USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II > Part 81
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92
BLOOD The Blood family of Montgom- ery county, New York, descend from the Blood family of Ireland who were prominent in that land nearly two centuries ago. The American ancestor of the family herein considered was Jeremiah Blood, born in Ireland in 1739, emigrated to the
Daniel Blood
889
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
American colonies about 1776, was for a time of New York City, but made his first perma- nent settlement in Florida, Montgomery county, on a large tract of land overlooking the Mohawk Valley, now known as the "Hubbs" farm. . It was there that he died, June 18, 1813, and buried in a family burial plot on his farm. Unfriendly hands have since desecrated this spot, and the land is now cultivated, while the slab that marked his resting place lies in the barn cellar. His wife, Sarah, born in 1745, died January 13, 1813, was buried by his side, but there is now no stone left to mark her grave. They had a son Robert Blood, and perhaps other children, whose names are lost. Robert Blood is said by one authority to have been born in Ireland and to have run away to America, where his parents followed in pursuit, but this is not conclusively proved.
(II) Robert, son of Jeremiah and Sarah Blood, was born 1774, died January 31, 1854. He was a thrifty farmer, owning considerable property in Duanesburg, Schenectady county, and a farm of three hundred acres in Glen, Montgomery county, on which he resided for many years, now owned and occupied by a granddaughter, Mrs. Mary D. Mckinstry. He married Mary Simons, born in 1776, died March 12, 1859, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Alexander Little, in Duanesburg. Her mother, Elizabeth Simons, died aged eighty years. Her father was proprietor of the "Frog Pond Tavern," a hostelry located on one of the roads entering Schenectady, and it is here that it is most likely she was married to Robert Blood. They had nineteen chil- dren, of whom we can name only eight, al- though thirteen or fourteen of them grew to maturity, married and reared families: Dan- iel; Jeremiah ; John, survived by a son Benjamin Paul Blood, well known locally as a poet and writer; Reuben, born 1800, died 1871 ; married Mary, daughter of Abraham and Betsey Devenpeck, and has living sons John, James and David ; James ; Robert : Dan- iel, see forward ; William Allen, married Eliz- abeth Staley and had Jeremiah, Robert, John, Allen, Addison, Henrietta, Catherine and Alice. The order of birth may not be exact. The early members of the family were usually members of the Presbyterian church.
(III) Daniel, son of Robert and Mary (Simons) Blood, was born November 18, 1810, died January 23, 1890, on the farm in Glen, formerly owned by his father. He spent all his active years on the homestead farm, which he owned at the time of his death. He was a prosperous farmer, well known as an honorable man and a Christian
gentleman. In political faith he was a Re- publican. He married, March 3, 1836, Jane Ann Lansing, born March 10, 1817, died in Glen, December 28, 1897, a member of the Lansing family of Albany county, New York. Children: I. Mary D., see forward. 2. Jane A., born February 1, 1840, died May 23, 1872; married Henry A. Dievendorf ; child: Wil- liam, born December 1, 1868, married (first) Emma E. Biddleman, and has Florence S., born October 30, 1894, and Mary, born April 2, 1891, died in childhood. He married (sec- ond) Anna Vedder, and has Vedder, Henry, Arthur and Jane A. Dievendorf. 3. Antoi- nette, born January 1, 1842, died 1906; mar- ried George Gale, December 25, 1879, who resides in Glen with their children: Jennie, born February 7, 1881; Frank E., September 4, 1884, and Edna L. C., 1887. 4. Louisa, March 20, 1844, died November 23, 1863. 5. Jay Lansing, born May 25, 1846; married Mary C. Schuyler, September 17, 1873 ; no is- sue. 6. Helen F., born March 20, 1849; mar- ried, June 4, 1863, Constant E. Hutchinson, residents of Phoenix, New York ; children : I. Edmond, born October 28, 1869, married Edith Morton ; child, Mary F., born April 5, 1899; ii. Marshall, February 2, 1872, married, in 1891, Mary L. Prendergast, now deceased, leaving children Constant G. and Adrian N. Hutchinson. 7. Gardner, born February 20, 1851; married Caroline Everson ; child, Elsie J. A. Blood, born May II, 1882. 8. Charles B., born September, 1854, died August 2, 1889; married Lizzie Haverly ; child, Jennie B. Blood, born August 1, 1888.
