USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II > Part 12
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(V) Frederick W., son of Truman D. and Elizabethı (Flagler) Cameron, was born in Albany, June 1, 1859. His earliest education was received at the Albany Academy, follow- ing which very complete preparatory course he entered Union College, from which he was graduated A. B., class of 1881, taking highest honors. During these years he devoted par- ticular attention to the sciences, taking extra courses in chemistry, electricity, physics and mechanical arts, with the wise forethought of
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qualifying himself, when he should become a lawyer, with the capacity to handle patent cases advantageously. So in earnest was he, that his vacations were spent studying in law offices. He entered the Albany Law School of Union University, and received his degree of LL.B. in 1882. He was admitted as attor- ney and counsellor of the supreme court in May, 1882. Shortly afterward he formed a partnership with Walter E. Ward, which con- tinued for nearly twenty-five years, after which Mr. Cameron opened a suite of offices in the new building of the First National Bank, at Nos. 35-37 State street, where he was located in 1910. He has always made a distinct specialty of the law of patents, trade- marks and corporations, although he has had many important cases in the state courts and carries on a general law practice. He has been engaged in a large number of very im- portant cases both in this and foreign coun- tries, prosecuting both in Canada and Eng- land, before the privy council of the latter country on appeal from the highest court of Canada. He was appointed United States commissioner in 1892, which office he resigned in 1907. He is a Democrat in his politics. He and his family attend the First Presbyterian Church, of which he is a trustee, a faith he and his ancestors followed ever since their arrival in this country. He is a trustee of Union College; a trustee of the Albany Law School; a trustee of the Chamber of Com- merce; a director of the First National Bank of Albany; a trustee of the Fairview Home for Orphan Children ; a trustee of the Albany City Mission, and of the Homeopathic Hos- pital of Albany, New York. In affairs of his alma mater, he has continued his interest, and has been the president of its Alumni Asso- ciation of Northeastern New York, as well as a member of the board of trustees for several years. Mr. Cameron is also a member of the Fort Orange Club, University Club, Albany Country Club, Burns Club, of The Albany In- stitute and Historical and Art Society, New York State Historical Association, University Club of New York City, the Delta Phi Socie- ty, Jefferson Club, New York State Bar As- sociation, Albany County Bar Association, of the American Bar Association, the Patent Law Association of Washington, D. C., and a mem- ber of Temple Lodge, No. 14, F. and A. M.
He married, in Albany, April 2, 1891, Jeannie Armsby, born in Albany, June 27, 1860, youngest daughter of Hon. Amos Dean, LL.D., and his wife, Eliza Joanna (Davis) Dean. She was educated at the Albany Girls' Academy ; is a member of the Albany Girls' Academy Alumnæ; Mohawk Chapter, D. A.
R .; Albany Country Club, and the Albany In- stitute and Historical and Art Society. Chil- dren, born in Albany, New York : Jeanne Eliz- abeth, January 10, 1893; Josephine Dean, June 7, 1895; Fredericka, June 1, 1898.
The father of Mrs. Frederick W. Cameron was the Hon. Amos Dean, LL.D., and no one in the city of Albany ever gained a higher position of respect and merited popularity than he. Amos Dean was born in Barnard, Ver- mont, January 16, 1803, died in Albany, New York, at his residence, No. 31 Elk street, Jan- uary 26, 1868. His father was Nathaniel Dean and his mother was Rhoda (Hammond) Dean. Like many other prominent lawyers and jurists who found prominence in the state, Amos Dean acquired his early education in the common schools, at which he fitted himself with the idea of teaching. He sup- ported himself while pursuing his academic course preparatory to entering college, and went to Union in 1823, from which he was graduated in 1826. His uncle, Jabez D. Ham- mond, was at this time a distinguished lawyer and writer, in partnership with Judge Alfred Conkling. It was in their office that he began studying law, where he was most diligent and enjoyed the nice distinctions and philosophy of law as a science. To him the study had a fascination, and he was remarkably well prepared when admitted in 1829. During the early years of his practice he was associated with Azor Tabor, then an eminent counsellor. He never assumed to attain celebrity as an advocate before juries, where, in those days, a lawyer usually made his mark in the world at large, by publicity, although he possessed marked abilities as an orator. His amiability of disposition, his natural reserve, his kindly nature, his guilelessness and his overflowing charity repelled him from the theatre of pro- fessional strife and conflict, and he was par- ticularly adapted to the duties of the office and the counsel room. It was there he dis- played fine traits of wisdom, prudence and sa- gacity. Having a character of unimpeachable integrity, he readily won clients, success and fame.
