Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 59

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

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(VII) Lewis, son of Lilbern Allen and Sa- rah (MacDonald) Cass, was born at Decatur, Otsego county, New York, December 30, 1853. He was educated in the public schools ; Albany State Normal School, class of 1871;

Levi bass

Mis Jeve Cas.

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Colgate Academy, Hamilton, New York, class of 1874; entered Union College in the class of 1878. These years of study were prepara- tory to that of the law. His reading was with Smith, Bancroft & Moak, an eminent legal firm of Albany, and he was admitted to the bar in 1880. In January, 1881, he opened an office, and began the pratice of his profession, which he has continued with marked success to the present time. For years he was as- sociated in practice with the late Judge Clute, county judge of Albany county. He is a law- yer of high standing, well versed in the law, a wise and safe counselor. He has had a leading connection with many of the most im- portant cases before the different courts of the city, county and state, notably the "Trum- bull will case" in Albany county, and The Peo- ple c.r rel. vs. The Hudson & Manhattan Rail- road Company. He was assigned by Attorney General Jackson (a Democrat) to represent the state board of tax commissioners, and his services were so satisfactory that he was re- tained by the Republican attorney general, Mr. O'Malley ; the sum at issue was $6,900,- 000, and many intricate questions of law were involved. Mr. Cass was attorney for the state dairy commission, and for seven years for the agricultural commission of the state, also for the State Veterinary Medical Society. He has labored industriously and efficiently for municipal improvements, and advocated the construction of Beaver Park in Albany as much needed improvement on the South Side. He is a well known public speaker and lec- turer, and has been much in demand on both platform and stump. His early farm life im- planted in him a love of the beauties and won- ders of nature, which still abides, and is mani- fested in his interest in flowers and their cul- ture. His carefully selected library shows his wide range of reading, and explains his versa- tility of mind and familiar acquaintance with the world's choicest literature. A lifelong Democrat and keenly alive to his re- sponsibilities as a citizen, his services as a speaker have been of great value to his party, are in frequent demand, and cheerfully rendered. He is a member of the Emmanuel Baptist Church of Al- bany, a Knight of Pythias, and a Knight of Malta. He married, February 3, 1886, Kate, daughter of Judge Judson S. and Emily (Pierce) Landon, of Schenectady, New York. (See Landon.) Children: 1. Frances Lan- don, born August 20, 1890, died December 7, 1894. 2. Helen Landon, born December 20, 1897. 3. Allan Landon, born November 7, 1900.

(VI) Levi (2), son of Levi (1) and Mar-

tha (Shaw) Cass, was born in Decatur, Ot- sego county, New York, February 1, 1828. He received his early education in the public schools of Decatur, his academic course in the Cherry Valley Academy, and prepared at the Albany State Normal School for what was to be his life work. He devoted his en- tire life to the training of the young, and as an earnest and faithful educator will forever live in the educational history of Albany, and in the hearts and lives of the thousands who have passed through the schools over which he presided. His professional career began in the schools of LaGrange, New York, suc- ceeded by three efficient years as an instructor in the Albany Academy. His reputation was greatly overstepping local bounds, and he next accepted a call from Jamesville, Wisconsin, where he was made superintendent of schools and principal of the high school. He effected an entire reorganization of the schools, and placed them upon a more effective basis than ever before known. In 1861 he returned to Albany and was for seven years principal and proprietor of the State Street high school. In 1868 he began his work in the public schools of Albany that was to continue without in- terruption for the remarkable period of forty years. Three years were spent as principal of Public School No. 2. In 1872 he was placed in charge of School No. 15, then and for many years thereafter the largest and most import- ant of the city's preparatory schools. Here his peculiar talents had ample scope, and in the thirty-eight years of his service as its head, its standard of excellence was steadily advanced. His skill in organization was won- derful, and his faculty of imparting to his as- sociate teachers his own earnestness and en- thusiasmn was constantly displayed, while his power of control over children was equally re- markable. He kept in close touch with mod- ern progress in educational methods, and in every way strove to increase the usefulness of the school. Teaching was with him a life work, his chosen profession, not merely a stepping stone to another. His sole ambition was to be a good teacher, and to make No. 15 a model public school. On his retirement from active work on May 8, 1908. it could be truthfully said that he had fully realized both these ambitions. His relations with his assist- ants, his contemporaries of other schools, and his neighbors, were most cordial and happy. He was widely known in the educational world at large through his membership in the various educational associations and through the educational press. He labored and spoke for the cause of education, and accomplished great and lasting good not revealed by school