(IV) Mary D., eldest child of Daniel and Jane (Lansing) Blood, was born March 12, 1837. She married, July 9, 1855. Fred B. S. Mckinstry, born May 31, 1832, died in Am- sterdam, June, 1874 ; no issue.
ROTHEMEIER Settled originally by the Dutch, and early peopled by immigrants from northern Europe, the Hudson and Mohawk valleys have always had an especial attraction for Germans, and for those of the states or countries once independent, now walled to- gether, forming the German Empire. Steady and domestic in their habits, honest and faith- ful in their endeavor, they have found homes and fortunes in their adopted country, where they have made the best of citizens. The fam- ily of Rothemeier is native to Westphalia, Ger- many, where they were largely tillers of the soil, although they have had many representa- tives in the arts and trades. Since the Refor- mation, they have as a family been members of the Lutheran church. The local habitation
890
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
of the family from which Henry of Amster- dam, New York, now descends, was at Hille, province of Westphalia. His grandfather was a farmer, an upright Christian man, who died at an advanced age. He was married and had issue, among whom was a son, Frederick Rothemeier, born in Hille. He was a farmer, like his father, whose virtues he inherited and practiced in his daily life. He married a girl of his native village, Caroline Rothemei- er, not, however, a blood relative They had one child, Henry F., who is the first of his family in the United States. Caroline Rothe- meier survived her husband and married (sec- ond) Frederick Ossenfort, a farmer of Hille, who later operated a grocery. They contin- ued to reside at Hille until death. Their four children all came to the United States. The Ossenfort children are: I. Caroline, married Peter Berkel, a market gardener of Amster- dam, New York, and has sons, Henry and Peter, both living in Amsterdam; their only daughter, Gertrude, married Henry Tollner. 2. Frederick (2), resident of Schenectady, New York. 3. Christian, lived for many years in Boston, Massachusetts. 4. Charles, settled in Schenectady, married Caroline Myer and has Charles, Robert, Frederick, Henry, Anna, Mamie. Helen and Mary, who was accident- ally killed.
Henry F., only child of Frederick and Caro- line Rothemeier, was born in Hille, Westpha- lia, Germany, December 18, 1847. He was as well educated as the schools of his town and province allowed, and worked with his step- father until the death of the latter, in 1865. Believing the United States offered better op- portunities for a young man of energy than his own land, he bade farewell to his native land and friends, to seek his fortune there. He was then eighteen years of age. He sailed from Bremen on the sailing vessel "Johan- nah," and after a passage of seven weeks, ar- rived safely in New York City. He did not long tarry there, but proceeded north to Sche- nectady, where he remained for a time. Eventually he settled in Amsterdam, and be- came a broom-maker, a business he followed for forty years. He has prospered and se- cured for his declining years an ample com- petence. He has a comfortable home in Am- sterdam overlooking the beautiful landscape of the Mohawk valley. He has all his life been a Lutheran, and is also interested in the Christian Science faith. Mr. Rothemeier married, in Amsterdam, December 27, 1871, Louise Schwennker, born in Westphalia, Ger- many, December 5, 1853. She made the jour- ney from Europe alone, in 1870, and settled in Amsterdam, where one year later she was
married. Her parents were William and Cath- erine (Rahtert) Schwennker, of Friederwalde, Westphalia. Her Grandfather Schwennker was born in Holland, but ended his days in Westphalia with his son William. William Schwennker died in Westphalia, Germany, in 1871. In 1873 Mrs. Schwennker came to the United States and ended her days in Amster- dam with her children, dying in Troy, while on a visit in 1889, having attained a very old age. She was mother of nine children, all of whom emigrated to the United States. I. Ca- roline, married Christopher Meinholtz, and has Frederick, Christian, William and Minnie Meinholtz ; she is a resident of St. Louis, Mis- souri. 