Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 111

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 111

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dren. Eliza O. Young married Charles Severson and resides in Guilderland, having borne him one child. Gouvenier M. Young resides at Whitewater, Wis., having married Elva Martin of Guilderland, by whom he has had two children, of whom one survives.

Niles, Nathaniel, son of John H. and Fannie (Mosher) Niles, was born in Bethle- hem, Albany county, September 1, 1856, and is a grandson of Nathaniel Niles, who came from Connecticut to Coeymans, Albany county, at an early day and died there in 1876. The latter was prominent in town affairs, serving as supervisor, etc. John H. Niles, a farmer by occupation, died in 1861. Nathaniel Niles attended the public and private schools, was graduated from the Albany Free Academy in 1874 and from Dartmonth College, with the degree of A. B., in 1878, and read law in Albany with Judge Rufus W. Peckham. He was admitted to the bar in 1880 and for a time acted as clerk for Peckham, Rosendale & Hessberg, in whose offices and the offices of their successors, he has successfully practiced his profession ever since. In politics he is a Democrat.

Mead, Charles W., son of Delois L., was born in Clymer, N. Y., December 3, 1843, and pursued his education under private tutors and in the academies of Chautauqua county, graduating in 1863. He completed his collegiate studies at Painesville, Ohio, and for seven years was principal of academies and union schools in his na- tive county. In the fall of 1870 he came to Albany and entered the Albany Law School, from which he was graduated and admitted to the bar in 1871. He imme- diately began the practice of his profession and in 1877 formed a copartnership with Samuel S. Hatt, which still continues, the present firm being Mead, Hatt & Palmer. He is a staunch Republican and in 1882 was appointed a U. S. circuit court commis- sioner, which position he has since held. He takes an active interest in the welfare of the city, was at one time a member of the legislative branch of its government, and has given considerable attention and takes high rank in the social and fraternal organizations of Albany. He is a member of Grand Lodge, F. & A. M., is promi- nently identified with the fraternal co-operative associations, and was the represen- tative of one of the leading orders of the State in the matter of State legislation and one of the framers of the present law governing the same. In 1874 he married M. Marilla Burnap, one of the leading contraltos of Albany, and they have one daugh- ter, Edith M.

Amyot, Bruno E., D. D. S., is a leading member of the dental profession in Cohoes, and is a son of Bruno Amyot, who has been a resident of this place for nearly half a century. He came from Verchérer, Province of Quebec. Doctor AAmyot was born in 1869 in Cohoes and was educated in the parochial schools. At the age of nineteen he entered the New York College of Dentistry, and after two years graduated, in 1890, beginning practice here at once, where he enjoys a large patronage. He is a member of the Third District Dental Society of New York State. September 30, 1896, he married Miss Rosa de Lima Masson of Cohoes.

Berns, James H., was born in 1863, a son of James Berns, an artist; his mother being a teacher, made the home of his childhood a dwelling of culture and refine- ment. Mr. Berns is a Democrat and is a member of the County Committee. James H. is one of the leading young lawyers of Cohoes, and came to the front be- cause of his able handling of the celebrated case of Cahill, who was indicted for

shooting bis Trotfler indaw. Charles Schofield. at Cohoes. In 1892 he entered the Wany Law Soliool, after graduating from the High School and the Albany busi- ness College. After his admission to the bar in 1894, he opened an office and began practice.

Badlook, Joseph, came to Cohoes as early as 1846, and has been a resident here sinve, with the exception of eight years in Lockport, where he was engaged in the Sitting bumpers He was of Dutch ancestry, born in Guilderland, in 1835, and de- opledly a self made man, adding to his limited education by close observation and personal rescarch In 1822 he returned to Cohoes and in 1877 established a baking Diminese, winleh he conducted with marked success until it was purchased in 1894 by his son, John H. Bullock, who still conducts it at No. 116 Remsen street. Mr. Bul- loek is a man of great strength of character and convictions. He appreciates highly the picture of the domicile of his youth where both father and mother were born; it was built in 1704 and is yet intact; the brick in the fireplace and chimney were brought from Holland.

Belanger, Israel, justice of the peace, and a scholarly young man, had the courage and perseverance to break the fetters of circumstances which surrounded his youth, and gain his way to the front "amid the maddening crowd's ignoble strife." When nine years old he began life in the mill where he remained until twenty years of age a & Weaver. He then returned to Joliette, Quebec, where he was born in 1863, and omtered Joliette College. In 1890 he graduated with degree of Bachelor of Letters from Laval University, Quebec, and came to Cohoes. Here he studied law with Hon. George H. Fitts and was admitted to the bar in 1892. Besides his law practice and office duties, he is identified with an insurance and real estate agency. He is now justice of peace of the city of Cohoes.

