Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume IV, Part 20

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 660

USA > New York > Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume IV > Part 20

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(VII) Hiram, eldest son of Aaron and Mary (Rogers) Hotaling, was born in the town of Berne, Albany county, New York. March 16. 1828. He was educated in the public schools, and in early life was a farmer. He was especially interested in fine stock breeding, and owned some of the first Dur- ham short-horned cattle. In 1858, after the removal of the family to Albany, he engaged in the ice business in that city, which he prosecuted with such vigor that in a few years he had earned the title of "Ice King" of the Hudson river. During one year he had a complete monopoly of the city ice trade, sup- plying, in addition to the family trade, the large beef companies, hotels and restaurants. He became very prosperous and extended his operations to more distant points, not, how- ever, with satisfactory results. He was a most capable man of business and a hard worker, richly deserving the success he won. He affili- ated with the Democratic party until 1870, when he transferred his allegiance to the Re- publican. He now lives in quiet retirement in Albany, spending his summers in his home in the suburbs. He is a member of the First Baptist Church of Albany and a man of high character. He married, in Berne, Louisa Gardiner, died in Albany in 1892. She was, in later life, a member of the Baptist church, of deeply religious nature and truly womanly character. She was a daughter of Hon. James D. Gardiner, of the Gardiner's Island, New York, family. Gardiner's Island lies three miles east of the most easterly point of Long Island, and is seven miles in greatest length and one mile in greatest width. The area is about three thousand, three hundred acres, some in barren hills, ponds and beaches. The island was first granted to Leon Gardiner, born in England about 1599. died in East Hampton, Long Island, 1663. For two hun- dred and fifty years the island has been kept in the family name and in possession of the descendants of the first owner, eight proprie- tors having lived in the mansion house. Leon Gardiner was a man of great prominence in early colonial affairs, and had great influence

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with both the colonial officials and with their foes, the Indians. He married May Wilem- son, born in Holland. The line of descent is through David Gardiner, son of Leon, and second proprietor of Gardiner's Island, which Governor Dongan erected into "One Lordship and Manor of Gardiner's Island," September II, 1686.

James D. Gardiner married Catharine Sim- mons, daughter of one of the oldest Albany county families, Colonel James Gardiner, an uncle of James D. Gardiner, served in the revolutionary war, where he held the commis- sion of colonel, and a part of his equipment is still preserved in the family as a sacred relic. Hon. James D. Gardiner was a mem- ber of the New York state assembly in 1827.

Hiram and Louisa (Gardiner ) Hotaling had two daughters: 1. Mary, born in New Scot- land; was educated in Albany, and died in New York City in 1892. She married Samuel Curtis Parks, no issue. 2. Anna H., educated in the Albany schools; married William Cur- tis Saxton. She survives her husband and resides in Albany with her venerable father, they being the last survivors. She is a mem- ber of the Baptist church, and a woman of refinement and culture. William C. Saxton was born in Rockport, New York, died in Al- bany, January 18, 1910. He was finely edu- cated and became well known in the literary world as a strong and interesting magazine and newspaper writer. He was for many years connected with the department of state at Albany, resigning on account of failing health. He then engaged in Albany as a wholesale dealer in coal until his sudden death. In early life he prepared for the profession of law and was admitted to the New York state bar in 1878. He was a pleasing and forcible public speaker and often in demand. He was a brother of Judge Saxton, of Clyde, New York, ex-lieutenant-governor of New York state.

PITTZ The Pittz family of Albany, here- in considered, of whom Dr. John Pittz is the head, descend from German ancestry. The grandfather of Dr. Pittz lived to be over ninety years of age. as did his father, John (1), who was born in Battledorf, Germany, in a Rhine province, in 1782. John Pittz, Sr., was a proficient musician, and served in the army of Napoleon the Great, followed that great commander in his disastrous invasion of Russia, and was one of the few who saw the burning of Moscow and lived to return to their homes. He was pensioned for his military service and lived many years to tell of that great campaign.

