Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 89

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

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(III) George, youngest child of Nelson and Catherine (Vincent) Simkins, was born in Berne, Albany county, April 8, 1837, died May 15. 1907. When he was three weeks old, his parents removed to Middleburg, Schoharie county, New York, where his after life was spent. He grew up on the farm at Cotton Hill, and was educated in the common schools. 'He was a carpenter by trade, and carried on a contracting and building business in connec- tion with his farm. He was a prosperous man, and highly regarded in his community. He was a Democrat, and held many town and county offices. He married Anna Shufelt, born in Middleburg, in 1840, died in Schenec- tady, New York, April, 1893, daughter of Philip and Harriet (Chadden) Shufelt, na- tives of the Mohawk Valley who died in Mid- dleburg very old. Children of George and Anna (Shufelt) Simkins: I. Austin, see for- ward. 2. Catherine, married Professor John Bigsbey, of Middleburg, New York ; children : Frank, Laura and Anna. 3. Jane, married J. H. Gardner, of Charlton, Saratoga county, New York. 4. Ophelia, married John Bunk ; children: George, Orlena, Margaret, Ger- trude, Laura, Catherine. 5. Irving, now of Schenectady ; married Harriet Colmer ; chil-

dren: Stephen, Mary, Harriet, Nelson and Irving, Jr. 6. Susan, married Frank Pickard ; children: Jennie, Robert and Catherine. 7. Margaret, married Ernest Harris ; children : Caroline, Ruth and Grace. 8. Cora, married Lewis Putnam; children: George, Ella, Mar- ion, Austin, Ina, Ethel. 9. Nellie, married William Easton. 10. George (2), unmarried. II. Albert, unmarried.

(IV) Austin, eldest son of George and Anna (Shufelt) Simkins, was born in the town of Middleburg, Schoharie county, New York, August 2, 1861. He was reared on a farm, educated in the district schools, learned the carpenter's trade and became an expert mechanic. He removed to Schenectady where he became a lumber dealer, conducting in con- nection with that business contracting and building. He later established a planing mill for the manufacture of sash, doors, blinds, mantels and all kinds of builders' lumber sup- plies. His business has grown to be a large one, employing constantly from fifty to sev- enty men. He is prominent in the Masonic orders, being affiliated with New Hope Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, St. George's Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, St. George's Commandery, Knights Templar, Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the Order of the Eastern Star. He belongs to St. Paul's Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and to the Daughters of Re- bekah, of which his wife is also a member. He is a member of the Exempt Firemen's Asso- ciation, having served five years in the Sche- nectady fire department, and has subsequently represented the association in the state fire- men's convention.

Austin Simkins married, at Cotton Hill, Schoharie county, New York, Estella West- cott, born in New Salem, Albany county, New York. December 20, 1860, daughter of Sam- uel and Jane N. (Pangborn) Westcott, of Albany county, and granddaughter of Major Westcott, who served in the war of the revo- lution. Samuel Westcott. her father, was one of the gold seekers of California in 1849, and spent four years in California where he helped construct the great dam across the Yuba river. He returned to Schenectady county, where he died. His widow survives him, a resident of Schenectady, having children: Melvina, married George Passage; Lottie, married Fred Merchant ; Estella, married Austin Simkins; Russell; Jennic, married David Ogsbury. Children of Austin and Es- tella (Westcott) Simkins: Nettie, died at the age of twenty-one months ; Spencer, died aged eleven years ; Eugene, died aged twenty-two months; an infant, deceased.

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HARRAN Matthew Harran, progenitor of the Harrans of Schenec- tady, was born in Scotland. When a young man he left his native land, and is next heard of in the parish of Dromead, county Sligo. Ireland, where he lived and died at the great age of ninety-nine years. He be- gan as a small farmer on lands leased from Sir James Crofton, and was an industrious, thrifty man. As he prospered so well on a small farm, he began leasing more and more acres, eventually becoming a wealthy farmer, owning property in his own name. He gained a high reputation for honesty, industry and thrift. He was a devout Catholic and lived a very religious life. He married twice, and by his first wife. Catherine, had Dennis, Pat- rick (see forward), and Catherine ; by his sec- ond wife he had James and John, both of whom came to the United States and settled on farms at Ausable Forks, Essex county, New York, where they married and had issue. (II) Patrick, son of Matthew and his first wife. Catherine Harran, was born in county Sligo, Ireland, where he remained until 1848. He was a farmer of his father's acres, and before emigrating to the United States mar- ried Mary Harran and reared a large family. About the year 1848 he came to the United States, and settled in Schenectady, where many of his children also settled. He was then well advanced in years. Mary, his wife, died in Schenectady, February, 1881, aged ninety- three years. They were both members of St. John's Roman Catholic Church of Schenec- tady. They had thirteen children, of ten of whom we have a record: I. Thomas, see for- ward. 2. Dennis, married in Ireland, came to the United States, and settled in Schenectady, New York, where he died without issue. 3. Martin, emigrated to the United States and settled at Albany, New York. He enlisted and served throughout the civil war. He

