Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 79

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 79

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Smith, Oscar, Capt., was born in Howard, Steuben county, N. Y., June 15, 1846. He received a public school and academical education. In 1861, when only fifteen, he enlisted in Co. G, 13th N. Y. Vol. Inf., and served eighteen months; he re-enlisted in January, 1864, in Co. H, 13th N. Y. H. A., as sergeant and served until the close of the war in June, 1865. He was in many engagements of the armies of the Potomac and the James; wounded at the first battle of Fredericksburg, December 13, 1862. Returning from the war, then but nineteen years of age, he engaged in the sewing machine business in New York city, but removed to Albany in 1868. Here he continued a large wholesale sewing machine and lumber business until June, 1892; since then, he with his son, under the firm name of Oscar Smith & Son, have carried on a successful wholesale wood, baled shavings, excelsior, sawdust and charcoal trade. Mr. Smith is connected with several of Albany's business, political and social organizations; is president of the Novelty Knitting Co., a trustee of the

Tennessee Land Company, a member of Temple Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M., a char- ter member of Chancellors Lodge, K. P., a charter member of the Albany Club, a past commander of Post No. 5, G. A. R., ex-president and member of the Albany Unconditional Republican Club; a member of the Press Club; also for about eight years commander and now a life member of the Albany Burgesses Corps.

Harris, Melville A., is a native of Albany, born January 16, 1857, and a son of Samuel C. Harris, who came to Albany from New York city in 1833, and for many years was engaged in the manufacture of woodenware. His father was alderman of the Thirteenth ward for six years and president of the Common Council. His mother was Sarah, daughter of Abram Staley of Albany. Mr. Harris was educated at the public schools and Free Academy, now known as the High School, and first asso- ciated himself with his father as a manufacturer of and dealer in woodenware. In 1880 he accepted a clerkship in the street commissioner's office and shortly afterward in the corporation counsel's office and so continued until May 1, 1894. In June fol- lowing he was appointed by Louis W. Pratt to his present position of United States gauger. He is an active Democrat and a member and for several years financial secretary of Fireman's Lodge No. 343, A. O. U. W. In 1878 he married Louisa E., daughter of Henry Launsbach of Albany, and their children are Annie Louise, Frederick Staley and Sarah.

Muhlfelder, Isidor, was born in Albany, December 24, 1858. His father, Louis Muhlfelder, who was a native of Bauerbach, Germany, came to Albany about 1850; engaged in mercantile pursuits and subsequently removed to Ballston Spa, N. Y., where he was a merchant and one of the proprietors of the Ballston Spa tannery. Later on he again removed to Albany and became a member of the wholesale millin- ery firm of S. Nusbaum & Co., and in February, 1884, was one of the founders of the present wholesale dry goods firm of Heiser, Muhlfelder & Co. He died February 23, 1893, leaving him surviving four children, namely: Joseph Muhlfelder, who is con- nected with the above firm; David Muhlfelder, a well known attorney of Albany ; Bell Pareira, wife of Aaron Pareira; and Isidor Muhlfelder, the subject of this sketch. Isidor Muhlfelder was educated in the public schools of New York city and Albany, and was in 1874 engaged as a salesman with S. M. Valkenburgh & Co., of Albany, with which firm he remained for ten years and in 1884 he, together with Solomon A. Heiser and Louis Muhfelder, founded the present firm of Heiser, Muhl- felder & Co., of which he is one of the two surviving members. In March, 1889, he married Pina Fleischman, and they have two children, Leo and Elsa, and he resides with his family at 126 Lancaster street in Albany. He is a prominent member of several clubs, lodges and societies and is one of the leading business men of the city of Albany.

Williams, George A., M. D., was born in the town of Columbia, Conn., March 13, 1851. His parents were George and Jerusha (Cohn) Williams, and both were the youngest of seven children, respectively. Dr. Williams is descended from a long line of ancestors, among whom was Roger Williams. Dr. Williams spent many years in preparation for his profession and 'studied at Yale University, New Haven, and Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He also received instruction under Dr. Kingsley, the fonnder of the New York Dental College, and he has two dental diplomas, one from the New York Dental College, conferring upon him the

degree of D. D. S., and the other of Master of Dental Surgery, from the New York State Censors. In 1890 Dr. Williams was graduated from the Albany Medical Col- lege, receiving the degree of M. D., and since then he has practiced in Albany. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and has all of both the York and Scottish Rite de- grees. He is also a member of the A. A. O. N. M. S. and is a member of all the Odd Fellow orders, having passed all the chairs. For two years he was instructor on the heart and lungs at the Albany Medical College and also instructor in materia mediea in that institution. Dr. Williams is also a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa Society and the Albany County Medical Society.

