USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 59
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Mercy Camp, Richard, Leonard, Jerusha A., Edmund, and Betsey L.
Theodore Comstock is of English descent, and a member of the old Comstock family of Rhode Island. His grandfather, Stephen Com- stock, was a Quaker and a life-long resident of Rhode Island, where he married and reared three children : Stephen, Nathan and George.
George Comstock, father of the subject of this sketch, was born and reared in Rhode Island, which he left in 1813, to settle in the town of Greenfield, this county, where he purchased three hundred acres of farming land. He was a man of excellent judgment and practical business ability, and died in July, 1870, at seventy-five years of age. He was a democrat and a Quaker, and married Martha Mosher, of Rhode Island. To their union were born seven sons and three daughters: Amanda Carpenter ; Almeda, who died ; Ar- nold, a lawyer of San Francisco, California ; Theodore (1), Almeda (2), and Theodore (1), who died of diptheria, and whose remains were all buried in one grave ; Andrew and Albert (2), lawyers of New York city, and Theodore, the subject of this sketch. Mrs. Martha (Mo- sher) Comstock passed away in June, 1870, three weeks prior to the death of her husband, when in the seventieth year of her age.
JOSHUA BAILEY, who was largely in-
strumental in founding the knitting ma- chine industry of the world, was born in East Hampton, Connecticut, in 1800. He spent many years at Albany and Cohoes, this State, in the development and successful manufacture of the knitting machine, of which he was largely the inventor. In 1865 Mr. Bailey came to the town of Waterford, where he purchased a beautiful estate and resided until his death, which occurred January 21, 1875. He was a modest, unassuming and re- tiring man, and had been for many years be- fore his death a consistent member of the Presbyterian church.
T THOMAS J. TOTTEN, the popular and
successful florist of Saratoga Springs, be- longs to that very large number of Americans who can justly be called the architects of their own fortunes. He is a son of Joseph and Ann (Burns) Totten, and was born June 26, 1853, at Saratoga Springs, Saratoga county, New York. Joseph Totten was born in Ireland, but when fifteen years of age came to the United States and settled at Saratoga Springs, where he still resides. He is of Scotch-Irish descent and has been engaged for many years in the flour and feed business for other parties. His wife, Ann (Burns) Totten, was also a native of Ire- land, and died in 1855, aged twenty-five years.
Thomas J. Totten was reared in his native town and received his education there at the public school and at the Brothers' school at Albany, this State. On leaving school he con- cluded to learn the trade of currier -the fin- ishing of leather, but after working at it for a year, he found it was not sufficiently to his taste to make of it a life pursuit, and quit it to spend eight months at the trade of carpenter, at Albany. But he liked his latter trade no better than his former one, and went to New York city, where he worked in the green house of William C. Wilson, and found the line of employment which was in accord with his tastes and inclinations. At the end of several months he returned to Saratoga Springs and started in the flower business for himself on a very small scale. He sold flowers on the street, among others the beautiful pond lilies so plentiful on Saratoga Lake. When that season (1874) was over, he found work in the grapery and hot house of J. M. Marvin, where he continued for several months. On September 1, 1875, he and Charles Ludwig started a greenhouse, and conducted it for a few months, when Mr. Ludwig sold his interest in the busi- nes to John Schafer. The new firm existed for ten years, under the company name of Totten & Schafer, during which period they both bought and built greenhouses at Ballston,
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
and conducted their business in both places. They separated in 1885, Mr. Schafer taking the Ballston branch of the business and Mr. Totten the Saratoga Springs place, paying the difference in value. He has an excellent trade, running thirteen greenhouses, which cover an area of twenty-one thousand square feet of ground. His floral emporium is at 10 Grand Union block, and his greenhouses on Circular street and Nelson and Lake avenues.
In 1880 Mr. Totten married Helen Hamill, a daughter of Horace Hamill, of Saratoga Springs. They have two children : Thomas J., jr., and Daisy Belle.
Mr. Totten is a member of Rising Sun Lodge, No. 103, Free and Accepted Masons ; Rising Sun Chapter, No. 131, Royal Arch Ma- sons ; and Washington Commandery, Knights Templar, of Saratoga Springs. He is also a member of High Rock Council, No. 652, Royal Arcanum. A republican in politics, he has served as a trustee of the village. Mr. Totten has made a close and thorough study of his business, and has been so successful in meet- ing the floral wants of an intelligent public, that his patronage includes the first families of the village as well as most of the distinguished visitors at the Springs.