married and left issue. 4. Phillis. 5. John. 6. Patrick ; (all died in childhood). 7. Annie, died in Schenectady, April 20, 1907. She married, in Ireland, John Dooney, who came to the United States where he died in Sche- nectady, in 1900, aged eighty-eight years. Children: Patrick, Owen, Mary, Ellen (de- ceased ), Beza, Margaret and John. 8. Helen, married in Schenectady, Peter Kelly, who was killed in the civil war in 1865. She died, February, 1904, leaving a daughter Mary, who married Patrick Leonard. 9. Beza, lived and died in Ireland, where she married Hugh Lar- nin and reared a large family. 10. Mary, died in Ireland while young.

(III) Thomas, eldest son of Patrick and Mary Harran, was born in county Sligo, Ire-

land, in 1809. died in Schenectady, New- York, in 1897. He came to the United States. about 1848 or 1850, and settled in Schenec- tady. He married, in Ireland, Ellen O'Con- nor, born in 1810, died in Schenectady, May 10, 1851, at the birth of her son Thomas, her only child of American birth. Children : I. Patrick, born 1844, in Ireland, died in Schenectady, May, 1907. He was an hon- orably discharged veteran of the civil war. He enlisted in 1861 in the Thirtieth Regi- ment New York Volunteers, and at the second battle of Bull Run was severely wounded and' rendered unfit for further service. He re- turned to Schenectady, where he died. 2. Thomas (2), see forward. Thomas Harran married, in Schenectady, a second wife, Ann O'Brien, born in Tipperary, Ireland. She came to the United States when a young woman, and died in Schenectady, past sixty years of age. 3. Mary, now of New York City. 4. James, died unmarried. 5. John, un- married, a resident of Schenectady.

(IV) Thomas (2), second son of Thomas and his first wife Ellen (O'Connor) Har- ran, was born in Schenectady, May 1, 1851 .. He was nine days old when his mother died. He received a meager education, and early in life began a business career on the streets of Schenectady as a newsboy. He attended school all he could, and by subsequent study obtained a fair education. He saved his earn- ings, and in a few years was able to start a small grocery, which he operated until 1871. He then began learning the mason's trade, but in 1874 went to work on the railroad. Sep- tember 4, 1874, he met with an accident that resulted in the loss of a leg which compelled him to follow a different line of business from what he had intended. He was in the liquor business until 1879, when he disposed of his interest, and until 1886 was in the cigar and' tobacco trade. In that year he became city agent for the Baltons, of Troy, continuing for fifteen years. Since 1901 he has been en- gaged in the real estate business, now chiefly confined to the care of his own properties. He is a member of St. John's Roman Catho- lic church, and the B. P. O. E. He is a Re- publican in politics, and for four years rep- resented his ward as alderinan. He married Mary Brown, daughter of John and Margaret (Sullivan) Brown. John Brown was born in Germany. His wife, Margaret Sullivan, was- born in Ireland. They were married iii Sche- nectady, where they died in old age. Their living children are: Mary, married Thomas- Harran : Margaret, married Charles Antis, of Rexford Flats, and has two children. Mary- and Charles; Michael, unmarried .. Thomas.

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(2), and Mary (Brown) Harran are the par- ents of two children: I. Doctor George Pat- rick, born in Schenectady in 1876. He was educated in the Schenectady schools, studied at Union University, and was graduated M.D. from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City, class of 1903. He took post graduate courses at Roosevelt Hospital, New York City, and Newark Hospital. Newark, New Jersey, receiving diplomas from both. In 1904, he began practice in Schenectady, where he is now (1910) actively engaged. He is a member of the state and county medical societies, and has a most promising future in his chosen profession. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of St. John's Roman Catholic church, and the B. P. O. E. He is unmarried. 2. Thomas (3). died in infancy, 1891.

The particular branch of the

REICH Reich family of Amsterdam, New York, under consideration. have been in the United States since 1870, although William Reich with two sisters came earlier, but they settled in St. Louis, Missouri, and are of the same family. The family is na- tive to Germany, and of all the men and women from the land of thrifty habits who have sought the hospitable shores of the Uni- ted States, none have more worthily earned the success that has attended their efforts than the Amsterdam family.

