Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 75

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

USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I > Part 75

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change to a copartnership he was one of the fırın.

He was known as a man much concerned in military matters, athletics, business, religion, and advancement of civic affairs, in the strict sense that all these drew his close attention and absorbed his time, yet he ranked none of them ahead of his strong love for an ideal home life. His association with the National Guard extended over a long period and gave him a wide acquaintance with both men and officers both at home and in other cities, for in 1898 he was made colonel and inspector- general of the New York State National Guard. The minutes of the Old Guard of Company A, Albany Zouave Cadets, record the fact that he was "one of its most lovable and best loved members," and that his inti- mates regarded him as being unusually "pub- lic-spirited, genial, genuine, honorable in all things-a thorough gentleman and a good sol- dier."

Possibly he was known best for his ener- getic work as president of the Albany Cham- ber of Commerce, in which effort for the im- provement of the whole city and for the good of all its citizens he took the greatest delight. One can find no more fitting expression or estimate his personal worth more closely than in the words of that body when his activities were over :

"The shadow of a great sorrow is now resting heavily upon this Chamber of Commerce in the sud- den death of its President, Major George P. Hilton. A member of this body since its organization; for three terms its vice-president and twice chosen its president, its success and efficiency are in a large measure owing to his intelligent interest in all its activities and to his splendid executive ability. In the full strength of bodily vigor, with mental powers unimpaired, bearing the multitudinous details of the great civic festival of the Hudson-Fulton Celebra- tion, the success of which in so large a measure de- pended upon his intelligent direction and untiring zeal, the summons came, and the ties of business, social life and family relationship are suddenly sev- ered, while the city pauses in its rejoicings and sor- rowfully pays its silent tribute of respect to one of its foremost citizens. Possessing great executive ability, he gave to this organization in full measure his time and strength, and with infinite patience met its every demand with cheerful and efficient service. Genial and lovable in his personality, and with a cheerful optimism that was unruffled under any stress of work, he found time in the midst of exact- ing duties of the great business interests in which his own fortune and that of his family were largely invested, to give to the performance of civic duties a strength rarely equalled. To his church he freely gave his services as custodian of its finances, and to the financial institutions of our city, upon whose boards of directors he was an efficient member. he gave a measure of personal attention rarely equalled, and yet he found time and abundant opportunity to devote a large measure of his business talent to this organization, in an unselfish love for the city of his birth. He was a man of strict integrity, spotless

reputation, warm-hearted, tender and beneficent, his benefactions many and various."

He was a director of the First National Bank of Albany, and was appreciated by his confreres, who said of him :

"Mr. Hilton was a man of stalwart physique, in the prime of life at the time of his death, surrounded by all that makes life happy, with every prospect of continued success, engaged in public affairs as well as large private enterprises, and in every position which he occupied he was fearless, determined, ag- gressive, and at the same time sagacious, considerate and kind. By birth, education and practice he was a gentleman. Free from ostentation and desire for public applause, he nevertheless was recognized as one of our foremost citizens, occupying positions of honor and trust. A man of wide experience, a mind enriched by travel and reading, an excellent judge of human nature, acquired by years of personal acquain- tance with men of all stations in life, a man of decision and promptitude, he was unusually equipped with that which makes most valuable the managing head of an institution."

Major Hilton was identified with many oth- er important institutions, and was trustee and treasurer of the Corning Foundation of Christian Work in the Episcopal Diocese of Albany; treasurer of the Cathedral of All Saints; trustee of the Albany Medical Col- lege ; director of the National Exchange Bank and of the Schenectady Trust Company ; vice- president of the Albany Trust Company ; tenor soloist of St. Peter's Church under Organist Philip Hale ; and had membership in the Fort Orange, Albany University, Racquet, Camera and Albany Country clubs, the Albany Insti- tute and Historical and Art Society, American Association of Engineers, New York Yacht Club, the Triton Club of Canada, and New York University Club.

