USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 51
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came to this county, where two years later he purchased the Weston tannery at Corinth. He was a tanner and currier by trade, and operated the tannery until 1861, when he was the first man from the town of Corinth to en- list in Co. G of the 30th New York infantry. He was elected second lieutenant, and on August 29, 1862, was killed at the battle of Groveton, while in command of his company. His memory is perpetuated and honored by naming the Grand Army post after him- Post Philip Rice, No. 290. He was an anti- slavery republican, and is known as an honest and upright man, who sealed his patriotism with his life. He married Martha Stead, who was an Episcopalian, and passed away Sep- tember 19, 1889, when in the sixty-fifth year of her age. She was a daughter of John Stead (maternal grandfather), who came, in 1830, from Leeds, England, to Rensselaerville, this State, and twenty years later settled at Alta- mont, New York, where he died in 1874 at eighty-four years of age. John Stead was a veterinary surgeon, but followed farming after coming to this country. He had three sons, Joshua, Elias and John, who fell during the late civil war in defense of the Union and the preservation of its blood-bought liberties.
W ILLIAM LATHAM DENISON, a
live and energetic business man, and a member of the knit goods manufacturing firm of Newland, Denison & Co., of Stillwater, is a son of William and Eunice (Gallup) Deni- son, and was born at Bern, Albany county, New York, April 11, 1824. The Denison fam- ily is of English descent, and its immigrant an- cestor came over in the Mayflower. Some years later several of his descendants went to Connecticut, where one of them settled at New London and reared a family. One mem- ber of this family was Daniel Denison, who reared twelve sons and daughters. His son, Daniel Denison, was the father of Ebenezer Denison, the grandfather of the subject of
this sketch. Ebenezer Denison married Eliz- abeth Spencer, and came to Albany county, this State, where he lived until 1843, then moved to Stillwater, where he died in 1843, at eighty-three years of age. He left seven children : Catharine Allen, Ebenezer, Hannah Allen, Polly Holmes, William, Alma Strevel, and Orpha Wood. William Denison was born and reared in Albany county. He died in Stillwater, January 16, 1873, aged seventy- four years. He was a farmer and surveyor, and a democrat in politics. He married Eu- nice Gallup, who was a daughter of Nathaniel and Lucy (Latham) Gallup, and who passed away June 3, 1878, when in the seventy-eighth year of her age. To Mr. and Mrs. Denison were born seven children : William Latham, Sabina Holmes, Lucy Hart, Albert, Elizabeth Hewett, Caroline Spencer, and Emily Morey.
William L. Denison received a good com- mon school education, and then learned the trade of carpenter, which he followed in con- nection with farming at Bemus Heights, for some time. In 1873 he disposed of his farm- ing interests to become a member of the firm of Newland & Denison. They were engaged in the manufacture of knit goods at Stillwater until 1879, when Mr. Denison withdrew from the firm to organize the firm of Denison & Co., which continued in the manufacture of knit goods up to 1889, when this firm changed its name to that of the present title of Newland, Denison & Co. The present firm utilizes all of its energies and facilities to the manufac- ture of children's knit underwear. They have a first class and well equipped mill, employ over one hundred hands, and do an annual business of over one hundred thousand dol- lars. Their goods commend themselves and sell readily all over the country. Mr. Deni- son is a republican in politics, and has served two terms as supervisor of his town. He helped to organize the Stillwater & Mechanic- ville street railroad, of which he is now the president and general manager. He was largely instrumental in the erection of the
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present Second Baptist church edifice, of which he is now trustee.
On December 22, 1847, Mr. Denison mar- ried Margaret E. Crary, daughter of Daniel and Elizabeth (Wetsel) Crary, of Knox, Al- bany county. To Mr. and Mrs. Denison have been born six children : Ida, Frank, Lizzie, and Mary, who all died in childhood ; Carolyn, wife of Edward Wetzel, a farmer of Rens- selaer county, and William, now foreman of the seaming room in his father's mill.
