 1809.
In the same year Doctor Holmes wedded Mary Gray, daughter of Col. David- and Sarah (Smith) Gray, of Salem, and commenced the practice of his profession at Greenwich, where he was successful as a physician, and spent a long and useful life.
L IEUT. HARPER N. ROGERS,
who served as a Union cavalry officer from 1863 to 1865, is the senior member of the fur- niture and undertaking firm of Rogers & Carl- ton, of Sandy Hill. He is a son of Harper N. and Eliza (Reynolds) Rogers, and was born in the town of Moreau, Saratoga county, New York, October 22, 1839. His paternal grand- father, Nathan Rogers, was a native of this county and a farmer in the town of Greenwich, where he died in 1835. He was of English extraction, and his family was one of the old families of the section in which they lived. His son, Harper N. Rogers, was born in the town of Greenwich, which he left soon after attaining his majority to settle in the adjoining town of Moreau, in Saratoga county. In his new home he prospered, but died when in the midst of a successful career and in the early prime of life. He died in 1847, at thirty-six years of age. He was a Presbyterian ; an old- line whig, and wedded Eliza Reynolds. She was a Presbyterian and a native of the town of Moreau, and died in 1879, aged sixty-five years.
Harper N. Rogers was reared on the farm, and after attending the public schools for several years, became a clerk in a general mer- cantile house in Saratoga county, which he left in 1863 to enlist in Co. F, 2nd New York veteran calvary. After joining Co. F he was elected lieutenant, and served as such for several months, when he was transferred to Co. M. In the last named company he was promoted to first lieutenant, and after participating in all the principal battles of his regiment, was honor- ably discharged from the Federal service at Talladega, Alabama, in December, 1865. Re- turning home from the army, he came in the
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early spring of 1866 to Sandy Hill, where he was engaged in the general mercantile business for fifteen years. He then, in 1881, embarked in the furniture and undertaking business, which he conducted by himself up to 1888, when he associated Arthur H. Carlton with him, under the present firm name of Rogers & Carlton. They have a large and well selected stock of furniture and are the leading under- takers in this section of the county. Lieu- tenant Rogers is a member of the Grand Army Post at Sandy Hill, and of the Presbyterian church, of which he is a trustee. He is a re- publican in political sentiment, and for the last six years has held the office of town clerk.
In 1870 Mr. Rogers was united in marriage with Sarah A. O. M. Bond, of Oswego, New York.
D AVID C. McKENSIE, M.D., a prom- ising and successful young physician of Hartford, was born in Waterbury, Vermont, December 9, 1864; being the son of a Metho- dist Episcopal clergyman, his residence was frequently changed, but he was principally reared in New York State. After leaving the common schools, he entered the Troy Confer- ence academy, where he pursued his studies for three years, and afterward attended the State Normal school at Albany, New York. Deciding upon medicine as his life vocation, he became a student in the office of Dr. Lans- ing T. Vedder, a prominent physician of Schenectady, New York. After completing the required course of reading, he attended lectures at the University of Maryland, at Bal- timore, and was graduated from the medical department of that institution in 1891. After his graduation he returned to Schenectady, where he remained for one year with his pre- ceptor, Doctor Vedder. He then went to Middle Granville, this county, where he prac- ticed for one year, when he concluded there was a better opening and a wider field of use- fulness at Hartford ; he accordingly, on Feb- ruary 26, 1893, removed to that village, where
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he has succeeded in securing an enviable prac- tice and has become popular and successful as a physician. The greater part of his time and attention is devoted to his profession, while he never neglects any opportunity to widen his knowledge of medicine, or to study closely the most successful methods of treat- ment. Doctor McKensie is a member of the Schenectady County Medical society, and is at present serving as health officer of the town of Hartford.
On September 22, 1893, Doctor McKensie was united in marriage with Beatrice, a daugh- ter of Albert Culver, of Wells, Rutland county, Vermont.
