Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 103

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374

USA > New York > Albany County > Landmarks of Albany County, New York > Part 103

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Turner, John H., was born in England, June 12, 1821, and is a son of Peter, a son of Reginald, who lived and died in England at the age of ninety-five. The wife of

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Peter Turner was Sarah Lawton, born in England. The parents of John H. came to America about 1827 and settled in Berne, where he died in 1839 and his wife died in 1857. John H. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He had two brothers and three sisters, of whom one brother and two sisters are now living. Mr. Turner worked out by the day and month for five years, and in 1858 bought the farm of 150 acres which he now owns. In 1845 he married Eliza Norton, by whom nine children have been born: Sarah A., Emma, Lydia, Newton, Bertha, Charles (deceased), Wesley (deceased), Channing, and Eliza. Channing was edu- cated for a physician and died at Oak Hill after practicing for one year.

Veeder, Peter J., was born in the town of Guilderland, on the Veeder homestead, in 1831. Volkert Veeder, the great grandfather, was a native of Albany county and an agent of Stephen Van Rensselaer, and was also an active worker in the coloniz- ing of this territory. He owned 1,180 acres of land in one body, on the Glass House and Norman's Kill, which was on the Van Ball's patent. He was active and enter- prising and owned one mile of land on the Norman's Kill and two miles on Glass House Creek. He reared four sons and three daughters. Peter, the grandfather, was born in Guilderland on the homestead, where he died when thirty-five years of age. His wife was Ellen Bullock, daughter of Matthew Bullock, by whom five chil- dren were born: John B., Ellen, Annie and Peter. John B., the father, was born on the same farm, and died on a portion of this tract, which farm his son William D). now owns. He spent his life successfully as a farmer and left a good property valued at $16,000. His wife was Ellen Holmes of New Scotland, daughter of Sey- mour Holmes, a successful farmer of that town. To them were born three children : John S. (deceased). Peter J. and William D. He died August 12, 1864, and his wife died in 1850. Mr. Veeder is trustee of the Presbyterian church and was later elected elder, which office he held up to the time of his death. Peter J. received his educa- tion at the Charlotteville Boarding School and Princeton Academy in Schenectady county. In 1854 he entered the junior class at Union College. He returned to the farm and remained with his father until the latter's death. He then purchased the personal property and conducted the farm of 148 acres. This he conducted until 1874, when he sold his interest to his brother William, and removed to the village of Guilderland, and eight years later purchased the property where he now resides. In 1892 he was appointed by Governor Flower as United States loan commissioner. which position he held for three years. In 1866 he married Emma Weaver, born in Watervliet and daughter of Daniel Weaver. He has been trustee of the Presby- terian church for twenty-five years and treasurer for seven years. For a number of years Mr. Veeder has been retired from active business. The Veeder family dates back to 1616, when the first Veeder came to America from Holland. He was granted a large tract of land in what is now Albany county. Van Rensselaer was later granted a tract of land by the queen, covering the Veeder tract. Van Rensselaer endeavored to dispossess Veeder, and the litigation that followed ended in leaving 1,180 acres in the possession of Veeder. Van Rensselaer being English, and favored by the crown, the arbitrators returned the above decision.

Ferguson, William H., was born in the town of New Scotland in 1845 on the farm he and his brother Andrew now own. The farm was bought by his grandfather, Lot Ferguson, in 1812, who was a native of West Chester county, N. Y., and born in

