Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 42

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866- ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 716


USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II > Part 42


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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and was appointed pastor of the church at Chestertown, New York, and is now (1910) a student at Albany Law School. They have a daughter, Marguerite Swain Donnan, born March 4, 1906.


(2) Mary Anna, born in 1824, was edu- cated in private schools. She married (first) Cyrus Canfield, of Arlington, Vermont, born in 1823, died in California, 1853. He was a lawyer, just beginning a career full of the brightest promise when he died. She married (second) Henry Phillips, who died in 1873 (see Phillips). Mrs. Phillips survives her hus- band and resides in her beautiful home in Schenectady, New York, where she is sur- rounded by all the evidences of wealth and culture. Now in her eighty-sixth year and deprived of her sight, she is cheerful and con- tented, enjoying a quiet life with a devoted companion and trusted agent. She is active, strong and alert in mind and body, liberal and charitable ; a member of St. George's Episco- pal Church and interested in all good causes. She maintains a lively interest in current events and is beloved of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. She has no chil- dren.


(3) Earl S., born December 3, 1826. In 1849 he joined the rush of gold seekers who went to California. He was one of the suc- cessful ones and is one of the influential wealthy men of that state. His home is in Drytown, where he has large mining and other interests. He is unmarried.


(4) Reuben, born March 18, 1829, died unmarried.


(5) Sarah Cady, born October 15, 1837, died 1869; she married William McAuley, of Vermont, and left two children: Zadoc B. and Anna E.


The American ancestor of the


HEATH Heath family of Amsterdam, New York, was Bartholomew Heath, of Haverhill, Massachusetts, who set- tled there prior to 1645. He was of English birth and ancestry, although there is no defi- nite record of the date of his arrival or the place from which he came. He most likely ar- rived in America with other members of the family and was temporarily located in some of the smallest settlements, where there were no early records kept until 1645, when he appears in Haverhill. Elder Isaac Heath. of Roxbury, came in the ship "Hope- well," 1635. His brother, William, of Roxbury, came from London in the ship "Lion," 1632, with wife Mary and five chil- dren. There is no evidence that he was rela- ted to these men, but the probability is that


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he was. Bartholomew had a brother, John Heath, who left bequests to the children of his brother, but named in his will no family of his own. He was also of Haverhill. This branch of the family migrated to New Hamp- shire, where they are of frequent mention. In the town of Hampstead, they were both numerous and prominent. The revolutionary rolls of New Hampshire bear the names of twenty-three Heaths who served in the con- tinental army, and they are particularly no- ticed as being present at noted battles. (See vol xvi N. H. State papers, vol iii. Rev. Rolls Index, p. 797.)


(I) Bartholomew Heath, of Haverhill, Mas- sachusetts, styled a "yeoman," was born about 1615, died January 14, 1681. He settled in Haverhill about 1645. He is the first of the line under consideration and the emigrant an- cestor. The family remained in Haverhill until the migration to New Hampshire of John, grandson of Bartholomew, "the found- er." Bartholomew Heath married Hannah, daughter of Joseph Noyce, "the emigrant." She died July 19, 1677. Children : I. John, see forward. 2. Joseph, married Mary Dow. 3. Joshua, died in infancy. 4. Hannah, died in infancy. 5. Josiah, married Mary Davis. 6. Elizabeth, died in infancy. 7. Benjamin, died in infancy. 8. Elizabeth, died in infancy.


(II) John, son of Bartholomew and Han- nah (Noyce) Heath, was born August 15, 1643, died in Hampton, Massachusetts, Sep- tember 21, 1706. He married, November 14, 1666, in Haverhill, Sarah, daughter of Wil- liam Partridge, American emigrant. She died July, 1718. Children: I. Bartholomew (2), killed by Indians, August 4, 1704; married Mary Bradley. 2. Sarah, died in infancy. 3. Elizabeth, died at age of thirteen. 4. Hannah, married Joseph Bradley. 5. John, see forward. 6. Martha, born November 30, 1677. 7. Ne- hemiah, a sea captain ; married (first) Mary Grove, (second) Joanna Dow. 8. Rachel, mar- ried Samuel Stevens. 9. Ann, born June 30, 1684. 10. Sarah, April 22, 1688.