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reports. In 1873 Hamilton College conferred upon him the degree of Master of Arts. Pro- fessor Cass is a member of the First Metho- dist Church, Albany, and in politics is a Re- publican. He married, April 20, 1853, Cath- erine E., born February 28, 1826, died Janu- ary 12, 1899, daughter of Leonard L. and Elizabeth Pells. To them was born one child, Herbert Page Cass, October 4. 1859, died No- vember 3, 1870. Since his retirement from his profession, Professor Cass has continued his residence in Albany, New York.

(VI) Amos Alden. son of Levi (I) and Martha (Shaw) Cass, was born in Decatur, Otsego county. New York, March 10, 1830. He received his early education in the public schools of Decatur, his academic course at Charlotteville Academy. He entered upon his life work at West Troy, New York, and such was his success that in two years he was called as instructor in the Albany Boys' Acad- emy, where he taught for a number of years. He afterwards was owner and principal of the Grand Street Institute and Division Street Academy, private schools. He possessed in unusual degree the ability to gain the confi- dence and love of his pupils. Among the graduates of his school may be found the lead- ing men of the city in the professions, in busi- ness life and in politics. Failing health obliged him to discontinue indoor life, and he retired to his fruit farm on the banks of the Hudson river, where he died February, 1901. He married Matilda M. Lansing, who bore him a daughter, Martha J., who became the wife of Arthur J. Johnson.

YATES The American ancestor of Judge Austin A. Yates is Joseph Yates, an English soldier, who came over with Colonel Nichols, commander of the English forces to whom Stuyvesant, the Dutch director general of New Amsterdam, was compelled to surrender. The family is an old and honored one in England, and Joseph is the progenitor of a numerous race, yet sur- viving in Albany, Montgomery and Schenec- tady counties and from thence scattered all over the United States. Joseph Yates appears in Albany in 1664, died there in 1730. He was in receipt of a pension as a soldier of the King and seems to have been purveyor of Fort Orange, as he makes a most earnest plea for pay for his wood furnished to Fort Orange. He married Hubertje Marselis, bur- ied July 13, 1730, daughter of Marselis Janse Van Bommel. In 1693 he had seven children living and in 1713 lived on the east corner of Green and Beaver streets, Albany. Hc was buried July 13, 1730. Children baptized

in Albany: 1. Christoffel, of further mention. 2. Robert, born November 4, 1688, settled in Schenectady in 1711; he was a merchant and owned a tan yard; he married, February 15, 1712, Margaret, daughter of Claas DeGraff; his descendants became famous in the revolu- tionary war and after history of New York, one, John Van Ness Yates, being secretary of state from 1818 to 1826. 3. Selia, baptized May 7, 1693. 4. Joseph, born March 17, 1695, married Hedrikje Hooghkeck, May 28, 1719; buried in Albany, January 19, 1750. 5. Sara, born March 6, 1698. 6. Abraham, born March I, 1704: married Hester Drinkwater in New York, September 10, 1726.

