USA > New York > Saratoga County > History of Saratoga County, New York : with historical notes on its various towns > Part 87
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J. CHARLES LA DOW, M.D., a very
successful physician of Mechanicville, and a grand lodge officer of the Knights of Pythias, of the jurisdiction of New York, is a son of Jacob La Dow, and was born at Glens Falls, Warren county, New York, August 22, 1856. He received his education in the Me- chanicville High school and Fort Edward in- stitute. Leaving school, he surveyed the dif- ferent fields of professional life, and made choice of medicine as a future vocation. He commenced his medical studies in 1879, and afterward entered the medical department of Union college, from which he was graduated with high honors in the class of 1883. While at Union college he made a special study of the diseases of women and children, and after graduation, becoming convinced that homeo- pathy was preferable to the system which he had studied, he took a homeopathic course with Dr. Campbell, of Troy. At the close of his studies with Dr. Campbell, in 1884, he be- came a homeopathic practitioner of medicine at Mechanicville, where he has built up a very
fine practice. He has sought to keep abreast of the advance of his profession, and is a mem- ber of the New York Homeopathic Medical society and the American Homeopathic so- ciety.
On January 17, 1889, Dr. La Dow wedded Sadie L. Allen, daughter of Allen and Sarah (Colvin) Allen, of Mechanicville.
In politics Dr. La Dow is a pronounced re- publican, and has always been active in the interests of his party in local, State and Na- tional issues. He is a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal church; Montgomery Lodge, No. 504, Free and Accepted Masons ; and of Tribe, No. 154, Improved Order of Red Men. Dr. La Dow is also a prominent member of the Pythian Knighthood. He is a charter member and the first past chancellor com- mander of Garfield Lodge, No. 216, Knights of Pythias, of which he was grand lodge repre- sentative from 1886 to 1892. He served as district deputy of the twenty-eighth district in 1890, and in 1891 dedicated Herman Castle hall and instituted Tanacred Lodge. In 1891 Dr. La Dow was appointed master-at-arms of the Pythian Grand Lodge of the State of New York, and was said to have been at that time the handsomest master-at-arms of all the grand jurisdictions of the order. One year later, in July, 1892, he was elected to his present office of grand prelate of the Grand Lodge of the Knights of Pythias of the jurisdiction of New York.
As the name La Dow indicates, the family is of French descent, and can trace its ances- try back over three hundred years to its Huguenot home in France. The La Dow family was among those Huguenot families that suffered most from the bitter and unre- lenting religious persecutions of Louis XIV., and during his reign the La Dows fled to Connecticut, where they settled as early as 1650. From Connecticut members of the family went to other States, and one came to eastern New York, from which was descended Daniel La Dow, the grandfather of the sub-
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ject of this sketch. Daniel La Dow was a native, resident and farmer of the town of Mil- ton, where he died at an advanced age. He was a whig and a Baptist, married and reared a family of seven children, two sons and five daughters: Stephen W., Jacob, Eliza Beardsley, Eleanor Thomas, Martha Lipshutz, Julia Cooper, and Rheuma Rogers. Jacob La Dow (father) received a common school education, which he has largely supplemented by reading, study and observation. He is a machinist by trade, and in early life erected and operated several water mills, as well as being engaged for a few years at Glens Falls, this State, with James Morgan in the lumber- ing business. Afterward he was a sash and blind manufacturer at Ballston Spa for a few years, and then established a machine shop at Glens Falls, of which he was proprietor and foreman for five years. He then was a mem- ber until 1867 of the sash and blind manufac- turing firm of Cornell & La Dow, which was successively located at Stillwater and Mechan- icville. From 1868 to 1874 he was a member of the sash and blind firm of Barnes & La Dow, and in the latter year disposed of his in terests in the firm to his son, Daniel E., so as to retire from active life. Mr. La Dow is a man of great mechanical ability and skill. He is a Baptist, and has been twice married. He married a Miss Denton, by whom he had two children : Daniel E. and T. Augusta Barnes. After the death of his first wife, he married Mary E. Vaughn, and by his second marriage had five children, of whom four are living : Orville D., Dr. J. Charles, Robert V., and Lily Blaisdell.
