Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 120

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

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M. Coggshall, and had one son, Clayton, educated at the Middleburg and Green- ville Academies. Mrs. Kenyon died in 1882, and he married his second wife, by whom two daughters have been born, Etta and Nellie.

Lounsbury, Omar W., born in Rensselaerville, N. Y., August 11, 1843, was a son of William and Mary M. (Reeve) Lounsbury, both natives of Rensselaerville. Will- iam Lounsbury was a son of Sylvanus, a native of Connecticut, who came to Rensse- laerville previous to 1800 and spent most of his life. He was a farmer and tanner by trade, and in polities a Democrat. He died in 1892 and his wife in 1868. Omar W. Lounsbury was educated in Rensselaerville and followed teaching a while, but is now a farmer and owner of 108 acres. In politics he is a Democrat, and was col- lector for two years. March 14, 1878, he married Jennette Snyder, and they have one daughter, M. Marilla.

Chadwick, Enoch H., was born in 1814 on the farm where the family now reside. He was a son of Aaron and Martha (Hoag) Chadwick, who went from Dutchess county to Otsego county, and finally to Rensselaerville, N. Y., and bought the farm where the family lives, and also had another farm near. He died in Rensselaerville, N. Y., in 1839. Enoch H. Chadwick was a farmer by occupation and a Republican in politics. In 1839 he married Hannah Knowles, daughter of Daniel Knowles, of Rensselaerville, and an early settler from Rhode Island. They had three children: Frances, wife of Addison Bishop of Westerlo; Lydia H., wife of Israel Frost of Rensselaerville; and Margaret, at home. Mr. Chadwick was a member of the Friends, and Mrs. Chadwick a Methodist. Mr. Chadwick died March 17, 1876.

Niles, Luther HI, born in Rensselaerville, N. Y., October 8, 1830, was a son of Samuel Niles, born in Coeymans in 1806, and he a son of one of the earliest settlers of Coeymans (where he lived and died), coming from Connecticut at an early date. The father of Luther Niles came to Rensselaerville in 1828 and bought the farm Luther now owns, and died there in 1891. His wife was Ruth Tompkins of Coey- mans, a daughter of Daniel Tompkins, one of the early settlers of Coeymans. Mrs. Niles died in 1893. Luther H. Niles was reared on a farm and educated in the com- mon schools. He is a farmer and owns a farm of 200 acres. In 1857 he married Minerva Tanner of Rensselaerville and they have three children: Henry T., Libbie and Mary. Mrs. Niles died and he married Mary Winins of Durham, Greene county, N. Y., and they had three children: Henry, Samuel and Luther, deceased. Mr. Niles is a Democrat in politics and has been assessor nine years. He is a member of Cascade Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M. To Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Niles were born ten children, of whom eight are now living, Luther being the youngest of the family.

Kiffin, Thomas S., one of the prominent and respected residents of New Scotland, and who for more than twenty years occupied the responsible position as store keeper for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., at Watervliet, was born in the south of Ire- land in 1844, and came to America with his parents when seven years old. The family made their home in Clifton Park, N. Y., where he received a good academic education. In 1864 he became identified with the manufacture of cement pipe at West Troy, and was for eight years foreman for the Warner Lime and Cement Com- pany. In 1868 he became an employee of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co., and has by faithful and capable service made himself valuable to them.

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Calkins, George L., whose ancestors on both sides were among the early settlers here, was born in Watervliet in 1859. His father, John L. Caulkins, a prominent contractor (now deceased), came here in 1825 from Watertown, Conn. But his ma- fernal ancestry is of riper local antiquity. His maternal grandfather, Edward Learned, was the first president of the village in 1823. George Caulkins spent some of his earlier years as an inspector of lumber, and has always resided here, except a few years when he was shipping clerk for the Pond's Extract Company at their New- port office. In ISSS Mr. Caulkins took up his present business, that of undertaking and practical embalmer, on Broadway.