2. Christian, was a farmer of Sara- toga county ; married Mary Horstman and left children: William, Charles, Henry, Frederick, Lillian and Carrie. 3. William, died in Schenectady, New York; his wife was Minnie Burmeister ; they had two sons, Wal- ter and Benjamin. 4. Marie, wife of Herman Schutte; they reside in Amsterdam and have: Carrie, John, Charles, Rose and Harry Schutte. 5. Anna, widow of Frederick Krah ; resides in Amsterdam with children: William, Anna and Laura Krah. 6. Louise (Mrs. Hen- ry F. Rothemeier). 7. Frederick (deceased) ; left two sons, Albert and Harry. 8. Fredericka, married Edward Vosburgh; resides in Am- sterdam. 9. Catherine, married Charles Os- trander Lytle, of Brooklyn, New York, con- nected in the printing department of the New York World. Their children are Robert and Edwina. Mr. and Mrs. Henry F. Rothemeier are parents of two daughters, born in Amster- dam: I. Marie L., November 8, 1872; resides with her parents. 2. Anna C., November II, 1874 ; married Henry W. Grieme, and has Do- ris L., born May, 1903; Henry C., October 17, 1904, and Marie F., January 17, 1906. Mr. Grieme is one of the successful architects and builders of Amsterdam.
The art of weaving SHUTTLEWORTH rugs and carpets is one that has been much practiced among the English people from the earliest day of rude hand-loom weav- ing, down to the present luxurious product of modern complicated weaving machinery. For many generations the forebears of the Shuttle- worth family of Amsterdam practiced the weaver's art in England, and in the United States continued the business, in which they have gained an enviable reputation.
(I) John Shuttleworth, born at Hebden Bridge, near Halifax, Yorkshire, England, came from a long line of English ancestors, many of whom had been weavers of rugs and
891
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
carpets. It was a family of trade. He mar- ried, and as the children grew up they were taught the father's trade. The family was a large one, and as they married and reared families their children were also taught the business. Halifax was the seat of this in- dustry, even then widely known for excellence of weave, beauty of design, and progressive methods of manufacture. In 1875 Alexander T. Stewart, then the "merchant prince" of America, while traveling through England, visited Halifax and became greatly interested in the family and their business. He proposed to the then head of the family, William, that they remove to the United States and estab- lish the same business there. An agreement was finally reached and a contract entered into by which Mr. Stewart secured their services for a term of three years, he supplying the machinery and plant. In 1876 the family came to the United States and began the manufac- ture of rugs and carpets under their contract with Stewart, at Glenham, on the Hudson.
(II) William, son of John Shuttleworth, was a man of education and had been thor- oughly taught the weaver's business. He was the recognized head of the family in America and represented their interests in dealing with Mr. Stewart. He was the manager of the Glenham plant, which he inaugurated and had in successful operation. When ten months in the United States, he suddenly sickened and died in June, 1877, at the age of fifty-two years. At about the same time Mr. Stewart died, but the three-years' contract was ful- filled by his executor, Judge Hilton, the four sons of John Shuttleworth carrying out the agreements entered into by their father. Wil- liam Shuttleworth married, in Yorkshire, England, Rachel Wilson, a native of the same county, who survived him many years, dying in Amsterdam, New York, in 1885, at the age of sixty-two years. She was a devoted Christian woman and with her husband a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Four of their children died young, none of their daughters surviving childhood.
(III) John (2), son of William and Ra- ·chel (Wilson) Shuttleworth, was born in Yorkshire, England, and died in Amsterdam, New York, in March, 1909, at the age of sixty-five years. He was engaged in manu- facturing most of his active life, being an expert dyer, both in England and the United States. He married Annie Rastrick, of York- shire, England, who survives him, a resident of Amsterdam. They were parents of eight children.