(II) Christoffel, eldest son of Joseph and Hubertje M. (Van Bommel) Yates, was bap- tized in Albany, April 16, 1684, buried Feb- ruary 26, 1754. He married, July 12, 1706, Cataleyntje Winne. Children baptized in Al- bany: I. Joseph, of further mention. 2. Adam, baptized August 15, 1708; married, June 2, 1733, Anna Gerritse. 3. Catalina, bap- tized October 7, 1711. 4. Catalyna, baptized October 19, 1712. 5. Hubertje, baptized No- vember 7, 1714. 6. Johannes, baptized Octo- ber 14, 1716; married, November 28, 1737, Rebecca Waldron. 7. Anneke, baptized Octo- ber 5, 1718. 8. Maria, baptized April 29, 1722. 9. Abraham, baptized August 23, 1724, died June 30, 1796, he was mayor of Albany, appointed by Governor George Clinton and served from 1790 to 1796; was sheriff of Al- bany county from 1754 to 1755; deputy to provincial convention, New York, 1775 ; presi- dent pro tem of first provincial congress, 1775; deputy to second and third provincial con- gresses ; member of council of appointment in 1777 and council of safety from 1777 to 1778, state senator, first to thirteenth sessions in- clusive. 1777 to 1792 : city receiver from 1778 to 1779 ; first postmaster of Albany, 1783, and delegate to continental congress, 1781 to 1788. He married Antje De Redder. He is buried in Albany Rural cemetery. 10. Peter, bap- tized January 8. 1727 ; married Sarah Van Alsteyn.

(III) Joseph (2), eldest son of Christoffel and Cataleyntje (Winne) Yates, was baptized in Albany, April 20, 1707, and about 1734 set- tled in Schenectady, where he owned a planta- tion reaching from Aesplaus creek to Free- mans bridge, and was the largest slave own- er in the county. He married, January 17, 1730. Eva, daughter of Jellis Fonda. Chil- dren: I. Catalyna, baptized January 17, 1731, in Albany ; married Cornelis Peek. 2. Rachel, baptized May 7, 1733, in Albany ; married Cornelis Barheit. 3. Huybertje, baptized June 15, 1735 ; married Samuel S. Bratt. 4. Chris-

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tophier (colonel), of further mention. 5. Ta- rineke, baptized April 29, 1739; married Col- onel Cornelis Van Dyck. 6. Eva, baptized October 4, 1741 ; married Johannes H. Peek (2). 7. Gillis (Jellis), baptized April 22, 1744; married Ariantje Bratt, March 16, 1768. 8. Annatje, baptized October 5, 1746.

(IV) Christopher, commonly called "Col- onel Stoeffel," eldest son of Joseph (2) and Eva (Fonda) Yates, was born July 8, 1737. He was a surveyor by profession, served as captain under Sir William Johnson and was wounded, was lieutenant-colonel of Second Regiment, New York troops. under Colonel Abraham Wemple, was detached as assistant- deputy-quartermaster-general under General Philip Schuyler and as a member of his staff with him at Saratoga, when Gates took com- mand, and "one of the best informed and most efficient patriots of the Mohawk Val- ley." He was a member of the provincial congress of the committee of public safety and of the first board of state regents. He married, October 16, 1760, Jannetje, daughter of Andries Bratt. Children : I. Eva, bap- tized February 14, 1762. 2. Elisabeth, bap- tized May 7, 1763 ; married Jillis Fonda. 3. Eva, baptized January 13, 1764 : married Wil- liam Johnson Butler, of Niagara. 4. Helena, baptized November 16, 1766; married Colonel / McDonald, of the British army. 5. Joseph, born November 9, 1768, died March 19, 1837, full of honors and with a state wide reputa- tion for industry and integrity ; he was an at- torney-at-law with an extensive practice ; was the first mayor of Schenectady, a state sena- tor in 1807, judge of the supreme court in 1808 and governor of New York from 1823 to 1824; he married (first) September 30, 1791, Ann, widow of James Ellice ; (second) Maria, daughter of John Kane, of Schenectady ; (third) Elizabeth, daughter of John De Lan- cey, of Westchester county. He had no male issue but daughters, Helen Maria, married John Keyes Paize; Anna Alida, married John D. Watkins, of the state of Georgia; Jane Josepha, married Samuel Neil, of New York. 6. Henderieus (Henry), born October 7, 1770, died in Albany, March 20, 1854; he was an attorney-at-law, several times state senator, member of the council of appointment; he married, October 24, 1791, Catharine, daugh- ter of Johannes Mynderse; she died in New York, September 28, 1841, aged sixty-nine years. Children : Henry Christopher, Edward, Stephen, Charles, all graduates of Union Col- lege, and Mary and Jane Anne. 7. Anreas (Andrew), of further mention. 8. Annatje, baptized March 12, 1775, died April 17, 1851, unmarried. 9. Catarina, baptized October 12,

