USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II > Part 84
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He married (first) Frances B., daughter of Buckingham St. John, of Norwalk, Con- necticut. She died in 1884, leaving a son, James Lally, a graduate of Rensselaer Poly- technic Institute, who died at Riverdale-on- the-Hudson, July 15, 1878. He married (sec- ond) Harriet P., daughter of Captain Rich- ard Hanford, of Lansingburg, who bore him two sons and a daughter. She was a descend- ant of Thomas Hanford, born in England, died in Norwalk, Connecticut, 1693, first min- ister of Norwalk, 1652-93. Children: 1. George Hanford, unmarried; manager of the Chicago property and the Belaire plantation. 2. Frederick; see forward. 3. Frances St. John, died in infancy.
(II) Frederick, youngest son of George A. and Harriet P. (Hanford) Lally, was born in Newburg, New York, November 13, 1855, died in Troy, New York, June 23, 1905. He was educated at the high schools and at Rens- selaer Polytechnic Institute, and on the death of his father became manager of the large estate he left. He was a good business man and managed the estate with good judgment until his death. He was a member of Trinity Church, and acted with the Republican party. He married Mary E., daughter of Francis H. and Elizabeth (Catton) Leonard, who sur- vives him. Children : Marion Leonard, Edith, George Leonard, Dorothy.
CLARKSON John Clarkson was born in Enderly, England, where he died in 1878. He was by
trade a blacksmith. He married Susanna
Butler ; children : Rebecca, Betsey, Annie, Mary, Marie, Jane, Ellen, Butler, see forward. With the emigration to the United States of Butler Clarkson the family began their Amer- ican existence, and with his marriage to a daughter of the Lansings an alliance was made with one of the oldest Dutch families in New York.
(II) Butler, son of John and Susanna (But- ler) Clarkson, was born in Enderly, near Horn Castle, England, July 30, 1830, died in Troy, New York, December 21, 1903. He was well educated, and for seven years worked as ap- prentice and clerk in an apothecary shop. About 1850 he came to the United States. He settled in Troy, and after his marriage en- gaged in the meat business in Troy in com- pany with his brother-in-law. He was con- sidered a good business man and one of the best in his line. He was in business for a great many years and was successful in a financial way. He was a member of the Epis- copal church, and in politics a Republican. He married, in Lansingburg, New York, Septem-
ber 25, 1867, Alida Lansing, born March 22, 1843, a direct descendant of Abraham Jacob Lansing, founder of Lansingburg in 1771. Children: 1. Nellie, born August 5, 1868; died at the age of sixteen. 2. John, June 30, 1870; he continues the same line of business as his father in Lan- singburg, to which he has added a grocery store ; married Alma Abuel; children: an in- fant, deceased, Florence and Ruth. 3. Lizzie M., November 22, 1872. 4. An infant, early deceased. 5. William, 1876; married Marie Mortensen ; children : Earl, Howard, Lansing, Elmer, Raymond, Alida. 6. Lillian, Decem- ber 21, 1878; married Harvey Sheppard ; child Ethel. Mrs. Butler survives her husband and resides in Lansingburg, New York, near her surviving children. She is a daughter of Ab- raham Jacob Lansing. (2). Her descent from Abraham Jacob Lansing, founder of Lansing- burg, is shown as follows: also from the founder of the family in America, Gerritt Frederick Lansing. Her name, Alida, was the name of the mother of Helena Pruyn, wife of Jacob H. Lansing, of the third gen- eration in America.
(The Lansing Line).
The Clarkson-Lansing families, one of Dutch descent, Lansing, dates to an early pe- riod in the history of the Mohawk Valley, the other, of English ancestry and recent resi- dence, are connected by the marriage of But- ler Clarkson and Alida Lansing. The Lans- ings (also spelled Lansingh and Lansinck) were founded in America by Gerritt Frederick Lansing, son of Frederick, of the town of Hassel, Province of Overyssell, who was born in Holland and came to New Amsterdam with three sons and three daughters, all born be- fore leaving Hassel. The family of Lansing has been settled in Albany, New York, from its earliest period, and it is probable that Ger- ritt Frederick Lansing is the progenitor of all the Lansings in the United States, certainly of all the New York families. He settled in the ancient town of Rensaelaerwyck about 1650, and died about 1679. His sons were : Gerritt (2). Johannes Gerritt and Hendrick Gerritsen Lansing.
(II) Hendrick Gerritsen, son of Gerritt Frederick Lansing, was born in Hassel (prob- ably), died in Albany, New York, July II, 1759. His wife was Lysbeth and they had two sons and three daughters. The line de- scends through the eldest son, Jacob H.