Tibbitts, Lorenzo B., son of William and Abigail (Seaman) Tibbitts, was born in Ballston, Saratoga county, N. Y., November 12, 1847, was educated in the Jonesville Academy and came to Albany in 1866 as superintendent of the gardens and grounds of Moore & Furgeson. In 1867 he was appointed a member of the Albany police force and served for fifteen years. In 1882 he engaged in the milk and dairy produce business on the corner of Green and Division streets, where he has since continued. In 1891 he started his present livery and boarding stable on Liberty street, succeed- ing M. H. Teater, and since July, 1893, has also had a contract with the United States Government for the transfer of mails between the Albany post-office and the various stations. He has been an active Republican, was for a time vice-president of the Consumers' Ice Company, and is a member of Wadsworth Lodge F. & A. M., Capital City Chapter R. A. M., Temple Commandery No. 2, K. T., and Cyprus Tem- ple N. O. M. S. In 1869 he married Matilda A., daughter of Sylvester Van Horne, of Oneida, N. Y., and their children are William S., Cora B., Lorenzo J., Arthur and Lotta.

Shaw, Andrew, son of John and Elizabeth (Moore) Shaw, was born in Albany, N. Y., October 12, 1846. He is of Scotch ancestry, his father having come from Scot- land to America in 1836. Mr. Shaw received his education in the public schools and in Prof. Lawson's Classical Institute, after which he started to learn the plumber's trade with Edward Kearney, with whom he remained one year. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. A, 91st N. Y. Regt. N. Y. Vols. March 31, 1865, he lost an arm at the battle of Gravelly Run, Va., which necessitated his returning to Albany, where he remained in Harris Hospital three months. In 1868 Mr. Shaw was made tallyman at the building of the stock yards at West Albany. After a short time he obained a situa- tion as gate keeper at the Capitol building, then just commenced. From there he went into the employ of the Albany Gas Light Company, where he served as valve- man for twenty years. In March, 1888, he resigned that position and formed a partnership for carrying on the coal business, with William L. Dresser, of Lee, Mass. They located at No. 150 Grand street. Subsequently Mr. Dresser sold his share to William McArdle, and for two years the firm was Shaw & McArdle. In 1894 Mr. McArdle withdrew and since that time Mr. Shaw has conducted the business. He is a member of the Unconditional Club, Lew Benedict Post No. 5 G. A. R., and the Jackson Corps. He was married in 1886, his wife being Maude C. Chamberlain, of Morris, Otsego county, N. Y. They have one son, William Reid Shaw.

Pratt, Louis W., a brilliant young lawyer and collector of internal revenue, is a son of Daniel J., and A. Eliza (Whipple) Pratt, was born in Fredonia, Chautauqua county, N. Y., August 14, 1862, and moved with his parents to Albany in 1865.

Daniel J. Pratt was assistant secretary of the Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York from 1864, until his death September 12, 1884. He was the founder and developer of the present system of regents examinations and was the author of "Annals of Public Education of the State of New York" and " Bound- aries of the State of New York," two works of wide importance and usefulness. He was secretary of the New York State Boundary Commission and the Albany Insti- tute, the first secretary of the New Capitol Commission, and the secretary of the Commissioners of the New York State Survey from its organization until his death. He was graduated from Hamilton College in 1851 as valedictorian of his class, and the prizes on that occasion were divided between him and Charles Dudley Warner. Louis W. Pratt was educated in the Albany public and high schools and was gradu- ated from Williams College, of Williamstown, Mass., with honors in 1883. He be- came a student in the law offices of Parker & Countryman, took a course of lectures at the Albany Law School, was admitted to the bar and began the practice of his pro- fession in 1885. In 1888 he formed a law partnership with Gaylord Logan, with whom he is still associated. Mr. Pratt is one of the editors of the revision of the New York Court of Appeals Reports. In 1888 he was elected alderman at large and in 1890 was re-elected. In November, 1893, he was appointed by President Cleve- land collector of internal revenue, which office he now holds. During the last few years he has made more political speeches than any other local politician. He is a lover of good books in all departments of literature and science, a thoughtful student and an accomplished scholar, and well versed in all the intricacies of the law. Mr. Pratt is a member of the Fort Orange and Orange Clubs, of Masters Lodge No, 5, F. & A. M., Capital City Chapter, R. A. M. and the Albany Lodge of Elks. November 5, 1885, he married Geraldine F., youngest daughter of the late Thomas Schuyler, president of the First National Bank and a prominent citizen of Albany. They have four children: Marion, Helen, Schuyler and Geraldine.

