Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume IV, Part 75

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

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John De Witt Peltz married (first) at Al- bany. New York, April 16, 1881, Mary Mar- vin Learned, born at Albany, April 16, 1856, died at Colorado Springs, Colorado, Novem- ber 23, 1888, daughter of Judge William Law and Phoebe Rowland ( Marvin) Learned. Children: 1. William Law Learned, born at Albany, graduated from Albany Academy and Yale, 1904: married, at Albany, April 29. 1007, Katharine, daughter of Dr. Edward Reynolds Ilun, and had Caroline, who was born at Albany, and William Learned, who was born at Albany. 2. Philip, born at Al- bany, April 20, 1884. died there, May 26, 1892. John De Witt Peltz married (second) at Albany, New York, April 5. 1894, Cathar- ine Barnard Walsh, born in Albany, daughter of Augustus Henry and Laura Spencer Walsh. Children: 3. John De Witt, born in Albany and residing there in 1911. 4. Cathar-

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ine Walsh, born in Albany and also residing there in 1911.

(The Walsh Line).

Dudley Walsh was the progenitor of this family in America. He was born in Dublin in 1756, and came to this country soon after the revolution. settling in Albany, New York, where he was a general merchant, and died there May 24. 1816. He formed the firm of Walsh & Staats, which dealt in domestic prod- ucts, imported articles and landed property. Transportation in this state was in a very primitive condition in those days, large wag- ons and sloops being used instead of steam- boats and rail lines. Their business grew rapidly, and becoming extensive, his brother Charles joined him, but died after a few years' residence. His sister Alice, who lived near Dublin, died unmarried, and another sister married an officer in the British army, named Palmer, who was killed in the battle of New Orleans.

Dudley Walsh was a faithful member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church at Albany. His sagacity, energy and integrity rendered his business career very prosperous, and he closed his life with the record of ranking among the most prominent merchants in this country. He had often to contend against adverse con- ditions, but his great ability enabled him to surmount all obstacles. On the retirement of Mr. Staats from their business, he took into partnership Harry Beckman, of New York City, and for many years had branch offices there in lower Broadway, as well as in Al- bany, doing much banking business and being well known in London. The late Myndert Van Schaick, president of the Croton Aque- duct board, said he was one of the first men in this country. He was president of the Bank of Albany, the earliest institution of the kind in that city. He loaned large sums of money to General Stephen Van Rensselaer, the last Patroon. He was a contributor to the found- ing of Union College in 1795, and also con- tributed to the founding of the Albany Boys' Academy. He imported his carriage from London, and his porcelain was brought from China by Captain Stewart Dean aboard his sailing vessel, which was the first to engage in traffic with that distant country, sailing around "the Horn." This rare and beautiful old china is preserved with reverence by the family, as is the Napoleon clock brought from Paris and the celebrated Walsh wine from Madeira. He advanced to Sir William Poult- ney, afterward Earl of Bath, about twenty thousand English pounds sterling, to finance his land purchases in this country, and had much difficulty and considerable delay in get-

ting his money back at a discount from that shrewd and eccentric man.

Dudley Walsh married, Albany, New York, September 24, 1793, Sarah Stevenson, born at Albany, September 25, 1772, died at the Manor House of General Pierre Van Cort- landt, at Croton-on-Hudson, June 22, 1816, and her body was brought to Albany in a sloop. for burial there in the Stevenson vault. Sarah Stevenson's parents were John and Magda- lena (Douw) Stevenson. John Stevenson was born in Albany, March 13, 1735, died there April 24, 1810. He was the first presi- dent of the Albany St. Andrew's Society, organized October 19, 1803, composed of Scotchmen of good standing in the commun- ity. Upon his coat-of-arms, displayed on a copper plate, a gold seal and an old silver salver, still in possession of his descendants, appears the pions legend : Coelum non solum ; Heaven, not Earth. John Stevenson was a neighbor of Philip Livingston, the Signer, living on State street prior to the revolution, and tenants in common of an estate of more than eight thousand acres on the Mohawk, called Lilac's Bush. The original deed of Livingston to Stevenson for half of this prop- erty was in the famous autograph collection of the late Rev. Dr. William Buel Sprague. He also owned other large tracts of land, and a curious record in his family Bible sets- forth that some of his male slaves ran away and one was incarcerated. His earlier mar- ried career was clouded by the loss of several of his children, but despite all adversities he was known as a man of engaging character and well-beloved by brother Scotchmen. His sister married General Gabriel Christie, of Montreal, who had a seigneurie near Rouse. Point, New York. His son, James Stevenson, was born at Albany, November 25, 1788. died there, unmarried, July 3. 1852. and was the

