USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 47
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The Sweetman family is of Scotch-Irish de- scent, and was founded in the State of New Jersey about the commencement of the eigh- teenth century by Michael Sweetman, who came from the north of Ireland to Freehold, Monmouth county, that State, where he died, August 28, 1766. He had three sons : Mich- ael, jr., Thomas (great-grandfather), and Hen- derson. Thomas Sweetman was born at Free- hold, June 28, 1740, married Sarah Kerr, April 25, 1765, and became first of the pioneer settlers, in 1774, of the town of Charlton, where he died May 9, 1822. He purchased a tract of one hundred and forty-five acres of land for £145, and his deed for the same was the first deed recorded in the county clerk's office when Saratoga county was organized. This farm, now owned by the subject of this sketch, has never passed out of the possession of the Sweetman family. Thomas Sweetman was a pillar in the early Presbyterian church of Charlton, and his wife, likewise a member, was a daughter of Walter Kerr, a Scotch- Covenanter, banished in 1685 from his native land, who established the famous old Tennent church, the first Presbyterian church organ- ized in New Jersey. Thomas and Sarah Sweetman were the parents of ten children : John, Margaret, Michael ; Rev. Joseph, one of the first three graduates of Union college, and was actively engaged in the Presbyterian min- istry for over twenty years; David, Sarah, Thomas, jr. ; Ursula, wife of David Seeley ; Mary ; and Anna, who married Peret Hayes. Thomas Sweetman, jr. (grandfather), was
born in Charlton, June 10, 1781, and died on the home farm February 24, 1862. He was a Presbyterian and a democrat, and married Elizabeth Angle, daughter of John Angle, of Charlton. They had one child, John A. Sweetman, the father of Dr. Sweetman. John A. Sweetman was born October 23, 1807, and after a long and useful life passed away July 18, 1890. A Presbyterian and a democrat, he served his church faithfully and efficiently as an elder during his active years of life, and in political affairs was quite prominent, having served three terms as supervisor, six years as commissioner of deeds, two terms as post- master of Charlton, several years as adjutant of a militia regiment, and in 1858 as the dem- ocratic candidate for assembly, was only de- feated by a combination of the republicans and the know-nothings. Mr. Swcetman car- ried on a large mercantile business at Charlton for many years. On February 23, 1832, he wedded Ann De Remen, who was a daughter of James De Remen, of Charlton, and who died January 10, 1888, at eighty-two years of age. To them were born three sons and two daughters : Dr. James T., Elizabeth J., Joseph, Catherine A. and George K. Of these chil- dren, only one is living, Dr. James T., whose name heads this sketch.
R EV. JOHN V. QUINN, a classical scholar and a courteous gentleman, and the popular pastor of Galway Catholic parish, is a son of Capt. Michael and Delilah (Lyon) Quinn, and was born in the city of Pough- keepsie, Duchess county, New York, June 26, 1856. Capt. Michael Quinn is a native of County Sligo, province of Connaught, Ireland. He was born March 18, 1832, and in 1843 was taken to Canada, where he received the principal part of his education in the schools of that country. Leaving school, he learned the trade of cooper, and then came to New York city, where he was actively engaged in the coopering business for five years. At the
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end of that time he went to Poughkeepsie and conducted a very successful business until 1872, when he sold out his shops and removed to Deposit, Broome county, where he estab- lished his present large coopering establish- ment. He is a democrat in politics, and has always supported the nominees of his party. He has served as village trustee, and as a member of the school board of his town sev- eral terms, and was captain of the famous "Jackson Guards,"of Poughkeepsie, for sev- eral years previous to the late civil war, but subsequently resigned on account of impaired health. Captain Quinn is a faithful and en- ergetic member of the Catholic church, and in 1854 married Delilah Lyon, a daughter of Jno. Lyon, of England. Their children are: Rev. John V., Mary, Lizzie, Edward, Ella, Anna and Katie.