His death took place on the eve of the Hud- son-Fulton celebration in Albany, for which he had worked indefatigably and of which he was the moving spirit. It consequently was a shock to the people of Albany, and when lis funeral occurred on October 10, 1909, it was attended by a vast concourse of people in every walk in life, all moved by a feeling of a deep and sincere loss.

Bishop Doane read the following tribute to George Porter Hilton at a meeting of the Chapter of the Cathedral of All Saints, and it was adopted by the Chapter :

"Meeting under the sudden and severe shock of a second sorrow ; meeting to elect one and finding our- selves called upon to elect a second member of the Chapter of the Cathedral of All Saints, those of us who survive make record here of our great personal grief and of our grave and irreparable loss. We have just, in a few and simple words, recorded our loving memory of William Bayard Van Rensselaer, and now the death of George Porter Hilton reopens the old wound. Rich in intelligence and cultivation, with tireless energy of resource, with the reserve force of a young, active, strong physical frame, Mr.

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Hilton early won his way to leadership and dom- inant influence in the affairs of the city. As presi- dent of the Chamber of Commerce, he had the chance of inaugurating and directing many of the public movements along the line of business activity. His dauntless courage when the falling in of the foundations and the following fire wrecked his big business building was simply heroic, and won the victory. With all the tireless activity and constant absorption in public affairs, he had time and taste for other things; for genial companionship, for reading. for the joys and delights of his dear home, and for the outdoor life. He had a genius for friendship and won and held men to him. In all his home relations he was devoted to the older as well as to the present generation. People didn't stop to think of Mr. Hilton's integrity, but only of his individual responsibility in anything he ever undertook to do. As treasurer of both St. Agnes School and of the Cathedral, he was an essential part of all our work here, and the sub- stratum of all his power was his devout, consistent, reverent religious faith. His worship was his delight and his joy in the Cathedral services intense. And so, ready on every hand, he passed instantly from what seemed full-blooded physical life into the life that has in it the fullness of all joy, physical and spiritual. in the power of a perfect, unhampered service."

Major George Porter Hilton married, in Albany, September 14, 1899, Jessie Kenyon Myers, daughter of John G. Myers and Mary Augusta Young. (See Myers). Issue : John Gillespy Myers Hilton, born at Albany, New York, May 11, 1901.

The Myers family of Albany, MYERS New York, is one of the old Dutch line families of the prov- ince of New York, entitling its members to admission in the Holland Society of New York. The progenitor of the family in Amer- ica was Stephanus Myers, or Myer, who came from Holland and settled first in New Amster- dam, now New York City.

(1) Benjamin Myers, a descendant of the progenitor, was born October 21, 1728, and died December 12, 1819. Ile married Leah Osterhoudi, the banns of which marriage were published August 13, 1756. She was the daughter of Teunis Osterhoudt and Catrina Legg. Children: 1. Teunis, born 1756, died November 22, 1831. 2. Christian, born June 5. 1759 : died unmarried. 3. Stephanus, born December 27, 1760, died March, 1841 ; mar- ried Helen Low. 4. Petrus, born November 17. 1762, died March, 1841. 5. Catherine, born April 10, 1769: married David Myer. 6. Annatje (or Anna), born June 23, 1772; married Isaac Vandenberg. 7. Marytje, born May 10, 1775 : married Tjerck Schoonmaker, Sr. 8. Solomon, born October 1, 1786; died unmarried.