thirty-sixth mayor of Albany, officiating twice, 1826 and 1827, when he resigned office. His son was a warden of St. Peter's Church, trustee of Albany Boys' Academy, one of the first governors of the Albany Hospital, a man of wealth and a polished gentleman. One of John Stevenson's daughters married General Pierre Van Cortlandt, a patriot of the revolu- tion, and known widely as one of nature's noblemen. John Stevenson married, Albany, August 30, 1770. Magdalena Douw, born May 25, 1750, died December 20, 1817, daughter of Mayor Volckert Petrus and Anne (De. Peyster) Douw, her grandfather being Cap- tain Petrus Douw, who married Anna Van Rensselaer, and was thus descended from the. first Patroon, Kiliaen Van Rensselaer. Mag- dalena Douw was also a descendant of Anneke.

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Jans. Through her grandmother De Peyster she was descended from David Pieterse Schuyler, who was a brother of the celebrated Pieter Schuyler, first mayor of Albany. She was also descended from Olof Stevense Van Cortlandt, who came from Holland and settled in New Amsterdam, and established the Van Cortlandt Manor, on the Hudson. John Stevenson's father was James Steven- son, born in 1697, died February 2, 1769, who married, December 9. 1729. Sarah, daughter of Johannes Groenendyk, born March 24, 1675. sheriff of Albany county, who married Delia Cuyler.

Dudley Walsh and Sarah Stevenson had issue, all born in Albany, New York: 1. Mar- garet, born June 23. 1794, died at Albany, October 3, 1794. 2. John Stevenson, born October 14, 1795, see forward. 3. Margaret, born September 24. 1797; betrothed to Peter Gansevoort ; died Albany, November 5, 1817. 4. Infant. 5. Ann, born July 20, 1800, died May 1, 1811. 6. William, born January 23. 1802, died December 1, 1863; married Mary Bay. 7. Catharine, born April 25, 1803, died in 1876; married Hon. Daniel Dewey Barnard, United States minister to Prussia in 1852, by whom, Sarah Walsh, born March 3, 1835, died Albany, August 17, 1903. 8. Sarah, born December 20. 1805, died May 5. 1842: married Richard Varick De Witt. 9. Charles, born May 9, 1807, died at Mur- freesborough, North Carolina. November 8, 1828, unmarried. IO. James, born June 21. 1809, died at Albany, October 23, 1835, un- married. 11. Dudley, born November 5. 1810, died at Albany, July 2, 1811.

(II) John Stevenson, son of Dudley and Sarah ( Stevenson) Walsh, was born at Al- bany. New York, October 14, 1795, died there February 15. 1857. He was a graduate of Yale in 1820: attended St. Peter's Church ; had the rank of major, being appointed to the staff of Governor William L. Marcy. Af- ter his marriage he went into the mercantile business, but soon retired and removed to Mulberry Hill, at Normansville, Albany county, which had been the residence of Mrs. Walsh's grandfather, Judge Ambrose Spen- cer, who was also mayor of Albany. About five years before his death he came back to Albany. He was kind, generous and manly, his sympathies ever alive to the wants of the suffering. He was the kindly, cordial host at many an entertainment, and he lived a life of purity and benevolence. In the latter years of his life a German wished to repay him a loan of two hundred dollars made some thirty years previous. Mr. Walsh had intended it as a gift and did not recognize his caller. The

latter requested him to examine his books and receive the four hundred dollars which had brought him wealth and he was glad to be able to repay it.

John Stevenson Walsh married, Albany, April 27, 1831, Laura Spencer Townsend, born at Albany, April 16, 1811. died there September 15, 1863, daughter of John and Abby (Spencer ) Townsend. John Townsend, born at Sterling Iron Works, New York, June 14. 1783, died at Albany, August 26, 1854; was the thirty-seventh mayor of Albany : presi- dent of the National Commercial Bank; in- corporator of Albany Savings Bank and its vice-president ; organizer of Albany Insurance Company; president of Albany Exchange Company : president of Albany Water Com- mission ; adviser of Governor De Witt Clinton in the project of the Erie canal, and was much esteemed. An uncle of Mr. Townsend's, Peter Townsend, made the great chain stretched across the Hudson at West Point to prevent the English from going up the river. This chain was made at Sterling Iron Works. He married. Albany, July 7, 1810, Abby Spencer, daughter of thirty-fifth mayor of Al- bany, Judge Ambrose Spencer, who was born at Salisbury, Connecticut, December 13. 1765, died at Lyons, New York, March 13. 1848; came to Albany from Hudson, New York, in 1802; was attorney-general in 1802-04; judge of supreme court, 1804; chief justice, 1819- 23: member of constitutional convention. 1821 ; member of congress, 1829-31, a most capable, honest citizen. Mr. Spencer's father- in-law, the Hon. John Canfield, was for many years a judge of the court of Litchfield county, Connecticut : in 1777 he joined Major Sheldon's troop of Light Horse. He served as adjutant in the battle of Saratoga and finally became brigade major. Children of John Stevenson Walsh and Laura Spencer Townsend: 1. Laura Spencer, see forward. 2. John. 3. Dudley. 4. Abby, born in Al- bany. 5. Dudley, born in Albany.