Coleman, J. Russell, son of J. Russell and Jennie E. (Bailey) Coleman, was born m West Troy, Albany county. October 31, 1869. He finished the course of instruc- tion in the Troy (N. Y.) Academy in 1886, and entered his father's office as a clerk, where he remained two years, when he accepted a clerkship in the National Bank of Troy, where he rapidly rose to the position of head bookkeeper. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Troy Citizens Corps. July 18, 1894, he married Marion Grace, daugh- ter of W. S. Booth of Troy, and they have one son, J. Russell, jr.

Tayer, Albert has been a resident of West Troy since 1861, and in fact has lived his whole life in the vicinity. He was born in Stephentown in 1833. His paternal ancestors were from Normandy; his great-grandfather was an English officer, and his maternal grandfather a soldier of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Taye was brought up to the blacksmith's trade at which he became an expert workman. During the Civil war he worked in Watervliet, and soon after the war established himself at the same business at Troy, N. Y.

Van Bergen, George A., the well known insurance agent of New Scotland, was born at Troy in 1845. He is a son of the late John C. Van Bergen, who was a resi- dent of Green Island from 1848 to his death in 1862. George Van Bergen was com- pelled by the exigencies of life to leave school when twelve years old, but has by per- sistent and well-directed personal research made himself thoroughly informed. He learned the moulder's trade, which was his father's, and followed it nearly thirty years. Mr. Van Bergen spent a year in the service of his country as a soldier of Co. P. 89th N. Y. Vols., during which time he spent four months in rebel prisons. In 1954 he took up the insurance business, representing some of the most stable com- panies, among them the .Etna, Hartford, and the " Insurance Company of North America." He is a citizen of more than ordinary note, has run the gauntlet of local official life, including the presidency of the village.

Nesbitt, John H., an old and respected citizen of West Troy, was born in the county of Kilkenny, Ireland, in 1826. When eighteen years old he came to America and henceforward carved his own way in the world. This statement may be accepted also in a literal sense, for Mr. Nesbitt was by trade a carpenter and learned his trade in Troy. He has been a resident of West Troy for about half a century. His son, George R. Nesbitt, follows the same vocation, and has been, like his father, an em- plovee of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company at the carpenter's shop on Green Island. Mr. Nesbitt is a genial and well-preserved gentlemen, who has ac- quired a competence by his own unaided exertions.

Stover. Charles M., superintendent of West Troy and Green Island Water Works

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System, is a Trojan by birth and education. He learned the printer's trade and was identified with that art for some years; then spent three years as clerk for a lumber firm, and then traveled through the West for six years. He became superintendent of the water system in 1884, and has proven a most efficient manager. Mr. Stover was liberally educated at the best institutions of Troy. His father was Samuel Stover, a prominent lawyer here, and once city attorney of Troy; he also held the same office at West Troy, where the family removed.

Perkins, George H., this gentleman, now superintendent of the weight depart- ment of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company at Green Island, to which posi- tion he was appointed in 1871, was born at Troy in 1845. His father was a prom- inent builder and steamboat engineer and is still a resident of Troy. Mr. Perkins, himself, began life on the river and his intimate association with the freight traffic caused him to gravitate naturally into his present position.

Hurlbert, Henry, was born at Hartford, Conn., in 1840. He is the son of Edwin Hurlbert, who recently died here at an advanced age, after residing here for forty years. Henry Hurlbert spent his boyhood days in Springfield, Mass., and when he was about nineteen years of age his family moved to Troy. He enlisted in Co. K, 104th N. Y. Vols. At Gettysburg he was severely wounded by a minnie ball. After his recovery he re-enlisted and was captured at the Weldon Railroad and imprisoned at Libby and at Belle Isle for six months. After the war he engaged in the produce forwarding business until 1872, and then entered the employ of the old Troy & Bos- ton R. R. as agent and was so engaged for twenty-one years.