(III) John (2), son of John (1) and Sa- rah (Partridge) Heath, was born March 4, 1674-75. Some time after his marriage he removed to New Hampshire, where he settled in Hampstead, and died. His widow survived him. He married, January 12, 1696-97, at Haverhill, Frances Hutchins, and had issue: I. Bartholomew, see forward. 2. Mary, mar- ried Joseph Guile ; she joined the Hampstead church in 1752, and in December, 1753, it was voted "that ye widow Mary Gile be de- barred from communion for being confederate with her daughter in ye affairs of James Stickney in the eloping and carrying off of


ye daughter of ye widow Mary Gile." 3. Sa- rah, married and went to Dunbarton. 4. Eli- jah, (commonly called Joshua) married Han- nah Dearborn. There were other children, numbering ten in all.


(IV) Bartholomew (2), son of John (2) and Frances (Hutchens) Heath, was born in 1709, in Haverhill, Massachusetts. He moved to New Hampshire, where he was one of the pioneer settlers of Hampstead, and served in the French and Indian wars. He married Hannah, born in Amesbury, Mas- sachusetts, October 12, 1726, daughter of Richard and Hannah (Bartlett) Kelly, of "Birch Meadow." They were the parents of twelve children. One of them, Jesse, was a revolutionary soldier, as was Richard, his brother, see forward. Anne, the eighth child, married Joseph Colby, and one of their chil- dren was Anthony Colby, governor of New Hampshire. Bartholomew was a member of the "Church of Christ," Hampstead, where three of his children, Mary, Judith and Rich- ard, were baptized. His seat in the meeting house was "east of the aisle facing the pul- pit," directly back of the seats of the select- men. Other children were: Molly, married Moses Stevens; Elizabeth, married Richard Goodwin; Nehemiah, married Abiah Kelly. There were three other children who probably died young. The order of birth cannot be given, but they seem to have all been born between the years 1745 and 1770, although there may have been earlier births. Richard Kelly, father of Hannah Kelly Heath, was an extensive farmer and shoemaker of Haver- hill. During a large part of his life he made notes of "passing events" that have provided local historians with a great deal of useful information, nowhere else obtainable. His wife, Hannah Bartlett, was a woman of very strong will and wonderful powers of physical endurance. Her pastor in Haverhill made some pointed remarks concerning her treat- ment of a slave, Reuben, that displeased her, and she left his congregation, going to the Presbyterian church at Newburyport, where she would walk every Sunday no matter what the weather, a distance of ten miles, and if she could find a sick person would watch all the night, walk home and do the family wash Monday morning. Once her husband built a stone walk where she did not want it, and she tore it down with her own hands and re- built it where she thought it ought to be. But time wrought its soothing balm and she became a very genial, lovable old lady.


(V) Richard, eldest son of Bartholomew (2) and Hannah (Kelly) Heath, was born in Hampstead, New Hampshire. He was bap-


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tized in the "Church of Christ," Hampstead, November, 1754. He was then quite well grown, for November 27, 1763, he "owned the covenant" with his wife and had a son Moses baptized. He enlisted in the revolu- tionary army, February 7, 1777, for a term of three years, as a private of the Seventh Company, Captain McGregor, third New Hampshire regiment. He is reported on the company rolls of June 28, 1778, as "dead." Whether he was killed, died of wounds or of sickness, is not stated. His brother Jesse served in the army, as did several others of his immediate family. He married Mehitable Copp, who "owned the covenant," with him in the Hampstead church. Children : I. Moses, baptized November 27, 1763. 2. Joshua, bap- tized November 18, 1768, see forward. Moses Heath is credited with revolutionary service from Hampstead and from Dunbarton in 1780, when he gave his age as eighteen. He served five months and seems to have re- enlisted in 1781.