(III) James, second son of William and Rachel (Wilson) Shuttleworth, was born in
Yorkshire, England, April 14, 1851. He was early trained in the business of his father. After the death of William Shuttleworth, the father, his sons, after completing the contract entered into with A. T. Stewart, located in Amsterdam, New York, where they estab- lished a factory for the manufacture of rugs and carpets. They were all experienced, thoroughly capable business men, having been carefully taught every detail both of making the goods and of managing the business. James was the head of the firm until 1902, when they incorporated as Shuttleworth Brothers & Company. At that time he with- drew from the connection and established him- self in the furniture business in Amsterdam, which he still continues. He married (first). in Yorkshire, England, Sarah Barker, of Copley, who died in Amsterdam, New York, in 1882, at the age of forty years, leaving children: I. Emma, who returned to Eng- land, married there Walter Blakeborough; they reside in England with their five children. 2. William B., deceased. He married .(sec- ond) Henrietta G. Hesslink, born in New York state, of Holland ancestry, who bore him: 3. Grace, died at the age of three years. 4. James S., married Janette Miller, of Gal- way, New York. 5. Albert R., married Mary Stansfield. James S., and Albert R. are en- gaged with their father in the furniture bus- iness at Amsterdam.
(III) Walter W., third son of William and Rachel (Wilson) Shuttleworth, was born in Yorkshire, England, August 15, 1853. He was taught the weaver's art and grew up in the business to which his life has since been devoted. He was closely identified with the business in Glenham, and on the removal to Amsterdam retained his active interest. On the forming of the corporation in 1902 he be- came senior member and head of the com- pany. The growth of the business has been remarkable, has assumed proportions that seem surprising, and reflects the greatest credit upon the business ability of the men who, from a small beginning, have so suc- cessfully planned and executed. Since the incorporation in 1902 of Shuttleworth Broth- ers & Company, the management has been in the hands of Walter W. and Herbert L. Shuttleworth. They manufacture for the trade a high grade of carpets and rugs, em- ploying in their Amsterdam mills about three hundred and seventy-five workmen, with a new mill about completed (1910), that will double their capacity and number of employ- es. The brothers are Republican in politics, members of the Masonic order, and attendants of the Presbyterian church. Their homes are
892
HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
on beautiful Guy Park avenue, Amsterdam. Walter W. Shuttleworth married, in Amster- dam, Clara Lumb, born in Huddersfield, York- shire, England, in 1855. Children : Albert, Ada, Ethel, Wright, Walter and George. The children were all educated in the common and high schools of Amsterdam. Albert, the eld- est son, is employed in the mills of Shuttle- worth Brothers & Company.
(III) Herbert L., youngest of the sons of William and Rachel (Wilson) Shuttleworth, was born in Yorkshire, England, in 1861. Like his brothers, after receiving a good edu- cation, he was taught the weaver's trade and trained to the business of manufacturing. He has been connected with the Amsterdam mills since the beginning, and when the in- corporation was effected he became junior member of Shuttleworth Brothers & Com- pany. He is an active, aggressive and pro- gressive business man, and has done much to aid the success and advancement of their large business. He is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and a member of the board of trade. He married, in Amsterdam, Hattie Broadbent, born in Utica, New York, of Eng- lish parentage. Children: Arthur, Mabeth, Sarah, Howard, Beatrice, Edwin, Mildred, Helen.