(Il) Temis Myers, son of Benjamin My- ers and Lealı Osterhoudt, was born in 1756,

and died November 22, 1831. He resided at Saugerties, New York, where he owned con- siderable property, and on which was a stone house, typical of the colonial period, and bear- ing upon its portal the date of its erection, 1746. This was not far from Mount Marion, in the Catskill mountains, and a beautiful loca- tion for a residence. This house was long and low, with an tinusually steep roof, and was still standing in 1910. He married, in 1781, Cornelia, daughter of John Legg, who resided where in 1910 was the Sheffield place. now Henry Barclay's, Saugerties. Cornelia Legg Myers was an intimate friend of Gov- ernor George Clinton's wife, and when the British proceeded up the Hudson working devastation, she witnessed the burning of Kingston, New York, October 13, 1777. Chil- dren : 1. Benjamin Teunis, born at Plattskill, New York, May 9, 1783, died at Saugerties, January 31, 1869 ; married, Plattskill, Septem- ber 2, 1804, Sarah Snyder. 2. Jane, born Sep- tember 17, 1793. died November, 1872: mar- ried Peter G. Post, born January 19, 1792. 3. Solomon, born July 14. 1798 ; married Eliz- abeth Goodwin.

(III) Benjamin Teunis Myers, son of Teunis Myers and Cornelia Legg, was born at Plattskill, Ulster county, New York, May 9. 1783, and died at Saugerties, New York, Jan- uary 31, 1869. He was originally a farmer on a somewhat large scale, supplying the neighborhood and river towns with the pro- duce from his estate; but in the later years of his life he was able to retire from business cares and all activities in Saugerties, where he lived the greater part of his life. He mar- ried at Plattskill, New York, September 2, 1804, Sarah, only daughter of Johannes Sny- dler and Leah Myer, and granddaughter of Colonel Johannes Snyder, of Ulster county, who was colonel of the First Regiment of Ul- ster, May 1, 1776: also delegate to the pro- vincial congress, member of council of safety, member of assembly, president five terms of board of trustees of Kingston corporation. Sarah Snyder inherited a number of slaves as a portion of her dowry, one of whom, Flora, who taught Mrs. S. M. Taylor to knit, and another was known as "Old Rub." Child : John Benjamin, born at Brabant, New York, February 27, 1806, died at Mentz, New York, February 27, 1861 ; married, at Saugerties, New York. August 12, 1828, Arriet Gillespy (see forward).

(IV) John B. Myers, son of Benjamin Tetinis Myers and Sarah Snyder, was born at Brabant, near Kingston, New York, February 27, 1806, and died in the town of Mentz, near Port Byron, New York, February 27, 1861.

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His birth took place on a farm rented of a Mr. Cockburn, by his father, who soon pur- chased a farm, where the other children were born. lle resided at Mentz most of his life, where he had an extensive farm of his own ; on his death, he was buried in Fort Hill ceme- tery, at Auburn, New York. He married, at Saugerties, New York, August 12, 1828, Ar- riet, daughter of Captain John Gillespy. He had a record as a fighter in the American cause, and was the son of Major John Gilles- py, who engaged in the French and Indian wars, and afterwards was a participant in the revolution as a member of the Fourth Ulster county militia. Captain John Gillespy fought at the head of his company in the war of 1812 against the British. For a time he was sta- tioned on Staten Island. Children: I. Ben- jamin Gillespy. born at Saugerties, New York, August 20, 1820, died at No. 372 Clinton avenue, Albany, March 5, 1901 ; married, Port Byron, New York, November 23, 1858, Mi- nerva Kerns, by whom: Howard Gillespy, born at Port Byron ; Leila Whitney, born at New York, New York .: Lotta Wright, born at New York, New York. 2. John Gillespy. August 4, 1832, died, Albany, December 1, 1901 ; married, Cayuga, New York, August 19, 1857, Mary Augusta Young ( see for- ward ). 3. Sarah, September 21, 1833; resid- ing in Albany in 1910; married, Port Byron, New York, May 28, 1863, Captain David Aus- tin Taylor ; by whom: John Myers, born near Port Byron: Lawrence Hartshorne, born at Camden, New York; Grace Brown, born at Oneida. New York; Ernest Chandler, born at Guineys, Virginia ; Marion Lee, born at Al- bany, New York; Bessie Myers, born at Al- bany. 4. Jason Gillespy, January 25, 1840 ; unmarried. 5. Lavinia, died at Albany, Oc- tober 20, 1885 : buried at Auburn, New York. 6. Elizabeth, born near Port Byron, New York, died young. 7. Selina, married, Auburn, New York, July 10, 1878, S. Henry Atwater , by whom: Winifred Moore, born at Wind- ham, New York: Donald Brown, born at Windham, New York; Reginald Myers, born at Canon City, Colorado.