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1764. He came to New Scotland in 1785, where he followed teaching. Here he met and married Miss Anna Bruce, a native of the place; he then purchased and settled on a tract of land on Black Creek; meeting with misfortunes on this farm, he sold it and in 1812 purchased and settled on the farm now occupied by William HI. and Andrew Ferguson ; here he met with unusually good success and accumu- lated a large property. His children were William, John, Michael, Hannah and Elizabeth. He died August 17, 1829, and his wife March 5, 1847. William, the father of William H. Ferguson, was born on his father's farm in 1800; after the death of his father he purchased the farm of the heirs and spent his life there. His wife was Jane E., daughter of William and Helen (Murray) Fuller, and their chil- dren were William H., Andrew, Ellen, Alice, John, Edmund, Margaret and Ada. He died in 1879 and his wife in 1886. William H. Ferguson attended the common schools, and a select school two terms. He learned the carpenter's and builder's trade, also coopering, wagonmaking and millwright work, studied engineering and learned it practically by running his own engine, and so made himself master of details in running their extensive cider and vinegar factory. William, Andrew and John built a new mill in 1865 and put in better presses with large wooden smashers ; the business grew and in 1881-82 the present mill was built, 52 by 54, with a sixteen horse power steam engine to run the machinery, with the latest improved grinders and presses, William taking charge and operating it. In 1882 they put in the quick process for making vinegar and their goods are much sought after. Mr. Ferguson studied chemistry for twelve years and was a close student of the chemical change of cider when passing from the juice to the finished cider or vinegar, and became an expert in that line. He has invented several improvements, which are in use and greatly benefit the manufacturers. He is a regular correspondent for several jour- nals which are devoted to the trade and the manufacture of cider and vinegar, and is considered the highest authority. It is an acknowledged fact that he has defended the cause of the cidermakers of the United States, without recompense, and has done more for them than any other man in America. He is a member of the New York State Cider and Vinegar Association. From 1882 to 1891 he was on the road a portion of each year, selling and erecting vinegar machines. In addition to the cider and vinegar factory the brothers run a box factory, in which they use annually many thousand feet of planed lumber. In 1894 they put in fruit evaporators, with which they are now doing an extensive business, nearly their entire product going direct to Germany and France. The homestead they have changed from a grain and stock farm to a fruit farm. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Odd Fellows, Voorheesville Lodge, of which he is past grand. In 1868 he married Emma, daugh- ter of Isaac and Lauraetta (Sprung) Morrison of East Greenbush, and their children are Lulu May and Nellie Hendrick.

Walker, Charles Ashbel, son of Alphonso and Jeannette (Judd) Walker, both natives of Albany, was born in the capital city June 23, 1843. His father was a dry goods merchant there and died in 1854, aged thirty-five. His mother was a descendant of Thomas Judd, a colonial settler of Connecticut. Mr. Walker was educated in the public schools of Albany, and at the outbreak of the Rebellion was clerk to Speaker Littlejohn of the Assembly and also a member of Co. B, Washington Continentals. In the spring of 1861 he enlisted in Co. I, 5th N. Y. Vols., Duryee's Zouaves, was

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promoted corporal, and assisted his regiment in building Fort Federal Hill at Balti- more. In the spring of 1862 the regiment joined the 5th Army Corps of Mcclellan's Army of the Potomac, at Fortress Monroe en route to 'Richmond, where it partici- pated in the seven day's fight and where Mr. Walker was wounded at Gaines Mills, May 27, 1862. At the close of Mcclellann's campaign he was sent to New York city with a detachment under Major Hull to raise another regiment of Zouaves to form a brigade under Gen. G. K. Warren, his old regimental commander. This became the 165th N. Y. Vols., 2d Duryee's Zouaves, in which Mr. Walker was commissioned second lieutenant. The new regiment was ordered to the Department of the Gulf under General Banks and served through the Port Hudson, Louisiana and Texas campaigns. Mr. Walker was promoted first lieutenant and captain and brevetted for meritorious service with rank of major by Gov. R. E. Fenton in 1864. He was then detached and sent to Riker's and Hart's Islands in New York harbor for his regi- ment's quota of conscripts, and while there was assistant adjutant-general on Gen. H. W. Wessel's staff, commandant of post and provost-marshal in charge of 3,500 rebel prisoners, whose release he superintended on their taking the oath of allegi- ance. He was mustered out of service September 15, 1865, and on returning to Albany became successively second and first lieutenant of Co. B, Washington Conti- nentals (now the 10th Regt. N. G. S N. Y.), and was also brevetted captain in the National Guard. He remained with this regiment until January 1, 1876, when he removed to New York city, where he has since resided. On October 1, 1866, he be- came associated with the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad in the freight depart- ment at Albany. This road is now a part of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co. system, and of the latter company Mr. Walker has been treasurer since 1890. He has been in the service of these roads thirty-one years, rising by gradation through every department. He is a trustee of the Franklin Savings Bank"and a member of the Colonial Club, both of New York city; a member of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, a member of the Albany Society of New York, member of Veteran Associations of the 5th N. Y. and 165th N. Y. Vols. in New York city, and a director in the Albany & Susquehanna, New York & Canada, Schenec- tady & Duanesburgh, Cherry Valley, Sharon & Albany, Adirondack, and Rutland Railroad Companies, and the Adirondack Stage Co. In politics he has always been a Republican.

