Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 115

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 115

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of William Fish, of the N. Y. C. R. R., Syracuse, N. Y .; Nettie, Estella and Bertie, now living: Adella, died aged six years; Willie, died age ten years; Jessie, died age ten years, and Erastus died aged two years. Mrs. Gibbons died in 1888. From the farm Mr. Gibbons went into general mercantile business in Dormansville in 1866, and with the exception of two years has carried on the business to the present time. He was postmaster under Cleveland, during his last term. In 1863 Mr. Gibbons enlisted In Co. D. N. Y. Vol. Inft., but was soon honorably discharged on account of sickness. He is a member of Post S. Evan N .-- , G. A. R., and a Republican.

Shultes, Abram, a landmark and well known citizen of Berne, was born in Berne mow Knox) March, 1827. The parent tree of the Shultes family in America was Ma- thias ( Mottise) Shultes, who was born in Holland in 1726, his father being killed the same year by religious persecutors, the mother fearful that her own life and the life of her child might also be sacrificed, fled to America with her babe, when he was but six months of age. She settled in the woods (probably in Schoharie county) among her Dutch friends and there reared her boy to manhood. He later became one of the first settlers in the town of Berne and from time to time took up 400 acres of land, made him a home and cared for his mother until the time of her death. He fought Indians during the French and Indian war from 1754 to 1762, and fought Tories and Indians during the war of the Revolution. During this war, the Indians and Tories were determined to kill him and many a time he was obliged to seek shelter in the woods, to escape from their attacks. His son William was lieutenant of a regiment during the Revolutionary war. He reared six sons and several daughters. Lieut. Wm. Shultes, the grandfather of Abram, was a native of Berne, where he was a farmer. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war and died when forty-five years of age. His wife was a Miss Post, daughter of the notorious tory Jacob Post, and they had four children. For his second wife he married Miss Sternberger, by whom two children were born. Peter W. Shultes, Abram's father, was born on the home- stead in 1801. He came in possession of one of his father's farms and succeeded in accumulating a large property and at the time of his death was worth $40,000. His wife was Magdalene West, daughter of Peter and granddaughter of the celebrated artist Sir William West and they had twelve children, but only five grew to maturity. He died in 1853 and his wife survived him many years and died at the home of her son, Abram. Abram Shultes attended the the common district school and took an academic course at the Gallupville Academy. When nineteen years of age he began teaching, this he followed about six months of the year for several years, when he settled on the homestead, where he remained until forty years of age, when the farm was sold and divided among the heirs; he then bought his present farm of 160 acres on West Mountain and moved there in 1867 and he owns another farm of 120 acres in the town of Rensselaerville. In 1855 he married Margaret Turner, born in Eng- land and a daughter of George and Dorotha (Potter) Turner, who came to America with his family in 1832. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Shultes are Florence (wife of Wallace R. Peasley), George D., De Forest, Mary, Alice, Joseph T., Charles A., William J., Margaret and Susan E. George, Joseph and William are now in Cortez Valley, Nevada, in the silver mines. George Turner, father of Mrs. Shultes, was born in England in 1772. He was a farmer and cartman, carting coal principally. Ile settled in Berne on West Mountain in 1832 and died October 10, 1833. His wife,

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Dorothy, was born in 1786 and died December 15, 1838 and they had eight children : George, Margaret, Joseph Jonathan, Elizabeth, Mary, Susan and Leah.

Rice, Joseph Taft, who for many years was prominently identified with Albany's interests, was born in Shrewsbury, Mass., January 22. 1787. He was a lineal de- scendant from Edmund Rice, who was born in Wales in 1594, moved to Hertford- shire, England, and in 1638, with his wife and seven children came to this country and settled in Sudbury, Mass. He died at Marlboro, Mass., March 3, 1663, and was buried at Sudbury. Joseph Taft Rice settled in Albany in 1808 and engaged in the most extensive manufacture of silver ware west of New York city, continuing it until 1832. Many of the older citizens yet have the productions of his manufacture which are highly prized as heirlooms and for their sterling worth. September 4, 1811, he married Jane, daughter of Gilbert Cumming of Strothspay, Scotland; they were blessed with thirteen children all born and reared in this city. One of his sons was killed in the late war and the others have honorably filled responsible public posi- tions. Mr. Rice was one of the original members of the Republican Artillery organ- ized in 1810. He was closely affliated with De Witt Clinton, William H. Swan, Thurlow Weed and other public men of that period. He was very noticeable for his commanding figure and walk and was of a genial temperament. He died June 19, 1854.