Campbell, Hon. George, a well known citizen, long identified with the interests of Colmoes, is of Canadian birth, and first located at Cohoes in 1847, and after sixteen years' residence at Waterford, where he learned the machinist's trade and was for a time in partnership with George Gage, he returned to this city in 1863, and estab)- lished with John Clute the present firm. In 1873 they erected a commodious modern Mipek on their old location opposite the Harmony Hotel. He makes a specialty of machinery for knitting, but produces much other work of high grade. Mr. Camp- hell was formerly a leader in local politics, and besides various minor offices pre- viously held, he was elected in 1881 to the Assembly by a large majority.

Carter, William H., superintendent of the carding department of the Tivoli Mills Since 1868. Mr. Carter was born in the city of Albany in 1836, and fourteen years later his father, Michael Carter, moved to Cohoes, when William went to work in the Egberts Mills, where he remained for fifteen years. He was made a foreman in 1560 and took charge of the carding department. In 1868 he became associated with Commodore A. J. Root of the Tivoli Mills, and has for nearly thirty years occupied A responsible position. In 1880 Mr. Carter began operating a mill at Troy with Mr. Corliss, but they were burned out two years later, and the venture was abandoned ; meantime he had maintained his connection with the Tivoli Mills. Mr. Carter is one of the pioneer people of Cohoes. He is a member of several charitable organ- izations.

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Crawford, James F., has been a lawyer in active practice at Cohoes for half a cen- tury, coming here in 1849 after two years' practice in Albany. At the close of an academic course at Augusta, N. Y., where he was born in 1819, he began legal study in Oneida Castle, N. Y., with the late Timothy Jenkins, a lawyer of much prom- inence. After four years he came to Albany and resumed his studies with Edwin C. Litchfield, then district attorney of Albany county. He was admitted to the bar in 1846, and was very successful from the start. As a citizen of Cohoes he has been prominently identified with every interest which has tendered to develop its growth and prosperity. He is a Democrat in politics and was a member of the Legislature in 1866, when the first appropriation was made for the State Capitol.

Clark, William B., was born in New York city in 1858, but has been a resident of Cohoes since he was four years of age. He began business life empty handed, but possessed the sterling qualities of his Scotch ancestors, and has achieved substantial success. In every department of the milling business he has labored, and was eight years in the plumbing business, putting in heating apparatus in the Cascade Mills and other large buildings. The Continental Knitting Company was organized in 1891 as the Clark & Wilson, but John C. Bennett is now the junior partner. He is a member of both the Masonic fraternity and the I. O. O. F.

Dawson, John, late of Cohoes, retired from active business only a short time pre- vious to his death in 1895. At that time he was engaged in the manufacture of knitting needles used here in the hosiery mills. He was born at Nottingham, Eng- land, coming to America when nine years old, and a later year to Cohoes. His father was a lace manufacturer, and he brought his machine here but never used it. Mr. Dawson was a skilled machinist and very successful in all his enterprises. He allied himself with one of the first families here when he married Mary, daughter of John Long. They had seven children: William H., Lincoln J., Lizzie, Maria, Frank R., Alice and Herbert. G.

Elliot, W. J., is city clerk of Cohoes since 1894. He is a young man of wide popu- larity, born in 1860, and is a son of James Elliot. The latter now deceased, was a native of England, but he spent most of his life here as a merchant in the confection- ery line. Mr. Elliot was educated here and first engaged in job printing, the firm being known as Craig & Elliot, and carried on an extensive business. Mr. Elliott is a Republican and is serving his first official engagement with credit.

Foley, Edward, has been one of the leading builders and contractors of Cohoes, where he came in 1865 to take charge of the building of the Cohoes Company dam. He was educated in the county schools of Ireland, where he was born in 1831. He also acquired the mason's trade there, and came to America, to New York city, when he was seventeen years old. After two years he came to Albany and there superintended bridge construction and church building, erecting St. Peter's church and other buildings. In Cohoes he built the Harmony Mill, one of the largest in the world, the Episcopal church, and other smaller buildings. By his untiring efforts he has made a financial success, and now lives a retired life. He has five children, the elder son, Edward, jr., is now a resident of Kansas City, and is engaged in the real estate business.

