USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I > Part 16
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96
76
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
1720, died March 20, 1801), married, May 20. 1742, Anna de Peyster (born March 28. 1723. died June 14. 1794), daughter of May- or Johannes de Peyster (born January 10, 1694. died February 27, 1789), married, No- vember 24, 1715. Anna Schuyler (born Feb- ruary 28, 1698, died 1750). Mayor Vol- ckert Petrus Douw was the son of Petrus Douw (born March 24, 1602, died August 21, 1775), married. October 8, 1717, Anna Van Rensselaer (died March 29, 1756), daughter of Hendrick and Catharina (Ber- brugge) (or Van Brough) Van Rensselaer. Petrus Douw built the homestead on the shore of the Hudson river, opposite Albany, in 1724, named Wolvenhoeck.
LANSING (III) Gerrit (3), Lansing, eldest son of Gerrit (q. v.) and Elsje (Van Wythorst) Lansing, died July 20, 1708. He was a trad- er, and had residences in New York, Albany and Schenectady. He married, August 21, 1692, Catherine Sanders, daughter of John Sanders Glen, and widow of Cornelis Barents Van Ditmars. of Schenectady. She died Feb- ruary 15, 1731. Children: Gerrit, see for- ward; Johannes, married (first) Catalyntje Hun, (second) Jannetje Van Vechten : Anna. married Jacob Egmont ; Elsje, baptized March 12, 1699; Sanders, baptized April 20, 1701 ; Susanna, married Evert P. Wendell; Jacob, married Ida Van Wie; Abraham, married (first) Helena Van Deusen. ( second) Cather- ine De Forest : Evert (q. v.).
(IV) Gerrit (4), son of Gerrit (3) and Catherine (Glen) Lansing, was born August 20, 1693. He lived in Albany, where he owned a lot in the rear of Bleeker Hall, between Dean street and the river. He married Engel- tje, buried October 6, 1745, daughter of Rut- ger Melcherts Van Densen and his wife Wyn- tje Harmense Hun. Engeltje Van Deusen was a granddaughter of Abraham Van Deu- sen, who settled in Beverwyck at an early date coming from New Amsterdam. Children : Gerrit (5), married (first) Annetje Yates; (second) Wyentje Van Den Bergh : Rutger, see forward: Johannes, married Catherine Burhans ( ?).
(V) Rutger, second son of Gerrit (4) and Engeltje (Van Deusen) Lansing, was bap- tized March 25, 1722. He settled in the vi- cinity of Cohoes, where he had lands and fol- lowed farming. He married, October 27, 1764, Susanna, born April 18, 1731, daugh- ter of Jacobus Van Schoonhoven, of Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, and his wife Susanna Bratt.
(VI) Gerrit (5), only son of Rutger and
Susanna (Van Schoonhoven) Lansing, was. born November 18. 1765, on the Lansing homestead just north of Cohoes, and died in 1824. He was a farmer and millwright. He married, September 2, 1787, Alida, born Au- gust 21, 1765, daughter of Isaac and Alida (Fonda) De Forest. Children : Susanna, born August 26, 1788: Isaac De Forest, see. forward.
(\'II) Isaac De Forest, only son of Ger- rit (5) and Alida (De Forest) Lansing, was born in the town of Watervliet, Albany coun- ty, New York, June 17, 1790, died in 1874. He was a farmer. He married Rachel Schuyler, born 1792, died 1875. Children: I. Gerrit R., born 1814. died 1858; he was a farmer of Watervliet, and a millwright; never married. 2. Philip Schuyler, see for- ward.
(VIII) Philip Schuyler, second son of Isaac De Forest and Rachel (Schuyler) Lansing, was born in the town of Watervliet, on the homestead farm, in Albany county, New York, 1816, died in Albany, New York, July 12, 1880. He married (first) Rachel Lever- see, born 1818, died 1848; children: I. Peter L., born 1847, died 1848. 2. Rachel Schuyler, born 1843. died November 22, 1908 : married, 1872, Louis H. Comstock, of Providence, Rhode Island. Children: i. Mary L. Com- stock, born December 5, 1872, died February 12, 1905 ; married William C. Huntoon : chil- dren : Louis H. C. Huntoon ; William C. Jr., ii. Fred S. Comstock. born June 12, 1874, now (1910) of Providence, Rhode Island. Philip S. Lansing married (second) Sarah Ann Visscher. of Albany, born 1819. died 1898. daughter of Johannes B. and Catherine J. (Willet) Visscher (see Visscher). Chil- dren: 3. Catherine V., born May 20. 1850, died August 15, 1855. 2. Isaac De Forest, see forward.
