Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 35

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 656

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"So let me live that when I die My life shall show no blot of shame, And o'er the grave wherein I lie. Beneath my plainly graven name, Upon a low and modest stone, Which every eye can quickly scan, May this be carved and this alone : 'He never wronged his brother man.'"

Mr. Fuller has written a great many poems which have given real enjoyment to the casual reader, and all have met with commendation at the hands of critics, yet he is modest about the matter, which he considers but a form of recreation and pleasure, and has never saved them. On "Educational Day," July 19, 1886, of the week's celebration of Albany's Bi-Cen-

tennial, one thousand of the city's school' chil- dren sang an ode, written for the occasion by him, with telling effect and arousing much enthusiasm.

He began his business career as a clerk in Hinman & Fuller's grocery store at New Bal- timore in the fall of 1874; establislied and published The New Baltimore Sun; went to Albany in July, 1875, as clerk for William Fuller & Sons; edited The Rensselaer County Gazette for several years, and took a two- year course in both medicine and law while continuing his relations with Wm. Fuller & Sons. He entered actively into the flour busi- ness under his own name in 1890. On the death of his brother, De Witt Allison Fuller, in 1894, he continued the latter's business (building material) in conjunction with his own. He is a member of the First Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, of which he was a deacon for several years and a trustee in 1910 as well as for some time previous. He is a member of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, the Unconditional Republican Club, Philip Liv- ingston Chapter, Sons of the Revolution, Zeta Psi fraternity, St. George's Benevolent So- ciety, Fort Orange Club, is a thirty-second degree Mason, was elected a life trustee of Rutgers College in 1905 : president of the Un- conditional Club for three terms, 1888-1891 ; president of the Albany County Mckinley League in 1896, and president of the Eleventh Ward Republican Association, 1885-89. He is. also a director of the First National Bank, trustee of the Home Savings Bank and trus- tee of the Albany Homeopathic Hospital.

Mr. Fuller has been an active Republican for years, and his political record is as fol- lows : He was Republican candidate for mayor of Albany at a time when the city had gone Democratic for a score of years, and at the . election held April 8, 1890, received 6,316 votes as against his opponent, Hon. James H. Manning's 13.552 votes as the head of the Democratic city ticket. He was elected alder- man of the eleventh ward, April 13, 1886, re- ceiving 713 votes against 616 votes cast for his opponent, Richard Ryan; served two. years, and declined renomination. He was ap- pointed commissioner of public instruction by Mayor Manning in 1893 ; served eight months, and resigned on account of the death of both . his father and brother, whose business de- manded his attention for their families. He was elected city comptroller, November 5, 1901, receiving 12.730 votes against 10,885 votes cast for Charles H. Bissikummer, the . Democratic candidate ; was re-elected Novem- ber 3, 1903, receiving 13,970 votes against 9.777 votes cast for Edmund A. Walsh, his.

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·opponent ; re-elected November 7, 1905, re- eceiving 15,753 votes, against 7,483 cast for Philip J. Henzel, the Democratic candidate; re-elected November 5, 1907, receiving 13,736 votes as against 10,198 votes cast for Edward T. Reed, candidate of the Democratic and Civic League parties ; re-elected November 2, 1909, receiving 15,205 votes as against 8,437 votes cast for Edwin F. Hunting, Demo- cratic and Civic League candidate. The fig- ures speak for themselves, showing a pro- nounced endorsement of his conduct of the office of city comptroller by the people of Al- bany, placing their confidence in him by elect- ing him five times in succession to that office, and by an increase in vote which was the last time nearly double that of all the parties combined against him.

