USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 74
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
until 1892, when he resigned to engage in farming on his present farm of twenty acres, near Palmer Falls, which he had purchased some time previous. His land is productive and lies convenient to market, school and church.
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On February 17, 1860, Mr. Carey married Mary Donohue, daughter of Michael Donohue, of Rossearbary. To their union have been born seven sons and two daughters : Timothy, now dead ; Mary Cummins; Katie, who died in infancy; Cornelius, a paper maker by trade; Michael, by trade a paper maker ; Jeremiah, also a paper maker; John, now attending school at Worcester, Massachusetts ; Dennis, at home ; and Thomas, who is now attending school.
Michael Carey in politics, since coming to this country, has given his allegiance to the Democratic party, and takes an active interest in its principles and success. He is a con- sistent member of the Catholic church, and a reliable and substantial citizen of his town.
JAMES T. BRUSNIHAN, a rising young lawyer of Saratoga Springs, and one of the most successful and popular young men in Saratoga county, was born April 5, 1868, in Rutland, Vermont, and his parents are Michael and Catharine (Reagan) Brusni- han, both natives of County Limerick, Ire- land. They came to America in 1850, and set- tled at Rutland, Vermont, where they contin- ued to reside until 1874, when they removed to the village of Saratoga Springs, New York, where they now live. Michael Brusnihan is a democrat in politics, a member of the Cath- olic church, and a laborer by occupation. His wife is a member of the same church.
James T. Brusnihan came with his parents to Saratoga Springs when six years of age, and grew to manhood and was educated here. He was graduated from the high school in 1888, and soon afterward entered the law office of William HI. McCall, of Saratoga Springs,
and after a careful preparation and the usual examination, was duly admitted to the bar of this county, May 9, 1890, standing at the head of a class of forty-seven applicants, and being the only man in the class who was not a col- lege graduate. On account of his superiority in. the examinations he was publicly compli- mented by Judge Landon, chief judge of the general term in this district. Before his ad- mission to the bar he had been elected justice of the peace for the village of Saratoga, hav- ing a majority of over five hundred votes, while all his associates on the democratic ticket were defeated. This simple fact tells young Brusnihan's popularity among the people and the confidence they reposed in him, far better than any words of the biographer could do.
After his admission to the bar Mr. Brusni- han immediately opened a law office at Sara- toga Springs, and has been constantly engaged in the practice of his profession ever since. His clientage rapidly increased until he now enjoys a large and lucrative business. He is the village attorney, being appointed in May, 1892, by the president and board of village trustees. As has been indicated, he is a dem- ocrat politically, and takes a prominent part in local politics, being president of the Jeffer- sonian democratic club of Saratoga Springs, and an active worker on behalf of his party. For a period of seven years he was connected with the Adelphi hotel here, having started in as bell boy and worked his way up until he became one of the proprietors. He gave up the hotel business in August, 1892, in order to devote his attention exclusively to his increas- ing law practice. It is said Mr. Brusnihan's inclination lies in the direction of criminal law business, of which he does considerable. In 1892 he received the democratic nomination for district attorney, and made a creditable race, but the republican majority in the dis- trict was too great to be overcome. He de- serves great credit, however, for what he has already accomplished. Starting a poor boy. he has by indomitable energy and great stead-
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
fastness of purpose, backed up by superior mental powers and a naturally fine manner, won recognition and substantial success on the very threshold of his professional career. The future holds for him great promise of useful- ness and distinction.
On August 22, 1892, Mr. Brusnihan was united in marriage to Frances Clark, youngest daughter of A. F. Clark, of the village of Sar- atoga Springs. In religion he adheres to the faith in which he was reared, and is an active and earnest member of the Catholic church.