He was a man much loved in his village and sought after for his musical attainments and general good qualities. He died in 1871, in his native province. He married Weyler Dreis, born in the same house in which she was married. Her father was also a soldier of the Napoleonic wars, and held an office under the government. Children: Nicholas, born July 17, 1841, yet a resident of the German: town of his birth; he served in the German army; two of his sons are soldiers in the German army, and served in the Franco-Prus- sian war of 1870-71. Jacob, for many years a police guard under the local government, died in 1889, leaving a daughter Catherine. The eldest child, Marguerite, married Heunie, also a soldier in the war of 1870-71. Dr. John, see forward. Nicholas and Dr. John Pittz are the only surviving members of the family (1910).

(II) Dr. John Pittz, son of John (1) Pittz, was born July 16, 1844. He was educated in the public schools. He was but a boy when an epidemic of fever carried off hundreds of the residents of his province, among them many of his own relatives. The boy seems to have been born with an aptitude for treating diseases. He gave water to the sick, although this was strictly forbidden by the physicians. He did it out of pure sympathy, and observ- ing that in every case they seemed to ex- perience relief he gave them cool water in abundance and his four cases all recovered. When the war between Prussia and Austria was being waged he was drawn and assigned to hospital duty. Although without medical knowledge his natural aptitude made him a valuable assistant, and he gained valuable ex- perience. He decided to adopt medicine for his profession. In August, 1869, he left home. and came to the United States, landing from the steamship "America" in New York, after a passage of eleven days. He proceeded to. Albany, where he soon afterwards began the- study of medicine under Dr. Albert Van Der- veer, and in 1872 was granted a diploma and state license to practice. He is a very suc- cessful physician and has a large practice all' over the city. His success in fever cases is- marked, few being lost. He is identified with the medical societies, and with the local Ger- inan singing society, Cecilia and Harmonica. He is a trustee of the German Veteran As- sociation, and a prominent and popular mem- ber of German life and society.

He married (first) Theresa Whitemier, who died soon after her marriage. He mar- ried (second), in 1878, Louise Heisler, born. in Albany, August 1, 1859, of German parent- age. Her father, Martin Heisler, born No-

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vember 11. 1820, died in 1906. His wife, Mary (Smith) Heisler, died in 1878. Chil- dren of Dr. John and Louise (Heisler) Pittz: I. John, accidentally drowned in the Hudson river, at the age of fourteen years. 2. Anthony, born September 5. 1881, with a wholesale fruit house of Albany; married Elizabeth Hughes : daughter, Louise, born De- cember. 1908. 3. Joseph, born May 15. 1884; painter : unmarried. 4. Louise, married Jacob Decker. 5. Edward, born June 29, 1892.

Henry Adams, of Braintree.

ADAMS Massachusetts, called thus be- cause he was one of the first set- tlers in that part of Massachusetts designated "MIt. Wollaston," which was incorporated in 1640 as the town of Braintree. He arrived in Boston with his wife, eight sons and a daughter in 1632. The authorities at Boston allotted him forty acres of land "at the Mount" for the ten persons in his family, Feb- ruary 24. 1639-40. Henry Adams died in Braintree, October 6, 1646. His descendants have probably filled more high public offices in the United States and rendered greater pub- lic service than the descendants of any other man who ever landed on the coast of Amer- ica. Every page of American history is en- riched by the deeds of an Adams. They alone can point to a son succeeding his father as president of the United States, namely : John Adams and John Quincy Adams, also Charles Francis Adams, who served as minis- ter to England. In law. business, church or state, they have been leaders. Sons of Henry Adams, all born in England, were: 1. Lieuten- ant Henry, killed by the Indians at his own doorway. February 21. 1676; his wife Eliza- beth, daughter of Moses Paine, was accident- ally shot the same day and died eight days later, February 29; Lieutenant Henry was the first town clerk of Braintree. Massachu- setts, and representative of the town in the general court, 1659-65-74-75. 2. Lieutenant Thomas, married Mary Blackmore; he was town clerk, selectman and representative of the town of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, to the general court ; he died in Chelmsford, July 20, 1688, aged seventy-six years. 3. Captain Samuel, married (first) Rebecca, daughter of Thomas Graves : married (second) Esther, daughter of Nathaniel Sparhawk: he had four hundred and fifty acres of land granted him, near where the city of Lowell now is. and exclusive right to erect and run a saw- mill, provided he would sell boards at three shillings per one hundred ; and another grant of one hundred acres and right to build and run a grist mill or corn mill, provided he