Dr. David C. McKensie is a son of David B. and Mary E. (Foote) McKensie. David B. McKensie is a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and in 1838 emigrated to the United States, and at present resides at Gansevoort, in Sara- toga county. He is a minister in the Metho- dist Episcopal church, and is now in the six- ty-ninth year of his age. He wedded Mary E. Foote, who was born in the State of Vermont, and died in 1889, aged sixty-five years.
Doctor McKensie is a well read and success- ful physician, pleasant and genial in manner, and is popular wherever he is known.
M AJ. DANIEL BROWN, one of the pioneer settlers of the town of Hartford, came of a family noted for patriotism, intelli- gence and longevity. Maj. Daniel Brown was a son of Capt. John and Mary (Jones) Brown, and was born at Leicester, Massachusetts, De- cember 17, 1761. In 1780 he did six months service in the Revolutionary army, in which four of his brothers served. In 1785 he be- came the fifth settler in the town of Hartford. He built the first tannery and grist mill at the south village. He was genial, public-spirited and liberal, and took considerable interest in military matters, being a major in one of the militia regiments. Major Brown married Janet Moore, and died June 12, 1826.
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D R. WALTER R. BARTLETT, one of the leading eclectic physicians of Wash- ington county, and a veteran of the Civil war, is the only son of Orson and Electa ( Boyd ) Bartlett, and was born in the town of Frank- lin, Delaware county, New York, January 29, 1838. The Bartletts are of English extrac- tion, and the family was planted in America by three brothers of the i amne who came over in 1620. Two of these remained in the north, and the other went south, where all trace of him was lost. The paternal great-grandfather of Dr. Bartlett was a native of Massachusetts, a silversmith by trade, and served for a time in the American army during the Revolution. His health failed on account of exposure in the camp and field, and he was detailed to work in the shop, repairing guns and swords. Among his children was Asal Bartlett ( grand- father ), who was born and reared in Massa- chusetts. He was a farmer by occupation, and a soldier in the American army during the war of 1812. After the war he settled at Frank- lin, Delaware county, New York, where he died at the age of seventy-three. He was the father of twelve children, six sons and six daughters. Five of his sons and three of his daughters lived to maturity and reared families. One of his sons, Orson Bartlett ( father ), was born in Massachusetts, in October, 1813, and while yet a small boy was brought by his par- ents to Franklin, Delaware county, this State, where he grew to manhood, and was educated in the common schools. He afterward learned the trade of harness and shoemaker, but after working at that for a short time abandoned it and learned milling and millwrighting. While a young man he came to Washington county, and lived there several years, repairing a num- ber of mills while in this county. Later he returned to Delaware county, where he was married, and lived for many years. His busi- ness was to take an old mill, put in new and improved machinery, and thus prepare it for doing a better grade of work than had been previously done in this part of the country.
In this way he rebuilt many of the old mills in Delaware county and became widely known as among the most expert and successful mill- wrights of New York. He and Major Fellows owned a flouring and grist mill in the town of Sidney, Delaware county, which did a large business for many years. In 1862 Mr. Bart- lett sold his interest in this mill, on account of failing health, and bought a farm in the town of Walton, that county, where he re- sided until 1865, when hedisposed of the farm, and in partnership with his son, Dr. Bartlett, purchased a large farm in the town of Thomp- kins, that county. In 1880 they sold this farm, and Orson Bartlett removed to Burton, Reno county, Kansas, where he followed farming until 1882, when he was accidentally struck by a piece of timber while moving a house, and died from the effects of the blow in two weeks afterward. At the time of his death he was in his sixty-ninth year. He was a member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows' orders, and for many years had been a deacon in the Baptist church. In early life he was a democrat, but became a republican upon the organization of that party, and served as town clerk of Sidney for a number of years. His wife was Electa Boyd, a daughter of Reuben Boyd, of Thomp- kins, Delaware county. To them was born three children : Walter R., the subject of this sketch ; Dianna A., who married Martin Trask, and after his death wedded Charles Buckbee, of Delaware county; and Mary A., who died at the age of eleven years. Some time after the decease of her husband, Mrs. Bartlett returned to New York, and later was married to Ran- som Stoodley, who occupied the place of groomsman on the occasion of her first mar- riage. Mrs. Stoodley died in 1891, at the age of seventy-eight.