YMAN SMITH, one of the leading busi- ness men not only of Stillwater, but of Saratoga county and eastern New York, is a man of stability, energy and influence, who has won success by deserving it. He is a son of Bliss and Esther (Newland) Smith, and was born at Stillwater, Saratoga county, New York. Bliss Smith was a native of Vermont, where he followed farming near Bennington for two or three years. In early life he came to Still- water and continued in farming and the lum- ber business until the weight of years disqual- ified him for physical labor. He owned two large and fine farms near the village, which he had acquired by industry and judicious man- agement. His deatlı occurred in 1853, when
nearly seventy-two years of age. Mr. Smith was a whig and a Baptist, and a man who was ever alive to the interests of his church and Christianity, to which he ever contributed freely and generously. He was twice married, first to Esther Newland, and after her death to Eliza Foot. Esther (Newland) Smith was a daughter of Rial Newland, and lived to be fifty years of age, dying in 1836. By his first marriage Mr. Smith had ten children, six sons and four daughters : Elias, Newland, Henry, Rennette, Lansing, Matilda Risdon, J. Lyman, Sarah N. Smith, M. D., who are still living ; Dorcas Neilson, and William W. Smith.
Lyman Smith was reared on his father's farm, received a good English education in the common and private schools of his native town and the village of Stillwater, and then was engaged for several years in teaching in the common schools. Upon quitting teaching he embarked in the livery business at Stillwater, and also opened a store at that place, under the firm name of Dakin & Smith. This part- nership lasted for one year only, when he pur- chased his partner's interest. In 1865 he disposed of all his lines of business, but two years later resumed general merchandising, and in 1872 erected his present large and handsome general mercantile establishment on Main street. It is a three-story structure, eighty by fifty feet in dimensions, thoroughly finished and finely fitted up with a large amount of floor space for the display of his immense stock of goods, that comprises everything in the line of fine and useful fabrics of home and foreign manufacture, while the notions and boot and shoe departments cqual many a city store in the quality and quantity of their respective wares. In 1883 Mr. Smith added a clothing department to his house, in which the latest styles and finest patterns of domestic and foreign cloths and dress goods of all kinds are to be found. His mercantile house ranks as one of the leading establishments of the kind in eastern New York, being only surpassed by the immense retail houses of the great cities.
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Mr. Smith, by many years of active life in building up and thoroughly organizing a mam- moth and first class general mercantile estab- lishment and business, in which respectively thorough equipment and great prosperity alike prevail, has won his place among the leading
merchants of the Empire State.
Mr. Smith
has widened out the sphere of his business en- terprises to far beyond the limits of his village. Besides his store and owing an interest in the well paying straw-board mill of Smith, Daven- port & Neilson, he is a stockholder and director of the First National bank of Mechan- icville, and has interests in several other suc- cessful business enterprises in other parts of the county. He is a republican in politics, and a member of the Second Baptist church of Stillwater, and has served efficiently both his village and his church as a trustee.
Lyman Smith, in February, 1857, was united in marriage with Harriet B. Atkins, grand- daughter of Rollin Atkins, of Bristol, Con- necticut.
Lyman Smith is a man of intelligence and probity, and has taken an active part in pro- moting the best interests of his town, as well as devoting his best energies to the permanent establishment and successful prosecution of his large and important business enterprises.
H ON. JESSE S. L'AMOREAUX, an
able lawyer and jurist of Saratoga county, and who enjoys the popular distinction of be- ing one of the leading lawyers of the Empire State, was born in the town of Wilton, Sara- toga county, New York, December 11, 1837. His ancestors were Huguenots, who came from France about the year 1700, and settled in Duchess county, where his father, Jesse L'Am- oreaux, was born.