(VI) Joshua, son of Richard and Mehitable (Copp) Heath, was born in Hampstead, New Hampshire, where he was baptized November 18, 1768, died September 22, 1841, at Fair- lee, Vermont. He was a major of militia, appointed by Governor Weare of New Hamp- shire. He married (first) January, 1794, Ra- chel Nettleton, of Newport, New Hampshire, born October 4, 1772, died April 6, 1813; married (second) Betsey Carr, born July 24, 1784, died at Goffstown, New York. She survived her husband and married (second) Edward Morey. Children of Joshua Heath by first wife: I. Daniel N., see forward. 2. William, born March 9, 1797 ; married Sa- rah A. Yale. 3. Mehitable, January 5, 1800; married Nathaniel Kibbey of Fairlee, Ver- mont. 4. Sallie, September 5, 1801 ; married Lyman Ware. 5. Rachel, March 13, 1804; married Calvin Corbin. 6. Deborah, April 13, 1806; married Josiah Pierce. 7. Joshua (2), December 20, 1809. died January 17, 1832, at Fairlee, Vermont, unmarried. 8. Bethia, September 16, 1817; married Charles Ware, of Norwich, Vermont. 9. George Warren, January 25, 1821 : married Sarah Norris.


(VII) Daniel N., eldest son of Joshua and Rachel (Nettleton) Heath, was born in Hampstead, New Hampshire, February 15, 1795, died in Amsterdam, New York, April 14, 1865. He married Hannah, daughter of Solomon Pulver. Children : I. Joshua A., born in Florida, 1817, died 1888; married, in New York City, Glorianna P. Stevenson, of that city ; had twins that died in infancy. 2. Solomon P., see forward. 3. William D. married Marian McQueen.


(VIII) Solomon P., second son of Daniel N. and Hannah (Pulver) Heath, was born in Florida, Montgomery county, New York, April 15, 1820, died in Amsterdam, August 10, 1883. He obtained his primary and aca- demic education in the schools of the county, entered Union College, from which he was graduated, class of 1840. He studied law, was admitted to the bar, and became a promi- nent member of the Montgomery county bar. For six years he was judge of the county. He married (first) September 30, 1847, Es- ther Groat, born March 24, 1826. died May 22, 1868; married (second) November, 1869, Jane Groat, born February 28, 1819, sister of his first wife, daughter of John L. and Margaret (Van Valkenburg) Groat, and granddaughter of Lewis Groat, an early set- tler of the Mohawk Valley. She survives her husband, and notwithstanding her great age enjoys fairly good health ; she resides in Amsterdam (1910) with her children. Judge Heath had by his first marriage. I. John, born July 9, 1848, died March 8, 1901 ; mar- ried, April 20, 1871, (first) Anna Stewart. 2. Jennie, July 27, 1850; married William P. Belden, born December 28, 1855, died April 3, 1903, son of Rev. William and Eliza (Pass- more) Belden, a descendant of Theodore Bel- den. William P. Belden was a graduate of Yale, a classmate of President Taft, and for many years was a prominent newspaper man. 3. Mary, died in infancy 4. Clark C., Decem- ber 21, 1855, died March 23, 1891 ; married Ada Johnson, and left a son Edward, born December, 1888. 5. Edward, March 21, 1858; married Carrie F. Price and has a daughter Dorothy, born June 8, 1893 ; he is a resident of Chicago, Illinois. 6. George Warren, see forward. 7. Harmon W., died in childhood. 8. Catherine, died in infancy.


(IX) George Warren, fourth son and sixth child of Judge Solomon P. and Esther (Groat) Heath, was born in Amsterdam, Montgomery county, New York. August 26, 1860. He was educated at Amsterdam Academy, and has always been a resident of that city. He is one of the leading Republicans of the coun- ty, and has always taken an active interest in public affairs. For three years he was sheriff of Montgomery county, proving a most efficient official. In city affairs he is also prominent. He served as city treasurer in 1889. He is equally prominent in church and social circles. He is a member of Welcome Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons : Johns- town Chapter, No. 51, Royal Arch Masons ; Holy Cross Commandery, No. 78, of Glovers- ville, New York. He is a member and ( 1910) president of Fort Johnson Club, and is a