GR EORGE A. SWART, a prominent young attorney of Saratoga Springs, who is now serving his second term as police justice here, is a gentleman who traces his ancestry back in a direct line to one of the early kings of Holland. He is a son of George A. and Bar- bara (Clute) Swart, and was born April 4, 1862, at Glenville, Schenectady county, New York. He was reared principally on the farm until eighteen years old, in Saratoga county, his mother having died when he was a mere lad, and his education was obtained in the public schools here and from private tutors. After leaving school he entered the law office of Charles H. Tefft, jr., at Saratoga Springs, and began his preparation for the bar. Pass- ing the usual examinations he was duly ad- mitted to practice on January 30, 1885, and immediately opened a law office at Saratoga Springs, where he has since been continu- ously engaged in the practice of his chosen profession. In 1886 he formed a partnership with William H. McCall, of this village, un- der the firm name of McCall & Swart. They practiced together for one year, after which the law firm was dissolved, Mr. Swart retain- ing its business and offices. He built up an extensive and paying practice, and became widely known. Politically he is a democrat, and has served as secretary of the Democratic committee of Saratoga county for more than five years. In 1889 he was elected justice of the peace at Saratoga Springs, and is now
serving his second term as police justice of the village. He has always taken an active part in local politics, and stands high in the coun- cils of his party. Mr. Swart is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and of the 22d separate company of National guards, and has served as a member of the board of direc- tors and its secretary.
The Swarts are an old Holland family, though long resident in this country, and trace their ancestry back directly to one of the early kings of that country. During our revolu- tionary period this branch of the family was transplanted to America and settled in New York. Jacob N. Swart, paternal grandfather of George A. Swart, was born and reared in Schenectady county, this State, where he be- came a prosperous farmer, and later engaged in mercantile pursuits, which latter he fol- lowed for a number of years and accumulated considerable property. He married and reared a large family, one of whom was George A. Swart (father), who was also a native of Schenectady county, and after attaining man- hood engaged in farming in that county. He operated on an extensive scale, became ex- tremely well-to-do, and several years previous to his death he was obliged, on account of ill health, to retire from farming, and passed his declining years in quiet comfort, dying at his home in Saratoga Springs May 2, 1881, aged fifty-four years. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, a democrat in political faith, and during the civil war was engaged in purchasing horses for the govern- ment, to be used by the cavalry in the Federal army. He was an active, energetic man, an excellent judge of horses and other live stock, and to him belongs the honor of having im- ported the Blackhawk horse into this country. In 1852 he married Barbara Clute, a daugliter of Jacob Clute, and to them was born a family consisting of three sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to reach maturity. Mrs. Swart was a native of Schenectady county, this State, a devoted member of the Methodist
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Episcopal church, and died December 16, 1871, at the early age of thirty-four years. The Swart family is distinguished by all the sturdy virtues which have rendered their race con- spicuous in the settlement and development of this country, and there is every reason to predict a successful and brilliant legal career for the steady, earnest, painstaking and de- termined young attorney whose name heads this sketch.
M. B. GRIPPEN, one of the active business men of Schuylerville, and a representative of several leading, popular and responsible insurance companies, is a son of L. A. and Olive (Carpenter) Grippen, and was born in the town of Wilton, Saratoga county, New York, September 26, 1836. He was reared in his native town and received his education in the common schools, Fort Ed- ward institute, and a private school at Patter- son, New Jersey. Leaving school, he taught school and assisted his father at farming until 1864, when he purchased a farm of one hun- dred and five acres in Waterford, which he tilled until 1869. In 1872 he came to Schuy- lerville and became a member of the general mercantile firm of Marshall & Grippen, which existed eighteen months. He then disposed of his interest in the store, and was variously en- gaged up to 1880, in which year he purchased the insurance office of L. B. Veale, of Schuyler- ville, and established his present prosperous fire, life and accident insurance business. His companies fully protect every property inter- est confided to them and afford perfect secu- rity to all their patrons, and Mr. Grippen, by his efficient and judicious efforts, has secured them a large share of the patronage and sup- port of his section. Mr. Grippen is a repub- lican in politics, has served his village as justice of the peace, and always gives his party a hearty support. He is a member and a steward of Schuylerville Methodist Episco- pal church.
On December 23, 1858, Mr. Grippen mar- ried J. Frances Pitts, daughter of Socrates and Mercy (Morey) Pitts. Mr. and Mrs. Grippen have one child, Florence Estella, who is the wife of Allen F. Tefft, senior mem- ber of the mercantile firm of Tefft & Potter, of Schuylerville.
