USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 53
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Stubbs is ex-president of the Union Medical association of Saratoga, Warren, Washington, Rensselaer and Albany counties, and a member of the New York State Medical association, and the New York Legal Medical and the Sar- atoga County Medical societies. He is a past master of Clinton Lodge, No. 140, Free and Accepted Masons, and has been for several years a vestryman and warden of Grace Epis- copal church. He is a republican in politics, has served three consecutive terms as coroner of the county-from 1884 to 1893-and in 1887 was the only candidate on the Republican county ticket that was elected.
On October 20, 1881, Dr. Stubbs married Katherine Austin, and their union has been blessed with one child, a daughter named Catherine. Mrs. Stubbs is a daughter of Dr. James and Catherine (Peebles) Austin, of New York city. Dr. Austin was grand secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge of New York, and his father-in-law, Hugh Peebles, served as the first president of the first bank that was or- ganized in the city of Troy.
The Stubbs family in the new world was founded by Wade Stubbs, of England, who purchased landed estates in Florida and Geor- gia, and being a royalist he went at the open- ing of the Revolutionary war to the Turk's Island group of the Bahamas, where he was joined by his nephew, Henshall Stubbs, who came from Cheshire, England. Henshall Stubbs married Jane Boyd, of the island of Bermuda, and the Rev. Alfred Stubbs, D. D. (father), was the youngest of their six children.
Rev. Alfred Stubbs, D. D., was born in Turk's Island, of the West Indies, May 12, 1815, and received his education in prepara- tory schools in New York and Yale college, from which time-honored institution of learn- ing he was graduated in 1835. An escape from shipwreck on his way home led him to study for the ministry. He entered the Gen- eral Theological seminary of New York, and at the end of his three years' course, in 1839, was graduated from that excellent Episcopal
institution. He was made deacon in New York city, June 30, 1839, ordained priest in New Brunswick, New Jersey, May 1, 1840, and served as rector of Christ church, New Brunswick, from October 29, 1839, until his death on December 12, 1882. He found his parish weak and in financial distress, but under his ministry it became self-sustaining and highly prosperous. He lived to see his church rebuilt and filled with devout worshipers, and three other churches built within the original boundaries of his parish. He was a church- man of the truest type, patiently bearing re- viling and suffering, but would not allow the laws of the church to be violated, and when Dr. Stephen H. Tyng, jr., in 1867, intruded within the canonical limits of his parish, he brought on the celebrated "Tyng trial," that was decided against Dr. Tyng. Fourteen years later, in 1881, he received a letter from Dr. Tyng in which the latter said : " My dear brother : Your letter was not a surprise. I knew well that I should have some kind words from you, when you had heard of my resigna- tion. What a lesson we have had in our friendship. Men, sincere and honest, may sometimes be placed in apparent hostility be- cause of mutual misunderstandings. How graciously has the Lord interpreted our mo- tives to each other. It is a great comfort in my proposed retirement, that we are not only nominal but actual friends, and can salute one another as brothers without the least con- sciousness of insincerity."
Rev. Alfred Stubbs, S. T. D., entered into rest on Tuesday, December 12, 1882. " Unan- imously chosen rector of Christ church in 1839, for forty-three years lie consecrated his life to the interests of this parish and to its advance- ment. An elegant scholar, a warm-hearted, impulsive, genial gentleman, his social quali- ties endeared him to those who knew him, while, at the same time, his broad and loving charity disarmed hostility in all who were brought in contact with him. Called on at one time in defence of the canons of the church,
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to resist an unauthorized intrusion into his parish, his courteous demeanor and manly re- sistance to a deliberate attempt to overthrow the harmony of the church endeared him to all lovers of its authority, and won even from the foremost of his opponents the admission of the rectitude of his course."
The beautiful commemorative sermon on Dr. Stubbs' death was by Rev. E. A. Hoff- man, D. D., on January 16, 1883, and then the remains of the honored dead were borne to the grave by his four sons.