The great benefit he had obtained by his own endeavors to pursue courses of study when young, caused him to appreciate the necessity for furnishing advantages for others, and impelled by this idea he conceived the plan of establishing associations for the men- tal improvement of young men. On Decem- ber 10, 1833, he gathered about him a few of his young friends and expounded to them his project. No sooner was the matter made public than seven hundred and fifty young men enrolled, and on December 13 he was
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elected president of the organization which had assumed the title "Young Men's Asso- ciation for Mutual Improvement in the City of Albany." It was incorporated March 12, 1835, for the purpose of establishing and maintaining a library, reading-room, literary and scientific lectures, and other means of pro- moting both moral and intellectual improve- ment. It continued a debating society many years and acquired a collection of paintings. From this beginning hundreds of kindred in- stitutions have started and have been a bless- ing to the country. Mr. Dean was associated with Doctors March and Armsby in 1833, in establishing the Albany Medical College, which later was to be a department of Union University. From the day of opening until 1859 he was its professor of medical juris- prudence, and when the law department of the University was established, he was appropri- ately chosen one of its professors, in which sphere his talents shone most brightly.
He became even better known as an author, and in that field wielded a wide influence. He took a keen interest in the developing science of phrenology, when little had been done in that line, delivering a series of lectures which were after incorporated in a book and made him known as an authority on that interesting subject. He was, when young, the author of a "Manual of Law," which was of great ser- vice to business men ; but he never lived to see the publication of his chief literary under- taking, "A History of Civilization," which consisted of seven large volumes of about six hundred pages each, printed by Joel Munsell in 1868. His "Philosophy of Human Life" was published by Marsh, Capen, Lyon & Webb, of Boston, in 1839, and "Dean's Lec- tures on Phrenology," by the same house in 1835.
He spoke frequently before public gather- ings on occasions other than his lectures, de- livering the annual address before the Albany Institute in 1833, the annual address before the Senate of Union College, and a eulogy upon the death of Jesse Buel before the State Agricultural Society. His industrious re- search and native ability were abundant rea- son to attract attention to whatever he under- took. For his virtues in private life that emi- nent journalist, Thurlow Weed, spoke in warmly glowing terms on his demise, saying : "herein, if possible, his character was higher and nobler than in any other walk of life. To the qualities which we have described, he united a pleasing address, a quiet demeanor, a generosity of sentiment and an absence of guile that endeared him strongly to the circle of his companionship."
Amos Dean married, June 15, 1842, Eliza Joanna Davis, born at Uxbridge, Massachu- setts, September, 1819, died at Bloomfield, New Jersey, December 3, 1888. Children, born at Albany, New York: I. Amos Ham- mond Dean, June 16, 1843; married Sarah Treadwell, of Albany ; died at Eureka Springs, February 12, 1903. 2. James Armsby Dean, December 11, 1849, died in infancy. 3. Henry Sage Dean, died in infancy. 4. Frederick Au- gustus Dean, married Mary C. Lake, of Indi- ana, November 12, 1894. 5. Josephine Davis Dean, July 14, 1856; married, April 9, 1884, Theodore Palmer, of Newark, New Jersey. 6. Joanna Armsby Dean, June 27, 1860; married, at Albany, April 2, 1891, Frederick W. Cam- eron.
(V) Edward Madison, son of Truman Daniel and Elizabeth (Flagler) Cameron, was born in Albany, New York, October 7, 1864. His education was begun in the public schools of his native city, and in 1880-83 continued at the Albany Boys' Academy. After this preparation he entered Union College, where he received the degrees of A. B. and C. E. in 1887, and the degree of A. M. in 1891. Upon leaving college he became associated with his father in the lumber business in Al- bany, which connection continued from 1887 until 1890, when he succeeded to the business and formed a partnership with Orra G. Hawn the following year. His business led him to take an interest in the manufacture of lumber and iron, and he likewise accomplished consid- erable in real estate. He is a Democrat in politics, but has never sought or occupied an office. He attends the Presbyterian church, and is a member of the Union College Alumni Association and of the Albany Academy Alumni Association, the Delta Phi fraternity, the Engineering Society of Eastern New York, and the Society of the Second War with Great Britain; also is a member of the Sigma Xi Society and of Masters Lodge, F. and A. M. Mr. Cameron married, at Albany, September 14, 1891, Ella, daughter of Wil- liam K. and Susan Maria (Townsend) Sloan. Children : Dorothy Bissell, born May 14, 1893, died May 14, 1893; Truman David, born January 27, 1896; Edward Madison, born November 3, 1897; Sloan, born December 12, 1899, died December 19. 1899; Charles Bis- sell, born October 4, 1901 ; Douglas Sloan, born January 2, 1909. All the children were born in Albany, New York.