J AMES H. RILEY, who has won an in- ternational reputation as an expert oars- man, and since 1886 has been engaged in the hotel business at Lake Lonely, this county, is a son of Peter and Ann Maria (Parmerton) Riley, and was born July 9, 1847, in the town of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga county, New York. This branch of the Riley family was planted in America by Andress Riley, pater- nal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who came from his native Ireland and settled- in this county. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, and lived and died in the town of Sara- toga. He reared a family of eight children, one of whom was Peter Riley (father), who was born in the town of Saratoga, this county, in 1811. Here he grew to manhood, received his education, and passed all his days, dying in 1861, after an active life covering half a century. Growing up on the farm, he main- tained a connection with agricultural pursuits all his life, but also learned the carpenter trade, and worked at that business to some extent. Politically he was a whig and a re- publican, and in 1827 married Ann Maria Par- merton, a daughter of Barnet Parmerton, and a native of the town of Clifton Park, this county, by whom he had a family of seven chil- dren, four sons and three daughters: George, Cornelia Leggett, Elizabeth Peck, Lidia Myres, James, William and Frank. Mrs. Ri- ley died in 1886, at the advanced age of sev-
enty-four years, having been born in 1812, at the outbreak of our second war with Great Britain.
James H. Riley was reared principally on his father's farm, near Saratoga lake, in the town of Saratoga Springs, this county, and acquired a good English education in the pub- lic schools of his neighborhood. When a boy he was of a delicate constitution, and having been advised by his physician to spend con- siderable time in rowing on the lake for the benefit of his health, he became passionately fond of that exercise, and such an expert in rowing a boat, that in 1876 he commenced to row in public, and continued to be a profes- sional rower for a period of thirteen years. During this time he traveled all over the United States and a considerable portion of Europe, rowing boat races. In the year 1882 he won fifty-six races-being every race he entered during that twelve months. In 1880 he became the champion rower of the State of New York by winning the amateur silver cup offered by the Saratoga Rowing association in a contest open to all the clubs in this State. At that time Mr. Riley was a member of the Neptune club of Staten Island, and the club also presented him with a handsome gold watch on the occasion as a testimonial of their appreciation of his victory. In 1882 Mr. Ri- ley published a challenge, offering to row any man in America for the championship of the United States and one thousand dollars, but could get no takers. In 1884 he rowed against Hanlan, the champion oarsman of England, and came out of the race victorious.
In 1886 Mr. Riley engaged in the hotel busi- ness at Lake Lonely, some four miles from the village of Saratoga Springs, and has ever since successfully conducted the hotel, known as the Lake Side house, at that place. That locality is a fine summer resort, and affords excellent rowing facilities and rare sport for the huntsman and angler. Mr. Riley's hotel is one of the best in the county, and is quite noted for its fish and game dinners.
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
In his political opinions Mr. Riley is a stanch democrat, and although he has never taken an active part in politics, has always been in hearty sympathy with his party, and yielded it a steady support on both National and State questions. On March 3, 1885, he was united in marriage to Hannah Abel, third daughter of Luther Abel, of the village of Saratoga Springs. Mrs. Riley is an educated and refined lady, and a devoted member of the Presbyterian church.
W ILLIAM B. HUESTIS, proprietor of the popular hotel known as the Hues- tis house, at Saratoga Springs, and a gentle- man of fine character and many rare qualities of heart and mind, is a son of John Leggett and Mary (Barner) Huestis, and was born October 18, 1853, where his hotel now stands, in the village of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga county, New York. He was reared in his native village and educated in the public schools here. Soon after leaving school he became connected with the hotel business at Saratoga Springs, and has maintained that connection to the present time. Since 1888 he has been proprietor of the Huestis house, one of the largest, most popular, and best equipped hotels of this famous summer resort. This fine brick structure is located on Broad- way, and is open to guests from May to No- vember. For a number of years before Mr. Huestis became proprietor of this house, its entire management was in his hands, and his acquaintance with the noted men and women who travel, both of this country and Europe, is very large. His house is well and favorably known, and correspondingly popular, with those who come to spend the summer at Sara- toga Springs. Mr. Huestis has been very successful, and in addition to the fine hotel which bears his name, he owns much other valuable real estate in this village.
In the autumn of 1880 Mr. Huestis was united in marriage to Almira Merrill, youngest
daughter of Henry W. Merrill, of Saratoga Springs. To them have been born two chil- dren, one son and one daughter : John M. and Mary W.