(IX) Isaac De Forest, only son of Philip. Schuyler and Sarah Ann (Visscher) Lansing, was born in the town of Watervliet, Albany county. New York, January 2. 1855. In that year his parents removed from Watervliet to. Albany, where he was educated in the "Boys' Academy." In 1872 he entered the employ of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank as a clerk, remaining until 1890, when he resigned. He succeeded his uncle, John B. Visscher (de- ceased in 1800), as manager of the Visscher family estate, with his cousins, Edgar W. and William L. Visscher, and continues in that position to the present time (1910). His other business connections are: Trustee of Mechanics' and Farmers' Savings Bank ; di- rector of Albany Safe Deposit and Storage- Company, and other minor enterprises. His.
77
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
clubs are the Fort Orange, Albany City, Al- bany Country, Mohawk, and Mohawk Golf, of Schenectady. He is a governor of the Albany City Hospital : member of Company A, Al- bany Zouave Cadets, and of the Holland So- ciety of New York. He is unmarried.
(The Visscher Line).
Sarah Anni Visscher Lansing was of the sixth generation of Visschers in America, and was a direct descendant of Harmen Visscher, the emigrant ancestor. The tradition of the family is that originally three brothers only of this name came over from Holland and settled in Rensselaerwyck. That one being a Roman Catholic, soon became dissatisfied with his surroundings and returned to Hol- land. They were the sons of Bastiaen Vis- scher, of Hoorn, Holland, who was living there in 1675. The family name has been retained in this country, and although the spelling varies on the records the original name is easily recognized.
(I) Harmen, son of Bastiaen Visscher, of Hoorn, Holland, was born in 1619, died about the year 1693, in Beverwyck. He was a house- holder in Beverwyck in 1678. In 1666 he was the village surveyor. He married Hester Tierkse. It is supposed they were married in New Amsterdam, as their first child was born there. She survived her husband and was liv- ing in 1693. Children: Tierk, born in New Amsterdam, July 7, 1652, married Emmetje Jants; Bastiaen (2), married Dirkje Teunis De Metselaer : Nanning, see forward ; Fred- erick, married (first) Margarita Hansen, (second) Elizabeth Sanders widow of Evert Wendell; Sarah, married Gerrit Lucas Wyn- gaart ; Hester, married Abram S. Groot; Jo- hannes, married Elizabeth Nottingham; Ma- ria, married Philip Wendell; Ariantje, mar- ried Hieronemous Wendell; Geertje, married Cornelis Dirkse Van Schellyne.
(II) Nanning, son of Harmen and Hester (Tierkse) Visscher, died in Albany, New York, and was buried April 8, 1730. He married, January 6, 1686, Alida, daughter of Jan Dirkse and Maritje Vinhagen. Children : I. Harmanus, baptized January 23, 1689; died young. 2. Maria, married Jacob Hollenbeck. 3. Hester, married Jacob Vander Heyden. 4. Harmanus (2), baptized September 2, 1694. 5. Geertruy, married David Van Der Hey- den. 6. Alida, baptized same day as her sis- ter Geertruy, March 8, 1696. 7. Johannes N., see forward. 8. Harmen, baptized December 29, 1700: married Rachel Vander Heyden, February 24, 1739. 9. Alida, married Jacob Ten Eyck. 10. Nicholas, married Annatje Tymensen.
(III) Johannes N., son of Nanning and Alida (Vinhagen) Visscher, was baptized in Albany, August 14, 1698. He made his will September 18, 1744, and mentioned all his children except Anne. He married, Febru- ary 16, 1728, Annetje Staats, born December 24, 1703, daughter of Barent Jochems and Neeltje Gerretsie (Van den Bergh) Staats. Children : Alida, died young ; Neeltje, baptized March 28, 1730, married Jacob Van Wagener, of New York; Anna, died young ; Nanning J., married (first) Catretie Wendell, (sec- ond) Helena Lansing; Alida, married Gerrit Roerback, of New York: Barent J., see for- ward: Johannes (Colonel), married Elizabeth Bratt; Jochini, died 1747, aged seven years ; Gerrit (General), married Lady Sarah Turn- er, in Ireland, entered the British service and rose to the rank of general, no issue.