(III) Jacob H., son of Hendrick Gerritsen and Lysbeth Lansing, was born in Albany, New York, died and was buried near his house, October 17, 1756. He married, Sep-
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tember 27, 1701, Helena, daughter of Frans Janse and Alida Pruyn, who bore him ten children. The line follows through Abraham Jacob, the ninth child and sixth son, ancestor of the Troy and Lansingburg families.
(IV) Abraham Jacob, son of Jacob H. and Helena (Pruyn) Lansing, and founder of Lansingburg, was baptized April 21, 1720, died October 9, 1791. His wife, Catherine Leverse, died the previous day, aged sixty- nine. In June, 1763, Robert Wendell sold to Abraham Jacob Lansing for three hundred pounds a tract of land near the present city of Troy, New York. As the county began to fill up with settlers, Lansing, believing that his property would soon form the site of a thriv- ing village, in 1771 had a portion of it sur- veyed and laid out into lots, with streets and alleys, which he called Lansingburg. This is now the thriving city of Lansingburg, Rens- selaer county, New York. When the inhabi- tants of Lansingburg became aware that re- lations between the mother country and her American colonies were becoming strained al- most to the point of rupture, they showed their patriotism by subscribing to a document dated June 15, 1775, in which they "Resolved : Never to become slaves" "and do associate ourselves under all the ties of Religion, honor and love of country," etc. The first name on the list of signers is Abraham Jacob Lan- singh. The children of Abrahanı Jacob and Catharine (Leverse) Lansing were : Levinius, first, second, third ; Cornelius ; see forward.
(V) Cornelius, son of Abraham Jacob and Catharine (Leverse) Lansing, was born July 6, 1752. He was interested in the plans and enterprises of his father, and was prominent in public and business affairs. He was one of the founders of Lansingburg Academy, and a supervisor of Rensselaer county at the time the first court house was built. His private business was largely operating as well as owning a large tannery, which was an im- portant business in the new town. He mar- ried Helen Vander Heyden. Children: I. Derrick C. 2. Abraham C. 3. Jacob C. 4. Catherine, married Gardner Tracy. 5. Alida, married David Russell. 6. Hester, married Alexander Seymour. 7. Helen, married Eli- sha Alvord. 8. Elizabeth, married David Allen.
(VI) Jacob Cornelius, son of Cornelius and Helen (Vander Heyden) Lansing, was born in Lansingburg, New York. He married Eli- za Rutherford, of Lansingburg; fifteen chil- dren, eight of whom grew to mature years as follows: John R., James, Cornelius, Wil- liam, Abraham Jacob, Elizabeth, Charles and Derrick.
(VII) Abraham Jacob (2), son of Corne- lius and Eliza (Rutherford) Lansing, was born at Lansingburg, New York, October 18, 1821. died there May 10, 1887. He was edu- cated in the schools of that town, and at the age of fifteen was apprenticed to a carpenter with whom he learned that trade. He con- tinued in that business all his life, being an expert mechanic. He became a contracting builder and erected many of the public build- ings and private residences in the town and surrounding county. He was a member of the Baptist church, and held fraternal fellow- ship with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He married Sarah Clark, born 1822, at Thetford, Vermont, died in Lansingburg, January 2, 1888. They were the parents of Alida, widow of Butler Clarkson.
The family of Keeler, noted KEELER among the famous landlords and restaurateurs of this coun- try, was founded in the United States by Dan- iel Keeler, who married Margaret Murphy, and has sons John and William Henry.
(II) William Henry, son of Daniel and Margaret (Murphy) Keeler, was born in Al- bany, New York, March 23, 1843. He was educated in the public schools of the city, and at the age of twenty began his long and pros- perous career as a purveyor to public appetite and comfort. His first venture was an oyster house on Green street, Albany. He early learned the secret of pleasing his patrons, and "Keeler's," of the early day, was as well known and popular as at the present time. He continued in business on Green street for seven years, selling out to his brother John in 1871. Until 1884 he held high political posi- tions in Albany city and county and was not engaged in other business. In 1884 he joined with his brother John and opened a restau- rant at 56 State street. This partnership was soon dissolved, and in 1886 William H. Keel- er purchased a building at 26 Maiden Lane, Albany, which he remodeled and converted into a modern restaurant. In 1890 the busi- ness had so increased that he purchased the present property, corner of Broadway and Maiden Lane, to which additions have been made until eight buildings are now included, fronting on three streets with a large annex on the south side of Broadway. Probably "Keeler's" is more widely known than any other hotel in the country, entertaining in hotel and restaurant not only the regular trav- eling public, but the thousands of tourists who make Albany a point to be visited as they either go or come on their summer vacations to the famous resorts of northern New York,
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New England and Canada. The hotel is run on the European plan, with a restaurant for both ladies and gentlemen located on the first and second floors. While Mr. Keeler is the head of his great business, he has practically retired, leaving the more arduous duties of management in the able hands of his sons. He is a life-long Democrat and in 1872 was elect- ed alderman to represent the fourth ward of Albany. He succeeded himself in 1874, serv- ing in the council four years. He was then elected street commissioner, serving five years, and in 1882 was elected sheriff of Albany county. He served the full term of three years and made an excellent official. In 1900-04 he was the candidate on the Demo- cratic ticket for presidential elector. He mar- ried, in 1877, Catherine, daughter of Robert Taylor, of Albany; children: John D., Wil- liam H. (2), Rufus P., Grace and Harriet.