HECKELER The Heckeler family of Glenville, Schenectady county, New York, descend
from a German ancestor, Thomas Heckeler, born in a village of Würtemberg, Germany, in 1795. He was a son of an old established agricultural family of the province, and was a tailor as well as a farmer. In 1840 Thom- as, with his wife and four children, sailed from Bremen for the United States, where they arrived in New York harbor ninety days later. He continued westward from that point and finally settled on government land in Pleasant township, Allen county, Indiana. The tract which he took up was heavily tim- bered, but with the aid of his sons a log house was built, a small clearing effected and their first crop gathered. He continued his labors, and in a few years had a well-improved farm, for which he received a patent from the Uni- ted States land department, which bears the signature of Martin Van Buren Buchanan, later president. Much of the fine timber that grew on the farm had to be burned to get it out of the way. Thomas lived to see his farm one of the best improved in the neighborhood, and his children settled on farms of their own. He died aged fifty-five years. His wife Bar- bara survived him, and died on the Allen county homestead at the great age of ninety-
seven years. Of their six children, Dora and Thomas yet survive, and are residents of In- diana. His children all married and reared families.
(II) Christopher, son of Thomas and Bar- bara Heckeler, was born in Würtemberg, Germany, in 1824. He was sixteen years of age when he came with his parents to the United States. He was one of the factors in erecting the home in the Indiana wilderness, and after arriving at legal age married and founded a home in the same township. In 1868, with his wife and young children, he came to New York state and settled in the town of Charlton, Saratoga county, where he purchased a farm and lived until his death in 1900. His wife died in 1903. They were members of the Lutheran church, and Mr. Heckeler voted with the Democratic party. He was a man.of great energy, and stood well in the estimation of his neighbors. He mar- ried, in Allen county, Indiana, Mary Bender, born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, in 1836. She came to the United States while a very young child, her parents settling in Pleasant township, Allen county, Indiana, where they died. Of their five children, three are de- ceased. Christina married and lives at Fort Wayne, Indiana; Frederick lives in Lincoln, Nebraska. Children of Christopher and Mary (Bender) Heckeler: 1. Mary, married John Olenhouse, a farmer, of Chillocothe, Missouri. 2. Elizabeth, married Christopher Wittmayer, of Schenectady. 3. Dora, married Edward Hutchinson, a farmer, of Glenville. 4. Cath- erine, married John Wittmayer, of Schenec- tady. 5. Gustave, see forward. 6. Gottlieb Cutler, a farmer, of Charlton, Saratoga coun- ty ; married Hattie Conde. 7. George, a farm- er, of Glenville; married Hattie Smith. 8. Charles, farmer, owns and cultivates the Charlton homestead farm; married Alice Smith. 9. Christopher, farmer of Ballston, Saratoga county ; married Harriet Van Voast. IO. Reuben, farmer, of Glenville; married Maud Van Voast. II. Samuel T., farmer, of Glenville ; married Carrie Dietz. It is a note- worthy fact that these eleven children are all living, are married, all have families, and all are prosperous agriculturists. Their maternal grandmother died about 1895, aged ninety- seven years, their mother died in 1903, aged sixty-seven years, their father at age of sev- enty-six. With the exception of Mary, the eldest, they all reside in the counties of Sche- nectady and Saratoga, New York.
(III) Gustave, fifth child of Christopher and Mary (Bender) Heckeler, was born in Pleasant township, Allen county, Indiana, March 26, 1862. He was six years old when
893
HUDSON ÅND MOHAWK VALLEYS
his parents moved to Saratoga county, where he was educated and grew to manhood in the town of Charlton. With his brothers, he formed a co-partnership in the milling busi- ness, and they owned and operated the High mills in Glenville, also mills at Visscher's Fer- ry. This was not a legal incorporation, but rather a co-operation which existed seven years, when it was dissolved by mutual con- sent, and the assets equitably divided. The brothers all became farmers, and settled on farms of their own. Gustave, with his share, purchased one hundred and ten acres of land in the town of Glenville on which he settled and has since resided. He is a successful farmer, and has a well-improved and produc- tive farm. He is a Democrat in politics, has always taken an active part in town affairs and has twice been the candidate of his party for town offices. In 1897 he married, in the town of Glenville, Alida Vedder, born there in 1877, daughter of Albert F. and Jemima (Van Benthuysen) Vedder, both born in Schenec- tady county, and now residents of Glenville. Children of Mr. and Mrs. Vedder: I. Emma, married George Campbell; she is a resident of Schenectady, and has a daughter Alberta, who married Robert Juno, of that city. 2. Fanny, married John Campbell, resides in Schenec- tady, and has a daughter Jemima, who mar- ried Lewis Brewster, of Schenectady. 3. Ali- da, married Gustave Heckeler. 4. Sadie, wife of Leroy Terwilliger, of Glenville, and has two children, Lawrence and Clyde. Children of Gustave and Alida Heckeler: I. Roy, born October 2, 1899. 2. Rachel, 1902, died at the age of six months. 3. Hilda, May 22, 1905.