Wormer, Eliakim F., was born in the town of Guilderland, November 15, 1847. Peter and Mooney (Brougham) Wormer, his great-grandparents, were natives of Holland, and migrated to America and settled on Black Creek, in the town of Guil- derland. He lived to an old age and his wife, Mooney, lived to the age of 104 years, and retained remarkable physical and mental strength to the last. Cornelius, the next in line, was born in Guilderland about 1778, and became an active and success- ful farmer. He was prominent and influential in public affairs, and gave each of his sons a good start in life by placing them on farms of their own. His wife was Sarah Relyea; he lived to be nearly ninety-two and his wife lived to be ninety-five. They reared five sons and two daughters. Frederick, the father of Eliakim, was born in Guilderland in October, 1814. He has spent all his active life successfully as a farmer in his native town. For a number of years he lived in Guilderland Center, where he owns property. He passes his time by attending to his garden and small fruit growing. He and his wife are well preserved and spry old people and enjoying the comforts of life. His wife was Marie Blessing, who was born in the town of Guil- derland, June 5, 1816. Their children are Eliakim F., Francis, Rufus, Daniel, Fred- erick, William, David, Sarah and Hannah. Eliakim spent his early life on his father's farm, and attended the common district schools. When about twenty-one he engaged in business for himself as a dealer in apples, potatoes and other farm produce which he followed a few years with fair success; he then engaged in farm- ing, which vocation he has followed successfully to the present date. He is the most extensive apple grower in this section of the country. For some years past he has been a breeder of registered Holstein cattle and Shropshire sheep, he is also the owner of a fine thoroughbred French coach stallion. He was road commissioner of Guilderland for a number of years. In 1872 he married Eliza, daughter of James and Marie (Hallenbeck) Fryer; she was born in the town of Guilderland in 1851.

Paddock, Edward, son of William S. and Magdalen (Houghtaling) Paddock, was

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born in Albany, N. Y., in 1859. William S. Paddock, the father of the subject of this sketch, was prominently identified with Albany interests and was for twelve years recorder and for two years acting mayor of Albany. Edward Paddock attend- ed the pubhe schools and after completing his education he obtained a clerkship in the office of Smith, Craig & Co., lumber dealers. He remained there seven years, after which he was a clerk in the office of William McEwan, coal merchant, for five years. In 1890 Mr. Paddock opened a general sporting goods store at No. 93 State street and has since carried on a successful business there. He is a member of Temple Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., Capital City Chapter No. 242. R. A. M., De Witt Clinton Council No. 22, R. & S. M., and Temple Commandery No 5. Mr. Paddock is also a member of the Albany County Wheelmen and was at one time its treasurer. September 10, 1890, he married Miss Mary Underhill of Albany, and they have one daughter, Ruth Magdalen.

Fisher, David A., was born in 1834, and is the son of Daniel G., who was born in 1808 and died in 1860, and grandson of Duncan, and great-grandson of Daniel Fisher, who was among the first settlers of Berne, in 1770. Mr. Fisher came to Bethlehem in 1856 and to his present home in 1881, where he is a farmer. He mar- ried Mary M. Long, and they have four sons and three daughters: Burton (who is a lawyer) Frederick D., Richard L. and David D., Anna, Eleanor and Maria D.

Elmendorf, William Burgess, was born in Albany, N. Y., February 8, 1856. He is a son of John Elmendorf, jr., who was born March 3, 1819, and Caroline M. Bur- gess, and is directly descended from Jacobus Coenradt Van Elmendorf, who was born in Holland, came to America in 1652, and who married Greitje Aertse Van Wagenen in Kingston, N. Y., April 25, 1667, the ceremony being performed by a justice of the court with the consent of the bride's mother, inasmuch as the bride being under age, the Dutch church would not or could not perform the ceremony. All of Mr. Elmendorf's intermediate ancestors were born in Kingston, N. Y., and are as follows, commencing with the son of Jacobus Coenradt Van Elmendorf, Coen- radt Elmendorf, who married Ariaantje Geritse Vandenburg at Albany, N. Y., June 28. 1693; Cornelius Abraham Elmendorf who married Engeltje Heermans; Abraham Elmendorf who served in the Revolutionary war and who married Anaatje Crispell, April 22, 1758; and John Elmendorf, grandfather of William B., who married Mar- garet Folant. Mr. Elmendorf, the subject of this sketch, graduated from the Albany State Normal School in 1871, and spent two years at the Albany Academy and one year at the Albany Business College. He is a thorough transportation man and be- leves in his business. For twenty-five years he has represented (with his father, the late Capt. John Elmendorf who died March 11, 1885), the popular Hudson River Day Line Steamers. Mr. Elmendorf is a member of the Society of the Sons of the Revolution, the Holland Society of New York, Royal Arcanum and the Albany City Curling Club. In May, 1877, he married Isabel H. Dalton, daughter of William Dalton, president of the Albany Exchange Savings Bank and late of the lumber firm of Dalton & Kibbee. She died in 1887, and by her Mr. Elmendorf had one son (de- ( eased) and one daughter. Edna. In 1889 he married Victoria O'Brien, daughter of the late William O'Brien, esq., of the banking house of O'Brien & Meridith of Mon- treal, and also Canadian representative of the Grand Trunk Railway. They have three children, Enid, Jean and Alice.