(V) John Gillespy Myers, son of John Benjamin Myers and Arriet Gillespy, was born in Saugerties, New York, August 4, 1832, and died in Albany, New York, December I. 1901. Until eight years old, he lived with his parents upon their farm in their typical Dutch farmhouse in the shadow of Mount Marion, of the Catskill mountain range. About that time his father picked out better land than the rocky soil of Ulster county, purchasing a tract near Montezuma, Cayuga county, and here his son aided him in agricul-

tural pursuits. When fourteen years of age he returned to Saugerties and began his busi- ness career as a store boy and general clerk for his uncle. P. M. Gillespy. He had been accustomed as a youth to dispose of the fruits grown upon the farm, and he acquired a strong tendency for trade, made keen by his competition with other lads of the neighbor- hood. The connection with the store in a minor capacity simply interested and aroused him to make more rapid progress in something better ; but until he became of age he remained in the employ of his uncle, excepting at such times as he was engaged in study in the little red school house. He was fond of reading and very quick to observe, so he acquired much knowledge even when not in school, and what he learned in this fashion he was suffi- ciently clever to turn to good account later in his life. Even in those days, he had a keen insight into character, a faculty for quick de- cision and rapid action. Those characteristics governed him all through his life.

When twenty-one years old, he became as- sociated with two men in the conduct of a general country store at Port Byron, Cayuga county, New York, but this firm did not last long, and finally he was left in sole possession to dispose of the stock for the benefit of the creditors. He succeeded in carrying this out by means of a trip through the west, and the result was that by his ability every one was paid in full. After this he obtained a position in the large wholesale house of Clapp & Kent, clothing and dry goods merchants, New York City, and was rapidly promoted. At the be- gining of the rebellion he started in business for himself in New York, securing for a loca- tion the corner of Bleecker and Christopher streets, and here made some money. In 1865 he formed a partnership with Mr. William M. Whitney, in Albany, they succeeding the firm of Ubsdell, Pierson & Lenox, in the dry goods business, and the store on North Pearl street was known as "The New York Store." It was by all means the largest of any in Albany, and won a pronounced success. This partner- ship continued five years, when it was dis- solved, each partner continuing the dry goods business by himself, Mr. Myers opening an- other large store at Nos. 39-41 North Pearl street. An incident in its history was a catas- trophe on the morning of August 8, 1905. when during the course of repairs and altera- tions the floors sank, and as a result the hand- some new building was erected immediately upon the same site, which is a leading adorn- ment of the business section of the Capital City. But of far more importance than a beautiful building in showing the character of

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ton. Children : 1. Etta, unmarried; resides in West Fulton, New York. 2. Michael (2), suc- ceeded his father in the business which he still continues; is a practical blacksmith and carriage builder ; he is an active Democrat, has served as town clerk several terms, and is one of the leading citizens of his town; he is a member of the I. O. O. F .; is unmarried. 3. John, died 1903 ; was a farmer ; member of the Baptist church, and a Republican. He married Lottie Zeh, who survives him ( 1910) ; children : Ada, graduate of Oneonta Normal School; now a teacher in the public schools of Yonkers, New York; Nina, resides with her mother ; Erwin Z., now with firm of John G. Myers Company, Albany. 4. James, has been for many years with Hodge Brothers, merchants, of Cobleskill, New York: married Edith Olendorph: child: Ethel. He is member of the Lutheran church, and a Demo- crat. 5. Matthew, died at age of six years. 6. Thomas Edward, see forward. 7. Mary, married Norman L. Spencer, of Richmond- ville, New York: children: Floyd, married Emma Sutphen: Harry, Lena, Una. The members of this family attend the Metho- dist Episcopal church.