Bayard, Andrew Herbert, M. D., only son of Augustus Willard and Isabella (Browne) Bayard, was born at Leeds, Greene county, N. Y., October 11, 1867. The Bayards came to America about 1620 and are direct descendants of the renowned French warrior De Chevalier Bayard. When an infant his parents removed to Cohoes, N. Y., and his home was there until 1880, when he moved to Albany, N. Y. He was educated in the Albany Academy, was lieutenant in the military department and received the principal's prize for English composition, three consecutive years, and graduated in the class of 1886; he then took up the study of medicine in the Albany Medical College, receiving the degree of M. D. in 1889, was president of his class in 1886-7 and is now historian. Dr. Bayard subsequently took a post-graduate course at the New York Polyclinic and was assistant to Dr. R. C. M. Page, professor of the practice of medicine, and other special training under prominent teachers, served as assistant surgeon in the old Chambers Hospital, N. Y., since then he has practiced in Poughkeepsie and Bath-on-the-Hudson, N. Y. In 1892 he returned to Albany, N. Y., and at present is recognized as one of the leading young practition- ers in the city, enjoying a lucrative practice and was elected county physician in May, 1896. Dr. Bayard is a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity of Union University, Wadsworth Lodge No. 417, F. & A. M., Albany Council No. 1,560, Royal Arcanum, surgeon of the Albany Burgesses Corps, Capital City Republican Club

and the Albany County Medical Society. October 15, 1890, he married Orlena A. Hunting, eldest daughter of Dr. Nelson Hunting of Albany, N. Y., and they have one son, Roy Hunting.

Ainsworth, Danforth E .. the subject of this sketch, was born at Clayton, Jefferson county, N. Y., November 29, 1848. He was educated at Pulaski Academy and Fal- ley Seminary, and in the early years of his life was a teacher in the common schools of the State. He read law with the Hon. Henry L. Howe, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He then resided at Sandy Creek, Oswego county, N. Y., where he con- tinued in the active practice of his profession as a partner of Hon. Henry L. Howe until 1878 when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Ainsworth continued the prac- tice of law at Sandy Creek until the year 1885 when he was elected to the Legisla ture, representing the second district of the county of Oswego. He represented that district in the Legislature during the years '86, '87, '88 and '89, during the two latter years serving as chairman of the Committee upon Appropriations in that body. He was again elected to the Legislature in 1892, and served during the years of '93, '94 and '95, the two latter years being chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and Republican leader of the House; also serving upon the Committee of Judiciary, where his experience as a lawyer made him a strong man upon the committee. He was always a forcible and ready speaker, taking an active part in all debates of the House. It was largely owing to his support and advocacy that the reform legisla- tion of the city of New York passed the Legislature in the session of 1894. The policy of the two parties as represented by the passage of this legislation and its veto by Governor Flower contributed in no small degree to the Republican tidal wave of 1895. Upon the election of Hon. Charles R. Skinner as State Superintend- ent of Public Instruction, Mr. Ainsworth was selected as his deputy, and is at pres- ent serving in that capacity.

Victorin, Anthony, was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1850, of French parentage. His early education was obtained in Vienna and later he completed a course in the Polytechnic of Vienna, in the mean time devoted two years to practical work. After leaving the Polytechnic he was engaged in an extensive establishment at Gratz, Austria, for the manufacture and repair of locomotives, railroad cars, etc., as draughtsman, foreman and superintending engineer; later he was in the employ of the Austrian government as inspector of railway material. The last few years of his residence in Europe were devoted to the construction and equipment of industrial establishments in Austria and France. In 1880 he came to the United States where he has been eminently successful. His first engagement here was as civil and me- chanical engineer in the construction of the buildings for the Chicago Sugar Refin- ing Company. In 1884 he accepted the position as mechanical engineer at the West Point Foundry, where his duties were the designing and constructing of factories for the production of machinery and heavy ordnance, and in the early part of 1886 he was engaged as mechanical engineer of the Army Ordnance Bureau in Washington. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Victorin was transferred to Watervliet Arsenal, where his knowledge and skill have been devoted to the building and development of the pres- ent great gun factory, and designing, constructing and perfecting the gigantic ma- chinery for the manufacture of heavy ordnance. His well known work here ranks him as second to none in the engineering fraternity. Mr. Victorin is a member of

the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical Engi- neers, the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia, the Engineers Club of New York, the Pafraets Dael Club and Laureate Boat Club of Troy, and the Fort Orange Club of Albany ; he is also an honorary member of the Troy Citizens Corps. Socially he is a man of great popularity, a gentleman of pleasant manners and an entertaining conversationalist. He is proud of his allegiance to his adopted country and is a thorough American in his citizenship.