would keen a sufficient nill ani nuller , he was commissioner to the court. 1667, from Chelnu- ford. He died January 24. 1608-09. 4. Ilea- con Jonathan, married ( first) Elizabeth. daughter of John Russell. He settled in Mei- field. where his house was burned by Indians in 1676: he died 1690, aged seventy-one years 5. Peter, see forward. 6. John; there s a grave doubt as to Jolin being a son of Henry of Braintree. So much has been written pro and con that it cannot be here stated that he was. By many he is believed to have been the sixth son. Thayer says: "John was in Chelms- ford 1654, after which we are not able to trace him." President John Quincy Adams ( see his letter in Gen. Reg. vol. XXXIV. p. 67) says the ten persons in Henry Adams family for whom land grant was made in 1640, were himself, wife, daughter and seven sons. John Adams was of Cambridge, and the progenitor of a large posterity. 7. Joseph, married Abigail, daughter of George and Mar- garet (Paddy) Bazter, of Boston ; he was a "malster." and selectman in 1073: died in Braintree. 1694, aged sixty-eight years. 8. Ensign Edward, married ( first) Lydia, daugh- ter of Richard and Agnes ( Bicknell) Rock- wood: married (second) Widow Abigail (Craft) Ruggles. of Roxbury, Massachusetts ; he was of Medfield: selectman and repre- sentative for Medfield in the general court. 1689-92-1702 : he died in Medfield. November 12, 1716 "the last of the original settlers."

( II) Peter, fifth son of Henry Adams, of Braintree, was born in England. 1622, died about 1600. He settled in Medfield, Massa- chusetts, in 1652, his wife and son John coin- ing with him from Braintree. He married, and had six children : 1. John, see forward. 2. Rachel. married George, son of George and Mary ( Adams) Fairbanks : she died 1678. 3. Dr. Peter, married Experience Cook, a teacher : he called the first preaching service in Medfield, making use of an old drum used in the Indian wars: Savage says he was a phiv- sician of Medway ; he died December 8. 1723. Hannah, married (first) John, son of Joshua Fisher : married ( second) Joseph. son of John Metcalf: she died 1746. 5. Mary. 6. Jonathan ( 2). 7. Ruth. 8. Joseph, married Mary, daughter of Charles Davenport, of Dorchester. Massachusetts ; his will was proved December 27. 1746. 9. Dr. Samuel. married Sarah Savin: he was called a "cord- wainer." and the records say he practiced medicine : he died 1731. 10. Henry, died young.

(III) John, eldest child of Peter and Rachel Adams, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He was a farmer and removed to Canterbury,

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Connecticut. Hle married ( second), April 2. 1685, Michael Bloice, of Watertown, Massa- chusetts. She is there recorded as "Mychall," daughter of Richard and Mychall ( Jenneson ) Bloice, also "Boyce." She was born April 3. 1664, died February 26, 1724. Children : 1. Samuel, died April 24, 1742 ; married ( first ) Mary Plimpton, ( second) Margaret Adams. 2. Mary. 3. Patience. 4. Ruth, married Abraham Paine; they removed to Dutchess county, New York. 5. Josiah, died young. 6. Captain John, died 1762, aged sixty-six years; he married Mrs. Abigail ( Cleveland ) Brown, daughter of Josiah and Abigail (Paine) Cleveland. 7. Isaac, see forward. 8. Richard, died April 17, 1733 ; married Mary Cleveland. 9. John. 10. Abigail. 11. Bethia. 12. Captain Michael, died August 26, 1776; married Sarah Shuttleworth; he was of Thompson, Connecticut.