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THOMAS PEAK, a well respected and prosperous farmer of the town of Corinth, is a Union soldier of the late war, who has a distinguished military record, earned by bravery in the great wilderness fights and nine months sufferings in southern prisons. He is the only living son and child of Edward and
Mary Peak, and was born in Schenectady county, New York, March 12, 1848. Edward Peak was a laborer and died suddenly in 1856. He was a whig in politics and had three chil- dren, of whom two died in infancy and the third is the subject of this sketch.
Thomas Peak, by the sudden death of his father, was compelled at eight years of age, to go among strangers and begin for himself the active battle of life, that stretches its short span through cloud and sunshine from the cra- dle to the grave. He lived with Amos Sher- wood, a farmer of the town of Charlton, until he was fifteen years of age, when he enlisted in Co. H, 59th New York infantry, in 1863. After being properly drilled, the company went forward to take its place in the swift advance that Grant made across the Rapidan. All through the great battle month of May, 1864, he marched and fought through the terrible wilderness and was in the very front of Grant's assaulting columns at Spottsylvania Court- house and Cold Harbor, where the earth seemed literally carpeted with the dead. From the Wilderness to Petersburg his regiment was sent, and there before the walls of that obsti- nately defended stronghold of the Confederacy, on June 22, 1864, he was one of thirteen hun- dred men of his brigade that were captured by the Confederates and sent to Libby prison. From there he was sent to endure all the hor- rors of Andersonville, and other southern pris- ons, from July, 1864, to March, 1865, when he was parolled and turned over to the Union authorities at Vicksburg, Mississippi. Suffer- ing from scurvy and starvation he was immedi- ately sent to the hospital at St. Louis, Mis- souri, where he remained until sufficiently re- covered to go to Maryland parole camp, from which he was sent home on a thirty day fur- lough. He never returned to his regiment, as the war was over, and was honorably dis- charged from the Federal service on June 30, 1865. Partly recovering from his terrible ex- posure and starvation in southern prisons, he was variously employed until he entered the
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employ of the Hudson River Pulp & Paper Company, with whom he remained twenty years. At the end of that time he purchased his present valuable and well improved farm of one hundred and sixteen acres in the town of Corinth. Beside farming he gives some attention to the wood and lumber business, in which he has met with good success.
In February, 1871, Thomas Peak was united in marriage with Sarah Hagerdorn, and to their union have been born two children, a son and a daughter: Edward and Ida.
Thomas Peak is a republican in politics, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Corinth. His time is chiefly given to farming operations and business pursuits, which he actively follows, although never de- nying himself the necessary and rational enjoyments of life.
J JACOB P. PALMER, a skilled workman in the woodenware factory at Conkling- ville, and a member of the Palmer family noted for remarkable industry and great longevity, is a son of John C. and Mary A. (Johnston) Palmer, and was born at the village of Hun- ter, in Greene county, New York, May 23, 1852. He was reared on a farm, received a good English education in the common schools and was variously engaged in different kinds of labor until 1886, when he entered the em- ploy of A. A. Summers, woodenware manu- facturer, and is in the wash-board department of the factory at Conklingville. He thoroughly understands his line of work, and is a skilled and experienced workman. Mr. Palmer sup- ports the principles of the Republican party, and has served his village for four terms as collector, while he is now serving on his fourth year as town clerk. Jacob P. Palmer married Hannah Swift.
The Palmer family is of English lineage, and has been noted for its longevity as far as history or tradition of it can be obtained. Substantial and industrious, its members have
always been esteemed and highly useful citi- zens of the communities in which they have resided. While it is impossible to give much information concerning the early history of the family in the United States, it is proper and highly encouraging to make record of all the items gleaned in relation to the Palmers, as every one of which any trace can be ob- tained was a person of industrious habits and long life. The first of which we have any definite account was John Palmer (grand- father), who was born in Ohio, but left his native State in early life. He married and reared a family of six children, two sons and four daughters : John C., who died at ninety- one years of age; Bertha Hall, now eighty- seven years of age; Sarah Conkling, now in her eighty-fifth year ; Cynthia Chapman, now in her eightieth year ; Mary Tirney, and a son who is now eighty-two years of age. John P. Palmer was born May 12, 1791, and died May 27, 1882, aged ninety-one years and fifteen days. He followed farming for thirty-five years in the town of Hadley, and then re- moved to Conklingville, where he was em- ployed for a considerable length of time in the woodenware factory. He supported the Re- publican party, and was married three times. By his first wife he had three children : Alex- ander, Mandeville and Eleanor. For his third wife he wedded Mary A. Jolinston, who was born eighty years ago. By his third marriage he had three sons and three daughters : Miles, William, Jacob P. (subject), Lucy Wait, Anna and Sarah Gray.
