USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II > Part 67
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Bates. Children, all by first wife: I. Mahala, born in 1830, died at North Adams, Massa- chusetts, in 1900: married John Hanly, de- ceased at age of sixty-three years, leaving five children, all deceased except Harrison
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Hanley, of North Adams. 2. Juliet, died at age of eighteen years. 3. John Nelson, lo- cated on a farm in Sheridan, Michigan ; buried in North Adams; married and had issue, all deceased except Herbert Sprague, connected with the Boston and Albany Railroad at North Adams. 4. Harriet N., see forward.
(VII) Harriet N., youngest daughter nad child of John (3) and Nancy (Ketchem) Sprague, was born in Williston, Vermont, July 28, 1836, and there reared and educated. She located in Albany, New York, about 1870, where she now resides on Second street in comfortable circumstances. She married and has a daughter, Mrs. Nelly Louise Winne, who is an inmate of her home and her de- voted companion. Children of Eugene and Nelly Louise (Sprague) Winne: I. Nelson, died at age of thirty years. 2. John Homer, manager of a photo supply house in Balti- more, Maryland; married Alma Clark of that city, and has a son, John Nelson Winne. Mrs. Winne is a member of the Unitarian church.
This family may be traced in CRISSEY England to Hugh De Cressey and the time of William. The name in France is Crecy, the ancestral home of Sir Hugh. The family has been known in New England since 1649, when William Cressey, born in England about 1630, landed at Salem, Massachusetts, 1649, later settling at Stamford, Connecticut, with a brother Mighill. He had a daughter, Mary, and sons, John and Nathaniel. For several generations this was a Connecticut family, but with the opportunities then being offered by the newer sections being opened for settle- ment, they began to scatter, and soon we find them not only widely dispersed over Connec- ticut, but in Vermont, Massachusetts and New York. A numerous branch of the fam- ily settled in Chautauqua county, New York, as well as in Herkimer and Rensselaer coun- ties. Stamford, Southington and Winchester, Connecticut, were the earliest homes of the family, but the records do not show the con- nection between the family in Troy, whom we can trace no further than the grandfather. It is with him the Troy line begins in Rensselaer county.
The records of Winchester, Connecticut, contain the following, that would seem to prove that human nature has not changed very much in all the years. "That Samuel Roberts of said town (Torrington) died at Winchester aforesaid on the 17th of Septem- ber past (1799) in an angry manner, sinfully and wickedly curse or damn Preserved Cris-
sey of said Winchester," wherefore he was found guilty and fined one dollar, with costs amounting to two dollars and fifty-nine cents. Preserved Crissey was a prominent citizen, and after his marriage removed to Litchfield, Herkimer county, New York, and is the founder of that branch.
(1) Nelson Crissey was a farmer of Stephentown, Rensselaer county, New York, where he married and died. His children, all born here, were: Nelson (2), John, Lebeith (?), Cyrus H., see forward, and an infant daughter.
(II) Cyrus Horton, son of Nelson Crissey, was born in Stephentown, Rensselaer county, New York, 1843, died in Troy, New York, 1903. He was educated in the town schools, and on reaching a suitable age began work in the paper mill, where the learned the busi- ness very thoroughly. He removel later to Troy, where his subsequent life was passed. He was a man very quiet and domestic in his tastes and habits. The companionship of his wife and children, improving and em- bellishing his home, were his greatest enjoy- ments. He was a highly respected citizen of Troy. He was a Republican and alive to his. duties as a citizen, but never mingled in public affairs except as a voter. He married Sarah Elizabeth Cleminshaw, born in Troy, New York, August 5, 1843, died there May 30, 1906. Children: I. Martha May, married Stephen Comeskey, of Lansingburg, New York. 2. Charles Edwin, married Lottie Ray- mond and resides at Glens Falls, New York; one child, C. Raymond. 3. Lena Maud, mar- ried Frank A. Doty, a musician of note; they reside in Troy.
SNELL This is an old Mohawk Valley family with an honorable record in peace, and an enviable one in war. The family originally settled in Herki- mer county, where the ancestor had a tract of three thousand acres of land granted him by King George or his representatives. Many of the family settled there, and in the early records the name is found spelled Schnele. There is a locality in the county called "Snell's Bush," which takes its name from the fam- ily. They were brave men and good fighters. Nine of them went to their death at the battle of Oriskany, led by the gallant Herki- mer. From Snell's Bush settlement there were five killed: Joseph, Jacob, Frederick, Sufferenus and Peter Snell. From Stone Arabia, Montgomery county, four gave up their lives: John, George, John Jr., a fifer, and Jacob. It is from such an ancestry that the present generation descends. A branch of
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the family settled in Montgomery county, in the village of Stone Arabia. It is from this family that the family in Amsterdam spring. (I) George Snell was born in Palatine, Montgomery county, New York, and died in Stone Arabia in 1882, at the age of seventy- five. He was of Dutch descent and a man of prominence. He was always called "Judge" Snell, which came from his office of justice of the peace. He married -- Wagner, of the famed Wagner family of Montgomery county, prominent in civil and military life. She lived to a good old age and reared a large family.