(IV) Isaac, fourth child of John and Michael (Bloice) Adams, was born in Med- field, Massachusetts, January 30, 1697-98. He was of Canaan, Connecticut. June 28, 1751, he bought land and settled at Salisbury, Con- necticut, which he later deeded to his son Jeremiah. In January, 1752, he deeded to his brother, Captain John, all his right and in- terest in his father's estate. He died in Salis- bury, November 24. 1763. He married Feb- ruary 17, 1728, Zerviah Brown, of Canter- bury, Connecticut, who died in Salisbury, July 20, 1787, aged seventy-five years. Children : 1. Phineas, married Elizabeth Sel- leck ; he was the executor of his father's will; he died January 7, 1779. 2. Joshua, see for- ward. 3. Jeremiah, removed to Poultney, Ver- mont ; served in Captain Zebediah Dewey's company in March and October, 1780, and in 1781 in Captain Abraham Moseley's company ; he died in Hampton, Washington county, New York, May 23, 1816, aged eighty-four years.

(V) Joshua, second son of Isaac and Zer- viah (Brown ) Adams, was born in Canter- bury, Connecticut, June 2, 1731. He settled in Egremont. Massachusetts, where July 6, 1768, Joshua Adams, yeoman, is said to be "of Tanconnock Mountain, in the county of Berkshire, province of Mass. Bay." February 2. 1772, Joshua Adams was "of Egremont," and deeded land to one Van Gilder, of Noble- town, Albany county, New York. Children, all born in Egremont, Massachusetts: I. Joshua (2), born 1757; enlisted in Captain Carr's company, Eighth Massachusetts regi- ment, November, 1779. A Joshua Adams, supposed to be the same man, was a private from Egremont in Captain Ingersoll's com- pany. Colonel David Brewster's Berkshire regiment, enlisted May 22, 1775, and served

for two months. "Joshua Adams, of Alford, Mass.," was awarded a bounty of two hun- dred acres of land, or $20 cash, for services in the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment. 2. Benjamin. 3. Dr. Peter Charles, see for- ward. 4. Peletiah, settled in Albany, New York; married Hannah Best, and died 1827, aged sixty-two years. 5. Thomas. 6. Char- lotte. 7. Olive.

(\1) Dr. Peter Charles Adams, son of Joshua Adams, was born in Egremont, Massa- chusetts, June 12, 1673. died September 3, 1823. He was sheriff of Greene county, 1802- 06, and represented the county in the state senate, 1806-09. He married, September, 1785, Christina Van Bergen, born February 26, 1767, died August 11, 1833. Children, all born in Coxsackie, New York : 1. Dr. Henry, see forward. 2. Rhoda, married Isaac A. Hollenbeck, no issue. 3. Peter, died 1814, 1in- married. 4. William Van Bergen, died 1861, unmarried. 5. Herman Cuyler, died March 8, 1876; married Adeline, daughter of Roswell Reed, of Coxsackie. 6. Eleanor Eliza, died 1832, unmarried. 7. Anna Maria, married Walter R. Jones; she died July 31, 1845. 8. Charlotte Christina, married (first) Henry Tomlinson, (second) William Farmer.