(IV) Barent J., son of Johannes N. and Annetje (Staats) Visseher, was baptized in Albany, March 13, 1737. He married, April 22, 1765, Sarah, born September 20, 1741, daughter of Harmanus, granddaughter of Bas- tiaen and great-granddaughter of Harmen Visscher, "the founder." She survived her husband and died April 22, 1822, in her eigh- ty-first year. She made a will June 7, 1822, and mentions John B. Visscher, Annatje, wid- ow of Douw Lieverse, Alida Evertson, grand- son Harmen, granddaughter Sarah, widow of Franc Lansing, and granddaughter Sarah, wife of Adrian Winne. Children of Barent J. and Sarah Visscher: Annatje, married Douw Lieverse; Sarah, married Benjamin Van Sant; Johannes B., see forward ; Alida, died young ; Harmen, born 1774, married Anna M. Chapman; Alida (2), married John Evertson.
(V) Johannes B., son of Barent J. and Sa- rah (Visscher) Visscher, was born in Albany, September 4, 1769, died in that city April 15, 1825. He married ( first) Geertry -
born October 17, 1777, died February 1, 1804; (second) Catherine, born June 14, 1779, died May 1, 1862, daughter of Edward S. and Sarah (Fryer) Willet. Children of first mar- riage: 1. Harmen, born January 4, 1802; married Ann M. Chapman. 2. Geertruy, mar- ried Lovell. Children of second mar- riage : 3. Barent, died in infancy. 4. Barent, (2), died aged twenty-two years, unmarried. 5. Edward, died aged three years. 6. Gerrit, died in infancy. 7. Edward (2), died un- married. 8. Sarah Ann, see forward. 9. Ly- dia, died unmarried. 10. John B., born Au- gust 31, 1825, died 1890; married (first) Ann Ten Eyck ; (second) Alida Douw Lansing. He was manager of the large Visscher estates un- til his death, being succeeded by his nephew,
78
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
Isaac De Forest Lansing. (See Lansing IX.)
(VI) Sarah Ann, daughter of Johannes B.
and Catherine (Willet) Visscher, was born in Albany, November 30, 1819, died in that city April 28, 1898. She married, Decem- ber 19, 1849, Philip Schuyler Lansing. (See Lansing VIII.) Children : Catherine V. and Isaac De Forest Lansing. During the nearly three centuries that are covered by this brief record of two of the leading fam- ilies of the Upper Hudson and Mohawk Val- leys, there have been many noted men in both families. They have been leaders at the bar, judges and chancellors, congressmen, and of- ficers high in military rank. Perhaps the hero of the Visschers was Colonel Frederick Vis- scher, son of Harmon, son of Frederick, son of Harmen Visscher, "the founder." He was born in Albany, February 21, 1741, died at the family mansion near Fonda, Montgomery county, New York, (Canda, called the most beautiful country residence in that region), June 9, 1809. He married Gazena, daughter of Daniel and Gazena (Swits) De Graff, and had nine children. After his marriage he resided a short distance from the paternal mansion, his brothers John and Harmon and sisters Geertruy and Margaret residing with their mother at the homestead. The Vis- scher brothers were uncompromising patriots and exceedingly obnoxious to their Tory neighbors, headed by Sir John Johnson. Fear- ing an invasion, Colonel Visscher sent his wife and infant family to Schenectady for safety, and took up his residence at the home- stead. On Sunday night, May 21, 1780, Sir John Johnson, at the head of five hundred British Tories and Indians, descended on the Johnstown settlements from Canada. Divid- ing his forces; Colonel Jolinson sent part of them, mostly Indians and Tories, to Tribes' Hill, under command of Henry and William Bowen. After burning the house of Barney Hensen they proceeded to the home of Col- oncl Visscher, but finding it unoccupied set it on fire and hastened to the Visscher man- sion, which they reached just at daylight. There was in the house, Colonel Visscher, his mother, two brothers and two sisters. The brothers defended the house for some time after the enemy gained an entrance below, and while fighting on the stairs the sisters es- caped from the cellar kitchen and fled to the woods not far distant. The mother, about to follow, was struck down by a blow on the head from the butt of a musket, but left un- scalped. The brothers continued to fight un- til their ammunition was exhausted, and as the enemy came up the stairs Colonel Visscher discharged his pistol, and, throwing it behind