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member of the Country Club. He married, in Amsterdam, October 15, 1884, Lillie, daughter of Benjamin and Deborah A. G. (Copenger) Sammons, and a lineal descen- dant of Lieutenant Sampson Sammons, a patriot and soldier of the revolu- tion who suffered capture and imprisonment, loss of family, and prosperity to the cause, and rendered valuable service to his country, as did his sons and grandsons. Colonel Sim- eon Sammons, the distinguished civil war officer, was also a descendant of Lieutenant Sampson Sammons. Benjamin was a son of Thomas and Catherine (Sammons) Sammons, lifelong residents of Montgomery county. Children of George Warren and Lillie (Sam- mons) Heath: I. Edna L., born July 22, 1885. 2. George William, died in infancy. 3. George Warren (2), August II, 1890. 4. Charlotte, October 28, 1895. 5. Helen M., July 14, 1901.


This is an English family that,


WILDE transplanted to the new world, has made a history that entitles them to consideration, regardless of ancient lineage.


(I) John Wilde, first of this name in Amer- ica, came from England in 1688. Two years later he married Sarah Hayden, a descend- ant and probably a granddaughter of William Hayden, of Windsor, Connecticut, who came in the ship "Mary and John," with Mr. Ware- ham's church in 1630, and lived at Dorchester, Massachusetts. He was an active participant in the Pequot war and saved the life of Cap- tain Mason, commander of the expedition. The children of John and Sarah (Hayden) Wilde were John, Samuel, William and Sarah. (II) Samuel, son of John and Sarah (Hay- den) Wilde, married and had a son Joseph, mentioned below.


(III) Joseph, son of Samuel Wilde, was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, about 1730. He was a man of great personal cour- age and among the first to enlist in the cause of liberty. His commission as lieutenant in the continental army was signed by John Han- cock, and is still in existence. He married Mehitable Doubleday, born 1739, died 1837.


(IV) John, son of Joseph and Mehitable (Doubleday) Wilde, was born in Dutchess county, New York, died in Saratoga county, New York, when in the prime of life. He married Mary Shadbolt, thought to have been of English ancestry, who died not long after her husband. Children: I. Anna, married James La Dowe; children : John, James E., William, Amanda, Eliza, Lucy, Sarah; they lived and died in Milton, Saratoga county ;


James La Dowe was a farmer. 2. Joshua ; mentioned below. 3. Mary, married Valery Howard; both deceased; children: Edward and Mary, both deceased. 4. Phoebe, married Elias Wagner; both deceased; left children; Ann, Mary, Nelson, Edward, Obadiah, Theo- dore, Marshall, and others, who died young. 5. Obadiah, married Eliza Mckay ; no issue ; died in Amsterdam. 6. Edward, died young.


(V) Joshua, son of John and Mary (Shad- bolt) Wilde, was born in Dutchess county, New York, January I, 1800, died January 9, 1876. While he was still a minor, Joshua and his brother Obadiah left their birthplace, accompanied by their parents, and settled in Saratoga county, near Ballston Centre, and later Joshua settled in Perth, Fulton county. The brothers purchased, improved and sold farm property, finally settling on farms of their own in West Amsterdam, near Aikens. Here Joshua lived for many years, honored and respected as an upright and worthy cit- izen. He was a Republican, and served the town officially in different positions. He was a member of the Methodist church, as was his wife. There were three sisters who came also to Saratoga county: Anna, Mary and Phoebe. Joshua Wilde married, in Fulton county, New York, April 2, 1822, Phoebe, born in Perth, Fulton county, New York, 1804, died May 20, 1861, daughter of John and Prudence (Thorne) Bostwick, who lived and died in Fulton county, New York. In addition to Phoebe Mr. and Mrs. Bostwick were parents of Hannah, Robert and Steven Thorne, all now deceased. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilde: I. John Bostwick, born May II, 1823, resides in Grundy Centre, Iowa ; married Katherine Putnam ; children : Albert, Amanda E. and Alice. 2. James L., November 12, 1825, died October 17, 1901; married Mary Yates, now deceased ; child, Mary Min- erva, died in 1878. 3. Amanda, August 6, 1828, died April 19, 1854. 4. Edward, Jan- uary 26, 1831, died August 22, 1857; mar- ried (first) Harriet Plantz; (second) Sophia Hanson ; child, Laura. 5. William, September 3, 1833, died at Anderson, Iowa, July 4, 1902; he was a prosperous farmer ; he married Mary Owen, living at the present time (1909) in Audubon county, Iowa; children: Clyde and Charles. 6. Mary H., January 6, 1836, died August 8, 1872; married George Clark, who died February, 1900; child ; Edward, de- ceased, who married Elizabeth Stevens and had Clara, Mary and Wilhelmina. 7. Obadiah, mentioned below. 8. Stephen Thorne, Febru- ary 25, 1840, resides in Amsterdam ; married (first) Sarah Johnson, born 1848; died, 1894; (second) Carrie Johnson, born 1859, a cousin