The Brewster family of BREWSTER Scotia, Schenectady county, New York, descend from the Connecticut family of Brewster founded in that state by Jonathan, son of Elder Brewster, of Plymouth, Massachusetts. The present family was founded in Hudson Val- ley by Gilbert Brewster, who settled in Rens- selaer county, near the village of Lansingburg. He was a farmer. He married Elizabeth Ham, who survived her husband and died in Troy, New York. They reared a large fam- ily, including Orson, who died in California unmarried ; Benjamin, who died in Troy with- out issue, and Valentine.
(II) Valentine, son of Gilbert and Elizabeth (Ham) Brewster, was born on the farm at Lansingburg, Rensselaer county, New York, in 1822, died in Troy, 1903. He settled in Troy when a young man and learned the trade of wheelwright. He later engaged in business, established a successful wholesale grocery
house and became wealthy. He married (first) in Troy, Lucretia Bonesteel, of Grafton, New York, born about 1838, died 1892, daughter of Henry Bonesteel. He married (second) Anna B. Buffon, born in Ireland, died in Troy, 1906, aged forty-five years. Children of first wife: I. George H., see forward. 2. Alfred V., born July, 1867; succeeded his. father in business; unmarried. 3. Jay Homer, born 1869, in Troy, associated with his broth- er in business ; married and has Margaret and. Honier. 4. Edward, died in childhood. Chil- dren of second wife: 5. Warren, died young. 6. Francis, died young. 7. Child, died young. 8. Cyrus, of New York City, unmarried. 9. Frank, of Troy, New York, unmarried. 10. Florence, twin with Frank, married Howard Edwards Harper, of Seneca Falls, now of Troy, New York; has a daughter, Mildred Harper. II. Mildred, of Troy, unmarried.
(III) George H., son of Valentine and Lu- cretia (Bonesteel) Brewster, was born in Troy, New York, March 26, 1865. He was educated at Troy Academy, and was for a number of years associated with his father and brother in business in Troy, New York. In 1890 he withdrew from the firm and pur- chased a valuable estate at Scotia, New York, where he has since resided. He has a large farm which he personally manages, and he lives the life of a gentleman farmer. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Baptist church. He married (first) Oc- tober 29, 1890, Marcia Craig Marsellis, born in Scotia, 1870; educated at the Union Clas- sical School; died in 1901; daughter of Charles W. and Patience Marsellis. Children, Charles V., born 1893, and Fred, born 1897. He married (second) June I, 1905, in Scotia, Bertha Robinson Stephens, born in Troy, April 19, 1884, daughter of Frederick Sen- eca and Mary (Hughes) Stephens. Frederick Seneca Stephens was the son of Adam Sen- eca Stephens, of Cohoes, New York, who died in Troy, in 1902, aged sixty-eight years. He married Mary Robinson, who died August 5, 1910. Frederick Seneca Stephens was born December 8, 1856. Mary (Hughes) Ste- phens, his wife, born February 6, 1862. (now a resident of Scotia) is a daughter of John C. and Susan (Freeman) Hughes. John C. Hughes was a veteran of the civil war and died shortly thereafter from disease contracted in the army. He married Susan Freeman in Wales or England, and soon afterward came to the United States and settled in Troy, where they both died. He was a painter and decorator. Frederick Seneca Stephens and wife have resided in Scotia since 1894. Chil- dren of Frederick S. and Mary (Hughes)
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.