him in token of submission, called for quar- ter. An Indian running up struck him a blow with a tomahawk that brought him to the floor. He fell upon his face and the Indian took the crown scalp from his head that en- titled him to the reward, then giving him a gash in the back turned him over and at- tempted to cut his throat, which was only prevented by his cravat, the knife penetrating just through the skin. His brother, Captain John, retreated to a corner of the room and continued the fight. An Indian, seeing him armed with a sword, hurled a tomahawk at his head and brought him down. He was killed outright, scalped, and left where he fell. Harmon jumped from a back window and attempted to escape, but was shot, killed and scalped. The house was then plundered and set on fire. After the enemy left, Colonel Visscher recovered consciousness and discov- ered his brother John's dead body and the house on fire. He succeeded in removing the body of John from the burning house, and then assisted his mother, who was seated in a chair, the bottom of which had already caught fire, to a place of safety. This chair is still preserved by the De Graff family, who oc- cupy the Visscher mansion. Carrying out a bed, he lay down on it, thoroughly exhausted, and in this condition was discovered by "Black Tom," a slave belonging to Adam Zeily. Tom revived him with water brought from the brook, and harnessing a team to a wagon, took the colonel, his mother and the bodies of his murdered brothers, to the river, at David Putnam's. His sisters, hearing the noise of the wagon, came out of the woods and were taken along to safety. The family were taken across the river to Ephrahim Wemps, who seeing the colonel required medical assistance sent him in a canoe to Schenectady. Colonel Visscher bore through life the broad scar left on his head by the scalping knife, and on all public occasions this was covered by a silver plate made for the purpose. Previous to this time he had fought with honor at the battle of Oriskany, August 6, 1777. In June, 1782, when President Washington made a tour through northern New York, an ele- gant entertainment was given him at Schenec- tady, on which occasion he placed Colonel Visscher at his right hand in honor of his patriotic service. He was appointed briga- dier-general in 1787 by Governor George Clinton, but declined the honor. On March 27, 1787, he was appointed the first judge of the court of common pleas of Montgomery county, serving with ability and honor until 1801. He was also a member of the state legislature.
79
=
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
(II) Hendrick G. Lansing, son LANSING of Gerrit (1) Lansing (q. v.),
was born in Holland, was in Albany as early as 1666, died July 1, 1709. He married Lysbeth , and had five chil- dren.
(III) Jacob Hendrick, son of Hendrick G. and Lysbeth Lansing, died October 17, 1756. He married, September 20, 1701, Helena, daughter of Frans Janse and Alida Pruyn, and had ten children.
(IV) Abraham Jacobus, son of Jacob Hen- drick and Helena (Pruyn) Lansing, was bap- tized April 24, 1720. He was the ancestor of the Lansings of Lansingburg and Troy, and the founder of the village of Lansingburg now consolidated with and a part of the city of Troy. He died October 9, 1791. The farm on which Lansingburg is built he bought from the heirs of Johannes Wendell, June 21, 1763, for £300. It is remarkable to learn that Peter Van Woggelum, who sold the site of Troy to the Vander Heydens, also sold to Johannes Wendell the site of Lansingburg in 1683. Now the two cities are united and the two families, Lansing and Vander Hey- den, have intermarried in several generations. Abraham J. Lansing, married, about 1745, Catharine, daughter of Levinus and Catryna (Van der Bergh) Lieverse.
(V) Levinus, son of Abraham J. and Cath- arine (Lieverse) Lansing, was baptized Au- gust 6, 1749. He married and had a son, Abraham L.
(VI) Abraham Levinus, son of Levinus Lansing, was born in Lansingburg, New York, 1774, died September, 1836. He was a man of means and conducted a large farm near Lansingburg, living in the town. He married, January 22, 1810, Anna Vander Heyden, born January 23, 1782, died Sep- tember 22, 1855, at Lansingburg, only child of Nanning and Catherine (Leversee) Van- der Heyden. They had eleven children (see Vander Heyden VI).
(VII) Nanning Vander Heyden, fourth child of Abraham Levinus and Anna (Van- der Heyden) Lansing, was born in Half Moon, Saratoga county, New York, May 17, 1806, died in Troy, New York, May, 1862. He was a farmer of Half Moon many years, then removed to Troy, New York, where he engaged in the ice business. He retired from business for several years prior to his death. He was a Democrat in his political views, but was not an active party man. He married Jane Eliza, born in Castleton, New York, 1816, died in Troy, September, 1876, daugh- ter of Philip and Dorcas (Sheldan) Finkle, of Vermont.