Politically Mr. Huestis is an ardent demo- crat, but has never taken a very prominent part in politics, preferring to devote his ener- gies to business affairs. He is a vestryman in the Episcopal church of Saratoga Springs and a member of Rising Sun Lodge, No. 103, Free and Accepted Mason; Rising Sun Chapter, No. 131, Royal Arch Masons ; and of Wash- ington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Temp- lar. He likewise holds membership in Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine.
The Huestis family is of English extraction, but has been settled in America since early colonial times. John Leggett Huestis (father) was born in the town of Galway, this county, in 1823, and was reared and educated there. After attaining manhood he was in the livery business at Saratoga Springs for a number of years, and during the civil war was engaged in purchasing horses which he sold to the government, for use in the cavalry arm of the service. He died at his home in Saratoga Springs in 1876, aged fifty-three years. Polit- ically he was a democrat, and in religion a member of the Episcopal church. He mar- ried Mary Barner, a native of Batavia, Gene- see county, this State, and to them was born a family of children. Mrs. Huestis was a member of the Episcopal church, and some time after the death of Mr. Huestis she mar- ried for her second husband, John Montgomery, of New York city, where she now resides.
C EORGE W. BLODGETT, the effi- cient chief of police of Saratoga Springs, and one of the youngest Union soldiers who served in the late civil war, is a native of Brook- lyn, New York, and was born September 26. 1847. He is a son of Ambrose and Eliza J. (Milliman) Blodgett. Ambrose Blodgett was a native of Jefferson county, but when a young
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BIOGRAPHY AND HISTORY
man removed to Brooklyn, remaining there until 1850, when he came to Saratoga county, where, in different parts of the county, he re- sided until 1859. He then established him- self at Saratoga Springs, and there he remained until his death, which occurred in 1884, when he was sixty-five years of age. He had been engaged in the business of a carpenter and joiner for many years, and was a republican in politics. He served his country as a soldier for two years during the late war, being a private in the 30th New York infantry. At the expira- tion of that time he was discharged on account of disability. Mr. Blodgett married Eliza J. Milliman, who was born in Galway, this county. She died in 1882, at the age of sixty-four years.
George W. Blodgett grew to manhood at Saratoga Springs, and received his education in the public schools of that place and of Gal- way. When the war cloud of 1861 burst he, though but a boy, feeling the excitement and the first stirrings of early ambition and patri- otism, enlisted in the 16th New York heavy artillery, only to be discharged three months afterward, at the general muster, on account of his youth. Again, in 1864, when but sev- enteen years of age, he enlisted in Co. B, 64th New York infantry, and served until after Lee's surrender, when he was honorably disharged at Arlington Heights, Virginia, in 1865. In January, 1866, he enlisted in the 25th regiment United States regulars, served three years, and on January 26, 1869, was discharged at Paducah, Kentucky, with the rank of duty ser- geant and acting drum major. In 1869 he returned to Saratoga Springs, and learned the trade af carpenter with his father, after which he followed carpentering until 1878, when he was elected constable of the town. A few years later he was appointed deputy-sheriff, an office which he held until 1886, when he was ap- pointed chief of police of Saratoga Springs, which position he has held with not only credit but distinction up to the present time. "Dur- ing his term of service," the Saratoga Union says, " Chief Blodgett has accomplished many
clever captures, and unraveled crimes from the scantiest evidence."
In 1876 Mr. Blodgett married Ruey Howe, daughter of Page and Lucy Howe. Mrs. Howe now resides with her daughter, and is in the eighty-fourth year of her age.
George W. Blodgett is a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Sarotoga Springs. In politics he is republican. He is a member of Saratoga Lodge, No. 15, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows; Ancient Or- der of United Workmen; and Colonel Mc- Kean Post, Grand Army of the Republic.
C OL. WALKER R. JOHNSON, a rep-
resentative citizen of Saratoga Springs, to whose energy and careful management is largely due the great reputation and success of the Congress and Hathorn springs, is the son of Robert and Mary (Walker) Johnson, and was born in Pickering, Yorkshire, England, April 7, 1822. His father, Robert Johnson, was a native of Pickering, and lived there un- til his death, which occurred in 1856, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He was a carpenter and builder, and in the course of his long life, left many monuments to his skill in his native town. He was a member and warden of the old Episcopal church of Pick- ering. Mrs. Johnson (mother) was a member of the same church ; she died in 1858 at the age of eighty.