De Voe, David, was born December 3, 1837, the oldest of ten children (nine of whom are living), born to Henry I. and Sarah V. (Winne) De Voe. He attended the district school until sixteen years of age, followed by two terms at Fort Plain (N. Y.) Seminary. He then followed farming up to the time of the beginning of the war of the Rebellion, with the exception of teaching school one winter. Under the first call for 75,000 men he enlisted on the second day after the call in the 18th N. Y. Vols., Colonel Jackson's Regiment. He was engaged in both Bull Run battles, both attacks on Fredericksburg, at South Mountain and Antietam. His father died in April, 1862, and he obtained a furlough to come home, thereby escaping the dangers and priva- tions of the Peninsula campaign, and returned and served his term of enlistment, being corporal when he was discharged. In 1866 he went on a whaling voyage, and serving ten months left the ship at the Island St. Catharina, Brazil, whence he went to Montevideo, spent ten months between there and Buenos Ayres and Paraguay,

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and returned thence to New Orleans, arriving at the latter place April ?, 1868, hav- ing been gone two years. He has taught school nineteen winter terms, and has been assessor six years; in politics he is a Democrat. February 14, 1884, he married Sarah J. Warner, widow, whose maiden name was Bolster. His mother died No vember 13, 1891.

Swarthout, William, born in Westerlo, January 10, 1829, was a son of George W. and Catherine (Patre) Swarthout, and grandson of Peter Patre, and Cornelius Swart- hout. Peter Patre was a native of Holland and an early settler of Westerlo. Cor- nelius Swarthout came from Dutchess county to Westerlo in pioneer days. George W. Swarthout was a farmer of Westerlo and a Whig, then Republican in politics, and a member of the Dutch Reform church. He died in 1857 and his wife in 1870. William Swarthout was brought up on the farm and in 1855 married Catherine, daughter of John Crawford of Westerlo, and they have one son, George W., who married Annie Adrience, daughter of George Adrience, farmer of Westerlo. George W. Swarthout works the homestead farm with his father, which consists of 104 acres ; they also carry on a farm of C. Hinckley of 140 acres. In politics they are Repub- licans.

Gilbert, Edmond J., was born in Troy in 1847, and has devoted much of his time to the public service of his country. He is a son of A. J. Gilbert and was left moth- erless at three years of age. When sixteen years of age he enlisted in Company A, 21st New York Cavalry, and endured all the privations of a soldier. He was cap- tured at Ashby's Ford and incarcerated in Libby prison for three and a half months After one year in Panama, with the Panama Railroad Company, as a machinist, he enlisted in the regular army artillery in the capacity of sergeant major, remaining for three years. He is a member of the G. A. R , and his private business began with the Gilbert Car Company, in 1870, where he superintended the machine shops; he was for three and a half years in Brazil for the same Company as superintendent of construction. Mr. Gilbert has been collector of the village, and is now president of the tenth district.

Bloomingdale, John P., an old and highly respected citizen of the town, was born in 1818. John, his grandfather, was a farmer in Guilderland. He was twice mar- ried; by the first marriage two sons were born and by the second several sons and daughters. Peter, his father, was a farmer of Guilderland. His wife was Lydia Gray, daughter of Robert Gray, who was a hotel-keeper. Their children were Lucan, Jane Mary. Ann, Lydia, John P., Robert, and Peter. Mr. Bloomingdale remained on the farm, assisting his father, until twenty-six years of age, when he began for himself at farming at which he continued many years, with unusually good success. He added from time to time to his real estate possessions until he owned many farms throughout the county, and at the time of his death owned five farms containing sev- eral hundred acres, and also for years was an extensive money loaner. In 1871 he retired to the village of Guilderland Center, where he owned a large amount of real estate and there devoted a number of years of his time to the building of residences and disposing of them. He erected among other buildings a large cigar factory, which he leased. Mr. Bloomingdale will long be remembered by many to whom he has rendered financial assistance at opportune times. In 1839 he was married to Hannah Young of the town of New Scotland, and daughter of George Young; to

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them was born one son, Joel, of New Salem. His wife died very young, and five years after her death he married Mary M., daughter of Frederick Crounse of Guilder- land. She died in 1870. Mr. Bloomingdale died in July, 1896.