p ATRICK J. CLEARY, a representa-
tive farmer of Saratoga county, is a son of James and Ann (Dooley) Clearey, and was born at Kilmallock, County Limerick, pro- vince of Munster, Ireland, March 17, 1833. He was reared at his native town, and attended the excellent primary schools of Ireland until he was fifteen years of age, when he left the home of his childhood and came to New York.
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ples and the early publication of the local and general news. The Democrat has now been published continuously for half a century, and under the able editorial management of Mr. Morse is acknowledged to be one of the best political and general newspapers in this part of the Empire State.
On September 10, 1889, Mr. Morse issued the first number of the Ballston Spa Daily News, which has met with a generous patron- age from an appreciative public. It is a seven- column folio sheet, now in its fourth volume, and like the Weekly Democrat is devoted to the promulgation of democratic doctrines and the gathering and printing of all the general and local news of interest to the public. In the matter of local intelligence the two papers are especially full and complete, and leave little or nothing to be desired. Their circulation is already large and still growing.
On the 8th of August, 1882, Mr. Morse was wedded to' Mary A. Hazelton, a daughter of Philiman Hazelton, of the city of Hudson, New York. She is an educated, refined and accom- plished woman, and very popular in the social circles in which she moves. Mr. and Mrs. Morse are members of the Presbyterian church of Ballston Spa, and the latter is prominently identified with Kayaderrossera Lodge, No. 270, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of this village. As a writer he is pointed and pungent, with a wide grasp on the political and social questions now being discussed in this country, and has won considerable repu- tation in the journalistic and business circles of this State by the ability and enterprise which he displays in the management of his two journals.
p ATRICK DUMPHREY, one of the successful farmers of the town of Sara- toga, residing near the village of Schuylerville, this county, is the eldest son of John and Johanna (Dailey) Dumphrey, and was born in County Waterford, Ireland. His father and
grandfather were both well-to-do Irish farm- ers, and lived and died in the Emerald Isle. The grandfather, Patrick Dumphrey, for whom the subject of this sketch was named, was a member of the Catholic church, and reared a family of nine children, six sons and three daughters, seven of whom were Matthew, Michael, James, Alice Kirbey (deceased), Bridget, Katie and John. John Dumphrey (father) was reared on the farm in County Waterford, and after attaining manhood fol- lowed that occupation in his native county un- til his death at an advanced age. His wife was Johanna Dailey, a native of the same county, and to their union was born a family of six children, three sons and three daugh- ters : Patrick, whose name heads this sketch; Mary Hearn, Bridget, Katie, Matthew and Michael, all now deceased except Mary Hearn and Patrick.
Patrick Dumphrey was reared in Ireland, but after attaining manhood left his native land to settle in America, being the first of his fam- ily to cross the broad Atlantic and find a home in the western hemisphere. Shortly after landing in this country Mr. Dumphrey made his way to Greenwich, Washington county, New York, where he engaged in farming, and resided for a number of years. In 1871 he removed to Saratoga county, purchasing a farm of ninety-seven acres in the town of Saratoga, near Schuylerville, where he has continued to reside until the present time, industriously en- gaged in farming and stock raising, in both of which he has been very successful. In 1892 he purchased an additional farm of one hun- dred acres, all well improved, on which he makes a specialty of potato raising.