(III) Laura Spencer, daughter of John Stevenson and Laura Spencer (Townsend) Walsh, was born in Albany, New York. She married. at Albany, New York, Augustus Henry Walsh, who was the son of Henry Jansen and Mehitable ( Bull) Walsh. Henry Jansen Walsh was the son of Thomas and Margaret (Brush) Walsh. Thomas Walsh was the son of Thomas and Mary (Higgin- botham) Walsh. Thomas Walsh was the progenitor of his family in this country. to which he came about 1710. Augustus Henry Walsh graduated from Union College when he was nineteen years of age, in 1849. He studied law in New York with the Hon.

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Charles O'Connor, and was admitted to the New York bar in 1852. He had offices at Wall and Hanover streets, New York. Later he moved to Albany, where he was residing in 1911. His ancestors fought in the colonial and revolutionary wars. His grandfather, William Bull, served as captain in the regi- ment of Colonel Oliver Spencer in the revo- lution. His grandmother, Bethia Reeve, was a relative of Judge Tapping Reeve of the Litchfield Law School. Judge Reeve's niece married Governor Alston, of South Carolina. He was also related to the Peppards of Castle Peppard, province of Ulster, Ireland. He is a collateral descendant of Peter Bull, who came to America about 1705 from Wolver- hampton, Staffordshire, England.

Children of Augustus Henry and Laura Spencer Walsh: 1. Laura, died young. 2. Catharine Barnard, born in Albany ; married John De Witt Peltz ( see Peltz V). 3. Henry Stevenson, born in Albany, was educated at the Albany Academy : he is teller in the Me- chanics' & Farmers' Bank, and is a member of the Fort Orange Club, the Young Men's Christian Association, Ridgefield, Burns and Country clubs. 4. Richard Varick De Witt, born in Albany, prepared for college at the Albany Academy and graduated from Har- vard in 1889; member of Fort Orange and University clubs, and is in the insurance busi- ness. 5. Julia Stevenson, still living. 6. Townsend, born in Albany, graduated from the Albany Academy and from Harvard Uni- versity in 1895; interested in the drama and newspaper work, and has traveled extensively in Europe and America; member of the Players' Club, New York.

ALEX The Alex family of Albany de- scend from the ancient Alex fam- ily of Saxon-Weimar, Germany, where they have been prominent for many years. The family held a good position in the principality, where they were persons of wealth and held high governmental and ju- dicial positions.

(I) Karl Alex was born in Saxon-Weimar, Germany, about 1780. He owned land and a mill site where he had a flouring mill which he operated until incapacitated by old age. A brother of Karl Alex was a magistrate of an upper court, a corresponding title in the United States to judge of the supreme court. The wife of Karl Alex was a native of the same province. They both died in Germany, where they always lived.

(II) Nicholas, son of Karl Alex, was born in Saxon-Weimar. Germany, in 1812, died in Albany, June 19, 1875. He was educated in

the German schools, and on arriving at a suit- able age was taken into the mill and taught the miller's trade by his father. After master- ing the trade, as then carried on, he left home and worked for two years in mills in differ- ent parts of Germany. He was drawn for service in the German army and continued in the army until the revolution of 1847, when being strongly in sympathy with the revolu- tionists, he escaped from the army and took ship for Liverpool, England .. From there he went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, going from there to Albany, New York, where he resided the remainder of his life. He was a man of large and portly figure, well known and liked among the Germans of Albany. He was prominent in their social, musical and frater- nal societies, and in the Lutheran church. He was a Republican in politics. He married (first) in Albany, Suffers, a sister of Captain Suffers, of Kingston, Pennsylvania. She bore him children: Gustav, Louis and Caroline, all of whom married and have fam- ilies. He married (second) Elizabeth Wol- bert, born in Saxon-Weimar, died in Albany, December 19, 1875. She was a member of the Roman Catholic church. Children, all born in Albany, New York: 1. Catherine, resides in Oakland, California, unmarried. 2. Frederick, a retired ice dealer of Albany : married Mary Mink, and has Mary, Elizabeth and John. 3. Margaret, deceased : was twice married and left issue. 4. John F., see forward. 5. Jacob. an ice dealer of Albany ; married Agnes Mc- Kean and has a daughter Margaret. 6. Eliza- beth, married Peter Anton, and resides in Oakland, California.