(II) Dr. Jacob G., son of George and (Wagner) Snell, was born in Stone Arabia, town of Palatine. He was educated in the schools of the town and at Fairfield Academy. Deciding on the profession of medicine, he read and studied, afterward at- tending Albany Medical College, where he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. He practiced in Palatine several years, later settling at Port Jackson, now a part of the city of Amsterdam, where he had a large prac- tice, covering a great deal of the surrounding country. He was a popular and proficient physician with a large circle of friends, such as only the country doctor of the olden time ever had or will have. He was a strikingly handsome man, stood over six feet, was per- fectly proportioned, weighing two hundred and fifty pounds. He had a charming person- ality that won and kept friends. He was big in every way, big-minded, broad and liberal in his views, conceded every man his opinion, but held firmly to his own. He was a well- known figure in politics, a host in himself at elections, and a strong Democrat. He was a warm political and personal friend of State Senator Wagner. Dr. Snell married Mary Rickard, born in the town of Palatine, 181I, died February 10, 1900, daughter of an old Palatine family, the homestead that has stood over one hundred years having only recently been sold out of the family. She was a mem- ber of the Dutch Reformed church, and is buried in Green Hill cemetery. Of the chil- dren of Dr. Snell, Mary E. married Charles De Wolf (deceased), formerly cashier of the First National Bank of Amsterdam; she re- sides in Amsterdam and has a daughter Mary, who married Charles Benedict, manager of the Van Curler Opera House at Schenec- tady.
(III) James R., son of Dr. Jacob G. and Mary (Rickard) Snell, was born in Stone Arabia, Montgomery county, New York, De- cember 5, 1841. He was an infant when his parents removed to Port Jackson, therefore
his whole life has been practically passed in that city, with the exception of seven years in California. He was educated at the academy and has given the best years of his life to the service of the city ; he was a member of assembly 1883. When .the system of water- works was inaugurated, twenty-five years ago, he was elected a member of the water board . after serving on the board for three years he was elected president, and has held that office until 1894, when he was made superintendent, which position he now holds. He has been an able, conscientious, faithful member, and to him is due some of the credit for the present favorable condition of the system. He was the first elective treasurer of the city, and in the public affairs has been an active, influ- ential and beneficial factor. He is a lifelong Democrat ; a member of Welcome Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, formerly of Arti- san Lodge, No. 64; member of the Fort Johnson Club ; the Elks, Antlers. and of the Montgomery County Historical Society. He married, in Amsterdam, Lucy S., born in Amsterdam, daughter of George W. and Mary Hannah (Smith) Stryker, and grand- daughter of James and Mary (Horn) Stryker, of New York City. Children : I. Ella A., born 1873: married Harold S. Gilbert, of Brooklyn, New York ; has a son, Donald Gil- bert. 2. Julia Ives, unmarried ; a prominent member of the social world of Amsterdam. 3. Florence May, unmarried ; like her sisters, socially inclined. The family are members of the Episcopal church.
The Westing- WESTINGHOUSE haus family were of Leipsic, Ger- many, where they were seated before the fif- teenth century. They were an important fam- ily and held an assured position in the city. During the wars and troubles of the centuries the family seems to have become broken up and scattered among the various sections of Germany and Europe. In the United States it became a household word through the in- ventive genius of the family who have con- nected it with such valuable and well-known electrical inventions in daily use everywhere. To enumerate them would require a volume. The best-known perhaps, is the Westinghouse air brake that controls the speed of nearly every railroad train in the world.
(I) John Hendrick Westinghaus was born in Germany, in 1740, died in Pownal, Ver- mont, in 1802. His father died and his mother married a second husband, John Walkrigger, who was a good father to her children. He was a man of force and character and pos-
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sessed of both energy and ambition. With his wife and family he emigrated to the United States, and finally located at Pownal, -Ver- mont, where they became possessed of large tracts of land and improved property, he be- coming a wealthy, prosperous farmer of Pownal. He was twice married, his first wife being Christine Louise Brunner.