White, Isaac, was born in the town of Berne, September 30, 1837. His great- grandfather, Leonard Berkeman, was an Orangeman, living in the North of Ireland. Mary, his daughter, while a young girl in her native place, was playing one day on the dock, at a time when a ship was about to sail for America. Owing to the jeal- ousy which existed between the Catholes and the Protestants, she was kidnapped. She was allowed to come on board the ship where she was seized and cast into the hold and not permitted to come above until the ship was far out to sea. She was brought to America and sold for her passage. She married James White, an Eng- lishman, and they settled in town of New Scotland. Frederick White, his grand- father, was born on his father's homestead in New Scotland. David, the father of Isaac White, was also a native of New Scotland and was a farmer and speculator in live stock. He settled in town of Berne, where he owned a large farm. Some years later he exchanged this farm for another in town of New Scotland and there lived to time of his death in 1847. His wife was Hannah Schermerhorn of Berne, and their children were: Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Elias, Frederick, Margaret, Harriet and Jeremiah. His wife survives him and now resides in New Salem. Isaac White grew to manhood in New Scotland and attended the common district schools. In 1858 he returned to the town of Berne with his mother, where she bought a farm; he later purchased half of this farm and subsequently the other half, to which he has added several farms, now owning over 500 acres, the most of which he superin- tends himself. He was one of the organizers of the Berne Cheese Company, of which he is now president and stockholder in the factory. Mr. White has repre- sented his town on the Board of Supervisors two terms and filled other minor offices. He has provided all of his children with liberal educational advantages, all of whom are teachers except the youngest. In 1865 he married Miss Melvina E. Flansburg, and their children are Elsie, Frank, Elias, Emma and Floyd.

Abrams, John D., was born in Vermont, July 1, 1826, and was a son of Daniel and Althea Drake, he born in Long Island and his wife in Vermont. They came to Westerlo in 1827, thence to Rensselaerville, and thence to Greene county, where he died September, 1879, and she, April, 1878. John D. Abrams was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. November 16, 1858, he married Caroline Travis, daughter of David and Susan Root. David Travis was born in Dutchess county January 21, 1783, and died in Rensselaerville, December 19, 1871; his wife was born in Greene county March 10, 1790, and died in Rensselaerville February 20, 1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Abrams was born one daughter, Allie S., wife of William F. Van Valkenburgh of Greene county. Mr. Abrams was a Whig and is now a Repub- lican. The family attend the Baptist church. Mr. Abrams owns 160 acres of land, which he bought in 1873.

Fitch, Dr. John H., was born in New Scotland, April 2, 1837. His father, Ebe- nezer A. Fitch, was a descendant in the sixth generation from Rev. James Fitch, who emigrated from England in 1638 and was one of the founders of Norwich, Conn., where he preached over fifty years. The mother of Dr. Fitch was Eliza, daughter of John A. Crounse and granddaughter of David Martin, a soldier of the

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Revolution. Dr. Fitch received his education at the New York Conference Semi- nary, Charlotteville, N. Y., and at the New York State Normal School at Albany, from which institution he was graduated in 1858. He spent two years in teaching and in September, 1861, enlisted in Co. D, 48th N. Y. State Infantry. He served three years, seeing much active service and was honorably discharged in 1864. He commenced the study of medicine in 1866 and was graduated from the New York Eclectic Medical College in 1868. He commenced practice in New York city and was house surgeon of its dispensary, demonstrator of anatomy two years and in 1870 was appointed adjunct professor of anatomy. He removed to Albany in 1872, where he was surgeon in the Albany Homeopathic Hospital in 1872-73; since 1873 he has resided in New Scotland Dr. Fitch has been to some extent a contributor to cur- rent medical literature, is the author of articles in "The Encyclopedia of Materia Medica Pura," and in conjunction with Dr. R. E. Kinze of New York, of a work en- titled ". A Monograph on Cactus," published in 1875. He is a member of the Albany Homeopathic Medical Society and of the International Hahnemann Association ; is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Masonic fraternity. Dr. Fitch was married in 1874, to Mary, daughter of A. W. Twitchell, of Albany, who died in 1882 and by whom he had one daughter, May. In 1884 he married Melissa, daughter of James McCulloch, of New Scotland.