Patrick Dumphrey married Alice Casey, and to them were born six children, four sons and two daughters : John, Michael J., Patrick, jr., Thomas, Hannah Rourke and Maggie. In his political convictions the subject of this sketch is an ardent democrat, and in religious belief and church membership a Catholic. He is an honest, hard working farmer, with an
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unusual knack for management, and having engaged in an enterprise never abandons it until he has brought it to a successful termin- ation.
R IAL NEWLAND, a highly respected and worthy citizen of the village of Still- water, is a son of David and Mary (Billings) Newland, and was born in the town of Still- water, Saratoga county, New York, January 7, 1823. He was reared on the farm, and re- ceived a good English education. He re- moved to the village of Stillwater, where he has resided ever since.
On October 18, 1853, Mr. Newland married Ellen A. Nelson, and to this union were born two children: Cornelia M., wife of John Peck, who is foreman in his father's knit goods mill; and Nellie M., who married John Quacken- bush, a prosperous farmer of Rensselaer county.
Rial Newland has always been a stanch re- publican. He is a member of the Stillwater Baptist church, in which he has held official positions for over twenty years, being now a deacon. He has always made himself active and useful to his fellow citizens, and has served his village as trustee and president for several terms.
In nationality Mr. Newland is of Irish de- scent. His paternal grandfather, Rial New- land, was a resident of the town of Stillwater, and served as a wagoner in the Continental army, being present at the battles of Saratoga and Bemus Heights. He afterward owned a part of the battle ground of Bemus Heights, and did a large lumber business in Essex county. He was a member of the Baptist church, and married and reared a family of eleven children: Rial, David (father), Elias, Harry, Volney, Sallie Wisney, Dorcas Smith, Matilda Hart, Harriet, Ephraim, and Elmira, wife of Dr. Chauncey Bull, who is now ninety years of age. David Newland was a man of good business ability, and followed lumbering
for many years. He was a whig and Baptist, and resided in the town of Stillwater until his death, which occurred in February, 1860, when in the seventy-first year of his age. He was twice married, first to Mary Billings, and after her death to Marilla Smith. Mary (Billings) Newland died in 1840. By his first marriage Mr. Newland had twelve children: James, Re- nette Smith, Elmira Burd, Elizabeth, Rial, Elias, Sandford, Harriet A. Sherman, Lydia M., Helen, Henry, and Dorcas. Of these children only Henry, who married Louisa Nelson; Harriet A. Sherman, and Rial, the subject of this sketch, are living.
D EXTON BALDWIN, a comfortably situated farmer of the town of Stillwater, and who was actively engaged at one time in the drug business, is a son of David and Eliz- abeth (Howe) Baldwin, and was born in the town of Summit, Schoharie county, Pennsyl- vania, November 14, 1824. The Baldwin fam- ily is of English descent, and David Baldwin, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Vermont. At twenty-one years of age he came to Saratoga county, where he fol- lowed farming until his death in December, 1878, at eighty-three years of age. He was a shoemaker by trade, but at an early age left the shoe bench to engage in farming. He was a republican and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and married Elizabeth Howe, now deceased. To their union were born three sons and six daughters : Huldah Barton, Reuben, Benson, Dexton, Rebecca, Agnes, Rena, Julia Anna and Sarah Elizabeth Parens.
Dexton Baldwin was reared on the farmn, received his education in the common schools, and early in life became a clerk in the drug house of Boyd & Ball, of New York city, where he remained for twelve years. He then went to Albany county, where he purchased a farm of one liundred acres and resided until 1867. In that year Mr. Baldwin removed to his pres-
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ent farm in the town of Stillwater, where he has resided ever since and been engaged in agricultural pursuits. His farm contains one hundred acres of good agricultural land, and lies not far from the village of Stillwater. He is a republican in politics.
On November 24, 1849, Mr. Baldwin was united in marriage with Rachel Holenbeck, daughter of Jacob and Jane (Osterhaut) Hol- enbeck. To Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin have been born three children : William H., married Alice Rifenburg, and is a resident of East Troy, this State; Elizabeth J., who died in early womanhood; and Alice, wife of Herman Farrington. Mrs. Rachel Baldwin is a grand- daughter of Jacob Holenbeck, who was a na- tive of Albany county, where he followed tail- oring for many years. He was a republican and a member of the Dutch Reformed church, and his children were: Matthew, Rachel, Henry, and Jacob, the father of Mrs. Baldwin.