(I] ) Thomas Edward, son of Michael and Ann (Welch) Finegan, was born at West Fulton, Schoharie county. New York, Sep- tember 28. 1866. He was educated in the common and high schools of West Fulton and Cooperstown, New York, and was grad- uated from the State Normal College at Al- bany, class of 1889, and received the degree of A. M. from Hamilton College, in 1894, and the degree of Pd. D. from the New York State Normal College in 1900. He chose the profession of law, and read law with E. A. Dox, of Richmondville, completing the re- quired studies and years of service with Charles J. Buchanan, of Albany. He was ad- mitted to the New York bar June, 1894. Pri- or to his college graduation he taught in the public schools. He was principal of the pub- lic school of West Fulton, New York. 1889- 90 ; elected school commissioner for the sec- ond district of Schoharie county and served from January 1, 1891, to December 1, 1892, when he resigned and accepted an appoint- ment from James F. Crooker, state superin- tendent, as supervisor of examinations in the State Department of Public Instruction. He served twelve years, during which period the present system of examination and certifica- tion of teachers in New York state was devel- oped. In December, 1904, he was appointed by State Commissioner Andrew S. Draper to the position of chief of the law division, State Education Department. He served in this po-

sition until October 1, 1908, when he was ap- pointed by Commissioner Draper to be assist- ant commissioner of education, and placed in charge of elementary education, which in- cludes the elementary and normal schools of the state, training schools and training classes, teachers' institutes, and the certification of teachers. He is a member of the board of question revision. Besides the vast amount of labor Mr. Finegan has performed in behalf of the educational system of the state, he is the author of text books principally on legal edu- cational subjects. His principal works are "New York School Law," "Education Code," and "Judicial Decisions of State Superinten- dents and Commissioners of Education," the latter treating of all the important decisions since 1820, when the department of educa- tion was given judicial powers. He stands very high in educational circles, and is a member of state and national associations de- voted to education. lle is a trustee of the New York State Normal College, trustee of the First Presbyterian Church of Albany, trustee of the Albany Exchange Savings Bank, trustee of the Albany Chamber of Commerce, trustee of New York State His- torical Association, charter member of the Aurania Club, and president for the first three years of its existence. He is also a member of the University Club, and of the Indepen- dent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics he is a Democrat. He married, December 10, 1894. Grace E. Browne, of Schenectady. New York, and has a son. Edmund Randolph, born October 22, 1898.

Grace E. (Browne) Finegan is a descen- dant of Wolston Brockway, the first of the name in America as far as known.

(I) Wolston Brockway, the progenitor of the New England family bearing his name, was probably born in some part of England, not far from 1638. In a deposition made by him July 10, 1714, and recorded in Lyme, his age is stated at seventy years or thereabouts, and he stated that he had dwelt in Lyme for fifty years past, but there are indications that both his age and the length of his residence in Lyme were placed too low. He bought land with a house and barn thercon of John Rey- nolds, of Saybrook, Connecticut, Decem- ber 3, 1659, the land being described as "one ye east sid of ye river ouer against he towne of Saybrooke" and the consideration was twenty pounds sterling. The natural inference is that he was of full age when he made this purchase, and that he settled at once in his new home, which would fix the date of his birth about 1638 and make his residence in Lyme cover nearly fifty years in July, 1714.

Very truly yours, hout Finegan

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river, at some distance south of the present His first home in Lyme was probably on Duck village of Lyme, and near Long Island Sound. He was frequently elected to some office in the town, the most important of which was sur- veyor. He owned land at Fantum Moran- tum, near what is now Brockway's ferry, as early as February 1, 1703, at which date he bought forty acres of land of Rev. Moses Noyes, which was already in Brockway's pos- session, but it is not known that he lived there.