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HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS


of his first wife ; no issue. 9. Ann Eliza, July I, 1842, died November 22, 1905; married Darwin Shuler, who died November 18, 1908; children: Ida, wife of Rev. George Knight, baptist minister, and they have Kenneth and Carolyn Knight; William, married Laura Wilde and had two children, Darwin and Ralph, the latter deceased. 10. Charles Henry, March 13, 1845; married, in Perth, February I, 1882, Elizabeth L. Johnson, born May 25, 1859, daughter of David Johnson, born in Co- lumbia county ; Charles Henry and wife live in Aikens, New York. II. Jennie Maria, No- vember 10, 1847; married Horace B. Shep- herd ; children : Horace B. Jr., married Ethel Davison ; Clarence W., married Rachel John- son ; Belle, at home; they reside in Aikens, New York.


(VI) Obadiah, seventh child of Joshua and Phoebe (Bostwick) Wilde, was born on the Fulton county homestead at Aikens, March 23, 1838. He was educated in the town schools, and worked on the farm with and for his father until he gained his freedom at age of twenty-one. He remained at home for five years longer, then with the assistance of his father purchased a good farm and began to build up his own fortune. He succeeded in his aims, and after a life of earnest endeavor is now living retired from active pursuits in Amsterdam. His brother, Stephen Thorne, re- sides with him, enjoying the final years of a well spent life. Obadiah Wilde married Han- nah, daughter of Joseph and Charity (Cline) Clark, both members of old Montgomery county families. She was born in July, 1846, died in Amsterdam, April 19, 1905; without issue.


Two brothers of this VAN VRANKEN name, Ryckert Claase and Gerrit Claase, early settled in Niskayuna.


(1) Ryckert Claase Van Vranken owned a lot on North Pearl street, Albany, which he purchased in 1672. In 1684 he sold it to Johannes Wendell. He married Hillegonda , and had Maas, Gerrit, Evert, Isaac and Margaret. Isaac made an escape from Indian captivity, arriving at Schenectady, July 9, 1690. Maas and Gerrit owned farms on the north side of the Mohawk in what is now Clifton Park, then a part of Niskayuna. In addition they had a patent for one mile of land extending north. In 1704 Maas built a fort at Niskayuna, probably on or near his own farm.


(II) Gerrit, son of Ryckert and Hillegonda Van Vranken, lived on his farm in Niskayuna lying north of the Mohawk. He was buried



January 13, 1748, his wife, December 21, 1747. He married, September 27. 1696, Bar- ber Janse. Children: Ryckert, Alida, Anna, Margarita, married Johannes Bratt; Johan- nes, Hillegonda, Andries.


(III) Ryckert (2), son of Gerrit and Bar- ber (Janse) Van Vranken, married, February 9, 1723, in Schenectady, Maria Bratt. Chil- dren : Alida, Barber, Anna, Abraham, Gerrit, Ryckert.


(IV) Ryckert (3), son of Ryckert (2) and Maria (Bratt) Van Vranken, died Sep- tember 11, 1805. In 1755 he bought of To- bias Ryckman, Jr., the land on the south side of Union street between Centre and Yates streets, Schenectady, and at his death gave it in equal portions to his daughters Mary and Sarah. He married, April 26, 1760, Ma- ria, born December 4, 1734, died February 5, 1813, daughter of Johannes Marselis. Chil- dren: Maria, Richard. Sarah, married Ru- dolph Van Huysen; John, Mary, Nicholas.