Mr. Fuller married, in Albany, December 5, 1898, Mary Christine Hotaling, widow of his brother, De Witt Allison Fuller, of New Baltimore, New York. Mary Christine Ho- taling was born in New Baltimore, Greene county. New York, May 15, 1849, daughter of Amos and Ann Eliza Hotaling, who were married at Coxsackie, New York, October 30, 1844. Amos Hotaling was born in New Baltimore, March 17, 1815, died there January 24, 1909, and was the son of Garrett and Hester ( Bronk) Hotaling, the latter a daugh- ter of Ephraim and Annetje Knott Bronk, and his ancestors were Peter Bronk and Rachel Van Hoesen, Pieter Bronk and Annetje Bogardus, Peter Bogardus and Wyntje Westbrouck, Rev. Everardus Bo- gardus and Anneke Jans. Ann Eliza Hotaling was born in Coxsackie, New York, September 30, 1822, died in New Baltimore, March 20, 1903, daughter of Henry and Maria (Van- denbergh) Hotaling. Mr. and Mrs. Howard N. Fuller resided, in 1910, at No. 144 State street, Albany, New York. Children of Mrs. Fuller by first marriage: Emma Louise, born November 7, 1868, sce forward; Anna Eliza, November 7, 1868, see forward; Zada Con- stance, October 27, 1872, see forward; Wil- liam Allison, August 2, 1878, see forward.

(X) Emma Louise Fuller was born in New Baltimore, New York, November 7, 1868; married, Albany, New York, June 7, 1893, Charles Henry Douglas, manufacturer of woolen goods at Cohoes and residing in Al- bany. He was born in Albany, March 13. 1868. His father was Charles Henry Douglas, died in Albany, August 29, 1885, being the son of John and Jane Miller ( Mueller) Dong- las. His mother was Sarah Martha Root, who was born in Albany, May 6, 1851, died at Hague, Lake George, New York, August 19, 1907, daughter of Josiah G. and Martha

Washington (Mead) Root. Charles H. Douglas and Sarah M. Root were married at Albany. Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Douglas resided, in 1910, at No. 168 Mohawk street, Cohoes, New York.

(X) Anna Eliza Fuller was born in New Baltimore, New York, November 7, 1868; married, Albany, New York, April 6, 1892, John Ferguson Moore, born in Albany, Au- gust 22, 1867, son of Dr. Levi and Ida Louise (Ferguson ) Moore. Children : Gertrude Ful- ler Moore, born in Albany, March 27, 1893; John Ferguson Moore, born in Albany, Sep- tember 10, 1896. They resided, in 1910, at No. 342 Hudson avenue, Albany, New York. (X) Zada Constance Fuller was born in New Baltimore, New York, October 27, 1872. She married, Albany, October 26, 1898, Fred- erick Foster Ward, of Wilmington, Delaware, born in Jeffersonville, Indiana, November 2, 1871. son of Isaac Foster and Frances Brownell (Avery) Ward. Mr. and Mrs. Frederick F. Ward resided, in 1910, at No. 56 Woodland avenue, New Rochelle, New York.

(X) William Allison Fuller was born in Albany, New York, August 2, 1878. He re- ceived his education at the Albany Academy and Cornell University. He is a member of the Fort Orange Club, of Albany; the St. Elmo Club, of New York City, and of the Delta Phi fraternity. In 1910 he was a me- chanical engineer, residing at No. 144 State street, Albany, New York.

FULLER In the "Mayflower" came Ed- ward Fuller and Dr. Samuel Fuller, December 20, 1620. Ed- ward died in the "first sickness," 1621, leaving a son Samuel, who settled on Cape Cod. Dr. Samuel Fuller was the first physician in the colony. He married (according to Leyden records) (first) Elsie Glasscock; (second) Agnes Carpenter, but his children are by his third wife, Bridget Lee, of Plymouth. She came to Massachusetts on the ship "Ann" in 1623. She was married to Dr. Samuel Ful- ler in Leyden, in 1617. Their first child was born in Leyden, but died soon after their arrival at Plymouth. Dr. Samuel died in 1633, leaving an only son Samuel, and an only daughter Mercy, who married Ralph James. (II) Samuel (2), only son of Dr. Sam- uel (1) and Bridget (Lee) Fuller, was born in 1624, died August 17, 1695. He was a minister of the gospel. His tombstone reads : "Here Lyes ye body of ye Rev. Mr. Samuel Fuller who departed this life Aug. ye 17, 1695, in ye 71st year of his age. He was ye Ist minister of ye Ist church of Christ in