M. B. Grippen is of Scotch-English lineage on the paternal side. His grandfather, Esek Grippen, was a native of Connecticut, and settled in Saratoga county, where he was a farmer. * He helped organize a company for the war of 1812, but it was never called into active service. He was a Methodist, and a whig and republican in politics. He married Silence Baker, by whom he had four children. The eldest son, L. A. Grippen (father), was born in 1802, at Lebanon, Columbia county, and at thirty-one years of age came to the town of Corinth, and a few years later to the town of Wilton, where he followed farming and his trade until his death, February 23, 1881, at seventy-nine years of age. He was a man of fair education, of good general in- formation, and as a whig and Methodist was active and influential in political and religious affairs. He commanded the respect of all who knew him. He married Olive Carpenter, by whom he had four children : T. E., A. N., M. B., and B. B. Grippen. Mrs. Grippen, who died February, 1889, at eighty-four years of age, was a daughter of Nicholas Carpenter, a descendant of the Scotch-Irish Carpenter family of Rhode Island.
C EORGE R. P. SHACKELFORD,
one of the prominent and successful young business men of Saratoga Springs, is a son of John W. and Elizabeth P. (Putnam) Shackelford, and was born at that village Sep- tember 29, 1863. His father, the Rev. John W. Shackelford, is a native of North Carolina. He is an Episcopalian clergyman, having been rector of one of the principal churches of New York city for a period of twenty-seven years.
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
He has also held charges in Brooklyn, New York, and in Newark, New Jersey. He now makes his home at Saratoga Springs, and oc- casionally supplies the pulpits of absentee friends. He married Elizabeth Putnam, who died March 10, 1885, at the age of sixty years. Mr. Shackelford has cause for pride in his an- cestors, being, on his maternal side, of the same family as Gen. Israel Putnam, the hero of revolutionary fame, whose daring exploits have been, for over a hundred years, the ad- miration of the American people. His ma- ternal grandfather, Rockwell Putnam, was a native of Saratoga Springs, residing here most of his life. He died in 1869, after an active and fruitful life, at the ripe age of seventy- seven years. He was a member and vestry- man of the Episcopal church of Saratoga Springs, of which he was one of the founders. He was a large real estate owner in the vil- lage, and once owned and conducted the Union Hall, a large hotel, which was afterward bought by the merchant prince, A. T. Stewart, and by him rebuilt and renamed the Grand Union hotel, and which is now one of the finest in this town of fine hotels. In politics Rock- well Putnam was a whig and a republican. He was one of the village's most substantial citizens, always taking an active interest in the welfare of the place. He was personally very popular. He was a son of Gideon Putnam, an account of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
George R. P. Shackelford grew to manhood at Saratoga Springs. In 1890 he engaged in the fire insurance business, and being very well liked, as well as a clever business man, he has succeeded in building up and excellent business. He owns a considerable amount of real estate here, including a fine farm, and looks personally after all of his business inter- ests. In 1888 Mr. Shackelford built the large brick block known as the Shackelford build- ing, on Broadway, in this village. He has also erected several other business houses.
In politics Mr. Shackelford is by convic-
tion a republican. He is a member and vestryman of Bethesda Episcopal church. He is unmarried, and though young in years, yet has met with such signal success as would warrant him a long and prosperous career.
E BENEZER HOLMES is a son of Seth and Lucy (Colton) Holmes, and was born in Windsor, Vermont, September 10, 1827. His father, Seth Holmes, was a native of Massachusetts, having been born near New Bedford, but when a child his parents removed to Woodstock, Vermont, and there he grew to manhood. After his marriage, and before the birth of his son, Ebenezer, he removed to Windsor, and there he resided for several years, when he returned to his old homestead in Woodstock, where he remained until a short time before his death, when he went to Saratoga to live. He was engaged in me- chanical work with his son for some time. He died August 24, 1880, at the venerable age of eighty-three years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church, a ship carpen- ter by trade, and a republican in politics. His wife, Lucy Colton, was a native of Lebanon, New Hampshire, and died in her seventy- seventh year, May 12, 1873. Ebenezer Holmes (paternal grandfather), was born in New Bed- ford, but removed with his family to Wood- stock, Vermont, where he resided until his death, wlien he had completed his three score and ten years. By occupation he was a farmer and owned and operated the first saw mill built at Woodstock. The Holmes' are of the same family as Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes, the gentle Autocrat of the Breakfast Table.