John V. Quinn received his elementary ed- ucation in the public schools of Poughkeepsie and Deposit, and at eighteen years of age en- tered Niagara university, from which institu- tion he was graduated with high standing in the class of 1879. To the five years spent at Niagara university, he added a four years course in the grand seminary at Montreal, Canada, and thus thoroughly equipped with a fine classical and theological education he en- tered upon the high and holy calling of the ministry of the Catholic church, and was or- dained to the priesthood in the cathedral at Albany, on November 1, 1883, by Rt. Rev. Francis J. McNeirny. Immediately after or- dination he was sent as assistant pastor to Amsterdam, in Montgomery county, where he was actively engaged for five years and where he achieved good success. He was then trans- ferred to Galway parish, becoming its first resident pastor. Entering upon his field of religious duty as spiritual director of the par- ish of Galway in 1888, Father Quinn lias labored earnestly and zealously ever since in upbuilding the churches of his charge.
Rev. John V. Quinn as pastor of Galway parish has charge of a mission that begins at
the suburbs of Saratoga Springs and extends to Hope Falls, Hamilton county, embracing a wide area of territory and including great toil. But Father Quinn has been equal to every duty that has thus devolved upon him, and has wrought out his work with highly gratify- ing results. With the advent of the new pastor there was not a dollar in the treasury. On September 3, 1888, land was bought in Galway, and on the following day ground was broken thereon for the new parochial residence, which is the most stately in these parts. As local Catholics flocked in increased numbers around the energetic pastor, it became necessary to enlarge their little chapel. A new site having been chosen, and a substantial wall laid, the church edifice was moved thereon, and then enlarged by having a large sanctuary and sacristy added to the old part. New pews and altars were new features. There is a fine ex- panse of generous lawn, whilst in the back- ground may be seen a line of sheds and barn, which he subsequently built. There was no Catholic cemetery for miles. Father Quinn overcame the difficulty of procuring suitable ground with limited means. Desirable land adjoining the village was obtained. Galway was always without a town hall until Father Quinn, feeling the great need of such for tem- poral projects, selected a site and erected a first-class opera house, he having directed the work in person. His work was not confined to Galway alone. On his coming, he found the church at Broadalbin bare of interior fin- ish. The interior was then ccmented and finely frescoed, eiglit stained glass added, pews remodeled, and the sanctuary. embellished. The interior of the church at Rock City Falls was in a deplorable condition. Obstacles were overcome by ceiling the interior, and giving it a hard oil finish, sacristy and pews being remodeled. With meagre means and few . people, Father Quiun has built up, in the space of three years, property valued at $10,000, which to day is free of debt. He is energetic, cheerful and courteous as a man,
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while as a minister he is strong, clear and im- pressive. He is a man of high character and influence and enjoys the confidence of his people and the entire community in which he resides. In addition to caring for the spiritual interests of his people, the cause of education and temperance receive active encouragement and warm support from him.
ILLIAM EDWARD SWAN, one
of the young medical practitioners of Saratoga Springs, and a graduate of the well known college of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, is a son of S. P. Vedder and Elizabeth (Tompkins) Swan, and was born at Albion, Orleans county, New York, Septem- ber 13, 1866. S. P. Vedder Swan (father) is a native of Galway, Saratoga county, New York, but soon after his marriage he removed to Albion, where for a number of years he was engaged in the boot and shoe business. In 1878 he disposed of his business and, with his family, removed to Silver Creek, Chautauqua county, where he now resides, having retired from active life. Dr. Swan's paternal grand: father, Capt. Steven Swan, was born in En- gland, but when a young man came to the United States and settled in Saratoga county, taking up a large tract of land in the town of Galway. He was one of the early settlers of the county, and a prominent figure in its his- tory. During the war of 1812 he organized a company in his county and was made captain of it. Mrs. Elizabeth (Tompkins) Swan, wife of Vedder Swan, was a native of the town of Galway, and a sister of Hiram Tompkins, of Saratoga Springs. She died August 22, 1876, at the early age of forty-seven years.
At the age of fourteen years William E. Swan came to Saratoga Springs, which has been his residence ever since. He received his education in the public schools of that vil- lage, and read medicine in the office of Dr. Charles S. Grant. He then attended the col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of New York
city, from which excellent medical institution he was graduated in the class of 1890. Leav- ing college he became associated in practice with Dr. Grant, continuing with him for two years, at the expiration of which period, he opened an office of his own on Woodlawn avenue. He has an enviable reputation as a physician and is rapidly building up a large practice. Dr. Swan is a skilled practitioner and a close student. He is a member of the State Medical association, and carefully watches the progress of his chosen profession in this wonderful age of the world's advance- ment. He is a pleasant, affable gentleman, and is unmarried. In politics he is a demo- crat, but never has been an extremist in polit- ical affairs. His practice demands his time, and the advancement of his profession is the great aim and object of his life.