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Middleboro." He was a deacon of the Ply- mouth church, and ordained a minister, De- cember 25, 1694, but he had preached to the Middleboro congregation sixteen years be- fore his ordination. He was a sincere, godly man, and was sincerely lamented by his peo- ple. In the settlement of his estate, found in probate records of Middleboro, book I, page 246, dated October 1, 1695, Elizabeth is mentioned as the widow of Rev. Samuel Fuller; Samuel, as the oldest son; John, as the second son; Isaac, as the youngest, and under age. The daughters mentioned are Mercy, wife of Daniel Cole; Experience, wife of James Wood; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Eaton, and an unmarried daughter Hannah. Elizabeth Fuller, his widow, died at Plympton, Massachusetts, November 11, 1713.

(III) Samuel (3), son of Rev. Samuel (2) and Elizabeth Fuller, was one of the first set- tlers of Plympton, Massachusetts. He mar- ried Mercy, daughter of Benjamin Eaton (I). He died in Plympton, September 6, 1728, in his seventieth year. Children: Nathaniel, born November 14, 1687; Samuel, August 30, 1689; William, died in infancy; Seth, Au- gust 30, 1692; Benjamin, March 7, 1694; Ebenezer, March 24, 1695; Elizabeth, March 30, 1697; John, December 19, 1698; Jabez, June, 1701 ; Mercy, October 3, 1702; James, February 27, 1704.

(IV) It is from one of the sons of Samuel (3) Fuller, of Plympton, that Samuel Fuller, of Schenectady, descends. The records do not follow out the children with sufficient clearness, but the best indications are that he was a son of James, the youngest son, born February 27, 1704.

(V) Samuel (4), grandson of Samuel (3) Fuller, of Plympton, and perhaps son of James Fuller, located in Schenectady as early as De- cember 7, 1763, when he was married to Anna, daughter of William Hall, who was taken prisoner by the French and Indians and carried to France, where he died. Anna Hall was a lincal descendant of the first Ryer Schermerhorn, an original proprietor of Sche- nectady. Samuel Fuller first came to Sche- nectady, March 28, 1758, and was then wholly employed in the King's service at Schenectady, Albany, Stillwater, Fort Edward, Lake George and Niskayuna. He was engaged in the con- struction of boats, wagons, log houses and shelters for the army commanded by Gen- eral Abercrombie. On July 31, 1758, he re- turned to Boston, going from there to Hali- fax, where he arrived February 7, 1759, and continued in the royal service at the navy yard until after the taking of Quebec by General Wolfe in September, 1759, returning

again to Schenectady, where he arrived July, 1761. He was an accomplished architect, and did more than any one man to improve the style of building, and to his skill is to be at- tributed the stately buildings seen through- out the length and breadth of the Mohawk. He built "The Hermitage" in Niskayuna for the retired merchant, John Duncan; the Guy Park mansion, afterward the home of Sir Guy Johnson; the Claas mansion, the abode later of Colonel Daniel Claas, son-in-law of Sir William Johnson. He built the old court house at Johnstown; the dwelling of General Nicholas Herkimer; the Episcopal church in Schenectady (1762), the oldest Episcopal church structure in the state; the John Glen mansion; the Ten Eyck mansion, later the home of Governor Joseph C. Yates; the Dan- iel Campbell mansion, the latter mentioned all in Schenectady, which city owes much to his early architectural skill. During the years from 1761, when he took up his permanent residence in Schenectady, until his death just prior to the revolution, he was constantly em- ployed in construction and architectural work. Children : Jeremiah, sec forward ; Annatjie, born April 8, 1771.