Dunn, James, a resident of West Troy since 1873, was born at Kingston, N. Y., in 1843. His earlier years were spent at boating on the canals, largely in coal traffic between Homesdale, Pa .. to New York ports up the Hudson ; he was thus engaged for about four years, and then started a boarding stable at No. 80 Broadway, which he conducted for five years. In 1878 he sold out the stable and opened a grocery at No. 2518 Second avenue, dealing chiefly in furnishings for boatmen and kindred lines.

Sheehan, Daniel, was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in 1828. When about twenty years of age he crossed the ocean, and soon made his way to West Troy ; nearly half a century has elapsed since he made his home here. Mr. Sheehan has been a hard-working and industrious citizen and has acquired a competence by his own toil and economy.

Britley, Captain Edward W., was born in Saratoga county, in 1837. He was the son of the late James Britley, also a river man for most of his life. Captain Britley has been principally engaged in the transportation of lumber and timber. He now owns and operates the steam ferry plying between the Arsenal and the Fuller & Warren Works on the Troy side. This is the propeller " Lee Griffith," and a son of Mr. Britley is its pilot. Mr. Britley has been assessor and overseer of the poor of West Troy.

Maloney, J. D., was born at Jackson, Mich., May 23, 1848. His father, James Maloney, by trade a stone mason, was a musician of some note. He was killed in a battle during the Civil war. Mr. Maloney was himself a drummer boy, having en- 11

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listed when not fifteen years of age, in Co. K, 8th Michigan Infantry, and saw two years of service He was present when his father was killed on the "Clara Belle" near Vicksburg, a dramatic scene which impressed its horrors indelibly upon his youthful imagination. After the war he learned the trade of harness-making at Jackson, Mich., where he was employed for about six years. In 1872 he came to West Troy, and for a time worked in the Arsenal at saddle-making. In 1873 he opened a harness and repairing shop at 413 River street, Troy, and after operating for a few years he returned to the Arsenal. In 1880 he opened a saloon, his present occupation, on Broadway. Mr. Maloney has been for not less than twenty-four years a member of the "Gleason Hooks" of West Troy, and in fact was a charter member of that gallant and popular company. He was their captain for twelve years and is now president. He is one of the central figures of the Grand Army Post, and was for years commander of Post Kane.

Gray, Vivian, has been a resident of the vicinity of Watervliet since 1862. He was born in New Jersey in 1857, a son of George Gray, a retired resident of Lans- ingburgh. He learned the trade of tinsmith and in 1885 established business for himself, carrying a full line of house furnishing goods. Mr. Gray recently added to his business a line of fire insurance. He is also a prominent man in the Masonic fraternity.

Hughan, James C., proprietor of the Granite and Marble Works at West Troy, was born in Cohoes in 1854. James B. Hughan, his father, late of Cohoes, settled there in 1850 and died in 1892, aged seventy years. He was born at Dalbettie, Scot- land. James C. Hughan spent his early days at Cohoes, and when about nineteen went to Maine and spent two years learning the details of the stone cutting art. He then came to Troy and engaged in the business on his own account. In 1892 he removed the working plant to a more eligible location at West Troy, near the Dela- ware and Hudson depot. Mr. Hughan enjoys a large and well merited patronage. He employs five men at the yards, which he personally superintends. Mr. Hughan's mother was Miss Anne Lennon, of Scottish birth. In 1885 he was united in marriage with Miss Helen Jones of Cohoes.

Mckinney, Rockwell, the well known Twenty-fourth street (West Troy) grocer, Is a native of Columbia county, where he was born in 1859. He was the son of a farmer. the well known John McKinney. During the year of his birth the family removed to Valatie, N. Y., where he was reared and educated. At Valatie the elder Mckinney was engaged in manufacturing cotton goods, and he died there in 1580. When about thirteen years of age Rockwell began clerking in a grocery at Valatie, and when his employer, in 1868, removed to Syracuse he accompanied him. In 1874 he abandoned mercantile life for a time and became a brakeman, running between Syracuse and Albany on the New York Central. In 1880 he was made a freight conductor, and in 1885 further promoted to the position of passenger con- ductor between New York and Buffalo. , Unfortunately becoming implicated in the great strike of 1890 caused his retirement from railroad life. He then opened a grocery and has already a large trade, carrying a select stock of family supplies.