D EYOE LOHNAS, ex-president of the village of Saratoga Springs, and one of the county's most substantial and reliable busi- ness men, is a son of Jacob and Charity (Deyoc) Lohnas, and was born at the village of Pittstown, Rensselaer county, New York, December 15, 1837. His early education was received in the common schools of Schuyler- ville, and has been largely supplemented by observation and reading, and by many valu- able lessons of experience in the great school of business life, in which he has been an ac- tive and successful actor for over a quarter of a century. At ten years of age he went to Schuylerville, where he grew to manhood, and then was engaged in the grocery and meat business until 1867. In that year he came to Saratoga Springs, and embarked in the meat and market business, in which he met with such encouraging success that in a few years he branched out into his present numerous com- mercial enterprises. He was the first man in the State to take an agency for the sale of Chicago dressed beef, and since 1882 has sold large quantities of it at Saratoga Springs and
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Deyac Lahmass
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at Glens Falls, where he has a branch house. In connection with his meat and market lines of business he is a wholesale grain and flour dealer, and handles all the different grades of salt for which there is any demand in Saratoga and adjoining counties. His place of business is on Church street, and his various establish- ments and warehouses are kept fully stocked with every article which he handles. Nothing that the people need and that the accumulated experience of twenty-five years can devise has been omitted to render every one of his busi- ness establishments complete.
In November, 1860, Mr. Lohnas was united in marriage with Huldah L. Farr, daughter of Leonard Farr, of Schuylerville. Mr. and Mrs. Lohnas have two children : Hattie M., who married A. E. Carroll ; and Nellie F., wife of A. C. Hayden.
Politically Mr. Lohnas is a republican, yet has no time to spare from a large and increas- ing business to give much attention to politics or allow his name to be used in connection with the candidacy for any office. In 1887, when not so heavily burdened with business cares as at the present time, he allowed the republicans to nominate him for village presi- dent. He was elected and served for four years, and gave his village an eminently clean and thoroughly business administration. Mr. Lohnas has always taken interest in the edu- cational as well as the business affairs of his village, and served from 1876 to 1879 as a member of the board of education. He has a pleasant home, and owns some very valuable property at Saratoga Springs. He has been prominent in Free Masonry for several years, and is a member of Home Lodge, No. 398, Free and Accepted Masons ; Rising Sun Chap- ter, No. 131, Royal Arch Masons; and Wash- ington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Tem- plar. In business life Mr. Lohnas is promi- nent because he is energetic, useful and reli- able. He has ever given a hearty support to all measures best calculated to advance the permanent welfare and prosperity of Saratoga
Springs, and is widely known and highly re- spected as a representative business man.
Deyoe Lohnas is of German descent, and his paternal grandfather, Jacob Lohnas, came from Germany to Rensselaer county, where he settled and lived until his death. His son, Jacob Lohnas (father), was born and reared in Rensselaer county, where he died in 1841, at forty years of age. He married Charity Deyoe, and to them were born four children : Phoebe E., Edwin J., Charity M. and Deyoe. Mrs. Lohnas is a daughter of Zachariah De- yoe, of Pittstown, and she now resides at Schuylerville, where she has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for many years.
M ELANCTON B. CALLAGHAN,
one of the leading merchants of Charlton and the southeastern part of Saratoga county, is a man of excellent character and high stand- ing in his community, where he has been un- usually successful in the various business en- terprises in which he has been engaged. He is a son of Lieut. John and Mariah (Bostwick) Callaghan, and was born in the town of Charl- ton, March 4, 1822. He received his educa- tion in the district schools and Galway acad- emy, and then, at seventeen years of age, launched out in the great business world for himself. He did not essay to seek for any prominent place in line of business or rush to overcrowded cities of the country, but cheerfully accepted the first work that came to his hand and in his own county. He became a clerk in the general mer- cantile store of Hiram Foster, of Galway, with whom he remained from 1839 to 1843, and during that time laid the foundations of his future successful business career. In the last named year he came to Charlton, where he opened a store for Mr. Foster, which he conducted successfully for three years. At the end of that time he had so carefully saved his carnings that he was enabled to purchase
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the store from Mr. Foster, and engage in busi- ness for himself. Commencing on a small scale he gradually increased his stock from year to year until he has now a large and well filled establishment. He carries full lines of all kinds of general merchandise, and enjoys an excellent and extensive trade. By strict business methods and honorable dealing he has secured his numerous patrons and won the confidence of the public.