Gartland, John L., son of James and Elizabeth Gartland, was born in Manchester, England, July 4, 1853, and was graduated from Kneller Hall, a military school of music in Hounslow, in 1872. Meanwhile he was for ten years a member of the 2d Battalion, 15th Regiment of Foot, English army, which he entered in 1863 and in which he served a part of the time as musician, being stationed at Gibralter, Malta, Jersey (Channel Islands), Aldershot and Gosport. In 1873 he came to Portland, Me., where he followed his profession as a band musician. In 1874 he removed to johns- town, N. Y., and became leader of the Johnstown Band and a dealer in books and stationery. He came to Albany in 1881 as a member of the old Austin Band and in 1884 was elected leader of the 10th Regt. Band, a position he held ten years. In 1894 he organized Gartland's Military Band of twenty five pieces and has since been its leader and conductor. January 1, 1896, he formed a partnership with Joseph Gioscia and organized Gioscia & Gartland's orchestra of twenty-five members. These two bodies are the leaders in military band and orchestral circles in Eastern New York and have filled many noted engagements. Mr. Gartland is also musical director of the First Lutheran church, and a member of Wadsworth Lodge, Temple Chapter, De Witt Clinton Council, Temple Commandery and Cyprus Temple of Masons. In 1879 he married Josephine, daughter of Charles E. Peckham, of Johns- town, N. Y., and they have one daughter, Elizabeth Peckham Gartland.

Payn, Edgar M., son of Samuel N. and Margaret (Merrifield) Payn, was born in Albany, N. Y., in December, 1838. Mr. Payn's ancestors were English and settled near Lake George, N. Y., before the Revolution and took a very active part in the war. He was educated at Professor Anthony's Classical Institute in Albany, and before completing the course, left the institution and went South, where he was em- ployed as an assistant laying out and superintending the dredges improving the James and Appomattox Rivers, in Virginia. When the Rebellion broke out he was obliged to return North and entered the employ of his father. a contractor for river and harbor improvements. Mr. Payn was also in the employ of the State of New York superintending the building of dykes and dredging on the Hudson River. In 1871 he formed a partnership with William Bruce, the firm name since that time being E. M. Payn & Co. They have improved many harbors and rivers in the east as far as the Capes and in the South more extensively. In 1871 Mr. Payn married Ida Schermerhorn of New Baltimore, N. Y., and they have three daughters: Edna, Cora and Florence.

Hallenbeck, William Henry, son of John Henry and Mary (Beebe) Hallenbeck, was born in the town of Knox, Albany county, July 30, 1859, and is of Holland Dutch descent. His great-grandparents were early settlers of Albany county and his father, a son of Abraham, was born in Guilderland ; all were farmers. Mr. Hal- lenbeck finished his education in School No. 8, Albany, whither his parents moved

in 1868, and where they still reside. He clerked in a grocery store for about five years and on August 15, 1876, became a clerk for J. & J. Doran, woodenware dealers, with whom he remained until February, 1889. In March, 1889, he established his present wholesale and retail millinery business at No. 92 South Pearl street. He is a member of Peabody Lodge No. 32, K. P., Albany Division No. 2, Uniform Rank, K. P., Wadsworth Lodge No. 417, F. & A. M., Mountaineer Lodge No. 321, I.O.O.F. ; he is also a member and was formerly trustee of the Odd Fellows' Mutual Aid and Accident Association of Piqua, Ohio. February 24, 1880, he married Elizabeth, daughter of John William Schweiker of Albany and they have two children: Sadie Louise and Robert William.