(III) John F., son of Nicholas and Eliza- beth (Wolbert ) Alex, was born November 18, 1859. He was educated in the Albany schools. He learned the trade of blacksmith- and wagonmaker. After working as a jour- neyman for several years, he established a shop and factory of his own, which he has successfully conducted up to the present time (1910). The plant is a substantial one and has given employment to a large number of men in the making and repairing departments Mr. Alex is a skilled mechanic and has always been noted for the excellent grade of work turned out of his factory. He inherits his father's large, portly figure and genial, socia disposition that has gained him a wide circle of friends. He is a liberal thinker, Republicar in politics, and while diligent and careful ir business, takes a deep enjoyment in the lightet side of life. He married (first) in Albany, ir 1882, Elizabeth Ruhl, horn in that city, Feb- ruary 12, 1857. who bore him George and Elizabeth; the latter married Edward J

James Sibsen

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Rancke, of Brooklyn, New York, and has a daughter Randaline. IIe married (second) Mrs. Clara (Corey) Woodbeck, born in 1859. died January 11, 1907, daughter of Captain John C. Corey.

Judge James Gibson was a

GIBSON direct descendant of John Gib- son, of Providence, Rhode Island, and through his grandmother is ninth in descent from John Brown, the assistant of Plymouth Colony, and by his mother, seventh in descent from John Townsend, of Warwick, Rhode Island, afterwards of Oyster Bay, Long Island. He was a son of James B. and Mar- garet (Townsend) Gibson. His father was a lawyer of distinction and held in high es- teem in the county. He died May 10, 1827. Margaret, his wife, died July 20, 1825.

(II) James, son of James B. and Mar- garet (Townsend) Gibson, was born at Salem, New York, September 5, 1816. He was eleven years old when his father died, leaving his ·children little beyond his good name and ex- ample. James was educated at Washington Academy, Salem, and while yet a student en- tered the law office of his uncle, Samuel Stev- ens, a former partner of his father, at the time an eminent practitioner and later a lead- ing member of the Albany bar. He studied after his uncle's departure with Cyrus Stev- ens, of Salem, and later with John H. Boyd, of Whitehall. In 1836, at the October term of the supreme court, he was admitted to the bar. He formed a partnership with Cyrus Stevens which continued one year and until the latter removed to Albany. From that time forward Mr. Gibson practiced his pro- fession alone and in his native town, Salem.

He was successful from the beginning. His qualifications were such as to attract the at- tention of the public and in a short time he commanded an extensive practice. Many im- portant cases were committed to his care, in- volving novel questions, requiring deep re- .search into the principles and logic of law and the science of jurisprudence. The first case he tried which was carried to the supreme court on appeal and in which he prepared the argument was that of Prindle vs. Anderson (Reported in 19 Wend, 391). This was a case in which he raised and succeeded in the contention that the receipt of rent by land- lord, after service by him of notice to quit on his tenant, was a waiver of the notice. This decision was affirmed in the court for the cor- rection of errors. In the case of Shaw vs. Beveridge (3 Hill, 26), he succeeded in estab- lishing as law, that an action of trespass would be. for disturbing a party in possession

of a pew in church. In Stevenson vs. Bar- din, tried in 1860, the court held that on his motion that photographs of an instrument alleged to be forged could be used to estab- lish such forgery. As this was the first at- tempt to use photography in the courts the decision was of general interest. After 1853 Mr. Gibson was largely engaged in railroad suits and became attorney for the Boston lloosac Tunnel and Western Railway Com- pany in several important cases, notably, re- opening the Albany Northern railroad.