The family name of Wil-
WILLIAMS liams is derived from the Belgic "Guild-helm," mean- ing harnessed with gilded helmet; or, as oth-
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ers say, from Welhelm, the shield or defense of many. The Williams Arms: Shield sable, lion rampant argent, armed, and langued gules. Crest : Cock (or moor-cock) natural. Motto: Cognosce occasionem. The family tradition has it that the progenitor of the family in America was a relative of Oliver Cromwell, and he changed his name to Wil- liams, emigrating to this country about the time of the English revolution. At any rate, the place which he settled was called Crom- well, and later Upper Middletown, in Con- necticut, from which line of the several set- tling in various New England states this one descends.
(1) Thomas Williams was born in England, and settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut, be- tween 1645 and 1656. He had a wife named Rebeckalı, whom he married before the latter date. They had a son Jacob.
(II) Jacob, son of Thomas and Rebeckah Williams, was born in Wethersfield, Connecti- cut, March 7, 1664, died September 26, 1712. He married, December 10, 1685, Sarah, born December 1, 1661, daughter of Josiah Gilbert. They had a son David.
(III) David, son of Jacob and Sarah (Gil- bert) Williams, was born in Wethersfield, Connecticut, April 7, 1699, and about 1730 took to himself a wife whose Christian name was Mehitabel. They had a son named Jehiel, of whom further.
(IV) Jehiel, son of David and Mehitabel Williams, was born in Wethersfield, Connecti- cut, February 16, 1733, died June 13, 1810. He married Anne, born in 1735, died Novem- ber 20, 1810, daughter of David Edwards, January 6, 1756. They had a son named Josiah.
(V) Josiah, son of Jehiel and Anne (Ed- wards) Williams, was born in Upper Middle- town, Connecticut, September 15, 1768, died October 14, 1842. He married, September 9, 1795, Charity, born July 24, 1775, died June 14, 1865, daughter of Timothy Shailer, of Haddam, Connecticut. Children: I. Sarah, born in Middletown, Connecticut, July 16, 1796, married Charles Sage; died March 30, 1872. 2. Timothy Shailer, born April 15, 1800; a New York state senator ; died March II, 1849, in Ithaca, New York. 3. Elizabeth, born June 5, 1803; married Edmund Sage; died March 27, 1828, in Cromwell, Connecti- cut. 4. Josiah, born November 20, 1806, died February 21, 1808, in Cromwell, Connecti- cut. 5. Manwell Russell, born November 27, 1808, died April 15, 1840, in Ithaca. 6. Jo- sialı Butler, born December 16, 1810, died Sep- tember 26, 1883, in Ithaca. 7. Jehiel Edwards, born August 14, 1814, died July 26, 1867, in
Ellsworth, Kansas. 8. Chauncey Pratt, see forward.
(VI) Chauncey Pratt, son of Josiah and Charity (Shailer) Williams, was born at Up- per Middletown (Cromwell), Connecticut, March 5, 1817, died May 30, 1894, at Jersey- field Lake, Hamilton county, New York. Mr. Williams spent the last sixty-nine years of his life in Albany and became through his own activities identified with every progressive public movement in that city. He was proud of the rugged character of his ancestor imini- grant from whom, he declared, had sprung a race of hardy, industrious farmers of the rev- olutionary period, reflecting advantageously in himself. That they were of robust constitu- tions and lived longer than the average life is evidenced by the fact that the combined lives of the first five generations in America covered a period of nearly two and a half cen- turies. Although none had become very wealthy, by their industry and frugality they were able to live well and none of them knew want. It is known that they were greatly re- spected as business men of integrity. There are no records which do not reflect credit upon the successive generations. Invariably the earlier branches of this family reared large families, and their children were always well trained.
When Mr. Williams was but sixteen years old he had made such excellent use of the advantages within his reach that he was fitted to take a clerkship in the employ of T. S. Williams & Brothers, who were carrying on an extensive commercial business in Ithaca. He was transferred to the Albany branch of this firm in 1835, where they conducted a large lumber business in Albany's famous "Lumber District," when it was in its greatest business glory, and four years later succeeded to the business with Henry W. Sage as a partner.