It was during the years when his usefulness was at its height, that there fell upon his peaceful parsonage, " as much the people's as the rector's home, that sad bereavement which, for him, put out its light, and buried its glad- ness. Emilia Houghton, to whom he had been married in 1840, and who for seventeen years, as the good angel of his life, had blessed and graced his home, fell asleep on the morning of Good Friday, 1857, leaving five children, one of whom was an infant of but a week ; two had already preceded her to the blessed rest of Paradise." The surviving children are: Rev. A. H., Dr. Roland H., Rev. Francis H., George E. and Emilia, wife of Rev. A. H. Ba- ker. Mrs. Stubbs " had won the hearts of all the congregation. Remarkably retiring and gentle in her disposition, she was, as all who knew her will bear witness, an extraordinary woman, and singularly adapted to the position which she was called to fill." How much her husband esteemed her meek and quiet spirit, full of faith and good works, will be best told in his own touching words in the " Records " of the Parish: "In the north angle of the ivy-clad tower (he writes), in a sweet nook of ground, by the side of the beds of roses which she planted for her little ones who had fallen asleep before to rest in (where his body now rests beside hers in the blessed hope of a joy- ful resurrection), lie the sacred relics of the purest shrine that was ever tenanted by an immortal spirit ; and the headstone bears the inscription, written by one who knew no words
that could fully express the greatness of her worth."
Mrs. Stubbs' father, Abel Houghton (mater- nal grandfather), was born at Gilford, Vermont, April 28, 1790, and died September 4, 1873, at St. Albans, that State, where he was engaged in the banking business. He married Emilia Stebbins, a descendant of Roland Stebbins, of Ipswich, England, who came to America in 1634, founded Springfield, Massachusetts, the next year, and died at Northampton, that State, in 1671, aged seventy seven years. Abel Houghton was a lineal descendant of the dis- tinguished and titled Houghton family of En- gland, that was founded by Sir Richard Hough- ton, who was born August 26, 1570, and died November 12, 1630. He was a ward of Sir Gilbert Gerard, and was knighted by Queen Elizabeth, who made him sheriff of Lancas- tershire in 1599. He became a favorite of James I., and was one of the seventeen whom that king elevated to the rank of baronets on May 22, 1611. He served in several parlia- ments, was owner of Houghton tower, and was the host on Sunday, August 17, 1617, of King James I., when lie conferred the honor of knighthood on the joint of beef that graced the board at dinner by dubbing it Sir Loin. Sir Richard Houghton was succeeded by his son, Sir Ralph, who fought under Cromwell, and when Charles I. came to the throne fled from England and came to Lancashire, Massachu- setts, where he became the founder of the American branch of the Houghton family.
C HARLES WHITE MAXWELL, of
Saratoga Springs, who has had an exten- sive business experience in the Empire State and on the Pacific slope, is a son of Amos Stafford and Louisa A. (White) Maxwell, and was born at Saratoga Springs, Saratoga county, New York, November 24, 1849. The Max- wells are of Scotch-Irish descent and Baptist faith, although Anthony L. Maxwell, the grand- father of the subject of this sketch, was a
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Quaker. He was born in Saratoga county, at Quaker Springs, and followed farming during his entire life, dying in 1864, at the age of seventy-three years. In politics he was a re- publican. Mr. Maxwell married Miss Stafford, a daughter of Amos Stafford, one of the few left to tell the tale of the Wyoming massacre, which occurred during the Revolutionary war, and has been so eloquently told in song and story. Amos Stafford, soon after he settled in Saratoga county, built the house, now a hundred years old, which stands just at the side of Stafford's bridge, which bridge takes its name from the Stafford family. Anthony Maxwell's son, Amos Stafford Maxwell (father), was a native of Quaker Springs, but resided at Saratoga Springs during the greater part of his life. He served as trustee and superin- tendent of the latter village, and was by pro- fession a lawyer, although he retired from ac- tive practice a number of years before his death, which occurred May 5, 1869, when he was in the forty-eighth year of his age. He was an Episcopalian in his religious faith, and in politics a democrat. His wife, Louisa A. (White) Maxwell, was a daughter of Charles White, a member of the celebrated law firm of Emmett, White & Emmett, of New York city. The members of this firm, at the time of Robert Emmett's execution in Ireland, were connected with the troubles of that time in the Emerald Isle, but succeeded in escaping to the United States. Mrs .. Maxwell passed most of her life at Saratoga Springs, but died on October 27, 1887, at the age of sixty-three years, in California, where she had lived for three years preceding her death. She was an Episcopalian in religious faith.