Kelley, Patrick, one of the landmark citizens of West Troy, has been a resident for over half a century, in fact since 1844. He was born in Ireland in 1826, and

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came to America when fifteen years of age. In 1848 he went into the livery business in Hamilton, Ont., and since 1856 has been located at 1557 First avenue, in a venera- ble building erected by him in 1836. Mr. Kelley is without doubt the pioneer among the livery men of Albany county now living and hale and hearty.

Tygert, Thomas, was born in the town of Berne in 1825. John Tygert, his father, was born in 1790; he was one of six sons and six daughters born to William Tygert, of Kinderhook, who was a farmer and came to Albany county about 1797, and died in the town of Guilderland. His father was a native of Ireland. John was a farmer all his lifetime; he first settled in the town of Berne and later in New Scotland, where he spent his life as a successful farmer. His wife was Jane Warner, born in Albany county and daughter of Frederick Warner; their children were Frederick, Mary and Thomas. His first wife died many years ago. He was twice married after her death. Thomas Tygert received a common school education and remained with his father and had charge of the farm for many years. In 1867 he removed to Guilderland, where he purchased his present farm of 120 acres, where he has since resided. In 1885 he embarked in the coal business, and for some years after was a dealer in hay and straw. He was commissioner for three terms, and is now town auditor. In 1846 he married Catherine, daughter of John Fuller. Their children are John, Aaron, Jane, May Anna, Sarah, Hattie, Augusta and Ella. His second wife was Levinna Coan, born in Guilderland and daughter of Peter Coan. The children by this marriage are Beatrice and William M. Mrs. Tygert is a member of the Ladies' Missionary Society.

Blessing Brothers .- John M. and Belmont E. Blessing, proprietors of the "Three Hill Dairy Farm," were born in the town of Guilderland, in December, 1840 and 1851 respectively. The Blessing family dates back to the early settling of Albany county. Martin Blessing, their great-grandfather, was a native of the town of Guil- derland, born in 1767, and one of four sons. He reared three sons and one daughter. John M., their grandfather, was born in the same town in 1799; he was a prosper- ous farmer in early life, and later removed to Albany, where he was for a time canal collector ; he died in Albany in 1860. He reared six sons and four daughters by his first wife, and two daughters by his second wife. Martin J., the father, was also a native of Guilderland, born in 1820. He was reared on a farm and followed that occupation throughout his active life. He purchased and moved on the "Three Hills Farm" of 184 acres in 1849, where he made a success as a farmer and dairy- man. In 1885 he was elected assemblyman; he was also identified with the State militia in which he took much pride. He ranked along the line to colonel. His wife was Elizabeth Mckown; their children are John M., Belmont E., Dr. Abraham H. of Albany, and Adam J. of Albany. John M. has remained on the farm from childhood, assisting his father, and later assumed full control of the farm until his brother, Belmont, was associated with it. Belmont E. started out when a young man to see the world, and spent many years roaming throughout the western terri- tories, and spent five years in the gold mines of Idaho. He was a sailor for a time and visited England and some of the other European countries; some years since he returned to the homestead and associated himself with his brother John M. in the farming and dairying business. They now have a dairy of over thirty cows. They are also interested in the pure ice business, having built a pond which is sup-

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plied from a spring of fine water; the object of this is to supply those in the city, who are interested in the pure ice water for drinking purposes, with pure spring water ice.