(I) The Reich family in Germany are of Bavaria, native to Underfronken, near Wertz- burg. the capital of that small political di- vision. Dr. Reich, after the custom of his locality, not only ministered to the ailments of his patients, but shaved the faces of all who desired. He was widely known for his skill as a surgeon and performed many surgical operations. He died at age of forty-eight. but not before he had married and reared a family.

(II) Casper, elder of children of Dr. Reich, was born in Birkenfeld, Underfronken, Ba- varia, about 1825. He spent an active in- dustrious life, and. died at age of seventy. He never left Bavaria, but his brother Wil- liam and two sisters emigrated to America, settling at St. Louis, Missouri, where they engaged in market gardening for the St. Louis market. Casper Reich, however, re- mained at home, where he was a prosperous grocer, adding to the usual grocery line. He also conducted a lumber yard and was some- thing of a wholesale merchant as well. He married Rosanna Hildebrand, born in the town of Heilerchanstadt, Prussia. She died ten years previous to her husband's death,

which occurred in 1893, after having accumu- lated a goodly estate for the time and place. Children: 1. Francis, born 1844; became a farmer and still lives in his native town ; mar- ried Barbara Steicherwalt, who died, leaving two children. 2. George, see forward. 3. Catherine, born 1851 : married Johann Klu- spies ; they live on the old Reich homestead in Bavaria and carry on the business much as did her father, Casper : he is the present post- master of the village ; they have four children.

(III) George, son of Casper and Rosanna Reich, was carefully reared. and after receiv- ing all the educational advantages the town afforded was sent to Ludwig Institute, Wertz- burg, where he completed his studies. He then served three years at wood turning. fol- lowed by two years apprenticeship at cabinet making, becoming an expert wood engraver and cabinet maker. His mechanical skill has stood him in good service, although he has not followed it constantly as a business. In 1870 (then twenty-two) he embarked at Bremen on the steamship "Breman" for the United States. He worked for a year in New York City at his trade. In 1871 he settled permanently in Amsterdam, New York, and for five years worked constantly at his trade of cabinet maker. In 1876 he began business as a merchant, and for thirty years, until 1906. he continued in business and accumu- lated a competence that enabled him to retire and enjoy the comfortable home he had pur- chased in Amsterdam on Guy Park avenue. Here he is spending a quiet life, his diversion being the making of decorative art furniture, which are remarkable specimens of skill and beauty. He is fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Turners, and is an honorary member of the Arion Society. He is an ardent Republican, and he belongs to the Scott Club. His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church, being an original member of St. Joseph's, serving on the build- ing committee and contributing liberally both to the erection and support of that church.

He married in Amsterdam, New York, April 21. 1874, Mary C., born in that city, April 21, 1854, daughter of Jacob and Cath- erine (Ebersole) Wendling, both born in Al- sace. when it was a part of France. Their families had long been resident of the town of Barr, Alsace. They were married there and after the birth of one child. 1854. they took passage from Havre, France, landing in New York, but proceeded at once to Amster- dam. New York, where Jacob worked at his trade of shoemaker until his death at the age of forty-two, May 18, 1874. Jacob Wendling was the son of Andrew Wendling, who lived

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and died in Barr, Alsace, France. His wife was Theresa Ebersole. Catherine (Ebersole) Wendling, wife of Jacob Wendling and moth- er of Mrs. George Reich, was the daughter of Jacob and Catherine Ebersole, lifelong de- scendants of Alsace, where Jacob was a mar- ket gardener. He lived to be eighty-two, Catherine, his wife, sixty-nine. They had four children: Sophia, died young. Ameil, eldest son, was a bookkeeper; came to the United States, where he died of lonesomeness and homesickness: he was a "Stranger in a strange land," and mourned for friends and native land until his heart was broken liter- ally. A second son, Jacob, Jr., resides in Barr, the old home, now German territory. Cather- ine, above mentioned. Catherine (Ebersole) Wendling makes her home with her daughter, Mrs. George Reich. She was born January 6, 1833, yet is remarkably active in mind and body. She is the mother of five children, among whom were: Johanna, died at fifteen ; Jacob, died at twenty-two ; Julia, born in Barr, October, 1854, wife of Abraham Van O'Linda and has a daughter Edna. Mr. and Mrs. George Reich are the parents of six children, comprising the fourth generation in the Uni- ted States: I. C. Arthur, died unmarried, March 17, 1903, aged twenty-seven. 2. Wal- ter, born July 29, 1883 ; educated in Amster- dam public schools and at Troy Polytechnic Institute; is an electrical engineer ; since Au- gust, 1907, he has been assistant superinten- dent of the General Electric Company works at Schenectady, New York; married Alice Macauly, and has a son George (2), born July 13, 1908. 3. Frank, born 1885, died aged twenty-one. 4. Laura, died in infancy. 5. Willie, died aged three.