He married (first) Hannah Briggs, widow of John Harris, of Boston. She was born at Boston, August 28. 1642, daughter of Wil- liam and Mary Briggs. She died at Lyme. February 6, 1687-88. William Briggs lived most of his life in Boston ; but he purchased land in Lyme, October 27, 1680, of his son- in-law, Wolston Brockway, and sold the same to his son, John Briggs, February 15, 1680-1, "with the frame of a house thereon, stand which I purchased of John Lareby." He re- turned to Boston about 1685. He married a second wife whose name was Hannah, but her maiden name has not been found. He gave his land to his children during his life. Per- haps the latest deed was to his daughter, Han- nah Wade, dated May 16, 1717, giving her certain personal property to take effect on the death of himself and wife. He died not long before November II, 1717, at which date his son Richard Brockway was granted adminis- tration on his estate. He was probably buried in the Duck River cemetery, in the village of old Lyme. Children ; born in Lyme, Connec- ticut : 1. Hannah, born, September 14, 1664, married there, August 23, 1682, Thomas Champion, born at Saybrook, Connecticut, April, 1650, son of Henry and Deborah Cham- pion ; he died at Lyme, in 1705. She married (second) John Wade, and as "my daughter Hannah Wade, of Lyme," received a deed from her father May 16, 1717, conveying to her certain personal property on the death of himself and wife. 2. William, born. July 25, 1666; married there, March 8, 1692-3, Eliza- beth Gregory Wilterton, of Hartford, Connec- ticut, by his will of 1674, gave him a legacy of ten pounds in consideration of which his father deeded land to him in 1709. He set- tled at Brockway's Ferry, in that part of Lyme to which Joshua, son of Uncas, gave the name of Joshuatown, and died there March 29, 1755, in the eighty-ninth ycar of his age, as testified by his gravestone, still legible in the family cemetery at that place. His wife, it is said, was buried by his side, but no stone is there to tell the date. His father deeded land to him at Tantum Morantum. (Joshuatown)

June 8, 1697. On this land he probably set- tled. At the May session, 1724, the general court granted to him, in connection with Wil- liam Pratt, who lived on the west side of Con- necticut river, the right to keep a ferry, still known as Brockway's Ferry. 3. Wolston, of whom further. 4. Mary, born January 16, 1669-70; married Samuel Mott, of Lyme, April 6. 1602, and they had a gift of land from her father, March 27. 1607: her name on town record is written Marah, that being the form which town clerk. Joseph Peck, was in the habit of using for Mary. 5. Bridget, born January 2, 1671-2 ; married 1714, Jona- than Beebe. She died in East Haddam, Con- necticut, April 6, 1758, aged eighty-six years, according to her gravestone. 6. Richard, born September 30, 1673: married, (first) Octo- ber 25. 1697, Rachel She died at Lyme. April 9, 1718. He married (second ) May 5, 1720, Elizabeth Tiffany. He joined the First church in Lyme, October, 1739. 7. Elizabeth. born May 24. 1676: married, about 1701, William Harris, of Lyme, and her father gave land to them January 23, 1705-6. He probably died as early as 1710, and she mar- ried ( second) March, 1711-12, Roger Alger, Sr. "Elizabeth, widow of Roger Alger, late of Lyme, deceased, formerly the wife of Wil- liam Harris, dyed in July in ye yeare 1729." 8. Sarah, born September 23. 1679; married, January 20, 1703. Nathaniel Beckwith ; they were living at East Haddam, November 23, 1704, when her father gave land to his "well beloved son-in-law, Nathaniel Beckwith, of Haddam, of the east side of the river." 9. John ; his father, in deeding his homestead to Richard Brockway, March 13, 1708, provided that Richard should pay fifteen pounds ster- ling to John Brockway on the death of his father. He was probably the son of the first, but possibly of the second wife.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume I, Part 75

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