Ebenezer Holmes grew up in Woodstock and received the principal part of his educa- tion in the public schools of that city, and at the age of twenty he went to Saratoga to serve an apprenticeship of three years to a cabinet- maker, having made this journey from Rutland to White Hall, New York, by stage coach. After having finished his trade Mr. Holmes
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spent two years in Nashua, New Hampshire, in a piano factory, at the expiration of which time he returned to Saratoga and bought the business of his old preceptor, Joel Chapin, who was the first man to keep in stock ready- made coffins in the village of Saratoga. Mr. Holmes soon began the manufacture of furni- ture in connection with the undertaking busi- ness, which he successfully managed for twenty- five years. Owing to the rapid growth of the undertaking business he discontinued the man- ufacturing part of his business and devoted his entire attention to the other part of his trade, in which he has been eminently successful. In the last few years he has done considerable building in the village, having erected some very valuable houses.
On September 15, 1853, Mr. Holmes was married to E. Bellona, daughter of Jonathan and Abigail (Drake) Wescott, of this county. They have four children, one son, Charles Howard, and three daughters : Harriet L., Louisa W. and Frances B. The son, Charles H., is in partnership with his father ; Louisa W. is the wife of W. R. Waterbury, who is a clothier of Saratoga; Frances B. is married to Robert M. Williams of New York city; and Harriet L. is at home.
Mr. Holmes attends the Second Presbyterian church and contributes to its support. In his party affiliations he is a republican, and has - served one term on the board of education for the village of Saratoga.
H ENRY H. BAKER, a member and the general manager of the Union Cream- ery association, of Mechanicville, is conspic- uous for industry and success in every pursuit of life in which he engages. He is a son of Isaac B. and Dorcas (Humphrey) Baker, and was born July 13, 1833, in the town of Still- water, Saratoga county, New York. His paternal grandfather, James Baker, was of English origin, and his American ancestors traced their line of descent back to Rhode
Island, where mention of the family is made at an early day in the history of that State. James Baker was a native of Long Island, and became a resident of Mechanicville, where he had amassed considerable wealth at the time of his death. He was a whig and afterward a democrat in politics, and for many years had been a useful member of the orthodox branch of the Society of Friends. He died July 26, 1840, aged seventy-five years. He was twice married. After the death of his first wife, who left one son, named Peter, Mr. Baker wedded Ruth Post, and by his second mar- riage reared a family of fifteen children, all sons : William, George, Joseph, Israel, Val- entine, David S., Isaac B., Titus, James, Sam- uel, Ransom, John, Abel, Daniel, and Paris.
Isaac B. Baker (father), was born March 16, 1806, at Mechanicville, and received a good English education. He was one of the largest land-holders and best farmers of the town of Stillwater, in which he owned the homestead farm of one hundred and fifty- three acres and an adjoining farm of one hun- dred acres of good land. Besides farming he dealt in stock and did considerable spculat- ing. He died May 13, 1883, at seventy-seven years of age. He was a democrat and a Friend, and wedded Dorcas Humphrey, who was a daughter of Henry and Mary (Carpen- ter) Humphrey. To Mr. and Mrs. Baker were born twelve children, six sons and six daughters : Warren, Smith, Henry H., Lewis, Parmelia Van Hynning, William, Martin V., Elmina, Caroline Cranard, Emma, and Anna, now dead.
Henry H. Baker was reared on the home- stead farm, which is now owned by his son, John C., and that has been in the possession of the Baker family for over a hundred years. He received his education in the common schools of his native town, and after assisting his father on the farm for some time, he became a clerk in the hardware establishment of George Mulligan, of Mechanicville, which he left in a few months to engage in farming on his own
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account. He cultivated his present farm of one hundred and seventy-three acres until 1881, excepting three years spent on the road as a traveling salesman, and then commenced attending the New York city market, where he did a large produce business for seven years. He then, in 1888, came to Mechanic- ville and organized the present Union Cream- ery association, of which he is a director and the general manager. Their creamery build- ing is seventy-five by twenty-five feet in di- mensions, and has a daily capacity of 1,500 pounds of butter. Their product, on account of its purity and superiority, is in demand wherever it has been placed in the market. Much of the splendid success of the associa- tion is due to the efforts of Mr. Baker, whose business ability and many years of agricul- tural experience preeminently qualify him for the position which he holds. Mr. Baker is a strong democrat in politics, and believes in a people's government run by a people's honest and economical representatives. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and takes a lively interest in everything cal- culated to promote the material prosperity of his village and the happiness of his fellow citizens.