(VI) Jeremiah, only son of Samuel (4) and Anna (Hall) Fuller, was born in Sche- nectady, October 26, 1766. He was a man of high character, strict integrity and great busi- ness energy. He married, January 23, 1790, Mary, daughter of George Kendall. She died November 9, 1860, in her eighty-sixth year. Her husband died June 18, 1839, in his seventy-third year. They were the par- ents of fourteen children, ten sons and four daughters, all of whom reached majority, ex- cept Samuel, the first born, and one daughter Ann. Four of the sons became lawyers ; four physicians, and one only did not have a pro- fessional career : 1. Samuel, died in infancy. 2. William Kendall, born November 29, 1792; graduated at Union College, 1810; studied law, becoming law partner of John B. Yates. He removed to Chittenango, Madison county, New York, where he was justice of the peace, town clerk, postmaster, school trustee, com- missioner of highways and supervisor. In 1823 he was appointed by Governor Yates ad- jutant-general of the state of New York. He was, prior to 1823, district attorney of Madi- son county and judge of the court of common pleas. He was a member of the state as- sembly, 1829-30, twice elected to represent the twenty-third New York district in congress. After his term expired, he retired to private life and the care of his own estate. He never married. 3. Samuel, born April 16, 1795; graduated from Union College ; completed his

James Fuller

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medical studies in the city of New York. He was in the practice of his profession at Chittenango, New York, from 1818 to 1866, when he retired and settled in New York with his family. He died in 1867 in his seventy- third year. 4. Ann, died in infancy. 5. George Kendall, born January 29, 1799; graduated Union College; was general agent and super- intendent of the extensive farming, mercan- tile and manufacturing interests of John B. Yates. He died May 9, 1858, unmarried, the only one of the eight brothers who was not a professional man. 6. Amelia Ann, born March 31, 1801, died October 27, 1871. 7. Ann, born April 21, 1803, died June, 1862. 8. Richard, born October 28, 1804; gradu- ated Union College; studied medicine and practiced at Schenectady. He died May 15, 1837. 9. Edward, born February 15, 1807; graduate Union College ; studied medicine and settled at Chittenango, New York, where he was the partner of his brother, Dr. Sam- uel. He died January 22, 1877. 10. Charles, born April 1, 1809. He was a graduate of Union College, studied law and practiced in Schenectady. II. Henry, born February 2, 1811, died January 6, 1875. He was a gradu- ate of Union College; studied law and prac- ticed in Schenectady. He removed to New York, where he died. 12. James, see forward. 13. Elizabeth, born June 11, 1816. 14. Rob- ert, born February 14, 1822; graduate of Union College ; studied medicine and practiced all his life in Schenectady. He was a skillful and most charitable physician.

(VII) James, son of Jeremiah and Mary (Kendall) Fuller, was born in the Fuller home, corner of Church and Front streets, July 24, 1814. He prepared for the practice of law, was admitted to the bar and became an attorney of note. He was a Democrat and a member of the Reformed church. He mar- ried Maria H. Yates, born in Schenectady at the Yates home, Washington avenue and Union street, and died in that city, April 16, 1896. She was a member of the distinguished Yates family of Schenectady, who are fully recorded in this work. Children: 1. Isaac, died at age of sixty-five years. 2. Mary Kendall, married Joseph Clements, a promi- nent contractor of Schenectady. 3. Rachel, married Charles Lynn, of Schenectady. 4. Richard, died at the age of fifty-eight years. He married Maggie Carley and had a daugh- ter, Hellena. 5. James, see forward.

(VIII) James (2), youngest son of James (1) and Maria H. (Yates) Fuller, was born September 17, 1848, at the old home in Sche- nectady, where he died January 17, 1908. He was educated in the common and high schools