(VIII) Catherine Vander Heyden, eldest child of Nanning Vander Heyden and Jane Eliza (Finkle) Lansing, was born in Lansing- burg, New York, March 26, 1835. She mar- ried, July 14, 1868, John William McPher- son, born in Portland, Maine, in the United States barracks, May 15, 1834, died at Lan- singburg, New York, January 8, 1896. He was a carriage trimmer in the Lansingburg factory ; was first employed in Troy. He was an exceedingly quiet and retiring man, not inclined to make friends easily, but when once made his friendships were lasting. Children: I. Catherine, died in infancy. 2. Charles Lansing McPherson, born December 10, 1874, died July 22, 1882.
(The Vander Heyden Line).
Jacob Tyssen Van Der Heyden, tailor, came from New Amsterdam to Beverwyck in 1654, having emigrated to New Amsterdam the previous year from Holland. He was over sixty years of age in 1676. He married, July 25, 1655, in Amsterdam, Holland, Anna Hals. They had one son, Dirk.
(II) Dirk, son of Jacob T. and Anna (Hals) Van Der Heyden, "Tapper" of Rens- selaerwyck, on June 2, 1707, bought of Pieter Pieterse Van Woggelum, his farm extending from the Poesten Kill to the Piscawen Kill. The title was confirmed to Dirk Van Der Heyden. December 15, 1720, by Maria and Hendrick Van Rensselaer, two of the execu- tors of Killiaen Van Rensselaer, the second patroon of that name. He was required, as. also were his heirs and successors, to pay an annual ground rent on the farm in lieu of all other dues of three and three-fourths bushels. of wheat, and two fat hens or capons, to the- patroon of Rensselaerwyck. The farm is now the site of the city of Troy, founded in 1790, one hundred years later, 1890, with a popula- tion of 60,000. In 1731 he deeded the prop- erty to his three sons : Jacob, David and Mat- tys. David released his share and conveyed his interest to his brother Jacob; Mattys and Jacob then partitioned the farm, April 3. 1739, into three parts, Jacob retaining the middle and northern parts, and Mattys the southern division. On the death of Jacob in 1746, his son Dirk came into possession of the middle and northern farms. Dirk conveyed to his brother Jacob "two full, equal, just, fourth parts" of the "two certain tracts of land."" On the death of Dirk in 1775, Jacob D. Van Der Heyden inherited the middle farm, Jacob, I. and Mattys Van Der Heyden owning the northern and southern farms. The middle farm, between the lines of Grand and Di- vision streets, was watered on its eastward'
80
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
side by a stream flowing from the hill, east of the line of Federal street, and running southiward to the Poesten Kill along the line of Sixth street. An orchard of old apple trees was on the bank of the river between the lines of Congress street and Broadway. A- road from the country crossed the farm on the line of Congress street.
The Van Der Heyden homestead, a strong- ly constructed two-story weather-boarded building, stood on the east side of the River road where now is the New York State Arm- ory. It was opposite the ferry which for many years was a source of income to the family. The one-story brick dwelling of Ja- coh I. Van der Heyden stood on a rise of ground not far north of the Hoosac Road. It was built in 1756, one hundred feet south of the southern limits of the middle farm, and on the east side of the River road was the one-story and a half brick dwelling built in 1752 by Mattys Van Der Heyden. It was not until 1787, that Jacob D. had a plot of sixty-five acres of the "middle farm" laid out into streets and alleys and gave to the pro- jected village the name of "Vanderheyden." This name it bore until 1789, when the more classical name of Troy was substituted by the freeholders of the village, much to the dis- gust of the Vander Heyden family. Jacob D. was sorely offended and for years thereafter continued using the former name in his con- veyances, writing it "Vanderheyden alias Troy."
Dirk Van Der Heyden, the "original proprietor," married Rachel Jochemse Ket- elmyn, March 9, 1687. He was buried Oc- tober 13, 1738.
(III) Jacob, son of Dirk and Rachel Jo- chemse (Ketelmyn) Vander Heyden, was buried April 10, 1746. He was one of the three sons to whom was deeded the site of Troy and owned the middle and northern section. He married llester Visscher.
(IV) Jacob (2), son of Jacob (1) and Hester (Visscher) Vander Heyden, was bap- tized June 19, 1720. He succeeded to the ownership of the "Northern and Middle" farms which he received from his brother Dirk "two full. equal, just, fourth parts" of the "two certain tracts of land." He married Maria Halenbeck. Children: Jacob, Nanning, Manning, Dirk and Maria.