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Alexander, Thomas, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1858. George Alex- ander, his father, was a native of Edinburgh, and was a carpenter by trade, but be- came one of the largest builders and contractors in the city of Edinburgh, some times employing as high as three hundred men at a time. He was a man of pro- gression, with great business ability and accumulated a good fortune. He made two trips to America, and was preparing for his third trip when death overtook him in August, 1892. His wife was Ann Murray, by whom sixteen children were born, seven sons and five daughters, who all grew to maturity. Thomas Alexander re- ceived a common school education and learned the mason's and stone cutter's trade. Ile worked with, and assisted his father for fourteen years, till 1885, when he left home and sailed for America, landing in Quebec, Canada, where he remained two weeks. While with his sister at Port Dover, he learned of the magnificent capitol building under way of erection in the city of Albany, and concluded that was the city for him, and after visiting Niagara Falls and Buffalo, he landed in Albany with but twenty-five cents in his pocket. He immediately sought and found employment as a mason, borrowing money from a stranger to buy his tools, and began work. He was not long to see the good qualities of the Helderberg blue flag stone and con- cluded to engage in the stone business; consequently in 1887, in partnership with his employer, he purchased fifteen acres of stone land where his quarry is now lo- cated, and later came in possession of the entire quarry, and subsequently purchased the remaining eighty acres on which the quarry is located, and after hard toil and careful supervision has opened up and developed one of the finest and largest quar- ries in the State, which is second to none in the country. In March, 1894, he married Miss Hannah Smith of Berne, a daughter of Henry J. Smith; she died five months later.

Warren, Henry P., is one of the leading educators of the State and comes from the East. He spent most of his boyhood in Gorham, Me., where his father, the late Rev. Dr. William Warren resided. Mr. Warren attended the Gorham Academy, Gorham, Me., until 1855 when he entered Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass., then under the administration of Dr Samuel L. Taylor. Mr. Warren spent a year teach- ing in Merrimac, Mass, and was graduated from Yale in 1870. That same year he became principal of the Fifth Street Grammar School at New Bedford, Mass., where he remained a year and a half and then went to Dover, N. H., where he was prin- cipal of the Dover High School. He was obliged to go South for his health in 1875, and remained three years, when he returned to Dover. He took charge of the N. H. State Normal School in 1879 for four years, then went to Lawrenceville, N. J., and with six others established the Lawrenceville School, a preparatory boarding school. He remained there until January, 1887. In August, 1886, he was elected principal of the Albany Academy.

Brunk, James H., was born January 8, 1840, in the town of Berne on the farm he now owns. Nicholas Brunk, his grandfather, was born in the Mohawk Valley, of Holland ancestry and was a descendant from one of five brothers who migrated from Holland and settled along the Mohawk River, as pioneers; Nicholas settled in the town of Knox, where he cleared him a farm and made him a home on 130 acres of land. His wife was Elizabeth Miller and their children were Mathias, Hannah, Henry, Jacob, Gittie Ann, Eva, Catherine and Lydia. Henry Brunk, the father of

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Janjes. was bom in Knox February 28, 1806, where he was a lifelong farmer. He mareled Rebecca Fowler who was born in Berne on the farm now owned by her son, March 17. 1509. After his marriage, he purchased from his father-in-law the farm of 146 acres and there spent his life. Their children were Almira, Lydia Ann, Jabez, James H., Elizabeth, Catherine S., Nicholas J., and Edgar. He died December 12, 1865. and his wife May 26, 1893. She was a daughter of Lewis Fowler, who was a wifive of England and came to America in the time of the Revolutionary war and served seven years in the war. James H. Brunk has spent his life on the homestead farm. When a boy he attended the common district schools, but after the death of Ins father, he hired the farm from his mother and the other heirs and in 1868 pur- chased it and has added to it since then twenty-seven acres, where he has devoted Ins attention to a general farming and the breeding of fine grade cattle. Mr. Brunk Was filled the office of overseer of the poor for several years. He is an influential member of the Patrons of Industry and president of the Evening Star Lodge of Berne. March 4, 1865, he married Louisa E. Hungerford of Berne, and their chil- dren are Willie J., Frank T., Hattie (who died when nineteen), Lena, Alfred and Leroy.