In October, 1849, Mr. Callaghan married Ruth A. Crosby, daughter of Henry Crosby, of Putnam county. Mr. and Mrs. Callaghan have four children : Elma, wife of Rev. J. R. Sansom, of Florida, this State; Mary E., principal of Charlton academy; Augusta, and Anna C.
In politics Mr. Callaghan is a democrat. He has served as clerk and inspector of elections, and in various ways has been useful in the local political and municipal affairs of his vil- lage and town. He and his family attend the Presbyterian church, to which he contributes liberally. Mr. Callaghan owns a good farm adjoining the village, beside his mercantile establishment, and has paying investments in several reliable business enterprises. In busi- ness he is conservative ; far-seeing and ener- getic to grasp and improve present opportun- ities, while avoiding every enterprise of an unsafe and unreliable character, notwithstand- ing how many apparently brilliant advantages may be connected with it.
In the New Jersey emigration from Free- hold, that State, to the town of Charlton, made previous to the Revolutionary war, was Patrick Callaghan, a native of Ireland, and a resident for several preceding years of New Jersey. He was a weaver by trade, and after becoming a pioneer settler of Charlton, purchased a farm of one hundred and fifty acres, which he cleared and cultivated in connection with working at weaving. He was one of the founders and an early vestryman of Charlton Episcopal church, and married Ann Brad- shaw, a daughter of James Bradshaw, an early
settler. Their children were: Lieut. John, James, Anna, wife of William Trimble; Han- nah, who married William Levalley; Mar- garet, Nellie, and Katie, wife of Rev. David Huntingdon. Lieut. John Callaghan (father), was born in Charlton, where he died in June, 1856, at forty-seven years of age. He was a prosperous farmer, owning one hundred acres of land, and gave his time princi- pally to farming, although he was active in political, military and religious affairs. He was a federalist in politics, served twenty-two years as constable and collector of his town, and held the rank of lieutenant in the State militia. He attended the Episcopal church, to which he was a liberal contributor, and wedded Mariah Bostwick, who was a daugh- ter of William Bostwick, and passed away in July, 1836, at the age of forty-five years. To their union were born five children: Sarah, A. Melancton B., the subject of this sketch; Catherine E., Caroline, wife of Leven Jerme, and Patrick Fitz William, deceased.
C APT. JOHN D. ROGERS, a battle- scarred veteran of the late civil war, who commanded Co. B of Baker's famous Cali- fornia regiment during that great struggle for National unity, and is now the superin- tendent and financial secretary of the cele- brated Round Lake Camp Meeting association, is a son of Darius and Lana (Shaver) Rogers, and was born in the town of Grafton, Rens- selaer county, New York, March 4, 1841. His paternal grandfather, Joseph Rogers, was brought when a child by his parents from England to Rensselaer county, where he died in 1864, at eighty-six years of age. He was a shoemaker by trade, served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and married Magdelene Wager by whom he had six children. His son, Darius Rogers, the father of Captain Rogers, was a native and life-long resident of Rensselaer county, where he was engaged in farming in the town of Grafton, until his
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death, which occurred in 1870, when he was in the fifty-sixth year of his age. He was a prosperous farmer and a strong democrat. His wife, whose maiden name was Lana Sha- ver, was a daughter of Jno. Shaver, of Rens- selaer county, born in 1810, and died August, 1888, at seventy-six years of age. To their union were born eleven children, five sons and six daughters. Malinda C., Eliza J., Titus E., James S., Jno. B., deceased, Joseph A., Mary A., Martha A., Nana J., Alvina F., and Albert F.