Jesse S. L'Amoreaux was reared in his na- tive town, and after receiving sufficient prep- aration in the local common schools, entered Fort Edward Collegiate institute, where he took a full course. After leaving that well-
known and excellent school he engaged in teaching, first in his native town, and subse- quently at Schuylerville. In 1856, while a res- ident of the last named place, he commenced the study of law in the office of Lewis & Wells, then well known lawyers of the county. He continued his legal studies with this firm until December 1, 1858, when he removed to Ballston Spa. In 1859 he engaged in the prac- tice of law, as partner of C. C. Hill, in the legal firm of Hill & L'Amoreaux, which con- tinued in existence until in February, 1861. Mr. L'Amoreaux then withdrew to form a partnership with Hon. George Chapman, after- ward canal commissioner of New York, and in the following month of May was admitted to the bar of Saratoga county. His professional connection with Mr. Chapman terminated in the autumn of 1863, and for several years thereafter he continued to practice alone. In 1867 he formed a partnership with A. C. Dake, a lawyer of ripe experience and fine ability, and eleven years later, in 1878, Seth Whalen was admitted to the firm, which, under the name of L'Amoreaux, Dake & Whalen, became one of the most able and prominent law firms of Saratoga county and eastern New York. In February, 1885, Mr. Whalen was appointed clerk of the courts of Saratoga county, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of J. W. Hor- ton, and in consequence of this, the popular firm of L'Amoreaux, Dake & Whalen, after a highly prosperous career of nearly seven years, was mutually dissolved, and passed out of ex- istence. While serving as a member of the last named firm, Mr. L'Amoreaux, in 1882, was nominated by the republicans for the office of county judge, and his high standing as a lawyer and his great popularity with the peo- ple were such that he had no opposition at the polls. He was elected for a term of six years, and occupied the bench from January 1, 1883, to January 1, 1889, during which period of ar- duous service he carefully guarded the true interests of the people, and faithfully and fear- lessly enforced the laws of the State. Since
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
retiring from the bench in 1889, Judge L'Am- oreaux has been actively engaged in the prac- tice of his profession in this and adjoining counties and in other States. For the last few years the services of the judge have been largely engaged by corporations in New York and other States, and he has spent a consider- able part of his time in this State and the west in looking after the interests of these great companies. As a corporation lawyer he has no peer in northern New York, and at the present time he has the legal business of many large business enterprises to look after in Pitts- burg, Cincinnati, Cleveland and other large cities in the great Mississippi valley, which demand his constant attention and much of valuable time.
At Ballston Spa, New York, on June 8, 1865, Mr. L'Amoreaux was united in marriage, by Rev. Mr. Talley, with Ellen Holbrook, an ac- complished and estimable Christian woman, who deservedly shares in the esteem accorded her husband. In their house gentleness, love- liness and goodness abide, and a home hap- pier than theirs can nowhere be found.
In politics Judge L'Amoreaux has always been a stanch republican. In 1887 his name was presented before the Republican conven- tion as a candidate for justice of the supreme court, and he came within one vote of receiv- ing the nomination. During the autumn of the same year the Republican State conven- tion met at Saratoga Springs, and he was unanimously nominated for the office of comp- troller of the State of New York, but was de- feated at the November election with the rest of the State ticket.
Early in his legal practice Judge L'Amo- reaux gained a large clientage by his knowl- edge of law, his sound judgment, and his ju- dicious management of litigation. As years wore on, he became noted for his thorougli inastery of all the points that could be made available for the parties who retained liim, and before a jury liis arguments, illustrations and appeals were always heard with close attention,
and seldom failed to impress his own convic- tions upon the minds of listeners. It was not long after he was admitted to the bar before he worked his way up to a standing among the most eminent and conspicuous members of the county bar ; and during the past fifteen years but few unusually important cases have been tried in the county in which he has not been engaged.
In the branch of criminal practice, although not making it a specialty, Judge L'Amoreaux has achieved marked success. He was coun- sel, with Hon. L. B. Pike, for James Robinson, indicted for murder in Saratoga county, and after the case was moved for trial, they estab- lished such a state of facts as induced the court to accept a plea of manslaughter. He also was one of the counsel for Jesse Billings, indicted for the murder of his wife at Fort Miller, on June 4, 1878. The defendant was twice tried, each trial occupying over a month, and was finally acquitted. In 1884 Judge L'Amoreaux defended Dr. Hale, who was tried in the Washington county circuit court for the crime of manslaughter. In this case, as in the Billings, the evidence for the prosecution was shown to be unreliable and inconclusive, and the result was an acquittal. In 1891 he defended Patrick Hughes, who was indicted for the murder of Arthur Churchill, near Schuy- lerville. On the first trial the jury disagreed, and on the second trial the jury found the de- fendant guilty of manslaughter in the second degree, which verdict was a great victory for Judge L'Amoreaux, whose superior skill alone saved the defendant's life, as the evidence seemed to warrant a conviction for willful murder.