Colonel Johnson is the youngest of fourteen children and the only one now living ; he re- ceived his early education in the public schools of his native place ; he made a very early start in business life, being only in his fourteenth year when he left home for Liverpool, there to work in a drug store with an older brother ; after remaining there one year, he, in his fif- teenth year, came to the United States to join his brother William, who had at that time been in the city of New York several years, and was then engaged in the manufacture of soap, candles and perfumery. The subject of
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
this sketch entered his brother's business as a clerk, and, at the same time, industriously at- tended night school, thus equipping himself for the stern battle of life. At the expiration of three years he became his brother's partner in the business and remained with him until 1842, when he formed a partnership with Stephen H. Wakeman, and they conducted the same line of business on Cortland street, manufacturing soap and perfumery, until 1854, when, after a residence of eighteen years in New York, he sold out his business, and, at the solicitation of the owners of the Congress spring in Sara- toga, came to this village to assume the man- agement of that spring, and here he has lived ever since, being manager of the Congress spring for the long period of twenty-four years, when, in conjunction with that position, he as- sumed the duties of bookkeeper of the Hathorn spring, holding the double position ten years longer, when he retired in 1888, but only to assume other responsibilities. From 1888 until 1890 he was associated with the late Seymour Ainsworth, of Saratoga Springs, in the devel- opment of the Favorite spring, which was pro- gressing wonderfully, when the death of Mr. Ainsworth caused a cessation of the work. Colonel Johnson, on February 14, 1891, again became connected with the Congress spring, as secretary of the Congress Spring Company, and is one of the directors of the company as well.
In 1846 Colonel Johnson was married to Helen Greer, a daughter of James Greer, of Oxford, Chester county, Pennsylvania. Of this union have been born two children, a son, Robert Walker, and a daughter, Carrie; the latter married Isaac Scott, of Macon, Georgia; she died in 1881, leaving one daughter, Helen, who now resides in Johnstown, Fulton county, New York.
Col. Johnson is a member of the Episcopal church, of which he is warden and treasurer. He has served five years in the board of edu- cation. Politically he is a straight republican. During the war of the rebellion, Colonel John-
son organized a company in Saratoga Springs, and was commissioned captain of it; this com- pany, however, was not called into active service. „Colonel Johnson owes his success in life to his honesty and business qualifications, but his immense popularity is due largely to an attractive personal appearance and to his pleasant, genial manners.
G EORGE ,CRUM, the popular proprietor of "Crum's Place," and whose famous game and fish dinners have made him known to thousands of travelers from all parts of the United States and Europe, is a son of Abraham and Diana (Tull) Crum, and was born at Sara- toga Springs, Saratoga county, New York, July 15, 1825. Abraham Crum was of German de- scent, and at six years of age had his back so so injured by falling down a flight of steps that he never was able afterward to stand hard phys- ical labor. He was noted as a race horse rider, and made many successful trips through eastern New York as a peddler. He was a native of Albany, but in early life came to this county, where he died in 1880, at eighty years of age. He was a republican in politics, and married Diana Tull, who was proud to claim that In- dian blood flowed in her veins. She was re- lated to the Stockbridge Indian tribe, and died in 1873, aged seventy years.
George Crum was reared at Ballston Spa, where he received his education in the com- mon schools. At the close of his school days he became a farm hand, working by the month, but soon tiring of this, and having quite a taste for hunting, he engaged with the chief cook of the old Saususe hotel of Ballston Spa to supply the house with a certain amount of game and fish. After following hunting for some time, he secured the position of assistant cook in the hotel, which had accommodation for five hundred guests. In a few years, how- ever, he left the hotel, and resumed hunting and fishing, which he followed for thirty years. During that time he supplied the hotels along
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BIOGRAPHIY AND HISTORY
Saratoga lake with fish and game, and for nine- teen years furnished the Moon house with its wild meat and fresh fish. In 1882 he started his present hotel, "Crum's Place," which is noted for its excellent fish and game dinners. This hotel is on the west side of Saratoga lake, and opposite Snake Hill. During the summer " Crum's Place " is patronized by peo- ple from all over the world, and its energetic proprietor has used on his tables as high as one hundred pounds of fresh fish in one day. In connection with the hotel he owns a farm of forty acres. He still keeps several fine hunting dogs, and in the fall and winter spends some time in hunting. He also fishes in the lake and along several of the small streams.