1777. 10. Jillis, baptized February 1, 1784. II. Johannes (John), baptized February I, 1784; was a graduate of Union College (1802), lawyer, captain of a company of horse artillery in war of 1812, aide-de-camp on staff of Governor Tompkins, member of fourteenth congress, 1815 to 1816, from Schenectady district ; he settled in and practiced law at Uti- ca, New York, and later at Chittenango, and was appointed by Governor Tompkins sales manager of the "Literature Lotteries" of the state of New York, and removed to New York City, remaining until 1825, when he returned to Chittenango where he owned two thousand acres of land, with flour mills, saw mills, lime and plaster mills, woollen fac- tory, dry dock and yards for building and re- pairing boats, polytechnic school and many residences and buildings. He was deeply in- terested in the building of the Welland canal and by a large investment and his great per- sonal influence and exertions carried it into successful operation. In this he was largely aided in England by the Duke of Wellington. He was an early and devoted friend of the Erie canal and all enterprises devoted to pub- lic purposes. He served for many years as county judge of Madison county, and at his death was judge and member of the New York assembly.

(V) Rev. Andrew, son of Colonel Christo- pher and Jannetje (Bratt) Yates, was born January 17, 1773, died at Day, Saratoga county, New York, October 14, 1844. He was highly educated and continued the pro- fession of an educator with that of the min- istry, being a man of much study and lit- erary attainments. He was a minister of the Dutch Reformed church, possessed of eminent piety and a true friend of feeble church or- ganizations. Without great sensational elo- quence he was a sound divine and preached with great power. He was a graduate of Yale College (1793) and studied theology under Professor John H. Livingston, D.D.S.T. He was Professor of Latin and Greek in Union College from 1797 to 1801, and pastor of the East Hartford Congrega- tional Church from 1801 to 1814. Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy in Union College from 1814 to 1825, and principal of the Polytechnic in Chittenango from 1825 to 1836. He married (first) Mary Austin ; (sec- ond) Hannah A. Hocker, who died October 22, 1859, aged seventy-six years. Children of first wife: 1. Christopher, born August 3, 1798, died young. 2. John Austin, of further mention. 3. Andrew J., graduate of Union College, died August 8, 1856. Children of second wife : 4. James Hooper, born October

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9; 1815, graduate of Union College, died 1861. 5. Christopher, February 12, 1818. 6. Helena, September 1, 1819. 7. Joseph, May 20, 1821. 8. Ann Elizabeth, baptized August 18, 1822.

(VI) John Austin, son of Rev. Andrew and Mary (Austin) Yates, was born May 31, 1801, died August 27, 1849. He was a graduate of Union College, class of 1821, and from 1823 until the time of his death was pro- fessor of Oriental Literature in that institu- tion. He was a man of fine qualities and a noted orator. He married Henrietta Cobb. Children : 1. Mary A., married John De Lan- cey Watkins. 2. John B., born 1834, died October 13, 1899; colonel of First Michigan Engineers under General William T. Sherman. superintendent of railroads in Ten- nessee under President Andrew Johnson, and division engineer of New York state canals. 3. Austin A., of further mention. 4. Arthur R., born October 20. 1838, died November 4, 1891, within a short time of being raised a rear ad- miral and aide to Admiral Farragut, and by him favorably mentioned in his report; as a result he received the thanks of congress for delivering messages to the admiral : he was a captain in the United States navy.