MACHOLD In France, during the reign of Napoleon "the Great," lived a young Frenchman by name Machold, whose patriotism and devotion to the "Little Corporal," later his beloved Em- peror, led him into the French army. Fol- lowing his chief beyond the borders of his own land, he found himself at last in south- ern Germany. Here he received his discharge either by expiration of term, or on account of wounds. He journeyed homeward, until in Saxe Coburg he met a German maid whom he married. They lived in the little town of Alstead, which was ever afterward their home. They reared a family and it is of his descendants that the Machold family of Am- sterdam descend. One of their sons married a German girl and died at age of seventy. Unfortunately the given names of these fore- bears were not preserved; however, to the

second generation, was born a son who is the foundation of the following genealogy, and the father of Bernard Machold, the well- known builder of Amsterdam, New York.

(I) George Nicholas Machold was born on the farm settled by, and in the house built by his soldier grandfather, previously men- tioned. He was reared on the farm and worked there until arriving at a suitable age to learn a trade. He went to an adjacent city, where he apprenticed himself to a weav- er. He became very skillful, as all work done at that time was by the hand method. It is told of him that a famous piece of his handiwork was a beautiful table cloth, into which he had skillfully woven plates, properly placed around the cloth and beside each plate had woven knives and forks. The cloth when spread, would appear like a well ap- pointed dinner table. He prospered and be- came possessed of some farm property, which he cultivated all of his active life. He, like his forefathers, was a Lutheran in religion, and a good man as well as an industrious, skillful artisan. His wife was a German by birth, native to the province in which they lived. She died when her son was very young and he rarely heard her name.

(II) P. Bernhard, son of George Nicholas Machold, after the death of his mother, was left to the care of his father by whom he was reared and educated. When a young man, he entered a trades school, where he ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the builder's art, and became a skilled mason. He travelled extensively over different parts of Germany, working at his trade and increasing his knowl- edge of constructive masonry. In 1868, fol- lowing a sudden impulse, he sailed for New York, where he arrived in due time. He did not long remain there, but removed to Albany, where he spent his first year in the United States, working at his trade. He next went to Johnstown and in 1869 permanently set- tled in Amsterdam, New York. In 1870, be- lieving the opportunity had come to establish himself in business, he began contracting mason work and buildings in his own name. He was a skillful, honest builder, and it was not long until his success was assured. So firmly was he established that contracts for the largest and best of the city's construction were given him. He has built five of the lar- gest churches in Amsterdam, also the library building and scores of the best business blocks and private residences in the city. He accum- ulated a sufficient competence to enable him in 1905 to retire to his comfortable home on MacDonald street, where in a quiet, unassum- ing way he is enjoying the fruits of his in-

J. J. Hardin

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dustry. He is one of the trustees of the Savings Bank. He has been succeeded in business by his sons, C. Bernard and Walter, who are worthy successors. Mr. Machold is a loyal, upright citizen of his adopted state and city, Independent in politics, yet of strong opinions ; he seeks no office, yet shirks none of the duties or responsibilities of a good citi- zen. He was a member of the board of sew- ers for some time, and is a present member of the water board. All public service rendered by him has always been loyally performed for the best interests of the city. He is a Free Mason, and a member of the German Lodge of Odd Fellows. He married, 1871, Madia, born in Hesse-Cassel, Germany, February 24, 1851, died May 28, 1901, daughter of George Mellmen, who emigrated to the United States prior to the rebellion, but returned to Ger- many, where he died. His wife, Barbara, came to Amsterdam, where she died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Machold, aged seventy-two. She and her husband were Lutherans. They had a son who served in the Union army during the civil war. Bernard and Margaret (Mellmen) Machold are the parents of eight children: 1. Frederick, born October 11, 1872; succeeded to the teaming and trucking department of his father's busi- ness ; married Lulu Brown, of Amsterdam, and has children: Mildred, Gretchen, Ruth, Barnard, George and Ralph. 2. William, 1874; conducts a hotel at Minersville, New York. Married Theresa Nurmberg and has a son William. 3. C. Bernhard, educated at Cornell University ; unmarried and lives at home ; his father's successor in the mason and building business. 4. Edmund, a successful farmer of Jefferson county, New York; married Jen- nie Ward, and has Earl and Doris. twins. 5. Frank, a mason, associated with his brother in Amsterdam ; married Vadie Heinie, and has Peter and Dorothy. 6. Walter, unmarried, resides at home; a partner with his brother, C. Bernard Machold. 7. Lillian, a graduate of Amsterdam high school. 8. Laura, student at high school. Mr. Machold and family at- tend and most of them are members of the German Lutheran church.