of that city, and read law with his father. He practiced his profession in Schenectady all his life, continuing alone after the death of his father. He was an able and skillful man, was a notary public, and cared for several estates. He stood high in his community, both as an advocate and a citizen. He was a well-known and active Democrat, contributing, in a large degree, to the local successes of his party. He married, January, 1881, Annie M., born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, only child of Hugh and Hannah (Lynch) Boyd. Her- mother died when she was seven days old, and! her father, Hugh Boyd, married (second) Catherine Megill, of the prominent Canadian family, founders and benefactors of Megill University. She was a daughter of Edward, and niece of Charles Megill, both of whom served as mayors of Hamilton. Hugh Boyd was born in Belfast, Ireland, of the aristo- cratic Boyd family of that city. He was of Scotch ancestry, and came to the United States in 1866, after a residence in Canada of several years. He settled in Schenectady in 1866. He and his second wife both died in 1899. By both marriages he had six chil- dren. Children of James and Annie M. (Boyd) Fuller: 1. Hellena E., died at the age of five years. 2. Jane H., born 1896, a student at Holy Name Academy, Albany. Mrs. Fuller survives her husband, and resides in Schenectady.

During the Napoleonic wars a

FULLER Frenchman by name Methey left his native land and settled in Pisen, Germany. He had a wife and chil- dren, the latter born in Germany.

(II) Nicholas Methey was born in Pisen in 1790. He was a blacksmith by trade. He married Catherine - - -, who bore him eight children. In 1849, after having been a widow about four years, she emigrated to the United States with her children, landing in New York City after a voyage of sixty-five days. She finally settled in Albany, with her family, and about 1856 married a second husband, Nicho- las Snyder; they moved to Rochester, New York, where they died. Hitherto she had kept her children together, but after her second marriage the family was broken up and has never since been united. The boys took dif- ferent names, while the identity of the girls was lost in their married names. Each was unknown to the other and in one instance a brother and sister lived near neighbors un- known to each other, they having separated in childhood. Six of the eight children are - here named: I. Henry, left home after his mother's second marriage and assumed the -

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name of Martin; he married, in Schenectady, and left issue. 2. Peter, see forward. 3. Mar- garet, married, and is deceased. 4. Mary, married, and is deceased. 5. Gertrude, mar- ried - Helas, a tailor of Albany ; both de- ceased. 6. Caspar, now a resident of Utica, New York, was the only child that retained the family name, Methey. He married, and has twelve children. The other children died young.

(III) Peter, son of Nicholas and Catherine Methey, was born in the village of Huntine, province of Pisen, Germany, December 25, 1835. He took the name of Fuller, after his mother's second marriage, and has always re- tained it. After his breaking-off of family ties, he never again knew a home un- til he had made one for himself. His mother died before he again saw her, and under his new name he was lost to his brothers and sisters. After first leaving home he found employment on a farm, where he remained until he was twenty years of age. He then went with Jacob Taggart, of Ber- nardsville, Schoharie county, New York, who taught him the trade of miller. He continued milling with Garrett Quackenbush, and be- came thoroughly familiar with all milling pro- cesses then employed. He next operated a mill of his own at Worcester, New York, later .one at Cobleskill and at Central Bridge. About 1865 he settled permanently at Schenectady, and became associated with J. S. Veeder, then proprietor of the old Veeder Schermerhorn Mills. In time he became proprietor of the mills as a tenant, later purchased the mills, which he enlarged and improved. He be- came very prosperous, and besides his mill property invested in unimproved land in now ward ten of Schenectady. His eldest son was admitted a partner and the firm name, Fuller & Son, was well known as a synonym for in- tegrity and quality. In 1908 Mr. Fuller sold his interest to his son and retired from active business life. Wesley J. Fuller, his successor, has still further enlarged the mills, and by the introduction of improved, modern milling ma- chinery and methods, keeps the mill products in the front rank. When Mr. Fuller was a hoy he had but little advantages as to school- ing. He worked for his board for three win- ters and attended school, working nights, mornings and Saturdays, rising at two o'clock in the morning to study his lessons. He worked for four dollars a month in harvest, and thus is, in the fullest sense, a self-made man. Mr. Fuller is a Democrat, a strong advocate of temperance and prohibition. He has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church for thirty years.