Garland, Jerome, has for eight years held the responsible position of manager of dd

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the Cohoes Iron Foundry and Machine Company, to which he came in 1871 as super- intendent, having held a like position in the Laconia Company Iron Works, Bidde- ford, Me., where his boyhood was spent and where he learned the machinist's trade. Ile was born in Medina. N. Y., in 1833, and is a son of Joseph P. Garland, a lock balider and contractor, and when six months old passed through Cohoes on the canal, bitt was not of sufficient age to have any personal remembrance of the trip. When a boy he had a predilection for the sea, but one voyage as a sailor changed his mind. He spent one year in California during the gold excitement Mr. Garland is a Re- publican, and has served as alderman of the Second ward, and was also a member of the Board of Health and of the Excise Board. He is a master Mason and a mem- ber of the I. O. O. F.

Kennedy. Thomas, is superintendent of the celebrated Tivoli Mills, Root Manu- facturing Company, with which he has had a long term of association, having first entored them in 1863. He has always been a machinist and acquired the trade at Gages shops at Waterford. He also operates a factory at No. 49 Mohawk street, which manufactures special machinery for knitting mills, and is in charge of his son, T. Frank Kennedy He was born in County Galway, Ireland, in 1842, coming to America in 1848. He was on the Board of Education in 1878-79. Mr. Kennedy is a prominent member of the Catholic church.

Leversee, Hon. Jacob D., has been a resident of Cohoes only since 1878, but has taken a very front place in business and manufacturing circles. He was born in Brunswick, N. Y., in 1858, and received a common school education at that place, where his father was then a farmer. Mr. Leversee learned the paper box making irade at Lansingburgh, and in 1885 established the present firm of Leversee & Spyder, with W. W. Snyder of Cohoes, of which he is president; he is also presi- dent of the Daily News Company of Cohoes. In social and financial circles he is a central figure, and has served as alderman of the Third ward. In 1896 he was elected member of assembly to represent the Fourth assembly district of Albany county. He is a member of Apollo Commandery No. 14 of Troy, also a member of B. P. O. Elks Lodge No. 141, and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Cohoes City Club, the Mystic Club, the Waterford Club, Pafraets Dael Club of Troy, and is treasurer of the Park Club of Lansingburgh. Mr. Leversee was married September 9, 1880, to Katie Fitzgerald of Cohoes.

Lowery, Rev., J. F., LL. D., the talented and faithful pastor of St. Agnes church, which is just completed, was its first pastor and builder. He has labored for years in its erection. Rev. Father Lowery has done glorious work, which will be for cen- tries a remembrance of one who labored zealously and effectually for the salvation of souls and for the up-building of the church of God. He was born in Utica, N. Y., March 2, 1841, and studied in the common schools of his native city, and after an academie course, went to St. Charles College, Maryland, where he made his classical stindlies, and afterwards completed the higher studies at St. Mary's University, Bal- umore. and St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary, Troy, where he was ordained to the priesthood. June 15. 1867. He was appointed to Saratoga, and then to St. Joseph's, Albany. His first pastoral charge was in Oswego, in which city he built the church of St. John the Evangelist, and he afterwards built St. Cecelia's church in Fonda.

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The University of Niagara conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws in April, 1894.

McDermott, Martin, one of the popular and successful druggists of the city of Cohoes, has been engaged in that business since 1880, when he began as a clerk for C. S. Clute. He was born at Halfmoon, Saratoga county, in 1859, and is a son of Roger MeDermott, then a farmer, but now a resident of Cohoes. Mr. MeDermott opened the Model Pha macy at 103 Remsen street, Cohoes, and the establishment is indeed a model in every respect He is a member of the Business Men's Association of the city of Cohoes.

Millar, W. L., an enterprising young man of Cohoes, is practically a lifelong resi- dent of that city, though born near Glasgow, Scotland, in 1861. He came with his father. Alexander Millar, a blacksmith, to America in 1866. He first entered River- side Mills as a cutter, where he remained for seven years, and was afterward em- ployed in other mills. In 1889, with his father-in-law, George P. Steenburg, he opened up a coal yard on Central avenue; in 1890 Mr. Steenburg died, and he has since operated the business alone.