Charles White Maxwell was reared at the village of Saratoga Springs, and received his education in a private school there. He after- ward entered Georgia Practical Business col- lege at Macon, Georgia, from which he was graduated in 1872. Leaving school, he be- came a bookkeeper in the place of his birth, where he has been principally engaged in busi-
ness ever since, although he passed eight years of his life in California, five years of which time (from 1882 to 1887), was spent in San Fran- cisco, where, during a part of the time of his residence in that city, he was in the real es- tate business. He is now shipping clerk for the Congress Spring Company, of Saratoga Springs, and as such is very efficient.
In 1883 Charles White Maxwell and Mary Conklin, also of Saratoga Springs, were joined in the holy bonds of wedlock. They have three children : Charles, Annie and John.
Charles W. Maxwell is a member of Sara- toga Springs Catholic church. Politically he is a democrat, and in 1892 was elected by his party as overseer of the poor of the town of Saratoga Springs, which office he still holds. Personally Mr. Maxwell is a pleasant, genial gentleman, who has rendered himself very pop- ular with the public.
T HOMAS F. BRYAR, the well known carriage manufacturer of Clifton Park, this county, who has been elected town clerk for three terms in succession, and is now serving in the important office of justice of the peace at that place, is a son of William and Mary(Brown) Bryar, and a native of the town of Half Moon, this county, where he was born September 9, 1848. William Bryar (father) was born in Scotland in 1791, and resided in that country until about 1825. He then emigrated to Amer- ica and settled first in Savannah, Georgia, where he remained several years, and then, about 1836, came to Saratoga county, New York, and purchased property in the town of Half Moon. There he passed the remainder of his life, engaged in his trade of stone ma- son, and died June 15, 1872, at the advanced age of eighty-one years. On coming to this country he identified himself with the Demo- cratic party, and gave it his support ever after- ward. In 1845 he married Mary Brown, a daughter of Thomas Brown, of Glenville,
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Schenectady county, New York, and to their union was born a family of five children, four sons and one daughter: John, Thomas F., Charles E., William D. and Libbie E. Mrs. Mary Bryar was born at Glenville, and has been for many years a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal church. She now re- sides at Mechanicville, this county, in the sev- enty-first year of her age.
Thomas F. Bryar grew to manhood in the town of Half Moon, this county, and acquired a good practical education in the public schools of his neighborhood. After leaving school he learned the trade of carpenter, at which he worked for a period of ten years in New York and Michigan. In 1879 he embarked in the manufacture and repair of wagons and car- riages at Clifton Park, this county - a busi- ness which he has successfully conducted ever since, and in which he has won a wide reputa- tion by thie superiority of his work. Every- thing built in his shops is distinguished by first class workmanship, and only the best mate- rials are used. His trade lias increased until it is now large and lucrative, and the demand. for his vehicles comes from all parts of the surrounding country. In addition to his car- riage and wagon business, he owns and culti- vates about twenty acres of excellent land ad- joining that village.
On November 30, 1870, Mr. Bryar wedded Mary L. Dedrick, youngest daughter of Rich- ard M. Dedrick, who was one of the earliest settlers in this village. To Mr. and Mrs. Bryar have been born one child, a daughter, named Lulu J.
In his political faith the subject of this sketch is a stanch republican, and has always taken an active interest in local politics. In 1887 he was elected town clerk, and held that posi- tion three years, and is now serving his first term as justice of the peace. He is a prom- inent member and steward of the Methodist Episcopal church at Clifton Park, and a mem- ber of Jonesville Lodge, No. 132, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
JAY GILBERT, a well known paper man-
ufacturer of Waterford, who is also prom- inent in fraternal and social circles, is a son of George and Philena (Durphy) Gilbert, and was born December 30, 1849, in Steuben county, New York. He was reared principally on a farm in Potter county, Pennsylvania, to which State his parents removed when he was quite young, and his education was received mainly in the public schools of that county. After leaving school he assisted his father on the farm until he had attained his majority, when he returned to New York and engaged in the paper business at Waterford, this county, in the employ of his brother, Frank Gilbert, who had started a paper mill here in 1872. After remaining in the mill ten years as an employee, he became a partner with his brother, though the business was still conducted in the name of Frank Gilbert This partnership has ex- isted to the present time, and they now own and operate one of the largest paper mills in this section, turning out twelve tons of finished paper every day, principally news. Their establishment is fitted up with the latest im- proved machinery and apparatus, and gives employment to about fifty skilled men the year round. The product of this mill is strictly first class and finds a ready sale in the best markets of this country.