(VII) Judge Austin A. Yates, son of Pro- fessor John Austin and Henrietta (Cobb) Yates, was born in Schenectady. New York, March 24. 1836. After a preparatory educa- tion he entered Union College, and was grad- uated from that historic institution, class of 1854, with the degree of A.B. He embraced the profession of law and after thorough prep- aration was admitted to the bar in 1857. He at once began the practice of his profession in Schenectady and has since continued except when engaged in public duty. For a time he was editor of the Schenectady Daily News. During the civil war he raised and commanded a company, and at the close of the war was breveted major for "gallant and meritorius conduct." He was in command of the com- pany upon whom devolved the duty of hang- ing the assassins engaged in the plot to mitr- der President Lincoln and his principal cabi- net officers. This company was Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, United States Volun- teer Reserves. In 1867 Major Yates was elected district attorney of Schenectady county and re-elected in 1871, but resigned in 1873 after his election to the office of county judge. In 1879 he received the appointment of attorney to the insurance department by the state superintendent of insurance. In 1887 and 1889 he was a member of the New York house of assembly. When the war with Spain was beginning Major Yates went to the front with the second Regiment, New York

Volunteer Infantry, serving until the regiment was mustered out. In 1900 he retired from office upon his own application. He is learned in the law and stands high in the estimation of his brethren of the bar. Different state departments have retained him as attorney in important cases, while as county judge he re- ceived high commendation. He is well-known as a strong writer and speaker, a close stu- dent of history, and has written much of the early days and is the author of a "History of Schenectady" (1902). He is now living a practically retired life in Schenectady.

The Hopkins family of Cat- HOPKINS skill, New York, descend from Stephen Hopkins, of

Coventry, England. "Stephen Hopkins and Elizabeth, his wife, and two children called, Giles (Gyles) and Constanta, a daughter, both by a former wife, and two more by this wife, called Damaris and Oceanus, (the last was. born at sea) and two servants, Edward Doty and Edward Lister." Stephen had made pre- vious voyages and suffered shipwreck. He was always fond of the sea and of adven- ture. After the landing at Plymouth he was of the first company sent out to explore and report. He always held a leading position in the colony. filling important public office. He did not bend easily to the harsh rulings of the Puritans and was several times before the court charged with trifling offenses. He was thrifty and seems to have prospered. The first wife of Stephen is unknown. His second wife was Elizabeth Fisher. There will al- ways be discussion over the parentage of John Hopkins, of Hartford, whether or not he was the son of Stephen. The line of descent here followed is that of Giles, eldest son of the unknown mother. The office holding of Ste- phen Hopkins was continuous. He was a member of the governor's council from Ply- mouth, 1623-24-25-26. In 1637 he was one of the volunteers in aid of Massachusetts Bay Colony and Connecticut with their war with the Pequots, and in 1642 was chosen to the council of war from Plymouth. His chil- dren: I. Giles, (q. v.) 2. Constance (Con- stanta), only daughter of first wife, born in England, came with her father in the "May- flower": married, in 1627. Nicholas Snow, one of the founders of Eastham, Massachusetts, who came over in the "Ann." Children of second wife: 3. Damaris, born in England, married, in 1646. Jacob, son of Francis Cook, of the "Mayflower"; she died after 1666. 4. Oceanus, born at sca on board the "May- flower" about October. 1620, died before 1627. 5. Deborah, the first child of her parents born

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at Plymouth, 1622, married, in 1646, Andrew King, of Plymouth. 6. Caleb, born in Ply- mouth ; bore arms in 1633 and following his father's instructions followed the sea, died at Barbadoes, probably unmarried; he was the executor of his father's will ; his mother's in- fluence probably securing his preference over Stephen's first born, Giles. 7. Ruth. 8. Eliza- beth. Stephen Hopkins died in 1644, Eliza- beth, his wife, between 1640 and 1644.