Relyea, Peter J., was born in Guilderland on the farm he owns in 1832. He was a son of Jacob Relyea, born in Guilderland in 1790. Jacob D., the father, purchased the farm of 100 acres, where Mr. Relyea now resides and devoted his life to farming. His wife was Mary Spoore, daughter of Abram Spoore; their children were William, Daniel, Abram, Jacob, who died when young; Hannah, Maria, Rachel and Peter J. He died in 1873, and his wife died in 1869 at the age of seventy-nine years. Peter J has spent his whole life on the homestead, a part of which he came in possession of and to which he has added, and now owns a farm of 101 acres. He remained with and cared for his parents until their death. He has been assessor, collector, school trustee, roadmaster, and is now serving his fourth term as assessor. He has often been chosen juryman and delegate to the county conventions. In 1851 he mar- ried Elizabeth Smith, born in Guilderland in 1835, daughter of Peter and Marion (Wands) Smith, and granddaughter of Ebenezer Wands and Zachariah Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Relyea are members of the Reformed church, in which he has been deacon and elder. They have reared and cared for one of Mr. Relyea's brother's sons since he was four years of age. Mr. Relyea was president of the Prospect Hill Cemetery for a number of years, and is also one of the trustees.

Magill, Robert, was born in the town of New Scotland, October 29, 1829. John Magill, his grandfather, was of Scotch parentage. He was a farmer for a time and lived near Sackett's Harbor. He came to the town of New Scotland, where by con- tract he blasted out and made the famous road known as the "Indian Ladder Road" ; he was a soldier in the war of 1812. He reared two sons, Robert and James, and died in the town of Bethlehem. Robert, the father of the subject, was born near Sackett's Harbor in 1790; his early life was devoted to farming; after leaving Western New York he came with his father to New Scotland and became an assist- ant in the making of the "Indian Ladder Road." From that time on he followed farming and blasting. His wife was Hannah M. Williams, and their children were William, Mary, James, Margaret, Eve, Ann, Rebecca, Julia, and Robert. He died in 1876, and his wife in 1840. Robert Magill spent his early life on his father's farm and was educated in the common schools. When twenty-six years old he engaged in carpentry, which trade he followed for about thirteen years. He then went to the town of Guilderland, where he was in the employ of Joel B. Mott for a few years, and rented a saw-mill which he operated with other work until 1872, when he purchased his present farm of 100 acres. He devoted his attention to farming and fruit growing, having fifty-four varieties of apples and nineteen varieties of pears, and many other varieties of fruit. All of his fine large orchards he has grown from the seed, doing all his own grafting. His residence is a brick house, which was erected in 1766, a portion of the brick being imported from Holland; there had been no change in the original work on this house for a period of 107 years, until Mr. Magill came in possession of it, when he re-roofed it, plastered, etc. The original material in it is in a perfect state of preservation. He served his town for one year as collector, but firmly declined the proffered nomination for supervisor, which was offered him at different times. In 1862 he married Catharine, daughter of William

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J. Relyea of Guilderland. Their children are Chester, died when sixteen years of age: Oscar, Robert, jr., Emma, William, Fenton, Charles, Alice, Carrie, Walter, Edna, and Cordelia.

Fredendall, Henry, was born in the town of Guilderland in October, 1832. His father, Henry, was born in the town of Knox about 1812. He spent his whole life as a farmer. He was quite successful, beginning with nothing, but by hard work accumulated a good property and owned 180 acres. He spent most of his life in Guilder- land. His wife was Elizabeth Pitcher, daughter of Peter Pitcher, who was a farmer in the town of Knox; their children were Henry, Caroline, Eliza and Mathias. Mr. Fredendall and his wife were members of the Lutheran church. He died in 1890 and she died in 1889, at the age of seventy years. Mathias, the grandfather, was a suc- cessful farmer of the town of Knox ; he died in Guilderland. He reared eleven chil- dren, five sons and six daughters. Henry Fredendall attended the common schools and lived with his father on the farm, with the exception of three years, up to 1873, when he began for himself on a portion of the farm, where he has since resided, doing general farming, and his efforts have been crowned with success. In 1869 he married Miss Anna E., daughter of Peter Frederick, by whom one child has been born, Carrie, wife of Henry Wemple. Mr. and Mrs. Fredendall are both members of the Lutheran church, in which he has been deacon and elder for twenty years. Mrs. Fredendall is a member of the Ladies' Missionary Society.