On June 29, 1876, Jay Gilbert was married to Cornelia Powers, a daughter of George W. Powers, of the village of Waterford. Their union has been blessed by the birth of one child, a son, named George.
Politically Mr. Gilbert is an ardent republi- can, and has held the office of village trustee for several years, though lie is too much en- grossed by the details of his prosperous busi- ness to give much attention to practical poli- tics. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Waterford, and of Clinton Lodge, No. 140, Free and Accepted Masons, and also of Waterford Chapter, No. 169, Royal Arch Masons. When the Waterford Club, a social organization, was first formed, he became a
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
charter member, and has done much for its advancement and prosperity. With that steady persistence which is necessary for success in any enterprise, he has aided in developing the paper trade of his firm, and is widely known as among the best, most progressive and most prosperous citizens of Saratoga county.
The Gilbert family is of Holland descent, but have been residents of this country for several generations. Rev. Edward Gilbert, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a well known minister of the Epis- copal church, who spent a long and active life in abundant labors for his church and the gen- eral good of humanity, and died in Steuben county, New York, in 1856, aged seventy-five years. He married and reared a family . of children, one of his sons being George Gilbert (father), who was born in Steuben county, this State, in 1813. There he was reared and ed- ucated, but in 1851 he removed with his fam- ily to Potter county, Pennsylvania, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying June 7, 1887, at the advanced age of seventy-four years. Politically he was first an old-line whig, but upon the organization of the republicans in Pennsylvania, he became a firm adherent of that party, and ever afterward gave it his sup- port and influence. He was a prosperous farmer and became well known in his county, filling a number of local offices, and taking a prom- ent part in the affairs of his community. He married Philena Durphy, a native of Wayne county, New York. To their union was born a family of seven children, six sons and one daughter. Mrs. Gilbert died at her home in Pennsylvania in 1869, in the fifty-fourth year of her age, and greatly estecmed and beloved by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.
JOHN T. DILLON, a successful business man and an intelligent and progressive citizen of Saratoga Springs, is a son of Michael and Ann (O'Neill) Dillon, and was born in Plattsburg, Clinton county, New York, Feb-
ruary 27, 1858. Michael Dillon was a native of County Limerick, Ireland, and came to the United States from England in 1834, locating at Rochester, New York. Shortly after his arrival in this country he enlisted in the United States regular army for five years ser- vice, and fought through the Seminole war. Later he went to Mexico with Colonel Wait as a volunteer, and served throughout the Mexican war. At its close he returned to Clinton county, New York, where he married and remained until 1866, when he removed to Saratoga Springs, at which place he resided until his death, November 2, 1870, at fifty-six years of age. He was a mason by trade, and in religion and church membership a Cath- olic, while in politics he always supported the Democratic party. He wedded Ann O'Neill, a native of Clinton county, New York. She is a daughter of Hugh O'Neill, was born in 1824, is a member of the Catholic church, and now resides at Saratoga Springs.