He married (first), in Guilderland, Albany county, New York, Margaret J. Quackenbush, who is the mother of all his children. He married (second) Harriet A., daughter of Cassander and Catherine (Smith) Philo, granddaughter of Judge John Philo, who died in Saratoga county, New York, at the age of eighty-eight. Children: I. Menzo R., born in Guilderland; learned the milling business with his father, and since 1898 has been man- ager of a large milling concern at Seymour, Texas, where he married. 2. Mary, died in childhood. 3. Wesley J., born in Schenec- tady, February 2, 1869; he was educated in the public schools, learned the milling busi- ness, was admitted a partner with his father, and in 1908 purchased the mills which he now operates. He is a member of the Reformed church, Alliance Lodge, No. 867, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, a member of the Ex- empt Fireman's Association and an active member of the Volunteer Fire Company of his ward; a Democrat in politics. He mar- ried, in 1890, Nellie J. Howenstein, born 1872. Children : i. Earle, born July 26, 1892; ii. Marguerite, July 7, 1900; iii. Catherine, April 16, 1905. 4. Catherine, died at the age of four years. 5. Lena, married Charles B. Stev- ens, of Schenectady; children: Byron and Marian. 6. Edward D., born in Schenectady, employed in the milling business with his brother, Wesley J. 7. William H., born in Schenectady, blacksmith by trade, married May Flashover; children: Mary, Peter and Virginia. 8. Elizabeth (Belle), born in Sche- nectady, married a Mr. Cosboth. 9. Alfred, died at age of six months.

The family name of Rankin RANKIN may have come from several sources, depending upon the language from which it is derived. If the name in its original form, as first employed by the family, was derived from the Danish word "Rank," it would signify a person of upright character or one of erect bearing, adopted because of the upright carriage of him who first bore this name. If it is of Greek derivation, it would come from "Roinn," a promontory, share or division, and "Ceann," head-the head of the promontory. In all probability Rankin means Kin of Ran, as of Randolph.

(1) William Rankin, born in Stirlingshire, Scotland, May 16, 1745, came to America in early life. For some time he resided at Troy, New York, and also at Charleston, South Carolina. With other loyalists he emi- grated to Shelburne, Nova Scotia, during the American revolution, where he died Septem-

ـال

Peter Filles

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ber 9, 1834. He was twice married. His sec- ond wife, whom he married at Brooklyn, New York, June 4, 1780, was Wilhelmina Payne, a widow, daughter of Dr. Ludowick Dunkle, a native of Holland. He had ten children.

(II) William (2), son of William (1) and Wilhelmina (Payne) Rankin, was born at Shelburne, Nova Scotia. December 22, 1785. He came early in life to Elizabethtown (now Elizabeth), New Jersey, and died December 14, 1869, while attending prayer meeting in Wyckliffe Chapel, Newark, New Jersey, which he had built through his interest in church work. He was a prosperous manu- facturer of Newark, highly respected, and lived at Hill Park, High street, in that city. He received the honorary degree of A.M., Princeton, 1865. He married, at Elizabeth- town, New Jersey, June 18, 1809, Abigail Og- den, born at that place September 7, 1789, died at Newark, New Jersey, December 22, 1876. She was a descendant of John Ogden, the Pilgrim, who was born September 19, 1609, married, May 8, 1637. Jane Bond, and died in 1682. His son, Captain Benjamin Ogden, was born in 1654, married, 1685, Han- nah, daughter of John Woodruff, and died November 20, 1722. Their son, John Ogden, was born in 1689, married, October 27, 1717, Mary, daughter of Jacob Mitchell and Mary Morse. Their son, John Ogden, was born January 14. 1724, married (circa), 1746, Abi- gail, daughter of John and Abigail Clark, and died September 27, 1817. Their son, Andrew Ogden, was born October 10, 1767, died Oc- tober 10, 1836, married Phoebe Collard, De- cember 9, 1788, who was born August 27, 1764, and died October 28, 1847, being the daughter of Isaac Collard and Anne Spinning, a descendant of Humphrey Spinning, one of the Elizabethtown associates. The Collards were Huguenots. Abigail, daughter of An- drew and Phoebe Ogden, married William Rankin.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 35

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 656

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 656