LAUGHLIN The paternal line of the Laughlins of Cohoes begins in Ireland and extends into the mountains of Scotland, from whence the family came. They settled in the north of Ireland, leaving Scotland during the troublous times of the two King Jameses of England, when no man's life was safe. Of this Scotch- Irish blood was Hough Laughlin, born in Bel- fast, Ireland, in 1807, died at Cohoes, New York. He came to the United States in 1850 and settled at Wappinger's Falls, New York, where he worked at his trade of weaver. In 1865 he located his home in Cohoes, New York, where he was in charge of Harmony Mills No. 3. He married, in Ireland, Mary Kenney, born in Belfast, Ireland, of Scotch- Irish parentage. Hough Laughlin and wife were members of the Presbyterian church.
(II) Edwin Bower, son of Hough and Mary (Kenney) Laughlin, was born in Wap- pinger's Falls, New York, July 12, 1858. He was eight years of age when his parents moved to Cohoes and in the public schools of that city he obtained his education. After the death of his father he was for four years in charge of and lived upon a farm, which was part of the estate. He acquired an inter- est in the Ten Eyck & Laughlin Manufactur- ing Company, and for two years that company was successfully engaged in the manufacture of axes. A fire, however, destroyed the plant, and they did not resume business. Mr. Laugh- lin entered the employ of H. B. Silliman, dealer in mill supplies (turnings for knit underwear) and continued with him for four years. He then formed a copartnership with George W. Kavanaugh as jobbers of trim- mings and continued four years. In 1892 he
joined with his brother John and as Laughlin Brothers continued the same lines. Later Edwin B. Laughlin purchased his brother's interest, and since 1896 has continued in busi- ness under his own name only. In 1902 he began the manufacture of trimmings, contin- uing the jobbing house as before. He has been successful in his undertakings and is one of the substantial men of his city, residing on the beautiful "Burton Homestead" at 114 Saratoga avenue, Waterford, which he pur- chased in 1906. He is a Republican, but does not take an active part in politics. He is a member of St. John's Episcopal church of Co- hoes and a member of the vestry ; is also mem- ber of Blue Lodge, No. 116, of Cohoes, and the Cohoes Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He married, October 28, 1885, Mary Elizabeth Taber, who died April 14, 1909, daughter of Nathan and Mary Ann (Groesbeck) Taber, of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, New York. Mary A. (Groesbeck) Taber was a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Knickerback- er) Groesbeck. This marriage connects the Laughlins with the old Dutch blood of the Hudson River Valley (see forward). Chil- dren of Edwin Bower and Mary E. (Taber) Laughlin: 1. Marion E., born at Cohoes, March 9, 1890; graduate of the Emma Wil- lard school, Troy, New York, class of 1908; resides at home. 2. Edwin T., born May 7, 1894; attends Troy Academy.
(The Knickerbacker Line).
This name is variously spelled, but the fam- ily originated in Holland and descendants are to be found from New York City north- ward along the Hudson. Harmen Janse Knickerbacker was the son of Johannes Van Berghen Knickerbacker, and his wife, Juliana, daughter of Rutger Van Marnix, Lord of Bosselaer. He served in the navy of the Netherlands and was severely wounded at the battle of Solebay, July 25, 1665. Upon his recovery he came to America and settled at Albany, New York, where he married Lys- beth, daughter of Myndert Van de Bogart. In 1690 he moved to Schaghticoke and later to Dutchess county, New York. The name is supposed to mean "Marble baker" and to have been assumed by Harmen Janse Berghen after his arrival in America.