John T. Dillon spent his early youth at Saratoga Springs, going there when a child with his parents. He received his education in the public schools of that village, after which he began life for himself in the employ of the Rawson Manufacturing Company. He re- mained with them for thirteen years, and was successively promoted from position to posi- tion until he became general manager. In 1885 he left their service and was civil deputy sheriff of the county for a few months. In 1886 he was appointed railway postal clerk in the New York and Chicago Railway mail service. Six months later he was promoted and placed in the office of the general superintendent of the railway mail service at Washington city, where he was in charge of the appointment desk of that office till July 1, 1889, when lie resigned to give place to the appointment of his republican successor by the Harrison ad- ministration. In February, 1890, Mr. Dillon returned to Saratoga Springs and engaged in the general fire and life insurance business, which he has followed most successfully ever
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since. On April 10, 1892, he was appointed clerk of the village of Saratoga Springs, which position he now holds. Mr. Dillon is unmar- ried, and is a member of the Catholic church. Politically he affiliates with the democrats and takes a deep interest and an active part in pol- itics, and is president of the Jeffersonian club. He is one who fully believes in an efficient fire department. In 1876 he joined the Sara- toga Volunteer Fire department ; four years later was made assistant chief, and in 1882, in connection with Chief Elias J. Shadwick, re- organized the Saratoga Fire Department, under the Central House plan, the present efficient system. He resigned the post of assistant chief, after serving four years, in order to en- ter the United States railway mail service.
John T. Dillon is an energetic, thorough- going business man, who has won respect and popularity by his honor and honesty and the vim and vigor with which he engages in any laudable or worthy enterprise.
H ARRY M. LINCOLN, M. D., a pop- ular and successful young physician of Wilton, this county, who has been engaged in active practice since 1886, is a son of John D. and Delia (Martin) Lincoln, and was born in the town of Greenfield, Saratoga county, New York, May 12, 1859. His paternal great- grandfather was a native of England, who came to this country at an early day, and set- tled in Massachusetts. In that State his son, Harry Lincoln (grandfather), was born about 1784, but when a lad of only seven summers was brought by his parents to Saratoga county, New York, where he was reared on a farm in the town of Greenfield. After reaching man's estate he engaged in farming, and lived and died on the old homestead in that town. His operations were conducted on an extensive scale for many years, and he became very pros- perous. At the time of his death, March 18, 1873, he was in the eighty-sixth year of his age. In early life he married Hannah White, and
reared a family of nine children, one of his sons being John D. Lincoln (father), who was born on the Lincoln homestead, in the town of Greenfield, this county, in 1822. Following the traditions of his family, he adopted agri- culture and stock-raising as the business of his life, and like his father, passed all his days on the old homestead in Greenfield, dying June 6, 1874, after an active life extending two years beyond half a century. He was widely known as an extensive stock farmer, and handled large numbers of fine horses and sheep. In early life he was a whig, but from the organization of the Republican party in this State he be- came an adherent of that political organiza- tion, and ever afterward gave it his unwaver- ing support. For many years previous to his death he had been an active and zealous mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and liberal in his contributions toward the support of church interests. In 1857 he married Delia Martin, a daughter of Amasa Martin, of the town of Greenfield, this county. She was a native of that town, and a strict member of the Baptist church. To them was born a family of two children, both sons : Harry M., the sub- ject of this sketch ; and Frank, who died when only six months of age. Mrs. Lincoln died in September, 1862, at the early age of thirty- three years, and Mr. Lincoln was married again in February, 1864, to Carrie Cooper, daughter of Robert Cooper, and to them was born two daughters : Kittie A., wife of Roger Staple, of Milton ; and Delia C., wife of Arthur Brown, of Corinth.
Harry M. Lincoln was reared on the pater- nal acres in the town of Greenfield, this county, and educated at the public schools here and at the Troy Conference academy, of Poultney, Vermont, from which latter institution he was graduated with high honors in the spring of 1882. Soon afterward he entered the office of Dr. C. S. Grant, of Saratoga Springs, and be- gan reading medicine. Later he matriculated at the Albany Medical college, Albany, New York, and after completing the required course
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of study, was duly graduated from that well known medical institution in June, 1886, with the degree of M. D. In the autumn of that year he located at Wilton, where he opened an office, and has ever since been continuously engaged in the practice of his profession. Gifted with many of the qualities that go to make up the popular physician, and having earnestly striven to qualify himself for the du- ties of his profession, it is little wonder that he met with almost immediate success, and now finds himself with a large and lucrative practice, which is constantly increasing. Dr. Lincoln also owns two fine farms in the town Greenfield.
In his political affiliations Dr. Lincoln has always been a republican, and has already served two terms as supervisor of the town of Wilton, beside holding a number of other minor official positions. He is a member of St. John Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and is also connected with the local organization of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Dr. Lincoln is unmarried.
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