Under the spellings Harden HARDIN and Hardin this family may be found well distributed over the United States. The Hardins are a noted fam- ily in Kentucky and other parts of the south. where they early settled. Both as Harden and Hardin, they were early in Massachu- setts, particularly of the towns of Hingham and Bridgewater. A branch of the family set- tled in Hampton, New Hampshire, and an-

other in Thomaston, Maine. The Hardins of Schenectady county, New York, descend from James Hardin, who was born in Reho- both, Massachusetts, September 24, 1754. He married Susan Maynard, born in Windham, Connecticut, September 12, 1763, a descen- dant of William Maynard, of New London, Connecticut, who married Lydia Richards, November 15, 1678. After his marriage, James Hardin settled in Vermont, residing for a time in Bennington. He next appears in the town of Duanesburg, Schenectady county, New York, where he purchased and improved a farm. He became a prosperous farmer of the town, where he died. Children : Charles, born August 30, 1784; James, May 3, 1787; Mary, October, 1789; Parthenia, February II, 1792; Benjamin, see forward ; John, born March 25, 1798.

(II) Benjamin fifth child and third son of James and Susan (Maynard) Hardin, was born January 30, 1795. died January 3, 1862. He was a farmer of Duanesburg, where he married, January 22, 1816, Phoebe, born Au- gust 20, 1796, died August 20, 1851, daugh- ter of Jonathan Tripp, a prominent member of the Society of Friends, and an early settler of the town. Benjamin and his wife were prominent in the church life of the town, where they seem to have been well known and highly respected. Children: 1. Jona- than Tripp, see forward. 2. James, born April 27, 1820; married, (first) Mary Morse and had issue; (second) Mrs. Sarah Auchen- paugh, who died without issue. 3. Henry, January 13, 1822; a farmer of New Balti- more, New York, where he died. He mar- ried Hannah Carman and left issue. 4. Wil- liam, September 27, 1823; married Cather- ine Gage, January 15, 1847. 5. Sidney, a prosperous farmer of Glenville, Schenectady county. He married, in Duanesburg, Sarah Frink, both lived to an old age. Children: Everett, Charles and Eugene, of Albany. 6. Benjamin, 1833, died 1834. 7. Ruth, died unmarried. 8. Phoebe Ann, unmarried. 9. Delilah. 10. Priscilla.

(III) Jonathan Tripp, eldest son of Ben- jamin and Phoebe (Tripp) Hardin, was born in Duanesburg, Schenectady county, New York, April 27, 1817, died in Schenectady, August 26, 1896. He was reared on the farm, and educated in the public school. In 1861 he married and removed to Glenville, same county, where he purchased a large farm, which he cultivated until 1865, when he retired from active life and moved to a comfortable home in Schenectady. He was reared in his mother's faith (Quaker), but after going to Schenectady worshipped at the

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Dutch Reformed church. He was an up- right, lovable man, quiet and unassuming, but full of life and energy. He voted with the Republican party, but persistently refused of- fice for himself. He married, March 27, 1846, in Duanesburg, New York, Marinda A. Badgley, born in Dutchess county, New York, in 1821, died in Schenectady, April 20, 1893, daughter of Stephen and Joanna (Mott) Badgley, and a descendant of the Badgleys of Long Island and New England. Joanna Mott was a descendant of Adam and Anne Mott, of Cowneck, Hempstead, Long Isl- and. Stephen and Joanna Badgley were mar- ried in Columbia county, but shortly after their marriage removed to Oak Hill, Scho- harie county, New York. Here they owned a good farm on which both died. They were faithful members of the Methodist church, Their children, George, Stephen, Clara, Eliza- beth and Marinda A., are all deceased. Jona- than T. and Marinda A. (Badgley) Hardin had one child, Emmor C. born in Duanes- burg, but since the age of thirteen a resident of Schenectady, New York. She is a member of the First Reformed Church, and of the Woman's Club of Schenectady. She is gen- erous and charitable, giving freely and liberal- ly to all good causes.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume II, Part 89

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

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