One of the first settlers in the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, New York, was James Knickbacker, born in Holland in the year 1679, died in the town which he founded, at Knickerbacker mansion, in the year 1749. There have been many famous men in the Schaghticoke family. Colonel William Knickerbacker, born in 1779, married
Wft. Harrington.
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HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS
Eva Viele and died in 1865, aged eighty-six years. Colonel John Knickerbacker died in his seventy-ninth year, November 10, 1827. Herman Knickerbacker, born July 27, 1779, died January 30. 1855. He was first elected a member of the eleventh congress and was an eloquent representative of the people for many years. He was judge of Rensselaer county a number of years. Joseph Knickerbacker, who died in 1882, was a lawyer by profession, also of literary ability and prominence. There is an old Dutch clock in the Knickerbacker mansion that was made in Holland in 1632. The front room of the mansion is as it was when in use a hundred years ago.
(The Groesbeck Line).
John Groesbeck, who married Elizabeth Knickerbacker, was a descendant of Claas Nicholas Groesbeck, born in Holland in 1624, son of Jacob Groesbeck, of Rotterdam, Hol- land. On the tenth day of October, 1696, Claas Groesbeck deposed that he was seventy- two years old. He had a house and lot on the west side of Pearl street, north of Maiden Lane. His will was proved March 20, 1713. It devised property to his wife Elizabeth and seven children. The Groesbeck and Bogar- dus families both intermarried with the Knick- erbackers, and this pure Dutch stock still prevails in Albany county and the Mohawk Valley.
The Harrington family HARRINGTON of Rhode Island ( some- times written in the early days, Hearnenten and Herrington) is one of the old families of the state and through inter- marriage with Reynolds, Grinnell and Irish are connected with all the old and important names of the colonial period. The progenitor of the family in Troy is David Harrington, of Rhode Island, who married Waty (or Waite) Reynolds.
(II) Nicholas, son of David and Waty (Reynolds) Harrington, was born in Exeter, Rhode Island, December II, 1771, died at Berlin, New York, January 7, 1842. He re- moved in 1804 to Hancock, Massachusetts, and thence to Berlin, New York, where he died. He was a farmer, and a member of the Baptist church. He married Nancy Grin- nell, born in Jamestown, Rhode Island, Feb- ruary 23, 1772, died April 26, 1863, daughter of Jonathan and Martha (Irish) Grinnell, of Rhode Island.
(III) Horace, son of Nicholas and Nancy (Grinnell) Harrington, was born at Hancock, Massachusetts, July 4, 1804, died at Bruns- wick, near Troy, New York, August 15, 1881.
He came to Troy when he was a young man of seventeen years, and later engaged in the produce, flour and grain trade, owning two flour mills. In his later years he removed to a farm in Brunswick, which he cultivated un- til his death. He was always interested in agriculture, and when in business in Troy owned and operated a farm at Berlin, New York, also a cheese factory. He was promi- ment in public affairs, and in the Democratic party. He was elected county treasurer of Rensselaer county, and served one term in that office ; also served as school commissioner, and in other less important offices. He was a member of the Unitarian church, and a promi- nent business man of Troy for over half a century. He married (first), April 14, 1830, Eliza A., born 1813, died April 3, 1850, daugh- ter of David and - (Maulin) McMur- ray, of Lansingburg, New York. Children : Caroline L., deceased; Julia F., deceased ; Julia F., Horace, deceased; William Henry, see forward; Horace, Caroline L., Charles, Helen L. He married (second) Sarah E. Strong, widow of Henry W. Strong. Chil- dren: Maria, Walter C., Sarah E., Harriet S., Louisa L., Letitia D.