Mansfield, W. K., editor and proprietor of the Cohoes Daily News, was born in 1856, in Waterford, where he still resides. He was educated in the public schools of Cohoes and at Amherst College Amherst, Mass. From 1877 until 1884 he was in business in Saratoga county. He purchased the Daily News from James H. Mas- ten, in October, 1884, and has since conducted it. He served for six years as jus- tice of the peace in the town of Halfmoon, Saratoga county, and is now serving the third term as justice of the peace of the town of Waterford. He is a member and past master of Cohoes Lodge No. 116, F. & A. M .. and is also a member and past high priest of Cohoes Chapter No. 168, R. A. M., and is a member of the Riverside Club of Lansingburgh. The Daily News is the oldest daily paper published in the city, having been established in 1873 by Edward Monk, the original size of the sheet being 13 by 20 inches. The increasing demand upon its columns necessitated enlargements in 1875, 1876, 1879, and again in 1882, when the present form, 24 by 36, was adopted. In June, 1874, Samuel Sault entered the firm, which was known as Monk & Sault. In December, 1873, the office was removed from the corner of Ontario and Remsen streets to enlarged quarters in the Campbell & Clute block on Mohawk street. In July, 1879, Mr. Sault's interest was transferred to James H. Masten, the veteran editor of the city, for many years editor of the Cataract. In April, 1881, the firm of Monk & Masten was dissolved, Mr. Monk retiring. Mr. Masten continued as editor and proprietor until October, 1884, when he disposed of the paper to Mansfield & Harrington. In October, 1885, the firm of Mansfield & Harrington was dissolved and the News passed into the hands of the present editor and proprietor, W. K. Mansfield. In November, 1885, the News office was removed to the present location in North's block. The News is published daily at noon, Sun- days and holidays excepted. It presents all the local and vicinity news and full telegraphic reports from all parts of the world. It is in every sense a family paper and does not depend upon the sensational or scandalous for its circulation. It also furnishes its readers with the very best miscellaneous matter and illustrated serial stories of home reading. The News enjoys the distinction of being the only noon paper published in the country, or so far as is known, in the world. The News took

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a prominent part in the labor difficulties of 1886 and 1887 and contended for the constitutional freedom which was denied by' the advanced labor agitator of that time The News and its editor went under a boycott for several years, as a result of the stand taken at that time on behalf of individual liberty.

Stevens, Joseph, the well-known news dealer and stationer, has been located for thirty-four years on Remsen street. He first entered the business in 1862 under the firm nanie of Jones & Stevens, but since 1865 he has conducted the business alone. Hle has a varied line of school books, blank books, envelopes, writing paper, pens and ink, also fashion magazines, and he makes a specialty of Butterick patterns of which he has the agency. Mr. Stevens is a native of Cohoes, and a lifelong resi- dent. He was born in 1839, and is the son of John Stevens, a mechanic. He re- ceived a common school education and first worked in a woolen mill. In 1870 Mr. Stevens married Miss Lucy M. Reinhart of Berne, N. Y. They have two children, Charles and Lydia F.

Slade, E. F . a son of Benjamin J. and Elizabeth (Flager) Slade, both natives of Saratoga county, N. Y., was born May 28, 1866; he was educated in the public schools at Waterford. The original location of his business was at Nos. 21 and 29 Church street, but in 1892 he established the coal business down town, by purchasing the large yards of F. B. Shattock at 148 Saratoga street, where he also handles wood, hay, and feed: he also owns extensive ice houses at the north end of the city of Cohoes. He is a Republican and is a prominent official in the Masonic fraternity ; is a member of Apollo Commandery, also a member of the order of the Mystic Shrine and a member of the Mystic Club. He was married April 1, 1891, to Anna Ladd, of Waterford. They have one son, Benjamin J.

Shine James HI., is emphatically a self-made man, owing the important social and political status he occupies to his own exertions and character. He was born at Waterford, N. Y., in 1846, of humble parentage. The exigencies of life took him out of school when but twelve years old, and thenceforward he was a man among men. In early life various occupations on the canals, farming labor, and the cooper's trade re- ceived successive attention. In 1864 he enlisted in the 16th N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and saw nearly two years' service. Mr. Shine was canal weighmaster from 1874 to 1580, and collector of canal statistics from 1882 to 1890. From 1885 to 1890 he was en- gaged in the manufacture of knit goods at Valley Falls, N. Y. While a resident of Waterford he served as trustee of the village, and as supervisor for three years. In 1891 he assumed his present position as manager of Hope Knitting Mills at Cohoes. In 1896 he was appointed a member of the Public Improvement Commission of the city of Cohoes.

Spillane. P. H., one of the most popular and enterprising druggists of the city, has been in the city since 1876, when he opened a store under the firm name of Spillane & Davis. In 1880 he purchased his partner's interest, and removed to LarkinHall, and in 1890 to his present location. Mr. Spillane was born in Rochester in 1858. and is a son of David Spillane, now a retired resident of Cohoes. He has been engaged in the drug business all of his lifetime and is a past master of its requirements and the ac- cessory lines, and although young in years is the oldest druggist in point of residence at Cohoes. He is a prominent Democrat and has filled various offices, such as com- missioner of schools, etc.