M ARTIN McDONALD, proprietor of the Union hotel, at Ballston Spa, and one of the prominent and prosperous citizens of the county capital, is the only son of John and Margaret McDonald, and a native of the town of Milton, Saratoga county, New York, where he was born January 12, 1855. His father was born in Ireland in 1824, and re- mained on the Emerald Isle until 1847, when he emigrated to America and settled in Bos- ton, Massachusetts. He was a marble cutter by trade, and exceedingly skillful. In 1854 he removed to the State of New York, settling in the town of Milton, near Ballston Spa, this county, where he passed the remainder of his life, dying in 1887, at the advanced age of sixty- three years. After coming to this county he opened a marble shop at Ballston Spa, and successfully conducted that business here for a period of twenty years, becoming quite pros- perous. He was a democrat in politics, and a member of the Catholic church. In his more active years he took considerable interest in
political affairs, and served in a number of local offices. His wife, Margaret, was also a native of Ireland, and a member of the Cath- olic church. She died about 1856, at an early age, when her son, the subject of this sketch, was in his ninth year.
Martin McDonald was reared and educated at Ballston Spa, and after leaving school learned the trade of marble cutter and worked with his father at that business until 1882. In that year, in partnership with Edward Manogue, he purchased the Union liotel of Ballston Spa, and under the firm name of Manogue & McDonald they conducted the hotel business together for two years. At the end of that time Mr. McDonald bought his partner's interest in the hotel, and has ever since conducted this well-known and popular house in his own name. This is a first-class hotel in every particular. In addition to his hotel property, Mr. McDonald also owns con- siderable other valuable real estate in this village, and two fine farms, one of which is located in the town of Milton and the other situated in the town of Ballston.
On November 27, 1888, Mr. McDonald was united in marriage to Kittie Coleman, youngest daughter of Daniel Coleman, of the village of Ballston Spa. While not a member, he regularly attends and contributes to the support of the Catholic church at Ballston Spa. Politically he is an ardent democrat, and an active worker for the success of his party. He served as deputy sheriff three years under sheriff A. B. Bockus, from 1885 to 1888, and has been chief engineer of the fire department here for one year.
RUSSELL VANDENBURGH, the
proprietor of the Vandenburgh planing mill and a substantial and influential citizen of Ballston Spa, is a son of Cornelius G. and Jane A. (Smith) Vandenburgh, and was born just north of White Hall, Washington county, New York, March 1, 1840. His paternal grand-
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father, Garrett Vandenburgh, was an early set- tler of Washington county, where his son, Cor- nelius G. Vandenburgh (father), was born at Pittstown, in 1805. Cornelius G. Vandenburgh came, in 1845, to three miles north of Sara- toga Springs, where he purchased a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which -occurred in 1888, when he was in the eighty-third year of his age. He was a Baptist and a republican, and married Jane A. Smith, who passed away in 1880, at seventy years of age.
Russell Vandenburgh was reared on the home farm and after receiving a good English education in the public schools came to Ball- ston Spa, at eighteen years of age. He found employment in the planing mill of which he is now proprietor. After working for one year he became manager of the mill, which position he held until 1877, when he purchased the mill and its adjoining lumber yards. This planing
mill has been fully equipped with all necessary machinery, and turns out a large amount of first-class work every year. Mr. Vandenburgh manufactures doors, sash, blinds and mould- ing, beside furnishing all kinds of planed and unplaned lumber, flooring, ceiling and shingles. He employs a regular force of twenty hands, and turns out a large amount of work. He also keeps on hand builders' supplies, and does a large contracting and building business at Ballston Spa and elsewhere. Mr. Vanden- burgh is a man of good judgment and clear business insight, as is attested by the success that has attended his present enterprise. He has always been a republican in politics, and as a business man is imbued with the true spirit of enterprise and energy.
In 1867 Mr. Vandenburgh was united in marriage with Charlotte M. Barber, daughter of Benjamin J. and Jane A. Barber, of Ball- ston Spa.
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