John D. Rogers was reared on the farm and received his education in the common schools of his native town, and a night school in New York city. At nineteen years of age he went to the metropolis of the State, where he was engaged as a clerk in a tea store until April 15, 1861, when he responded to his country's call for help to suppress a great rebellion, whose fast rising tide was then beating against the walls of Fort Sumter. He enlisted in Co. G of the 7Ist Pennsylvania infantry, gener- ally known as Baker's famous California regi- ment. He served as a private for some time, and was successively promoted until July 3, 1863, when he was commissioned as captain and placed in command of Co. B of the same regiment, which he commanded until the expiration of his term of service, April 15, 1864, when he was honorably mustered out of the Federal service at Stephensburg, Virginia. He participated in all the great battles of the army of the Potomac from 1861 to 1864, and at Gettysburg he was severely wounded in the left thigh and sustained a compound fracture of the skull from a piece of an exploding shell. Returning from the army, Captain Rogers became sergeant of the police force of the city of Troy, of which he was elected captain. After six years' efficient service as a police officer he resigned his po- sition to become timekeeper of the Rensselaer iron works, where he remained up to April, 1874. He then accepted liis present position as superintendent of Round Lake Camp
Meeting association, of which he was some time later elected as financial and recording secretary. He has also held the latter posi- tions up to the present time, and has rendered efficient service in both of them.
Captain Rogers, on December 31, 1863, married Mary L. Russell, daughter of Charles Russell, of Rensselaer county. They have one child, a son, Dr. Charles D., who is now serving as surgeon of the Marine hospital at Alaska, this State.
In religious faith and church membership Captain Rogers is a Methodist, and has served for several years as class leader of Round Lake Methodist church, in whose Sunday school he is now acting as "Bible Class " leader. He is a republican in politics, and a member of Willard Post, No. 34, Grand Army of the Republic, of Troy, in which he has served five years as chaplain. He has been prominent in Masonry for several years, and is a member of Franklin Lodge, No. 90, Free and Accepted Masons ; Warren Chapter, No. 23, Royal Arch Masons, of Ballston Spa, and Washington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Templar, of Saratoga Springs.
When Captain Rogers became superintend- ent of the Round Lake Camp Meeting associ- ation it was in its infancy, and he has largely aided in its development from a mere experi- ment on a small scale to a great enterprise of magnificent proportions. Round Lake, which is now of National reputation as a summer resort and camp meeting ground, is twelve miles by rail from Saratoga Springs, and only twenty-four from Albany. The grounds of the association contain over two hundred acres, on which, in the heart of a fine grove, is the beautiful village of Round Lake, whose tlirec hundred cottages are built on regularly laid out streets and avenues round the great preaching stand with its thousands of seats. Elegant hotels with all modern equipments, fountains of pure water and fine mineral springs are among the attractions of the place. The lake is a mile in diameter, (and a fine
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Palestine park showing the topography of the Holy Land has been laid out near its shore). Extremely beautiful and very healthful, the association has made it one of the most at- tractive and instructive Christian resorts in the United States, and all of its improvements since 1874 have been made under the personal supervision of Capt. John D. Rogers, whose interest and zeal in the progress of his church and Christianity has fitting expression in his earnest, active labors and great accomplish- ments at Round Lake.
WILLIAM CHALMERS, a careful and prosperous farmer of the town of Galway, and a useful citizen and prominent member of the United Presbyterian church in the com- munity where he resides, is a son of Matthew and Agnes (Clark) Chalmers, and was born in the town of Galway, Saratoga county, New York, November 24, 1824. He was reared on the farm, received his education in the com- mon schools of that day and Galway academy, and then engaged in farming, which he has followed uninterruptedly ever since. He owns the home farm, which contains one hundred and fifty acres of productive land. He is a careful and successful farmer, who studies closely and practically the principles of agri- culture as applied to farming, and while mak- ing no rash or hasty experiments, yet keeps close watch of every new process introduced to increase the productiveness or to retain the fertility of the soil. Mr. Chalmers is a repub- lican in politics. He is a member of the United Presbyterian church, in which he has served faithfully and efficiently as an elder for the last decade. While active in local politics and a willing and earnest worker in his church, yet he never seeks to push himself forward in either political or religious affairs, but when there is work for his hand to do, does it with the sincerity and energy so characteristic of the self-reliant, moral and God-fearing Scotch race from which he is descended.
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