Walter R. Bartlett was reared in his native county of Delaware, and obtained a good En- glish education in the public schools of Sid- ney. He early learned the trade of miller with his father, and when only fourteen years of age received a diploma from the Chenango
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John Williams
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County Fair association, for making the best wheat, rye and buckwheat flour exhibited at their annual exhibit. At the age of twenty- one he began the study of medicine with Dr. Jared Chase, of Warnersville, Schoharie county, this State. While still engaged in his medical studies the great Civil war broke out, and early in 1862 Mr. Bartlett enlisted as a member of Co. A, 144th New York infantry, with which he served for eighteen months, when he was discharged on account of physical disa- bility, his health having been undermined by exposure incident to camp duty. After re- maining at home one year he again enlisted, becoming a member of Co. I, 13th New York heavy artillery, but was soon afterward trans- ferred to battery K, of the same organization. In the spring of 1864 he received an injury which incapacitated him for further service in the artillery, and he was then detailed for duty in a field hospital in Virginia, under General Butler. The officers in charge, learning that Mr. Bartlett had some knowledge of medicine, made him steward of the hospital, and he was afterward sent to the Bellefont hospital, Ports- mouth, Virginia, where he became assistant surgeon and occupied that position until the close of the war. During his service in the army he participated in the battle of Fort "Fisher, and was engaged in considerable skir- mishing along the Maryland border.
One year after returning from the army, Dr. Bartlett began the practice of medicine at Bainbridge, Chenango county, this State, where he remained three or four years, and then removed to Coventry, that county, where he practiced for three years. In 1873 he re- moved to Jefferson, Schoharie county, where he was engaged in successful practice until November 20, 1876, when he came to Wash- ington county, and located in the town of Green- wich, where he has conducted a good general practice ever since. Dr. Bartlett is a member of the State Eclectic Medical society, the American Eclectic Medical society, and the Al- bany Eclectic Medical society, of which he has 23
been vice-president. He has also served as a member of the board of examiners of the State Medical society.
On the 29th of December, 1859, Dr. Bart- lett was married to Mrs. Saralı A. Blomers, a daughter of Henry McIntyre, a prosperous farmer of Masonville, Delaware county, New York. To Dr. and Mrs. Bartlett were born two daughters: Electa Louise, now the wife of Lyman Wilber, a painter, of the town of Greenwich, and Loie H., living at home with her father. Mrs. Bartlett died March 3, 1894.
In his political affiliations Dr. Bartlett is an ardent republican, and in religious views a Baptist. He is a member of Union Village Lodge, No. 253, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which order he has been a mem- ber since attaining his majority, having joined the fraternity at Unadilla, Otsego county, soon after his twenty-first birthday. Dr. Bartlett is also a charter member of Albert M. Cook Post, No. 256, Grand Army of the Republic, of Greenwich, in which he has served as surgeon.
C ENERAL JOHN WILLIAMS. The
connection of Washington county with the early history of America, and its relation to our Revolutionary struggle, are not gener- erally known, and are appreciated by few. From the time when Samuel Champlain entered the territory of New York by way of Canada, July 4, 1609, to the adoption of the Federal con- stitution, the northeastern section of New York bore a conspicuous part in the history and development of our country. It was the only passage-way from Canada to the south. It was the scene of some of the most notable Indian wars. It was the battle-ground of the three French and English wars, in which En- glish and American domination was determined for this continent. It was the theatre in which some of the first and most decisive battles of the Revolution were fought. One of these, the battle of Saratoga Springs, Cressy includes
.