While on the bench Judge L'Amoreaux dis- charged his duties in such a manner as to add to his high reputation for ability and upright- ness. He presided with ease, urbanity and dignity, and was always able todispatcli a large volume of court business in a very short time from having always been methodical, prompt and direct in his legal practice.
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424
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
Among his fellow citizens few men are so generally respected and esteemed as Judge L'Amoreaux, and in his business relations none are more valued for sagacity and probity. When the First National Bank of Ballston Spa was organized Mr. L'Amoreaux was chosen as its attorney. Soon after he was chosen one of its directors, and has served as such ever since. In 1880 he was elected vice-pres- ident, succeeding in this office the Hon. George West, who had been chosen president. For years he has carefully studied financial ques- tions and measures, and his views have re- ceived careful consideration on the part of his associates in the board of directors. As a bank officer he is eminently conservative. Be- lieving that prudent investments may always be depended on to yield profitable returns, he neither recommends speculation nor per- mits himself to indulge in any financial ven- tures. He councils only legitimate business, and safe methods of transacting such.
Judge L'Amoreaux is a member and trustee of the First Presbyterian church of Ballston Spa. He is active, liberal and progressive, and always keeps in view the prosperity of his church and its intimate relations to the pro- gress of morality and religion. Cordial, gen- ial and sympathetic, he is ever ready to ren- der to others the kindly services that circum- stances may invoke, and is as well known for true courtesy and kind deeds, as he is distin- guished for judicial ability and legal triumphs.
AMES WATSON VERBECK, a
prominent and leading member of the Sar- atoga county bar, who has been in successful practice at Ballston Spa since 1874, is a son of William and Margaret A. (Gilbert) Ver- beck, and was born December 14, 1848, in the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, New York. When only eight years of age he was brought by his parents to the town of Saratoga Springs, this county, where he grew to manhood and received liis early education.
He was prepared for college in Prof. Robb's Collegiate institute, at the village of Saratoga Springs, and in 1866 entered Union college at Schenectady, New York, where he took the full classical course, and was duly graduated from that institution in the class of 1870. He then read law with Judge Heath, of Amster- dam, and in June, 1874, passed his examina- tion and was admitted to the bar. In September of the same year he located at the village of Ballston Spa, and began a legal practice which for a number of years has been large and re- munerative. By first thoroughly preparing himself for the duties of his profession, and then giving careful attention to the details of each individual case as it arose, he won the confidence of the general public, and now finds himself at the head of a legal business surpassed by few if any in Saratoga county. He handles many suits for damages against railroad companies, and his success in this line has secured him considerable reputation. He has made a special study of enactments per- taining to corporations, and is particularly well posted on all the laws of this State and others, concerning railroad companies and their liability to the public. His law library is among the finest in the county, and his gen- eral library is large and carefully selected, con- taining many rare works.
On October 10, 1877, Mr. Verbeck was mar- ried to Abba Horton Medbery, eldest daughter of Stephen B. and Sarah M. (Clark) Medbery, of Ballston Spa. To Mr. and Mrs. Verbeck have been born five children, three sons and two daughters : William M., Sarah C., Clara M., James W. jr., and George B.
In politics Mr. Verbeck is a republican, but too earnestly engaged in the exacting duties of his chosen profession to give much atten- tion to political matters. He and his family are members of the Episcopal church of Ballston Spa, in which he is serving as ves- tryman.
The Verbeck family is of German origin, and was planted among the hills of New
James H. Verbeek.