(VII) Dr. Henry Adams, eldest son of Dr. Peter Charles and Christina (Van Bergen) Adams, was born in Coxsackie, New York, January 6, 1787, died at Cohoes, New York, July 6, 1857. He adopted the profession of medicine, and in 1849 removed to Cohoes, New York. He was a devout Christian, as well as a skillful physician, and was greatly esteemed in the city where he was known as the "beloved physician." Dur- ing the war of 1812 he was brigade- surgeon at Sackett Harbor, New York. He is buried in the family plot at

Coxsackie. He married, in 1823, Agnes, daughter of Anthony Egberts, an officer of the revolutionary army. Children all born in Coxsackie, New York; Hon. Charles Henry, see forward: Evalina M., born January 23, 1830, died January, 1854, she married Rev. Charles Newman Waldron, LL.D., of Cohoes, New York, died in Detroit, Michigan; Eg- bert E., born 1832, died 1848.

(VIII) Hon. Charles Henry Adams, eldest son of Dr. Henry and Agnes (Egberts) Adams, was born in Coxsackie, New York, April 10, 1824.

He was educated at the Albany Academy ; after studying law he was admitted to the bar and practiced his profession in Al- bany until 1850, when he removed to Cohoes, and operated the Watervliet Mills in that city, which was his home for thirty years. He

HUDSON AND MOHAWK VALLEYS

was not only a leading manufacturer of the city, and one of her most active, progressive business men, but was a most prominent and well-known citizen in public official life. He was elected the first mayor of Cohoes under the city charter, was president of the water board that gave to Cohoes its wonderful sys- tem of water power supply that turns the wheels of industry in so many mills in that city. He was president of the First National Bank of the city of Cohoes many years ; presi- dent of the National Knit Goods Association, in fact while in Cohoes was interested in all that pertained to the welfare of the city. He invested heavily in real estate, built the Eg- berts Woolen Mills, presented the city with a much needed steam engine "as an expression of my personal interest in the welfare of the community." ("Adams steamer" is still in service, doing valiant service and successfully competes with newer rivals.) He built busi- ness blocks, fostered new enterprises, and was one of the purchasers of Grandview Park, and had it laid out as a park for the use of the city. He was greatly appreciated in the city, and when he returned from Europe, during his incumbency of the mayor's office, was accorded a most enthusiastic and cordial public reception. When the news of his death was made public, the flags on the City Hall were displayed at half mast and the general grief was most remarkable. Mr. Adams had a most distinguished political career. He was aide-de-camp with rank of colonel to Gov- ernor Hunt in 1851, member of the assembly in 1857; state senator, 1872-73: member of congress from the Albany district, 1876. He was presidential elector in 1873, and was ap- pointed by President Grant United States commissioner to the World's Fair and Expo- sition in Vienna, 1873. About the year 1880 he removed to New York City, where he continued to be interested in business. There he was president of the Mercantile Corpora- tion of the United States and South Africa ; director of the Bank Clerk's Corporation Building and Loan Association, and trustee of the Metropolitan Savings Bank, retaining as well his large interests in Cohoes. He was truly a man of affairs, and had many interests in life outside business and politics. He had artistic and scientific tastes that he gratified, and hold memberships in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Geograph- ical Society, He was proud of his descent from a famous ancestry, and connected him- self with the New York Genealogical and Biographical Society, and the Sons of the American Revolution. His social interests were conserved by membership in the Metro-

politan Club and St. Nickkodu: Clubof New York. He was of a most charitable moi ben- evolent disposition, but so mode-t and retir- ing that his benefactions were known only to the giver and the beneficiary.

He married, September 15, 1853. Eliza- beth, daughter of William Barnes Platt, of Rhinebeck, New York. She died in 1866, leaving two children: Mary Egberts, born in Rhinebeck, New York, 1854, married Robert Johnston, of Cohoes, who died two years later, leaving a son Robert ; William Platt Adams, see forward. He married (second) Judith Crittenden, daughter of Chapman and Mary (Crittenden) Coleman, of Louisville, Kentucky. Children: Agnes Ethel; Judith Berlina (Mrs. E. C. Converse, Jr.).