(II) John Ferdinand, son of John Hendrick and Christine Louise (Brunner) Westing- haus, was born in Pownal, Vermont, in 1780, died there 1834. He married Catherine Hewer, of Pownal, who bore him two sons and five daughters; all reared families.
(III) George, son of John Ferdinand and Catherine (Hewer) Westinghouse, was born in Pownal, Vermont, in 1809, died in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania. He settled, in manhood, at Central Bridge, New York, where he had a machine shop and works for the manufac- ture of farming and other machinery. Here his sons developed their taste for mechanics and received their first lessons in manufac- turing. George Westinghouse carried on his business at Central Bridge, and later removed to Schenectady and established the business that bears his name. After his retirement from active pursuits he went to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, passing his remaining years with his son George (2), then becoming well- known and famous. George Westinghouse married Emeline, daughter of Albert and Polly Vedder, of Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, a descendant of the early Dutch Vedder family. She died in Pittsburg at the age of eighty-five years, and he died at the age of seventy-five. Children: I. Cath- erine, deceased ; married Spencer Moore ; left sons: George W. and Frank W. Moore. 2. Jay, see forward. 3. Mary, died unmarried. 4. John, married Harriet Bradt; both de- ceased ; left issue: i. Margaret, died young ; ii. Harriet Ann, married Charles W. Stone, of the General Electric Company ; children : Clara Catherine and Margaret Ann. 5. George, see forward. 6. Henry Herman, died in infancy. 7. Elizabeth, deceased ; unmar- ried. 8. Herman H., of the Westinghouse Air Brake Company.
(IV) Jay, eldest son of George and Eme- line (Vedder) Westinghouse, was born in 1835, died in 1890. He was reared in Schen- ectady, and entered Rensselaer Polytechnic In- stitute, Troy, took a full course in engineer- ing and graduated C.E. After the death of his father he succeeded him as the head of Westinghouse Manufacturing Company, of Schenectady, New York, holding this posi- tion until his death. He was connected with many other enterprises. He was of the high-
est type of manhood, generous, kind-hearted and sympathetic. He was a man of proverbial integrity, and his large business interests were constructed on the strictest principles of jus- tice and fairness to all. He resided for many years in Schenectady, where he was influen- tial and honored, dying deeply regretted. He was a member of the Masonic Order, Chapter and Commandery, and of the Odd Fellows. He married, in Port Jervis, New York, No- vember 20, 1859, Lovantia A. Hall, born in Sanford, Broome county, New York, daugh- ter of William Gould and Salina (Spofford) Hall. Her father, William G. Hall, was born in Hallsville, Otsego county, New York, mar- ried in Cherry Valley, New York, and with his bride settled at once on the large estate owned by his father, where he died at the age of forty-five. He was a son of Seth and Polly ( Manchester ) Hall, of Puritan stock, and early settlers of Otsego county. Mrs. Salina (Spofford) Hall died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jay Westinghouse, aged eighty-six years. She was a daugh- ter of Elisha Spofford, of Cherry Val- ley, New York, who was a son of Jehiel Spofford, a soldier of the revolution, and de- scendant of John Spofford, the emigrant an- cestor, who was one of the proprietors of Rowley, Massachusetts. before 1643. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Scott. John Spofford died in 1678, leaving a large family. His son John (2) was one of the original settlers on Spofford Hill, now Georgetown, Massachusetts. Colonel· Dan- iel Spofford, son of Captain Jolin and great-grandson of the emigrant, was colo- nel of the Seventh Regiment, Essex County, Massachusetts, Militia, in the revolution ; was representative to the general court in 1776; delegate to the state constitutional conven- tion of 1780; deacon of the church 1781, and was the architect of several church edifices. Elisha Spofford, grandfather of Mrs. Jay Westinghouse, married Asenath Pierce, a de- scendant of Thomas Pierce, born in England, 1583-84, and came to New England in 1634 with his wife Elizabeth and settled in Charles- town, Massachusetts. Pierce is an old Eng- lish family name of ancient origin, entitled to bear arms. Children of Elisha and Asenatlı (Pierce) Spofford: 1. Salina, married Wil- liam Gould Hall. 2. Asenath, married (first) Daniel Burroughs, of Broome county, New York; (second) Reuben Hoyt: had issue by both. 3. Dr. Ezra, a well-known and skillful physician of Otsego county, New York ( Port- landville) ; married Adeline Winsor, no issue. 4. Louisa, married Eli Van Etten, of Port- landville, no issue. Children of Jay and Lo-
Jay Huntinghomem
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vantia A. (Hall) Westinghouse: I. Charles Spofford, died in childhood. 2. Albert Moore, died just before graduation at Union College, at age of twenty-one, at the commencement of a most promising career. 3. Jay Chauncey, died in childhood. 4. Emeline, married Clarke Winslow Crannell, of New York City, a graduate of Union College ; children : Emeline, Herman, Clarke. 5. Jay Alexander, died in childhood.