(IV) William Henry, son of Horace and Eliza A. (McMurray) Harrington, was born in Troy, New York, July 19, 1840. He re- ceived his education in the Troy public schools, Scram's Collegiate Institute, Sand Lake, New York, and Jonesville Collegiate In- stitute. He was with his father until 1862, when he left Troy and spent several years west, going to Chicago, where he was em- ployed in a flouring mill for one and one-half years. He then learned telegraphy, was oper- ator at Elkhorn and points in Wisconsin and Illinois on the line of the Chicago & North Western Railroad. He was a skillful opera- tor, and in time became chief operator and manager of a division, with headquarters at Clinton, Iowa, where he remained four years, after which he returned east, but only re- mained until 1871. In that year he was at Elgin, Illinois, Omaha, Nebraska, Denver and Georgetown, Colorado. He then settled for a time in Denver, where he was manager of the city office of the Western Union Tele- graph Company. He then went to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he remained seven years. The first six months he was engaged in tele- graphing, then resigned and entered the news- paper field. He became associate editor of the Salt Lake Herald and correspondent on the staff of the New York World, was west- ern press agent and regular correspondent of the Sacramento, California, Record. He con- tinued in newspaper work for two years, then
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returned to the telegraph key until he re- turned east, at the expiration of his seven years spent in Salt Lake City. After a short stay in the east, he went to Chicago, where, in association with George H. Bliss, he organ- ized a company for the manufacture and sale of electric machinery of various descriptions and use. They were also importers of for- eign-made electric appliances and machinery, and had a five years' lease to manufacture Bell telephone apparatus. Mr. Harrington was secretary and treasurer of the company. After two years he sold out his interest and took a position in New York City, where he remained four years. He located in Troy, where he was on the staff of the Troy Times as legislative reporter and Saratoga Springs correspondent. He was connected with the Times for four years. He was appointed ad- ministrator of the estate of Latham Cornell, and other trusts of similar nature, including the settlement of the estate left by his step- mother; also settled the estate of the late William W. Cornell, of Poughkeepsie, New York, of which his half-broher, Walter C. Harrington, was one of the executors. He owns a fine estate just outside the city lim- its of Troy, on which he has his residence. He has practically retired from all business save such matters as relate to his own private estate. He is fond of sport with rod and gun, and has an unusually fine collection of pictures and trophies of the camp and chase. During the civil war he was a member of Company G, Twenty-fourth Regiment, New York, and was a member of "Ellsworth's Zouaves," Second Illinois Regiment, but did not see service at the front. He is strictly independent in politics, owing allegiance to no party, choosing his candidates with sole re- gard for fitness. He was chairman of the board of inspection for the fourth Brunswick district for ten years. He is a member of the Rensselaer County Society, but has resigned from his other clubs and societies. He is un- married.
For many generations the Favreau family were inhabi- FAVREAU tants of Canada, where they were land-owners and farmers usually, self- respecting and estimable people. The line of Napoleon Favreau, a prosperous merchant of Cohoes, New York, where he was born and lived all his life, traces on the paternal side to his grandfather, Pierre Favreau, and on the maternal side across the seas to Germany. The Favreaus are of French ancestry but the line is not traced beyond Canada.
(I) Pierre Favreau, born in Boucherville,
province of Quebec, Canada, died at the age of sixty-six. He married Sophie Roegue, born in Verchères, Quebec, Canada, died at age of eighty. Pierre Favreau was one of the oldest of a family of twenty-one children, twelve of whom were sons. His father mar- ried three times and he was a child of the first wife. Pierre and Sophie Favreau were the parents of five sons and three daughters. Louis (see forward) was the fifth child.
(II) Louis, son of Pierre and Sophie (Roegue) Favreau, was born at Grand Bois, Ste. Marie, near Farnham, province of Que- bec, Canada, August 24, 1832, died at Cohoes, New York, July 22, 1901. He married, No- vember 22, 1853, Clemence Leppe, born April 9, 1836, at Charlotte, Vermont, died at Co- hoes, January 27, 1900, daughter of Eustace Leppe, born in province of Quebec, Canada, about 1792, died at St. Gregorie, Quebec, Can- ada, about 1837. He married Susanne Maille, born 1792, in the same province, died at Char- lotte, Vermont, 1832. Eustace and Susanne Leppe were the parents of twelve children, all daughters, Clemence, wife of Louis Favreau, being the youngest, her mother dying at her birth. The father of Eustace Leppe was born in Germany, came to Canada, where he died at age of ninety ; his wife died aged one hun- dred and two years. Louis Favreau, after coming to the United States and settling at Cohoes, New York, worked for a time in the Harmony Mills, then assisted his sons in their mercantile business until his death.
(III) Napoleon, son of Louis and Clemence (Leppe) Favreau, was born in Cohoes, New York, May 30, 1869. He was educated in the public schools of Cohoes and St. Joseph's pa- rochial school, and after his school days were ended worked in Harmony Mills. In 1885 he became clerk and bookkeeper for the firm of Favreau Brothers, composed of two of his brothers, Joseph D. and Henry Favreau. They originally started as a grocery firm, but as prosperity followed they added other depart- ments. In 1889 Joseph D. withdrew from the firm and in 1895 Henry Favreau died. Hav- ing acquired a thorough knowledge of the business in his ten years as employee and hav- ing some means at his command, Napoleon purchased the business in 1895 and has since continued as owner and proprietor. The stock now includes dry goods and shoes, as well as groceries, and quite recently Mr. Fav- reau has added a meat market department. He has erected a fine new three-story brick building on the corner of Gainer street and Johnston avenue with handsome residential apartments above and commodious business quarters below. The business is prosperous
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