Ogsbury, John H., was born in the town of Guilderland, January, 1831. John David Ogsbury, or Augsburger, was the founder of the family in America. He was born in Altweyer, Switzerland, and landed in America, May, 1759, settling in the town of Guilderland, where he died July 2, 1800. His wife, Anna Rachel, was a native of Altweyer, and there was born to them three sons and five daughters. David, the next direct ancestor, was born in Guilderland in 1761 and died November 22, 1836. He was a farmer and served as a soldier during the Revolutionary war and was for a time stationed at Fort Schoharie. He conveyed provisions for the army, often fording the Mohawk River with his loads. His wife was Nancy Apple, who was born in August, 1768, and died March 3, 1849. They reared six sons and four daughters: Eve, John D., Henry A., David, Peter, Elizabeth, Alexander, Jacob, Nancy and Margaret. Henry, the father, was born in 1793 and when six years of age went to live with his grandparents, Apple, with whom he lived until he was four- teen when he engaged as clerk in Albany, where he remained for several years, thence to Middleburg, where he renewed the same vocation and five years later moved back to Guilderland, where he settled down, doing a pettifogging business, drawing wills and settling estates. He was active in Democratie politics, but always declined public office. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Lutheran church. He died in July, 1853. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of John McMillen, born in the town of New Scotland in 1795, and died in July, 1876. Their children were Jeanette, Margaret M., Catherine, David, James, John, Jack and Magdalene. John H. Ogsbury was educated in the common schools and served an apprenticeship as cabinetmaker, but abandoned that on account of ill- health and in 1850 began farming. He now owns and resides on a portion of the original homestead of 155 acres, on which he does a general farming. In politics he is a Democrat. In 1854 he married Eva Ward, daughter of Henry A. Ward of

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Gelderland, and they had three children: Henry W. (deceased), Frank L. and David Mr. Ogsbury's wife died in 1893. They were both members of the Reformed church

Young, William A., was born in the town of New Scotland in December, 1836. He was the son of George Young, born in the same place, and one of the five sons, Matthew, John, George, Henry and Joel, and five daughters born to Samuel Young, adso a native of New Scotland; he was one of the three sons, Samuel William Helms and Joel, born to Matthew Young of Dutchess county, a Revolutionary soldier; he was a farmer and settled in New Scotland where he spent his last days. Samuel was also a farmer and lived and died in that town. His wife was Margaret Dingman. He lived to be eighty-one years of age. George, the father of William A., was a farmer and a good mechanic. He devoted much of his time to masonry, which trade he had acquired. He spent his early life in New Scotland but removed to Watervliet where he purchased a farm. His death was caused by falling from a load of hay. His wife was Mary Martin, daughter of Peter Martin, by whom he has had fifteen children: Christiana, died in infancy, Ellen A., Margaret, Isabelle, Will- iam A., John, Samuel J., Melissa, Martha, Eliza, Catherine, Martin, George A., An- drew and Melvina; the latter fourteen all grew to maturity and were married. William A. attended the common schools until he was ten years of age, when he be- gan to work out on farms; this he continued until he was sixteen, when he learned the shoemaker's trade and has continued in that business until the present time. In 1860 he removed from the town of Knox to Guilderland Center where he now resides. In 1822 he added to his business a shoe store and has a good patronage. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Moak Lodge of Altamont. In 1866 he was mar- ried to Elizabeth, daughter of John and Catharine (Simmons) Pangburn.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 120

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