(V) Nanning, son of Jacob (2) and Ma- ria (Halenbeck) Vander Heyden, was bap- tized February 24. 1754. Hle married Cath- erine Leversee and had a daughter Anna, born January 23, 1782.
(VI) Anna, daughter of Nanning and ·Catherine (Leversee or Levison) Vander
Heyden, married Abraham Levinus Lansing (see Lansing VI).
(III) Johannes Lansing, son LANSING of Gerritt Lansing (2) (q. v.) was born January 1, 1675,
died August 10, 1771, in his ninety-seventh year. He married, September 20, 1704, Hel- ena Sanders.
(IV) Johannes (2), son of Johannes (I) and Helena (Sanders) Lansing, was born 1719. died 1813. He settled in Cohoes about 1760. He married Maritje Huyck; eleven children.
(\') Andrew ( Andrus), son of Johannes (2) and Maritje (Huyck) Lansing, was born 1760, died 1835. He married Anna Van Denburg. Children: Jolin, Jacob, Evert, Ab- raham, Anna and Maria.
(VI) Abraham, son of Andrew and Anna (Van Denburg) Lansing, was born in Co- hoes, 1794. died 1867. He married Dorothy Van Schaick, born in Albany in 1797, died in Cohoes, 1891, a descendant of Goosen Ger- ritsen Van Schaick, the founder. Children : Anna, Jolin Van Schaick, Egbert Winne, An- drew A., Maria and Anna Maria.
(VII) Egbert Winne, son of Abraham and Dorothy (Van Schaick) Lansing, was born at the Cohoes family homestead of the Lan- sings. February 23. 1833, died September 6, 1903. He was educated in the Albany Acad- emy. During his early manhood days he was a farmer, and later engaged in the real estate business in Cohoes, being one of the public- spirited and influential citizens of that place. Upon attaining his majority he gave his al- legiance to the Democratic party, but later became a Republican, serving in the capacity of alderman, member of the water board, and took an active interest in all that pertained to the welfare of Cohoes. He was also a- member of the hospital commission. He took an active interest in the work of the Reformed church, contributed liberally to its support, al- though not holding membership therein; his wife was a member of that church. He mar- ried, October 29, 1860, Helena, born Octo- ber 29, 1838, daughter of Douw Fonda Lan- sing, born in Cohoes, 1811, died in Albany, 1884, and his wife, Jane Ann Leversee, born in Watervliet, in 1816, died in Albany, 1885. Their child was Abram Winne, see forward.
(VIII) Abram Winne, only child of Egbert Winne and Helena (Lansing) Lansing, was born in Cohoes, New York, August 26, 1861. He was educated in the common and high schools of Cohoes, and was graduated from Albany Academy in 1879 and was a member of the class of 1883, of Williams College.
81
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
Possessing musical talent of a high order, coupled with a love of music, both vocal and instrumental, he studied and mastered the art of both composition and rendition. His mas- tery of the pipe organ is complete and places him among the leading performers, making a specialty of church and sacred music. As a composer of religious music he has been prolific and successful. Over one hundred and fifty of his compositions have been published by the leading music publishing houses of New York, Boston and Philadelphia. The best known among his sacred songs are : "Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah," a duet for soprano and baritone; "The Earth is the Lord's." a baritone solo; "Fear Not, O Ye Israel," a chorus. In 1908, the Tullar-Mere- dith Company of New York offered a prize for the best anthem submitted to their com- mittee. Among over one hundred competi- tors, Mr. Lansing was awarded the prize ; his anthem, "I am Alpha and Omega," possessing a rare harmonic beauty and depth of dramat- ic expression unrivalled by other competitors. He is but on the threshold of his achievement, yet already famous. He has genuine har- monic imagination, a rare gift of melody, dis- tinct dramatic expression, and his composi- tions have enriched the musical world in the field of sacred music. He has been director of the Cohoes Philharmonic Society, the lead- ing musial organization of that city, also di- rector of Hudson Choral Society, and of the Ballston Choral Union. President of the Dia- tonic Club of Albany, a club composed of musical professionals. In 1897-98-99 he was director of the Round Lake, New York, Mu- sical Festival, a very important musical func- tion. He is a member of the Fourth Presby- terian Church, Albany, one of the best known in that denomination, of which he has been organist since 1883. He is a member of Co- hoes Lodge, No. 116, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, and a supporter of the candidates of the Republican party. He is unmarried.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.