On November 24, 1853, Mr. Baker was united in marriage with Sarah J. Holmes, daughter of John C. and Sarah B. (Holmes) Wilber, of Duchess county, New York. Mr. and Mrs. Baker have three children : Ida J., wife of George Carlton, a farmer of the town of Stillwater; John C., who married Ella Wallace, and resides on the home farm; and Walter Bloom, who wedded Laura Earing, and is engaged in farming.
F RANK B. PECK, postmaster of Wa- terford, this county, who has served two terins as justice of the peace and been chair- man of the Republican county committee for a number of years, is another of our successful business men whose achievements entitle him
to rank among the leading citizens of Saratoga county. He is a son of Benjamin R. and Elizabeth (Griffin) Peck, and a native of Co- hoes, Albany county, New York, where he was born August 1, 1853. The Pecks are of Eng- lish extraction, and are one among the oldest families of New England, on whose soil the hardy stock was originally planted at an early day. The paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, Alanson A. Peck, was a pros- perous Vermont farmer, and a teacher for twenty-five years, who reared a family of four children, one of his sons being Benjamin R. Peck (father), who was born in the Green Mountain State in 1819, and grew to manhood and was educated in that Commonwealth. When about twenty-six years of age, in 1845, he removed from Vermont to Albany county, New York, settling at Cohoes, where he con- tinued to reside until 1861, engaged in the planing mill business and in the extensive manufacture of blinds, doors and sash. In 1861 he removed to Waterford, Saratoga county, where he still resides, being now re- tired from all active business. Politically he is a democrat, and during his more active years took a prominent part in local politics. He served as assessor in the town of Waterford for a period of nine years, and was commis- sioner of highways for several terms. In 1849 he married Elizabeth Griffin, a daughter of Jasper and Permelia Griffin, and they were the parents of a family of ten children, four sons and six daughters. Mrs. Peck was born in 1828, and is still hale and hearty, though now well advanced in her sixty-fifth year.
Frank B. Peck was reared partly at Colioes and partly in Waterford, attending the public schools of both villages and the Troy busi- ness college, and acquiring an excellent Eng- lish and commercial education, which he has since turned to good advantage in the business world. Soon after leaving school he accepted a position as book-keeper with his uncle, A. J. Griffin, at Cohoes, and began an active business career, which has known no inter-
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mission to the present time. In 1878 he em- barked in the coal and wood business at Water- ford, where he has met with excellent success, and where he has resided ever since. On June 4, 1889, he was appointed postmaster at the village of Waterford, by President Har- rison, and has held that position to the pres- ent time, giving general satisfaction to all who have business with his office. In politics he is an ardent republican, and for a number of years has held an important place in the local councils of his party. He has served as mem- ber of the Republican county committee for six years, and during that time has been chairman four years of that committee, being elected to the position annually, without any opposition, and voluntarily retiring from the office in the fall of 1892, though he is still a member of the committee and an active worker on behalf of his party. In 1879 he was elected justice of the peace, and served in that responsible and important position until 1886- two full terms. Mr. Peck is a bachelor, popular in society and church circles, and a prominent member of Clinton Lodge, No. 140, Free and Accepted Masons, and of Maple Valley Lodge, No. 427, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his business life he has been successful, and is everywhere regarded as among the best and most enterprising citizens of his adopted county.
A RTHUR J. WOODARD, who has been actively connected with the business and school interests of the village of Hadley for a number of years, and is a pleasant and genial gentleman, is a son of Seymour and Jemima (Crannell) Woodard, and was born in the town of Hadley, this county, April 24, 1853. The Woodards are of Yankee descent, and have been natives of New England since early colonial times. Lucius Woodard, pa- ternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born and reared among the green moun- tains of Vermont, and resided in that State
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