(IX) William Platt, only son of Hon. Charles Henry and Elizabeth ( Platt) Adams, was born in Rhinebeck, New York, February 18, 1859. He is a lineal descendant of Presi- dents John and John Quincy Adams. Through his great-grandmother, Christina (Van Ber- gen) Adams, he is descended from Captain Martin Van Bergen, who came from Holland in 1630, and also from Major Derrick Wessel Ten Broeck, mayor of Albany. llis great- great-grandmother, Nellie Salisbury Van Ber- gen, was a great-granddaughter of the famous Admiral Salisbury ; his grandmother, Agnes (Egberts) Adams, was a daughter of An- thony Egberts, who was an officer in the American army during the revolutionary war, and a sister of Egbert Egberts, the father of the knit goods industry in Cohoes, first presi- dent of the National Bank of Cohoes and the donor of Egberts Institute to the city.

William Platt Adams was educated at De Garmo Academy at Rhinebeck, from which he was graduated 1875. After finishing his pre- paratory course he matriculated at Union Col- lege, where he made an enviable record. graduating A.B., class of 1879. He won both the Clark and Allen prizes for excellence in literary work and was chosen class orator. Ile was prominent also in athletics, and on several occasions brought his college colors first over the winning line in running con- tests. In 1880 he formed a partnership with John L. Newman, of Albany, for the manu- facture of knit underwear, locating their mills at Cohoes, which has since been his home. This connection with Mr. Newman existed ten years, when both retired and have not since been actively engaged in public business. He represented his father's interests in Co- hoes, the latter having removed to New York. Since his father's death. in 1902, he has repre- sented and managed the Adams estate, con- sisting of mills, business blocks and other im-

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proved and unimproved real estate. He di- rects and manages his own private estate and serves as director of the First National Bank of Cohoes, and the Commerce Insurance Com- pany of Albany. He also has large real estate interests in Rhinebeck, New York. His taste for travel is abundantly gratified by frequent journeys at home and abroad, one tour of Europe and foreign lands extending over a period of three years, accompanied by his family. He is a Republican in politics, but the Adams love of public life and prominence is not one of his characteristics. In 1909 he was appointed by Governor Hughes one of the commissioners of the Hudson-Fulton cele- bration, October to November, 1909, and chairman of the committee to accompany the Governor on his up-river trip from New York City to Cohoes. At the latter city, which was the culmination point of the cele- bration, Governor and Mrs. Hughes were en- tertained during their stay by Mr. and Mrs. Adams at their beautiful home. In 1910 he is a trustee of Union College, and a member of the Graduate Council. He is a member and an elder of the Dutch Reformed church of Cohoes. He is a member of the college fraternity, Alpha Delta Phi, and of the Alpha Delta Phi Club of New York City. He has been a member of the County and Castle Club, Isle of Wight. England; the St. Nich- olas of New York City, and is a member of the Waterford Country Club ; University Club of Albany, of Troy Chapter. Sons of the Revolution. Dutchess County Society of New York, and the American Club in Paris.

He married, January 23, 1884, at Red Hook, New York, Katherine Whiteman, born at Red Hook, daughter of Jacob W. Elseffer, born in Red Hook, September 6, 1831, died November 15, 1907, a prominent attorney of Dutchess county, New York, and descendant of a family founded in that county a century and a half ago. In 1580 Louis Elzvier, a printer, left Germany for Holland to escape religious agitations, and soon thereafter books hearing the imprint of "Elzvier" appeared. He had seven sons, five following the business of their father and becoming distinguished therein, and the other two returning to the highlands of Germany. From this noted fam- ily of printers, whose fame spread through- out the civilized world as the printers of the Elzvierian Bibles, a male descendant came to America in 1738 and settled in Rhinebeck. Since then the now Elseffer family have been prominent in Dutchess county, holding vari- ous high positions in financial and political life. Through the Whitemans the Elseffers are descended from Jacob Sharpe, who had

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume IV, Part 20

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed Publication date: 1911 Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company Number of Pages: 660

Author: Reynolds, Cuyler, 1866-1934, ed
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: New York, Lewis historical publishing company
Number of Pages: 660