After becoming a voter, Mr. Gibson became an active Whig, later joining the Republican party. In 1838 he assumed the editorial chair of the Washington County Post, at Salem, and continued as editor through the presiden- tial campaign of 1840, and until January 1, 1841, when he sold the paper. At the first judicial election after the adoption of the con- stitution of 1846, he was nominated by the Whigs as a candidate for justice of the su- preme court. One of his associates on the ticket was Daniel Cady, of Fulton county, who was the only candidate elected. Mr. Gib- son ran over a thousand votes ahead of his ticket but was defeated, his connection with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows oper- ating against him, the feeling against secret societies being very strong. In November, 1850, he was elected judge of Washington county, serving four years with great honor and usefulness. In November, 1866, he was elected state senator from the twelfth sena- torial district composed of the counties of Rensselaer and Washington. He was well known and was placed at the head of com- mittee on claims and on the judiciary commit- tee. He accepted the chairmanship of claims with reluctance, knowing the pressure that would be brought to bear on him to report favorably in iniquitous claims. He served, however, during his entire term; examined and passed on claims against the state aggre- gating over one million dollars and with few and meritorious exceptions, rejected them, in which course he was sustained by the senate. He made a strong effort to have the Cham- plain canal enlarged from Troy to White- hall, had his bill passed in the senate but the house rejected it. He was a member of the senate when George W. Smith, of Oneida county, was tried by the senate for various crimes and misdemeanors. He voted to re- move Judge Smith and in his speech explain- ing his vote, said, "The land wants such as dare, with vigor, execute the laws." He took a very active part in legislation in the senate ; made several speeches and in every way did his full duty as a senator. He was an active

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Republican until 1871, when he became a Lib- eral and later became identified with the Dem- ocratic party. He was always interested in military affairs. In 1840 he raised and was made captain of a company of light infantry attached by special order to the Fiftieth Regi- ment in the state militia. Later he was com- missioned major and lieutenant-colonel, on the disbanding of the Fiftieth he was attached to the Thirtieth Regiment and promoted to the colonelcy of that regiment. During the civil war the Thirtieth was twice filled up by draft in readiness for service, many of the members volunteering into the United States service. In 1867 he became brigadier-general of the Twelfth Brigade which was disbanded in 1874. This was one of the best-drilled and best-disciplined brigades in the state, outside of the large cities. In 1845 Judge Gibson be- came an Odd Fellow, passed the various chairs in Salem Lodge, No. 45, served as dis- trict deputy grand master for the years 1856- 57, and was grand warden of the Grand Lodge of Northern New York in 1857 ; dep- uty grand master in 1858 and grand master in 1859. In 1860 he was elected worshipful master of Salem Lodge. No. 391, Free and Ac- cepted Masons. In 1862 was appointed sen- ior grand deacon of the Grand Lodge of New York. In 1863 he was elected junior grand warden ; in 1865 elected senior grand warden, an office he held three years; in 1868 he was elected grand master and re-elected in 1869. As grand master of the state of New York he, June 8, 1870, assisted by the officers of the Grand Lodge and twelve others of the craft, laid the cornerstone of the Masonic Temple in the city of New York. During his entire connection with the Grand Lodge he occupied a commanding position and served as chairman or member of many important com- mittces. The honor of being grand master of both these leading fraternities is one in which he stands alone in the state, no other man having been grand master of both or- ders. During the civil war he was a strong union man and spoke and worked for the cause. He was a member of the war commit- tec of Salem, that did its duty so well that the town had its quota raised in advance of every draft except the first.

The old Court House in Salem was erected in the year 1800, and had outlasted its useful- ness. The judges, lawyers and laymen com- plained of it, but there was strong opposition from other towns, who wished to get the coun- ty seat away from Salem. In 1868 Judge Gib- son was elected supervisor for the purpose of carrying out the desires of those who wanted the new court house in Salem. In December

of that year he brought the matter before the. board of supervisors who appointed a com- mittee with Mr. Gibson to obtain plans. In January following it was resolved to build in. Salem and he was made chairman of the- building committee. Thirty thousand dollars- was appropriated for the building, and it is worthy of mention that the committee kept the cost within the appropriation. Judge Gib- son was always identified with the cause of education, serving from June 17, 1845, until his death, June 6, 1897, as a member of the board of trustees of Washington Academy. In every way he was closely conected with the development of his village. He drew the charter which went into effect in 1851 which provided for a new school system and drew the agreement between the board of trustees and the academy and the board of education_ of the village, whereby the common schools were consolidated and sheltered within the walls of the academy. This led to the adop- tion of the Union or graded system of educa- tion, that has proved so beneficial to Salem youth. He was elected a member of the board of education soon after its organization and held until his death. In 1860 he assisted in organizing St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Salem, was chosen one of the wardens, and soon afterward was licensed a lay reader by Bishop Potter of the New York diocese in 1860.

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Hudson-Mohawk genealogical and family memoirs, Volume IV, Part 75

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