It was in banking circles that Mr. Williams made his life record and achieved a standing as the nestor of Albany bankers. He took charge of the Albany Exchange Bank in 1861, when the outlook was disastrous in financial circles, the capital of the institution largely impaired and the duty of upbuilding looked insurmountable. Instead of continuing to dis- solution, 'as was contemplated, he extricated the bank and placed it in the front rank. He succeeded in making it a loan agent of the United States treasury, and throughout the war made his bank a center of distribution for the government loans issued to carry on gi- gantic military operations necessary to save the country. In fact, his bank was regarded as a rallying point of cheer in the darkest
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hours of the Republic. He practised the prin- ciples of sound finance so successfully, that when in 1865 the bank terminated its exis- tence as a state institution to reorganize under the national banking law, it returned not alone all its capital, but upwards of 54 per cent. in surplus earnings, besides paying its regular dividends from the beginning of 1863. Under his wise management, it has repaid to its stockholders in dividends more than one and a half times the amount of its capital beyond accumulating a reserve amounting to about 75 per cent. of the capital. As the president of this bank his reputation became so widely known that he was frequently called upon to address gatherings and his advice on large matters was often sought. He withdrew from this institution in 1887 ; but continued as pres- ident of the Albany Exchange Savings Bank up to the time of his death.
Mr. Williams exerted his great influence against the greenback theory of an unlimited paper issue which threatened to demoralize the currency and degrade the country's credit, speaking on the platform and through the medium of his pen, so that his influence was widely spread to good effect. He gained a reputation by his successful resistance of the illegal taxation of the shareholders of national banks, believing that they were taxed at a greater rate than other monied capital in the hands of citizens. Not desiring to involve his bank in this matter, he took up the fight in- dividually, and bringing the issue to a test in 1874, by refusing to pay the tax on the shares which he owned, so that his household effects were levied upon and sold by the authorities ; but at the end of seven years of litigation the United States supreme court sustained his position.
He was a strong opponent of slavery, and as the treasurer of the Kansas Aid Society founded in Albany in 1854, sent out to Kan- sas one of the first invoices of Sharpe's rifles with which to arm settlers. Although exempt by age, he sent a substitute who fought in the civil war. He had also a political career, broadly interested as he was in affairs of his city, and was elected alderman in 1849. From 1842 to 1857 he was repeatedly the candidate of the Liberal party for congress. He was a founder of the Congregational church of Al- bany, and every good cause found in him a staunch friend. One of the reasons for the success attained by Mr. Williams was his won- derful thoroughness and his determination to stand by his principles. He had a fine con- stitution which enabled him to accomplish a great amount of work without tiring. His love for study as a means of gathering more
knowledge kept him ever young and con- cerned in public mercantile affairs.
Chauncey Pratt Williams married at Whitesboro, New York, September 13, 1842, Martha Andrews, born in Bristol, Connecti- cut, daughter of Reuben and Ruth (Parmelee) Hough, who was living in 1910. Children : I. Alice, born November 3, 1843 ; married (first) James B. Kelley, and some time after his decease, Colonel Timothy Shaler Williams, of New York city, later Huntington, Long Is- land. 2. Ruth Hough, born May 15, 1845, died at Albany, unmarried, March 13, 1877. 3. Frederick Stanley, born October 11, 1847, died September 9, 1870. 4. Anna Martha, born May 7, 1853; married Robert C. Pruyn, of Albany. 5. Chauncey Pratt, see forward.
(VII) Colonel Chauncey Pratt (2), son of Chauncey Pratt (1) and Martha Andrews (Hough) Williams, was born in Albany, De- cember 6, 1860. He was educated at the Al- bany Academy, from which he was graduated in 1879. He then went to Yale, attending the Sheffield scientific department, graduating in 1882 with the degree of Ph. B. He took the course in the Albany Law School of Union University, and on graduating in 1883 re- ceived the degree of LL. B. Thereupon he entered the employ of the National Exchange Bank, where he remained until 1890, when he resigned to become the secretary of the Albany Horsenail Company upon its formation in 1891, which on account of failure of newly invented machinery never put its product on the market. He was appointed financial clerk in the state department of excise in 1896, and in 1899 Governor Roosevelt appointed him assistant adjutant-general of the state, with grade of colonel, which position he filled for over ten years, its duties occupying all his time. His military career commenced in 1884, when he joined the Tenth Battalion, National Guard, New York, as a private. He served in the National Guard in both line and staff, rising through the various grades until he became colonel. On September 8, 1909, upon the recommendation of Major General Roe, commanding the Division, National Guard, he was commissioned adjutant-general of the Di- vision, National Guard, of the grade of lieu- tenant-colonel and placed in charge of the Di- vision headquarters office in Albany. On No- vember 12, 1909, he was brevetted brigadier- general by Governor Hughes. For a number of years he was military instructor of the Al- bany Academy Cadet Battalion. He is a mem- ber of the Founders and Patriots of America, of the Philip Livingston Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution, University and Country clubs. He married, March 9, 1886, Emma,
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born June 6, 1863, daughter of Archibald Mc- Clure, a prominent and wealthy wholesale druggist of Albany, and Elizabeth (Strong) McClure. Children, born in Albany : I. Eliz- abeth McClure, August 1, 1890. 2. Alice, April 11, 1892. 3. Chauncey Pratt, November 9, 1902.