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Simpson, John F. has been a resident of Cohoes since 1840, and during that time has been associated with the Harmony Mills, and now has a responsible position as superintendent thereof. He is a descendant of an old family. His maternal grand- father, Avery Le Roy, came from France with La Fayette, and took part in the Revolutionary war. He was born at Saratoga in 1827, and is a son of Stephen Simp- son, a farmer and millwright, who died here. Mr. Simpson was but nine years of age when he entered the cotton mills. He is a Republican, and was village trustee for a time. He has been police commissioner for two years and still holds that position.

Simmons, George E., a prominent citizen of Cohoes since 1859, came from Troy where he was educated, and engaged in mercantile life, keeping a grocery store for many years before conducting the Harmony Hotel. He reopened the new building in 1880, and selling again in 1885. He now has two large farms in the suburbs of Cohoes. He is a son of A. C. Simmons, a farmer, and was born at Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, in 1835. Amelia Shelton was his first wife, whom he married in 1856. In 1868 he married Margaret Jane Baker, his present wife, who is a daughter of A. M. Baker, of this city. Her great-grandfather was Capt. Seth Baker, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and her grandfather, Lewis Baker, was killed at Sackett's Harbor in the war of 1812. Mr. Simmons has been prominently identified with public affairs, serving seven years as supervisor. In 1879 he was appointed assistant superintendent of public works, which position he held until 1895. Their son, Abram B., died in 1893 at the age of twenty-four years. He was a graduate of the Albany Medical College and had begun to practice at Amsterdam. He was re- garded as a young man of great promise and his death was a heavy blow to his family and friends. There are two daughters now living, Annie E. and Amelia M.

Slavin, Thomas, though a native of Waterford, N. Y., where he was born in 1833, has been a lifelong resident of Cohoes. His reminiscences of the place in its infancy are very interesting, and he is regarded as a personal landmark and compendium of data concerning the early times. His testimony is regarded as impeachable in cases involving boundaries and conditions of a half century ago. Here has been the scene of his early struggles in early business life, for Mr. Slavin is a self made man. He has been compelled to gain his own maintenance since he was nine years of age, as he was one of the seventeen children of Michael Slavin, who came from Ireland in 1832. He first engaged as a teamster for flour mills. In 1865 he established a coal business and in 1869 came to No. 135 Saratoga street, where he also deals in wood, hay, flour, feed and corn. In 1859 he married Elizabeth Bannon of Troy, by whom he has had eight children, four sons and four daughters; Thomas F. and Charles J. are associated with him in business.

Wilcox, Rodney, is a personal "landmark" of Cohoes, where he came in 1856, when the village had about 6,000 population. He was born in Victory Mills, N. Y., in 1833, and is a son of John Wilcox of English birth. His early manhood was spent on a farm, but he first engaged in the mercantile business at his native place. On coming here he resumed the business, under the firm name of Stiles & Wilcox, until wiped out by the panic of 1857. He then traveled in the West, returned one year later and began business again under the firm name of Marshall & Wilcox. Since 1867 the establishment has been under his own name, and contains a general line of

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Ary goods, draperies, etc. He is a Republican in politics and is interested in the Ateresy of the party. He is an attendant of the M. E. church. In 1872 he married Miss Adeline Coon. They have an adopted daughter, Mary Elizabeth.

Wertime, Walter HL., was born in Ilion, N. Y., in 1871. His father was Herman Westine, Born in Cologne, Germany. He was educated at the University of Bonn, and came to this country in 1862. He enlisted in the Union army immediately after Mis arrival and served until April, 1865. He was honorably discharged at that time ; he then settled in Herkimer county. Although a college graduate and a man of unusual attainments, he practiced no profession, but conducted a grocery store in Cohoes, to which place he came in 1874 and died in 1879. Walter H. Wertime was ed- urated in the public schools and graduated from the Egberts High School in 1888; he faught school for one year and then began legal studies with D. C. McElwain of illis dity. He entered the Albany Law School in 1891, graduating in 1892 and was Admitted to the bar that same year, after which he began practice in Cohoes. In January, 1893, he formed a copartnership with George H. Fitts (now surrogate of Albany county), and is actively engaged in the practice of the law. He was a mem- ber and secretary of the Republican County Committee at the age of twenty-one. He is probably the youngest official as city attorney, yet the Common Council of Coltoes appointed him to this important position in 1895. The able manner in which be discharged the onerous duties devolved upon him proved the wise selection of that body as he was by heredity, education, and character pecularly fitted for the re- sponsible work. On October 8, 1896, he was appointed assistant district attorney of Albany county by Eugene Burlingame. On the 6th day of August, 1896, Mr. Wer- time was married to Estella Farrelly, of Cohoes.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 111

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