(V) Mary, daughter of Ryckert (3) and Maria (Marselis) Van Vranken, was born August 9, 1775, died October 29, 1845. She inherited one half of the city lots in Schenec- tady, and lived in the old homestead on the property, where she was also married and died. During the winter of 1797, a young man from New Jersey, Gerrit Bensen, was snow-bound for several weeks in Schenectady, and becoming acquainted with Mary Van Van Vranken they were married the following April.


(The Bensen Line.)


Gerrit Bensen was a lineal descendant of Dirck Bensen, who was originally from Gro- ningen. He resided for a time in Amster- dam, where he married Calatyne, daughter of Samson Berck. He came to America about 1648. Iu 1649 he was of New Amsterdam. He died in Albany, January 6, 1659.


(II) Captain Johannes, son of Dirck and Calatyne (Berck) Bensen, was born February 8, 1655. In 1689 he resided at Claverack, and was appointed in March of that year cap- tain of a company of militia when an attack was expected from the French and Indians. In 1600 he removed to Harlem, where he died. He married, February 2, 1680, Lysbeth, daughter of Teuwes (Matthew) and Helena Van Deusen.


(III) Johannes (2), son of Captain Johan- nes (I) and Lysbeth (Van Deusen) Bensen, was born May 29, 1701. Ile settled in Ber- gen county, New Jersey. after his marriage. He married, May 24, 1724, Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Gerrit Lydecker, of Bergen county, New Jersey.


(IV) John, son of Johannes (2) and Eliza-


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beth (Lydecker) Bensen, was born January 29, 1730. He married, June 1, 1753, Rebecca Demarest.


(V) Gerrit, son of John and Rebecca (Demarest) Bensen, was born March 20, 1770, died April 27, 1861. His brother Daniel died aged ninety years, and his brother Da- vid died in Paterson, New Jersey, aged nine- ty-eight years. During the war of the revolu- tion, his parents lived at Tappan, New York, and the lad Gerrit there witnessed the execu- tion of Major Andre. Gerrit was a carpenter and builder. He married, April 15, 1797, Mary Van Vranken, of Schenectady, where he ever afterward resided. Children: four sons and four daughters.


(VI) Richard Van Vranken, son of Gerrit and Mary (Van Vranken) Bensen, was born in Schenectady, November 12, 1807, on the premises now occupied and ever since owned by his descendants. He died there April 17, 1889. He married, in Albany, November, 1841, Mary A. Becker, born in Orleans coun- ty, New York, September 15, 1811, died in Schenectady, November 28, 1890, daughter of John and Alida (Van De Kar) Becker, of Schoharie county, later of Orleans, where they died, he in 1870, she in 1854. Richard V. V. and Mary A. (Becker) Bensen had two children: Albert Van Voast and Annie.


(VII) Albert Van Voast, only son of Rich- ard Van Vranken and Mary A. (Becker) Bensen, was born in Schenectady, New York, August 16, 1842. He was educated in the public schools of Schenectady and graduated from the Union school of that city. In 1860 he located in Albany, New York, which has ever since been his home. He established a tea and coffee business in that city, which he developed to large proportions and to which he devoted himself with all the energy of his nature until 1908, when he retired. During these years he acquired other and varied busi- ness interests. For thirty-four years he was secretary of the Albany County Savings Bank and trustee of that well known, solid and conservative institution. He is president of the Diamond Paste Company ; vice-president of the Albany County Bank, director of the Albany Mutual Fire Insurance Company, and trustee of the Albany Homeopathic Hospital. Through his Van Vranken ancestry he gains admission to the Holland Society and be- longs to the Holland Society of the City of New York. He is a member of Mt. Vernon Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, Fort Orange Club of Albany, and attends St. Pe- ter's Church, of Albany. He married, Febru- ary 14, 1878, Harriet Allen. of Albany. Chil- dren, all born in Albany: I. Albert Van


Voast, educated at the Boys Academy ; grad- uated at Williams College, class of 1901 ; member of the Kappa Alpha fraternity ; he is a merchant of New York City. 2. Wil- liam Wendell, educated at Boys Academy of Albany ; now engaged in business in Albany. 3. Louise Allen.




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