Mrs. Westinghouse is a member of St. George's Episcopal Church; active in the work of the Woman's Club; member of the International Society, Daughters of the Em- pire State, is interested in the church, social and charitable enterprises of her city, also of the College Woman's Club of New York City.
(IV) George (2), third son of George (I) and Emeline (Vedder) Westinghouse, was born at Central Bridge, New York, October 6. 1846. He removed to Schenectady, New York, in 1856, and attended the public schools; he spent much time in his father's machine shops, inventing a rotary engine in 1861; he served in the Twelfth Regiment, New York National Guard, and in the Six- teenth Regiment, New York Cavalry, 1863- 64; was an acting ensign United States navy, 1864-65; attended Union College, 1865-66; his inventions include a device for placing railway cars upon the track, 1865; Westing- house air brake, 1868; railway signals, electric machinery and many important engine im- provements and devices. He settled in Pitts- burg, Pennsylvania, as a manufacturer, and erected the Westinghouse building and the immense plants of the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company, at East Pitts- burg, Wilmerding, and at Newark, New Jer- sey ; also plants in England and other Euro- pean countries. He is president of all com- panies bearing his name except the Elec- tric Company, presidency of which he relinquished in 1910. He received the decora- tion of the Order of Leopold from the King of Belgium in 1884; Royal Order of the Crown of Italy in 1889; degree of Ph.D. from Union College, 1890; Che- valier of the Legion of Honor in 1901. He is an honorary member of American So- ciety of Mechanical Engineers ; trustee of the Equitable Life Assurance Society, June IO, 1905. He is a member of managing boards of numerous hospitals in Washington and Pittsburg ; member of the National Geo- graphical Society ; National Society of Fine Arts; American Social Science Association ; American Forestry Association; Massachu- setts Forestry Association ; Archaeological As- sociation of America ; American National Red
Cross Association.
He is a member of the
following clubs : Presbyterian, Twentieth Century, Pittsburg, Lenox Golf, Mahkeenac Boating (Lenox, Massachusetts), The Berk- shire, Hunt, Pittsburg. His summer home is at Erskine Park, Lenox, Massachusetts ; winter home Blaine House, Dupont Circle, Washington. End, Pittsburg. Residence, "Solitude," East He married, in Brooklyn, August 8, 1867, Marguerite Erskine, born in Roxbury, Delaware county, New York, daughter of Captain Daniel Lynch and Eliza Smart (Burhans) Walker. She was educated at home, and graduated from the Roxbury Academy. Child : George (3), married Vio- let, daughter of Sir Henry Brocklebank, of Brighton, England, a noted ship builder.
CLUETT The original English spelling of this name was Clued or Clud. The family was seated in counties Salop and Nottingham, England. Arms: "Ar-a bend between four cottesses sable." Crest-"A Bull's head per cheb-gules and ermine." (Burke's Gen. Arm., p. 206.) The family herein traced was founded by William Cluett, of Wolverhampton, county Salop, England, who settled in Troy. New York, in 1850. He was born in Hilton, Staf- fordshire, England, 1806, died in Saratoga, New York, September 18, 1890. He was the eldest and only son of William and Mary (Harris) Cluett, both of English birth.