The mother of Colonel Chauncey P. Wil- liams was Martha Andrews Hough, whose an- cestry follows :
(I) Edward Hough, of Westchester, in Cheshire, England, was a kinsman of Dr. John Hough, bishop of Oxford and president of Magdalen College, celebrated for his oppo- sition to the arbitrary proceedings of King James II., to establish the Romish propa- ganda at Oxford. He had a son named Wil- Ìiam.
(II) William, son of Edward Hongh, of Westchester, England, was born in 1619, came to America in 1640, and settled in Gloucester, Massachusetts. He was a selectman of that place, 1649-50. In March, 1651, he removed to New London with Richard Blinman's com- pany. It is shown in the Rev. Simon Brad- street's Journal (New London, Ct.) that he was a deacon and a "solid man," and died of a malignant fever, from which a great num- ber in that colony suffered at the time. His death, August 10, 1683, is recorded as a griev- ons loss to both the church and town. He married, October 28, 1645, Sarah, daughter of Hugh Caulkins, of New London, Connecti- cut. They had a son Samuel.
(III) Samuel, son of William and Sarah (Caulkins) Hough, was born in Saybrook, March 9, 1653; resided in Wallingford, Con- necticnt, and died November 30, 1702. He married, August (April?) 18, 1685, Mary Bates (second wife), baptised March 11, 1666, daughter of James Bates, of Haddam, Con- necticut. They had a son James.
(IV) James, son of Samuel and Mary (Bates) Hough, was born in Saybrook, Con- necticut, December 15, 1688, died October 20, 1740. He married, about 1711, Hannah , iwho died March 4, 1718. They had a son Phineas.
(V) Phineas, son of James and Hannah Hough, was born April 11, 1714, died Septem- ber 2, 1797. He married, January 5, 1737, Hannah Austen. They had a son James.
(VI) James (2), son of Phineas and Han- nah (Austen) Hough, was born July 31, 1743, resided in Meriden, Connecticut, died Septem- ber 14, 1794. He married, in 1782, Martha Andrews (his third wife), who died April 10, 18II. They had a son Reuben.
(VII) Reuben, son of James (2) and Martha (Andrews) Hough, was born June 6,
1787, lived in Meriden, Connecticut, died in Whitesboro, Oneida county, New York, July 9, 1850. He married, January 1, 1812, Ruth Parmelee, born in Bristol, Connecticut, Jan- uary 15, 1788, died in Albany, New York, December 22, 1859. They had a daughter Martha Andrews.
(VIII) Martha Andrews, daughter of Reu- ben and Ruth (Parmelee) Hough, was born in Bristol, Connecticut, February 25, 1824. She married, September 13, 1842, Chauncey Pratt Williams, of Albany, New York. They had a son, Colonel Chauncey P. Williams, who married Emma McClure, as previously stated.
The family name of Farrell, FARRELL like the name Farrar, is traced to two derivations, and may be from "Pfarrer," in German, a minister, or it is considered a corruption of farrier, the name of a trade.
(I) James Farrell was the first of this family line to come to America from Ireland, stopping first in New York City, and then re- moving to Albany, New York, where he set- tled on a farm of some size in the rich country land of Bethlehem township, Albany county. It was a few miles below the Capital City, and on the west bank of the Hudson river. He married Winifred McGoewey, and they had four children. The only son was John Henry, see forward.
(II) John Henry, son of James and Wini- fred (McGoewey) Farrell, was born on the Abbey farm on the west bank of the Hudson, just south of the city of Albany, in Bethle- hem township, September 1, 1839. He re- ceived his education in a private school, and later went to St. Charles' College, Baltimore, Maryland. He was hardly more than a lad, however, when he commenced his association with newspapers, which career was to be so wonderfully successful, even if the result were the outcome of much worriment and requiring great acumen when embarking for himself. In 1855 he entered the employ of the late Luther Tucker, who was both proprietor and editor of The Cultivator and Country Gen- tleman, remaining associated with that publi- cation for fifteen years. During this period he frequently contributed to the columns of The Argus, Express and the Albany Evening Journal, and also at the same time editing the telegraphic matter coming from the front, for in 1863 he had accepted the appointment of editor of telegraph for the Associated Press, which supplied reports to all the Albany pa- pers. Throughout the civil war he found this work much to his liking, and it incidentally
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