(II) Giles, son of Stephen Hopkins and his first wife, was born in England, died at Eastham, Massachusetts, about 1690. He came with his father in the "Mayflower" and his first home was with them at Plymouth. He then removed to Mattachuse. In 1642 he was the surveyor of Yarmouth, and until 1662 a surveyor of Yarmouth and Eastham. In 1655 he was one of the list of freemen of Eastham. He married, October 9, 1639, Cath- erine, daughter of Gabriel Whielden. Chil- dren : Mary, born 1640; Stephen, September 1642 ; John, born and died 1643 ; Abigail, born October, 1644, married, May 23, 1661, Wil- liam Merrick; Deborah, June, 1648; Caleb, January, 1651, of whom further ; Ruth, June, 1653; Joshua, June, 1657: William, January 9, 1661 ; Eliza, 1664, died young. The last six children were all born at Eastham.

(III) Caleb, son of Giles and Catherine (Whelden) Hopkins, was born at Eastham, Massachusetts, removed to Truso, where he died in 1728. He married and had children : Caleb, Nathaniel, Thomas, Thankful.

(IV) Caleb (2), son of Caleb (I) Hopkins, removed to Middletown, Connecticut, where he married and probably died.

(V) James, son of Caleb (2) Hopkins, was born in 1736. He resided at Middletown, Connecticut, where his children were born. He married Mehitable Freeman, of the Cape Cod family of that name. Children: Free- man, Mehitable, Caleb, James, Samuel.

(VI) Caleb (3), son of James and Mehit- able (Freeman) Hopkins, was born at Mid- dletown, Connecticut, died at Catskill, New York, in 1852. He was educated in the schools of Middletown, Connecticut, and at an early age removed to New York City and for many years was engaged in the iron busi- ness with Pierson & Company. "In 1830, ow- ing to failing health, he settled in Catskill, New York, where he lived the life of a re- tired country gentleman until his death. He married Keturah, born in Saybrook, Connec- ticut. daughter of Hyland Hill. Children : Charles, deceased : Mary, married W. H. Van Orden, of Catskill; Louise, married J. A. Cook, of Catskill; John, Henry, Francis, James, Jane Vernon', Frederick, Josephine.

Keturah (Hill) Hopkins was a granddaughter of Peleg Hill, born at Saybrook, resided in Essex county, New York. He married and had children: Hyland, of whom further ; James, removed to Vermont; Peleg (2), re- moved to Vermont; Sarah, married

Bishop, of Guilford, Connecticut ; Annie, mar- ried Timothy Lee, of Williston, Vermont. Hy- land, son of Peleg Hill, removed to Catskill, Greene county, New York. He married Ke- turah Waterhouse, and Keturah, their daugh- ter, married Caleb (3) Hopkins.

(VII) Henry, son of Caleb (3) and Ke- turah (Hill) Hopkins, was born in New York City, October 22, 1820, died October 3, 1873, at Catskill. He was educated at Catskill and Albany, New York, private schools. His en- tire business life was spent in the iron trade. He married, April 16, 1857, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel M. Cornell, of New York City. Children : Samuel Cornell, of further mention ; Emmeline Cornell, born November 26, 1859, married Herman Livingston ; Henry Caleb, December 11, 1862, died at Ridgefield, Connecticut, September 8, 1908; Charles Ver- non, of whom further.

(VIII) Samuel Cornell, son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth (Cornell) Hopkins, was born in New York City, February 19, 1858. He was educated at St. Paul's school, Concord, New Hampshire, entered Yale University, where he was graduated in class of 1882. His residence is at Catskill, New York, where his life has been passed. He is a director of the Catskill National Bank. He married, Au- gust 21, 1897, Mary Howland, daughter of John Howland and Caroline (Hyatt) Pell (see Pell X). Children : Samuel Cornell, Jr., born October 21, 1899; Howland Pell, Octo- ber 11, 1906.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 59

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