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
Hampshire at a very early day. The name is a somewhat unfamiliar one in this country, but is quite well and favorably known in Ger- man military and literary circles. William Verbeck, paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in the old Granite State, but after attaining manhood removed to New York, becoming one of the early set- tlers of Washington county, where he took up a large tract of land, and continued to re- side thereon until his death in 1847, at a very advanced age. He married twice (his first wife being Susan Quackenbush, and his sec- ond Sarah Simmons), and reared a family of children, the youngest of whom was William Verbeck, father of the subject of this sketch, who was born June 18, 1820, in Easton, Wash- ington county, where he was reared and ed- ucated, and resided in that county and Rens- selaer until 1857, when he removed to Saratoga county, purchasing a large farm in the town of Saratoga Springs. There he lived, enga- ged in agricultural pursuits, until 1890. At that time he sold his farm to the Kissingen Spring Company, and removed to the village of Saratoga Springs, where he has since lived, practically retired from all active business. He is a republican in politics, and has held a number of local offices. In January, 1848, he married Margaret A. Gilbert, a daughter of Morris Gilbert, of the town of Saratoga Springs, this county, who died June 6, 1866, at the early age of thirty-nine years. To them was born a family of three children : James Wat- son, Frances L. Thayer, and Addie C. Wash- burn.
JOHN NEILSON, one of the early set- tlers and Revolutionary soldiers of Sara- toga county, was born in New Jersey, March 23, 1753, and at nineteen years of age came to near Bemus Heights, where, in 1775, he mar- ried a Miss Quitterfield. He purchased a farm that became historic from its connection with the battles of the Burgoyne campaign. He
had four sons : John, Samuel, Charles and Henry. Charles Neilson, the second son, was the author of an interesting work upon the battles of the Burgoyne campaign.
JONATHAN HOWLAND, proprietor
of one of the largest and most popular boarding houses of Saratoga Springs, and the representative of an old and highly respected family, is fourth of the nine children born to William and Dina (Smith) Howland, and was born in the town of Saratoga, Saratoga county, New York, February 22, 1806. The family is of ancient English lineage, and trace their American ancestry back to Arthur, Henry and John Howland, three brothers named from three kings of England, who came over with the Plymouth colony and settled in Massachu- setts. The family used a coat of arms, and a genealogical history of its various branches has been compiled and published by Capt. Franklin Howland, of New Bedford, Massa- chusetts. William Howland, father of the subject of this sketch, was born at Dartmouth, that State, January 2, 1772, and resided there until after his marriage. In 1799 he removed to Saratoga county, New York, and settled on a farm in the town of Saratoga, upon which he continued to reside until his death, Febru- ary 2, 1832. Here he built the first frame house in his neighborhood, and was known as an active, industrious and progressive busi- ness man and farmer, becoming quite pros- perous. In religion he was a member of the Society of Friends, and politically a democrat of the Jacksonian school. He had learned the trade of hatter when a young man, and for many years carried on that business in con- nection with his farm operations. In 1798 he married Dina Smith, a native of Dartmouth, Massachusetts, who died at her home in this county in 1862, aged eighty-seven years. They were the parents of nine children, only four of whom now survive; William, a resident of Dartmouth, Massachusetts; Reuben, now
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428
BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
living at New Bedford, that State; Amanda, residing at Ottawa, Illinois; and Jonathan, the subject of this sketch.
Jonathan Howland was reared on his fath- er's farm, and obtained his education in the common schools. He early learned some- thing of the hatter's trade and worked at that * business with his father until he attained his majority, when he formed a partnership with his eldest brother, Hon. Thomas Howland, and they engaged in the manufacture of hats at Northumberland, this county, where they conducted a successful business for a number of years. Later, Mr. Howland embarked in the mercantile business in this county, and for a considerable period carried on that enterprise. In 1865 he came to SaratogaSprings and opened a large boarding house, which he has success- fully conducted ever since. His house is loca- ted on Broadway, and has the reputation of being one of the best and most popular board- ing houses in the village of Saratoga Springs. In politics Mr. Howland is a democrat, and has frequently been elected to office in the towns of Saratoga and Northumberland. He is well liked and highly respected by all who know him.
In 1840 Mr. Howland was married to Lucy J. Rouse, of Northumberland, who died in 1844, leaving one son, Smith B., now a resi- dent of Schuylerville, this county. In 1850 Mr. Howland married Catharine D. Laing, of the town of Greenwich, Washington county. By his second marriage he had also one son, Frank G., who married and now resides in the village of Saratoga Springs.
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