In 1848 Mr. Crum married Hester Bennett, of Salem, Washington county. They have one child, a son, named Richard, who has served continuously in the United States reg- ular army since 1861.
In politics Mr. Crum is a republican. He has held the office of game constable of the town of Malta for several years, but is chiefly known to the public through his services as the hospitable landlord of "Crum's Place."
W ILLIAM HOLROYD, founder and senior member of the firm of Holroyd & Co., the well known stock and die manufac- turers of Waterford, and a gentleman who is prominently identified with other industries in this section, is a son of James and Mary Ann (Gorton) Holroyd, and was born July 10, 1834, in the village of Waterford, Saratoga county, New York. James Holroyd (father) was a native of England, who came to the United States in 1831, and locating at Waterford, this county, began the manufacture of blacksmiths' stocks and dies. He was a man of good busi- ness ability and very skillful in the manufac- ture of fine tools, and built up a large trade here. In 1846 he organized the firm of Platt & Holroyd, and under that name he conducted a prosperous business for many years. He
died at his home here in 1886, at an advanced age. In religion he was an Episcopalian, and served his church as senior warden for a num- ber of years. In politics he was a democrat, though he took little part in public affairs, and was a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife, whose maiden name was Mary Ann Gor -. ton, was born and reared in England.
William Holroyd grew to manhood in the village of Waterford, received a good prac- tical education in the common schools, and at an early age entered his father's stock and die factory to learn the trade of die maker. He was practically brought up in this business, and thoroughly learned it in all its details. In 1857 he engaged in the manufacture of stocks, dies and threading tools on his own account, and has successfully continued that business here ever since. The firm is now Holroyd & Co. The building is fitted up with the best and latest machinery, and regularly employs a large number of men in its various depart- ments. Here are manufactured all kinds of blacksmiths' stocks and dies, including taper and plug taps, extra dies, axle stock dies, com- bination axle cutters, pipe taps and reamers, solid die plates and bottoming taps. These goods have a superior reputation among deal- ers and consumers, and are shipped to all parts of the United States and to many foreign countries.
In July, 1882, Holroyd & Co. purchased the business and real estate belonging to L. But- ton & Sons, manufacturers of fire engines and implements, and conducted this enterprise also until December, 1891, when they consolidated this branch of their business with a number of other companies engaged in the same line, in which Mr. Holroyd and his brother, George E. Holroyd, are large stockholders.
In 1859 William Holroyd was united by marriage to Minerva S. Fletcher, youngest daughter of Lucius Fletcher, of the village of Waterford, and to them was born a family of five children, two sons and three daughters : William F., who married Jessie M. Hoag, of
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OF SARATOGA COUNTY.
Albany ; Fannie A., now the wife of J. Wil- liam Clark, of the city of Troy; Annie L., Frederick A., and Grace A., who married George R. Elder, and now resides at Johns- town, Pennsylvania.
For a quarter of a century Mr. Holroyd has served as vestryman of the Episcopal church at Waterford, and has been a member of Clin- ton Lodge, No. 140, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, since 1855. He is also a member of Waterford Chapter, No. 169, Royal Arch Ma- sons ; Apollo Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar; and the Oriental Temple of Troy. Politically he is a stanch democrat, deeply grounded in the principles of his party, and firm in his belief in " government of the peo- ple by the people." He served as president of the village of Waterford in 1871 and 1872, and in 1884 was appointed to fill a vacancy in the board of water commissioners. In 1885 he was elected to the same office for a full term, and has been a member of the board of education for eighteen consecutive years. He was a director of the old Saratoga county bank for a number of years, and was serving as such when it wound up its affairs and quit business. Taken altogether, the career of Mr. Holroyd has been remarkably prosperous and successful, and he has well earned a prom- inent place among the men who, by their en- ergy, enterprise and business ability, have aided in the improvement and development of Saratoga county, and thus placed her in the proud position she now occupies among her sister counties of the grand old Empire State.
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