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in his volume, " The Twelve Decisive Battles of the World."
The population of Washington county pre- vious to the Revolution was composed chiefly of Scotch-Irish, who had been forced to leave the north of Ireland by British civil and ec- clesiastical oppression. They, with other ele- ments, as the Scotch and Welch, had been prepared, by a rough experience in Great Britain, to resist British tyranny in their new home, in which they had acquired a proprie- tary right.
They were generally an industrious, intelli- gent and religious community, principally Pres- byterians. In 1773 a young physician and sur- geon in England had purchased a parcel of land in this vicinity, then Albany county. He arrived in the latter part of that year, and was favorably impressed with the country and the prospect it presented for practice in his profes- sion. He was born in Barnstaple, county of Devon, 1752 ; was liberally educated, had pur- sued a course of medicine, received his diploma and a license to practice medicine and surgery. He had worked one year in the hospital of St. Thomas, London, and served as surgeon's mate on a British man-of-war. He brought with him a complete case of surgical instru- ments. Thus was he qualified and equipped for service in the war, in which he became a prominent and efficient participant.
The divine purpose in his coming was soon seen. The small-pox had become epidemic in the community, and there were few who pos- sessed the knowledge, skill and courage to con- tend with and control the dreadful scourge. This was a dire calamity, just precedent to the long and severe strife into which the colonies were about to enter with the mother country, unseen, except to the eye of God. Every true man and woman would be needed for that struggle for freedom. Their lives were more valuable than they themselves knew at that time. This young physician, thus providen- tially prepared and sent, proved himself to be a messenger of mercy, a minister of health,
a restorer of lives. In this initiative service he rendered inestimable benefit to the cause of the Revolution, by saving lives of those who participated in its battles and contributed to its success. His skill, his devotion and his success, during this scourge and in his general practice, endeared him to the people and spread his name throughout the surrounding region. Having determined to make this his home for life, he purchased other lands and began prepar- ations for erecting a residence in the village (now Salem). This residence, a colonial man- sion, is preserved in its essential features, and with surroundings as he left it, by his immedi- ate descendants, John M. Williams and family, and his sisters, Miss Harriett M. and Miss Fanny H. Williams.
During the two years preceding the Revolu- tion, this young physician, by his personal qualities and successful practice, obtained the confidence and esteem of the people. Upon the issues that were agitating the colonies with the British government, he manifested such knowledge and patriotic ardor that he became a recognized leader in the community. The people were divided in sentiment ; a consider- able portion adhered to the crown, among which were some prominent men. On the arrival of the news from Lexington and Bos- ton, there was great excitement in the county, and a wise head and firm hand were needed to organize and control the patriots. A provin- cial congress was called, to meet in New York city on May 20, 1775, to be composed of dele- gates from the counties. Fourteen districts of Charlotte county appointed each a repre- sentative to meet and elect two delegates to the congress. Dr. Williams was unanimously chosen. He was then less than twenty-three years old. This was sufficient to mark him as an exceptional man. But he was a recent arrival in the colony from the mother country. He had been in service on a man-of-war, and was at that time a commissioned officer in the British navy, on half pay. He must have given indubitable evidence of his loyalty to the cause
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of the people, and shown a knowledge and comprehension of the issue, to be selected above men of greater age and longer residence in the colony.
The locality, its proximity to Canada, its exposure to the British forces there, its im- portance to Great Britain as an avenue to Al- bany and the Hudson river, emphasize the fact that Doctor Williams had made a profound impression upon the men who felt the respon - sibilities of the day, and of selecting their rep- resentatives and counsellors through the trials of the war.
GENERAL WILLIAMS AS A LEGISLATOR.
He took his seat in the congress May 24, I775. He was elected to all the succeeding sessions, serving until its expiration. He was placed upon its most important committees, and often assigned special work that required exceptional abilities and prudence.
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