Wright, Fred, was born in the town of Berne, January 26, 1861. John S., the great-grandfather, was a resident of the town of Berne, and was a farmer by occu- pation and also burned charcoal in large quantities. He reared a large family and died in 1850 at the age of seventy years. Silas, the grandfather, was a resident of Clarksville, was born in the town of Berne in 1812, and spent many years of his life as a miller in different places. He served the town of Berne as supervisor and held other offices for several terms. Since 1856 he has resided in Clarksville, where he conducted a mill for many years and later engaged in the mercantile business, which he continued until he retired from active business life. He was postmaster for sixteen years and was also justice of the peace. He is alive and enjoys good health. Jacob M., the father, was born in Berne in 1836, and spent his early life on the farm and attended the common schools. His first enterprise was that of a hotel- keeper in his native town, and during the late war was employed by the Remington Firearms Company in their factory at Ilion; later he was janitor at the Normal School in Albany, where he remained for five years, and then conducted a livery for some time. In 1878 he removed to Clarksville and erected buildings and put in a baking furnace and has been interested in the baking business since. He served as tax collector while in the town of Berne. His wife is Celinda E., born in Berne and a daughter of John and Charity Bell. To them were born three children: Silas J., deceased ; Fred, and Charles J., deceased. Fred spent his early life on his father's farm and attended the common schools and the Albany public schools. He delivered bread for his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in the cigar business as jobber, doing his own selling. In 1884 he returned to Clarksville, where he has ever since been engaged in the bakery business. He has also been in- terested in various enterprises, and officiated as town clerk in 1886. He is a mem- ber of the Knights of Pythias, of the National Union of Albany, and Schuyler Coun- cil No. 705. In 1886 he married Emma, daughter of Martin S. Van Derzee, and have one child, Maud.

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Clapp, Augustus Henly, was born in Albany, August 18, 1865. He is a descend- ant of Richard Clapp of Dorset, England, whose son Thomas, born 1597, came to America in 1833. He first settled in Scituate, Mass., but soon removed to Dorches- ter, Mass., of which town he enrolled as freeman in 1638. In 1649 he was deputy to the General Court ; died April 20, 1684. His wife's name was Abigail. Their son, Thomas, born May 15, 1639, died 1703, married Mary Fisher. They were the par- ents of Samuel, born August, 1682; he married first, Elizabeth Fethers, second Bertha Dean ; parents of Samuel, born July 6, 1710, married Mary Dean. He repre- sented his town in the General Court; parents of Noah, born 1747, died November 10, 1820. He married Olive Shepard, who died in 1845 at ninety-one years. They were the parents of Reuel Clapp, born April 4. 1792, who in early manhood came to Albany, N. Y., where he became its chief builder and contractor. During the last thirteen years of his life he was principal proprietor aud manufacturer of Townsend's Sarsaparilla, in its day a most popular and curative medicine. He died of heart- failure January 14, 1850. He married, June 26, 1816 Eliza, daughter of Roelof and Catharine Coon, of Holland descent, by whom six children were born, all of whom are dead, leaving no descendants. After death of Eliza he married Sarah, sister of his first wife, December 23, 1830, to whom one daughter, Sarah, was born February 29, 1832, died September 25, 1859, married Thomas B. Van Alstyne 1851; left sur- viving her, son, Thomas B. Van Alstyne, of Tustin, Cal., lawyer and fruit grower. After the death of his second wife Mr. Clapp again married, January 13, 1836, Hul- dah Miles, daughter of the Rev. Noah Miles of Temple, N. H. ; she survived her hus- band and died in her eighty-eighth year, February 12, 1891. Of her marriage four children were born, two of whom died in infancy: Charles, born February 2, 1839, died December 13, 1873; Edwin Apollos, born June 19, 1840, died October 13, 1880, who after receiving an academic education became a druggist and pharmacist; he served in the Rebellion as assistant surgeon 25th N. Y. Vols. ; he married Josephine, daughter of the late Edward Henly of Albany. Four children, Reuel Frederick, Augustus Henly, Marie Josephine and Cora Miles, survive. Augustus was educated in the Albany schools and at fourteen became a clerk in the book store of Bernard Quinn, with whom he remained twelve years. In May, 1892, he started his present book, stationery and periodical business.

Bloomingdale, Hon. Frank, was born in the town of Guilderland, in July, 1852. He is a son of Adam Bloomingdale, who was also born in this town in 1823. He was one of three sons: Jacob, John and Adam, born to Adam, who was a farmer in Guilderland. Adam, the father, grew to manhood on his father's farm, and in 1849, when twenty-six years of age, went to California to seek his fortune in the gold mines. He remained in California for four years, meeting with some success, and returned to New York city, where he remained three years, and then returned to his native town and engaged in farming. After some years he removed to Schenectady and interested himself in the hay and straw business; ten years later he moved to Voorheesville, where he died in April, 1894. He was twice married; his first wife was Margaret Van Waggoner, daughter of Jacob and Mary Van Waggoner of Rhinebeck. They had six children, of whom three sons and one daughter grew to maturity. His wife died in 1879, at the age of fifty-two. Frank was reared to farm life and attended the common schools. When he was eighteen years of age his

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 103

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason Number of Pages: 1374

Author: Parker, Amasa Junius, 1843-1938, ed
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason
Number of Pages: 1374