In 1854 William Cluett. Jr .. established the now well-known music house of Cluett & Sons. He was a man of learning and widely read; a lover of books and in England had been for many years a book dealer with stores in Birmingham and London. He established his first store in Troy at 75 Congress street, dealing in books. The business increased rapidly, and enlarged quarters were necessary again and again. In 1857 he admitted his eldest son, John William Alfred Cluett, to a partnership under the firm name of William Cluett & Son. In 1858 they opened a branch house in Albany and extended to cover in part the states of Vermont, New York and Massachusetts. In 1863 J. W. A. Cluett with- drew to engage in the manufacture of collars and cuffs, associating with the house of George B. Cluett, Brother & Company. In the same year Edmund and Frederick H. Cluett were admitted to the firm with their father and the firm name changed to Cluctt & Sons, by which it is now known in all parts of the business and musical world. In 1865 the line of books was discontinued, and sheet music, musical merchandise and piano and or- gan departments introduced. William Cluett,
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the founder, was a man of rare attainments and transmitted his unusual abilities to a family of sturdy sons, who have worthily perpetuated his name. He was identified with the Republican party, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
He married, in England, in 1828, Ann By- water, died 1876, daughter of Thomas and Mary Bywater. Children: I. Emily, married John W. Cadby, a box manufacturer and old book dealer, of Albany. 2. John W. A., born in Wolverhampton, England; was one of the pioneers in Troy in the collar industry, and a member of a firm, the largest of its kind in the world, now known as Cluett, Peabody & Company. From 1857 to 1863 he was in the music business with his father, then with- drew to engage in the business that has made the name Cluett a world-wide one. He was a man of many talents, a student, tourist, lec- turer, microscopist of unusual attainment, and a seeker after knowledge all his life. He was a member of Christ Episcopal Church, a di- rector of the Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation, and a liberal and upright citizen. He married Elizabeth Bonticou; children: i. Jes- sie A., married C. Vanderbilt Barton, of Colo- rado Springs. ii. Louise B., of Troy, married Harvey D. Cowee. 3. Mary, married Rev. Joseph N. Mulford. 4. George Bywater, born in England ; in 1861 he was admitted a mem- ber of the firm of Maulin & Bigelow, manu- facturers of men's collars. In 1862 he organ- ized the firm of Maulin & Cluett. In 1863 Mr. Maulin died, and George B. and John WV. A. Cluett with Charles J. Saxe organized the collar manufacturing firm of George B. Cluett Brother & Company. In 1866, Charles J. Saxe withdrew and Robert Cluett be- came a partner. In 1889 they consolidated with the firm of Coon & Company under the new name of Cluett, Coon & Company, mak- ing the largest collar, cuff and shirt manu- facturing house in the world. George B. and John W. A. built the stone spire on the State Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and they also put in a beautiful memorial window in Christ Church (Episcopal) in memory of Mr. and Mrs. Cluett. George B. is now an Epis- copalian ; he gave a $10,000 organ to St. John's Episcopal Church, and in 1910 gave $25,000 as an endowment fund for a district nurse for the poor of the parish, and in case not employed by any of the parish to be used for any poor of the city of Troy. John W. A. put a stone and brick front on the Young Men's Christian Association building on Sec- ond street. He married (first) Sarah B. Gold- en : left no issue. He married (second) Amanda R. Fisher and had the following chil-
dren: Walter R., Nellie A., Harold, George, deceased ; Beatrice, George B., Jr., and Alfon- so R., who died in young manhood; a school was dedicated to his memory at Pawling, New York. 5. Edmund, born at Wolverhamp- ton, England, 1840, died December 10, 1908. In 1863 he was admitted a member of the music firm of Cluett & Sons, and was there- after connected with the management and de- velopment of the business of that most suc- cessful house. He was identified with the bus- iness for nearly half a century, and at his death was at its head. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and a ves- tryman at the time of his death. He was an accomplished musician, a progressive business. man, quiet and unostentatious, warm hearted and liberal. He was an ardent golfer, and was connected with all local golf clubs and at Palm Beach, Florida. where he spent his winters. He married Mary Alice Stone and left sons: i. Albert E., a director of Cluett, Peabody & Company; married Caroline, daughter of George P. Ide; ii. Sanford L., vice-president and director of Walter A. Wood Mowing & Reaping Company of Hoos- ick Falls. 6. Robert, a sketch of whom fol- lows. 7. Frederick Henry, see forward.
(II) Frederick Henry, son of William and Ann (Bywater) Cluett, was born in Wolver- hampton, England, May 2. 1843. He was eight years of age when his parents came to the United States and settled in Troy. He was educated in the city schools, and on at- taining his majority was admitted a member of Cluett & Sons. He possessed unusual mus- ical talent, and was noted as a skilled per- former on the piano and pipe organ. These talents were noticeable in his boyhood, and were developed under the most able instruc- tors. He was an able business man and was closely identified with the progress of Cluett & Sons, but as a musician he was pre-emi- nent, music was his great delight and recrea- tion. At sixteen he was organist of Dr. Ma- goon's church in Albany. He became organ- ist of State Street Methodist Episcopal Church at Troy in 1860, and continued for thirty-eight years, and rarely missed a Sunday. During his long term of service, the church had four- teen pastors and fifteen Sunday school super- intendents. He was a pupil of Dr. T. J. Guy, of Troy, and of Dr. George William Warren, of New York City, and visited while in Europe some of the world masters of organ music. He presided at the organ on the oc- casion of the last service held in the old State Street Methodist Episcopal Church, and at the dedication of the new edifice, March 30, 1871. by Bishop Simpson. He was a member of
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