McDonough, Joseph, so widely known throughout the country by antiquarians and lovers of valuable books as "ye old booke man" of Albany, was born in 1834 in Kil- kenny, Ireland. His rare taste for books was inherited from his father, James Mc- Donough, a man of vigorous intellectual powers, who after extensive travels abroad, became a school teacher and finally drifted into the second-hand book trade. About 1845 he opened a book stand in Liverpool, England, and continued there until his death in 1860. The maiden name of the mother of Joseph McDonough was Mary Hawthorne, a descendant of one of Cromwell's soldiers who had become proprietor of some land in the vicinity of Kilkenny, where young McDonough was early in- structed in the elementary branches of knowledge by his father. He first entered his father's bookstore and when about nineteen started out with a book stall for him- self in Liverpool. His financial success was assured from the first and in a few years he accumulated a large stock of books. When Henry G. Bohn, the eminent old bookseller and publisher of London visited Liverpool in 1858 he complimented Mr. McDonough by saying that he had the best store of the kind in England. In 1870 he came to America and soon settled in Albany, where he began business with a small book stall on State street. He moved several times from small stores to larger ones, and was very successful. In 1886 he started a branch in New York city and issued catalogues of old books regularly. In 1890 he returned to Albany and established himself in his present elegant quarters at Nos. 53 and 55 State street. Much of Mr. McDonough's stock . of books is secured by his attendance at auction sales of private libraries in New York, Boston and Philadelphia, and the regular book trade sales in those cities. He deals extensively in general literature, making a specialty of books relating to America, and has a large trade with the numerous public libraries and historical societies in the West and South. One of the grand secrets of his success as an accomplished bookseller is his wide knowledge of bibli- ography, a science which he carefully studied in England as early as 1860. Perhaps there is no man in Albany better acquainted with this subject than he. With the date of publication, the best editions and real value of the vast collections of literary treasures from the earliest periods down to the present time, he is perfectly familiar.

Courtney, Dickinson, son of Joseph and Mary (Gray) Courtney, who came to Al- bany from Ireland about 1830, was born in the capital city, August 10, 1850. His father, who died in 1854, was a prominent Democrat, served as alderman of the Second (now the Fourth) ward and several terms as city assessor and was engaged in the grocery and building stone business. His mother died in 1882. Mr. Courtney

. attended the public schools and the Albany Academy and in 1865 entered the attor- ney-general's office, where he remained seven years, becoming chief clerk. In February, 1872, he entered the employ of Hiram E. Sickels (who died in July, 1895), State reporter, and has ever since been connected with that office. In 1877 he mar- ried Louise A. Weaver of Albany, and they have one son living: Dickinson Court- ney. jr.

Gutmann, John, a native of Albany, born December 14, 1853, is the son of John L., who was born in Doerbach, Prussia, Germany, came to Albany in 1851 and died here in July, 1889; he was a moulder, superintendent and director of the Albany Stove Company and president of St. Joseph's Benevolent Association; his wife, Elizabeth Hensel, died March 8, 1870. John Gutmann was educated in German private schools and the Christian Brothers' Academy, graduating in 1869, and also attended the Albany Business College. He read law with Henry N. Wickes, was graduated from the Albany Law School and admitted to the bar in 1874, and practiced in partnership with Mr. Wickes until 1882. Since then he has followed the profession alone. He was justice of the Justice's Court about four and a half years, police jus- tice from 1884 to 1894, has been delegate to several Democratic conventions and is a member of various German organizations. In January, 1876, he married Theresa Kresser af Albany, who died in 1880, leaving two children: John H. and Julia T. He married second, in 1883, Christine E. Weber, a native of Kingston, N. Y., and their children are: Loretta C., Anna M. and Elizabeth C.

Oppenheim, Leo, born in Albany. July 4, 1856, is a son of Gerson Oppenheim, who died in 1886, highly respected by his fellow-townsmen and deeply mourned by his appreciative children, who have since been singularly fortunate in carving out for themselves enviable names in their respective lines of endeavor. Gerson Oppenheim was a successful merchant, a well known Odd Fellow and occupied many positions of trust in the community and in the synagogue of which he was one of the helpful pillars. During the panic of 1857 many of the senior Mr. Oppenheim's co-religion- ists withdrew their money from the banks and placed it in his hands for safe keep- ing; that he was scrupulously faithful to the trust thus forced upon him was one of the reasons for the esteem in which he was held. Leo Oppenheim is up to date, fin de siècle, as a merchant and as an artictic designer of men's wear; his store is said to be the most tastefully arranged, luxuriously fitted up and bountifully stocked tailoring establishment north of New York city. With other environments, Leo Oppenheim might have made name and fame as an artist; as it is, his love of the beautiful as the highest principle and the highest aim of art, expends itself in en- deavoring, artistically, to clothe his fellow men, in hiding their deformities and in bringing out their silent good points. His ambition is to dress people well in har- mony with their form aud build; that he succeeds is evidenced by the increasing number of his fastidious patrons.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 79

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