Cuyler, Edward Cornelius, son of Jacob C. and Mary Elizabeth (Henley) Cuyler, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1859. He attended the Albany Academy, from which he was graduated in 1878, after which he took a course at Yale University and was graduated in 1883, receiving the degree of A. B. Mr. Cuyler has followed the pro- fession of the newspaper man and has been connected with the Express as city editor under William Barnes, jr., and Walter F. Hurcomb; with the State; and the Times-Union under the late Ira Wales. For the past eight years he has been special correspondent for the New York Evening Post and various other papers throughout the country. In 1883 he married Clarinda Helene Busley, and they have two daugh- ters, Elizabeth and Kathryn.

Haines, Luther H., born in Westerlo, December 25, 1839, a son of Adam and Eliza Ann (Hanney) Haines and grandson of Anthony Haines, who was reared in West- erlo but went to Schoharie county, where he died. Adam Haines was a farmer six- teen years in Coeymans, the remainder of his life was spent in Westerlo. Luther Il. Haines has always been a farmer and rents 167 acres of land in Westerlo from Henry Hunt. He is a Democrat and has been collector and road commissioner and has taken great interest in having good schools. In 1859 he married Emeline Coons, niece of Abram Coons of Albany, and they have seven children: Myron A., Jacob L., Ambers S., David, Ella, wife of Clarence Hopkins, Maggie, wife of Manley Mark, and Orson L. Mr. and Mrs. Haines attend the M. E. church.

Clyckman, Frederick L., was born in the town of Knox, July 1, 1819, a son of Lawrence Clyekman, who was born in the same town about 1778, who was one of two sons and two half-brothers, sons of a native of Germany who served in the Revolutionary war, was a farmer by occupation, and began farming in the town of Knox, where be cleared a farm and built a log house and where he lived till his death, at the age of eighty years. Lawrence, the father of Frederick L., also spent his life as a successful farmer in the same town, owning a fine farm of 150 acres; he was a volunteer in the war of 1812: his wife was Maria Batcher, and their children were Jacob, Mary, Frederick, Gertrude, Adaline, Elida, Katie, Margaret and Sarah.

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Mr. Clyckman was an elder in the Lutheran church for a number of years. Fred- erick I. Clyckman remained on the homestead with his father until he was thirty- eight years of age, when he came to Guilderland and bought a farm of 100 acres, where he has since resided ; by industry and perseverance he has paid for his farm, erected good and commodious buildings, and made many other improvements; he is an up-to-date and prosperous farmer. In 1850 he married Eva, daughter of Peter Walker, who bore him two children, Angelica M. and Jessie F. His second wife was Lydia, daughter of Conrad Batcher of Knox, who bore him one child, Jane A. Mr. Clyckman has been deacon and elder in the Lutheran church for several years. The oldest daughter, Angelica, married William J. Alkenbrack of New Scotland in November, 1884; Jessie married William D). Relyea of New Scotland in November, 1882; and Jane A. married Shubael C. Jaycox of Bethlehem, March 14, 1892.

Hoskins, Charles M., son of Martin and Helen (Pratt) Hoskins, was born in Jamaica, Windham county, Vt., June 25, 1861. He received his education in the public schools of Vermont and then learned the trade of shirt cutter in the factories of Starbuck and Joseph Fowler in Glens Falls, N. Y., where he remained five years. He then removed to Leominster, Mass., where he was employed by the Leominster Shirt Company and remained there three years, rising from cutter to the position of superintendent of the factory. From Leominster he removed to Albany, N. Y., where he was given the position of cutter on special orders in the factory of S. L. Munson. He stayed with Mr. Munson two and one-half years, leaving in February, 1895, to accept his present position of manager of the Albany Shirt Company. Mr. Hoskins is a member of Temple Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., and Clinton Lodge No. 7, I. O. O. F. August 21, 1889, he married Frances Mary Harris of Garrettsville, N. Y., and they have one son, Charles Albert.

Steenberg, Byron U., M. D., son of Henry W. and Amelia C. (Usher) Steenberg, was born in Malta, Saratoga county, N. Y., April 18, 1839. He attended the Jones- ville Academy and Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, after which he went into busi- ness in Mechanicsville as a clerk in Hatfield's general store. He remained there a few years, after which he was made bookkeeper for W. J. & R. H. Scott at Albany, N. Y. He then went West and was connected with the dry goods house of C. J. Pettibone & Co. at Fon du Lac and Green Bay, Wis. While West he determined to study medicine and in 1868 he returned East and entered the medical department of Vermont University at Burlington, where he took one course of lectures. Subse- quently he removed to Albany, N. Y., and in 1870 he received his degree from the Albany Medical College and has since practiced in Albany. Dr. Steenberg is a member of the Albany County Medical Society, of which he has been secretary, vice president and president. He is also a member of the New York State Medical Society and is a master Mason. In June, 1880, he married Ada H. Higgs of Albany, and they have one son, Victor.

Van Derzee, John A .- Storm Van Derzee came to Rensselaerwyck in the year 1630, having previously emigrated from Holland. He was a trader at Beverwyck, or Albany, in 1661. He married Hilletje, daughter of Gerrit Lansing, and had at least two sons who lived to maturity, viz. : Albert and Wouter. Albert, son of Storm and Hilletje Lansing Van Derzee, married Hilletje Gansevoort, January 20, 1706;

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their children were Ariaantje, born May 22, 1707; Storm, born June 26, 1709 ; Harmon, born March 4, 1711. Harmon Van Derzee, son of Albert and Hilletje Gansevoort Van Derzee, married Eva -- (surname unknown); their children were Albert, baptized June 28, 1738; Cornelis, baptized August 10, 1740; Storm, July 11, 1742. Cornelis Van Derzee, son of Harmon Van Derzee and Eva -, married Agnes Wintbeck, October 27, 1763; their children were Harmon, born September 3, 1774: .Indrew, born May 22, 1766; Eve, born October 13, 1769; Moyaca, born April 25, 1783. Agnes Whitbeck Van Derzee died November 10, 1821 ; Cornelis Van Derzee, her husband, died March 19, 1823. Andrew Van Derzee, son of Cornelis Van Derzee and Agnes Whitbeek Van Derzee, married Jane Ten Eyck, March 17, 1797; their children were Agnes, born March 20, 1798; Garritie, born Septemcer 16, 1801, died October 9, 1889; Cornelius, born April 7, 1804, died April 11, 1885; Conradt Ten Erd&, born May 20, 1806, died September 26, 1865; John, born October 8, 1808, died December 2, 1861; Caroline, born September 26, 1811; Barent, born December 22, 1818, died December 29, 1857. Jane Ten Eyck Van Derzee, wife of Andrew Van Derzee, died June 4. 1827. Andrew Van Derzee married for the second time widow Charlotte Snyder (born Sherwood); their only child, Andrew S. Van Derzee, was born November 22, 1828. Andrew Van Derzee died April 23, 1835. Conradt Ten Eyck Van Derzee, son of Andrew and Jane Ten Eyck Van Derzee, married Maria Shear, June 19, 1834; their children were Jane, born August 19, 1836; Peter, born August 24, 1838; Agnes, born February 13, 1841; Elizabeth, born March 10, 1843; John A., born February 1, 1845; Albert, born May 9, 1847; Charles, born July 24, 1849; Caroline born January 16, 1856. Maria Shear Van Derzee died December 27, 1876. John A. Van Derzee, son of Conrad Ten Eyck Van Derzee and Maria Shear Van Derzee, married Josephine Waterman October 22. 1874; their children were Jesse W., born October 30, 1875, died February 6, 1896; Florence G., born November 28, 1880; John Jay, born December 1, 1888. John A. Van Derzee is the present owner and occupant of the old homestead farm which con- tains 240 acres. He is engaged in raising grain, dairying, fruit culture, and stock raising. This farm, which is in a good state of cultivation, is located south of the Haanakrois Creek, about one-half mile from the Coeymans and Westerlo stone road, formerly the old turnpike. Just one hundred years after the grant to the territory included in the town of Coeymans was made by Governor Lovelace to Barent Peterse Coeymans, the two brothers, Cornelius Van Derzee and Storm Van Derzee, bought from John Barclay and Anna Marghritta, his wife, on the 17th of March, 1673, the lands south of the Haanakrois Creek for £1,200. (The deed for the above property is at present in possession of one of the descendants.) A substantial stone structure took the place of the log house which was at first built by Cornelius Van Derzee. This house, having been remodeled, is still in a good state of preservation and oc- cupied by Mr. John A. Van Derzee and family.

Deitz, Alanson F., was born in the town of Schoharie, Schoharie county, in 1849. He was a son of William D. Deitz, a native of the same place, who was born in 1818. He was one of four sons: Peter, John, Jacob and William, and three daughters, born to Philip A. Deitz, a native of Holland, who settled in Schoharie county about 1805, and became a successful and quite wealthy farmer, owning four farms at the time of his death. His brother, who came with him from Holland and settled in

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 115

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