Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 86

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

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Whipple, Walter, was born in the village of Berne in 1846. Malachi Whipple, his grandfather, was a representative man who came from Stonington, Conn., in 1793. settling in what is now the town of Knox, and purchased what has ever since been known as the Whipple farm. His farm in 1820 took the premium as the model farm in Albany county; the premium consisted of two solid silver pitchers, silver tea- spoons, and five silver cups, which are still in possession of different members of the family ; he afterwards received premiums on his sheep and wool and on cloth of his owe manufacture. In 1825 he removed to the village of Berne, purchased a mill privilege and erected a grist mill. While residing in the town of Knox he repre- sented that town in the board of supervisors and subsequently represented Berne in the same capacity. He was also one of the founders of the Reformed (Dutch) church of Berne. His wife was Percilla Brown and they had thirteen children: Amos, Polly, William, Diana, Lois, Ann, Ethan, Abel, Sarah, Lucy, Parmelia, Allen and Esli. Esli, the father of Walter Whipple, was born in Knox in 1820. He learned the harnessmaker's trade and followed it throughout his enter life. He was five years old when his father moved to the village of Berne and he spent his life there, with the exception of five years spent in Cohoes. In politics he was a Republican and was often proffered nominations for public offices, but always declined the honor. His wife was AAngelica Rosekrans, daughter of Dr. Holmes Rosekrans, of Berne, and they had one child, Walter. Esli Whipple died in February, 1892, and his wife in October, 1887. They were both members of the Reformed church, in which Mr. Whipple had been an officer for many years, and was an elder in the church at the time of his death. Walter Whipple attended the common schools of the village and finished his education by attending select schools for several terms. When sixteen he entered a store at Rensselaerville as clerk, where he remained three years; the next two years were spent in Albany as a clerk. He then returned home and engaged in harness-making with his father, with whom he remained until the latter's death ; since the death of his father he has continued the business alone. Mr. Whipple is a Republican and like his father always refused all public offices. In 1871 he married Miss Josephine Ball of Berne, daughter of Paul and Maria (Moore) Ball. Mr. and Mrs. Whipple are both members of the Reformed church, of which Mr. Whipple is at the present time an officer.

Selkirk, William, was born in 1828 and is the son of Robert and grandson of James Selkirk, who came from Scotland and settled at what is now Selkirk Station, where he died leaving six sons: Robert, Charles, Francis, James, William and John. Robert Selkirk remained on the homestead as a farmer, and was for twenty years one of the assessors of the town. He died in 1870 leaving four sons: James, John, Jacob and William, who has been assessor for eighteen years and still holds that office.

Rundell, Darius, born in Westerlo, September 3, 1832, is a son of Jeremiah and Eliza (Lockwood) Rundell, both natives of Westerlo, where she died in 1849. He removed to Columbia county, where he died in 1892. He was a Republican and a member of the Masons in Columbia county. The grandparents of Darius, Isaac and Hannah (Scott) Rundell, came to Westerlo from Dutchess county and settled on the farm now owned by Darius Rundell. Darius Rundell was educated at Charlott- ville Seminary, and farming has been his principal business. He has two farms, one of 126 acres and one of 128 acres, and a gravel bank at South Westerio. He is

a Republican and held the office of justice for eight years, was elected supervisor in 1886 and has been elected at each succeeding election since (was president of the board in 1894), having held the office longer than any one man ever did in Albany county. He is president of Greene County Mutual Insurance Company, director of Farmers Mutual Insurance Company of four counties, also director in the Village Fire Insurance Company and a notary public. Mr. Rundell is a member of James M. Austin Lodge No. 557, F. & A. M., and of Chapter No. 283, R. A. M., and has been master of lodge ten years. In 1853 Mr. Rundell married Ann Eliza, daughter of Adam and Eliza (Hunt) St. John, farmers of Westerlo. Mr. and Mrs. Rundell attend the Christian church at South Westerlo.

Zeller, A., is a son of John Zeller, who came from Germany and settled at Indian Fields in the town of Coeymans in 1853. Mr. A. Zeller married Henrietta, daughter of Egbert Stanton, who was a grandson of Reuben Stanton, one of the early settlers of Westerlo, who had four sons, David, Benjamin, Joseph and Reuben. Reuben Stanton, jr., had three sons, Egbert, Luman and Reuben W. Egbert Stanton in early life came to Coeymans, where he married Jane, daughter of Dr. Moses Clement ; and after carrying on a store for some years, he was engaged the last thirty years of his life as bookkeeper and salesman of the various freighting firms of Coeymans. He died in 1880, leaving a widow, one daughter and a large circle of friends. Mr. Stanton was a representative man of the town.

Conyes, L. E., was born in Rensselaerville in 1849. He is the son of Garret and the grandson of James Conyes, who came from Germany. Mr. Conyes followed farming in Rensselaerville until 1886, when, after spending two years in Florida and California, he came to Ravena and opened a hotel opposite the depot which he now runs. Since 1893 he has also been in partnership with C. L. Diston in the coal busi- ness, and also handling brick, sewer pipe and fertilizers. He is a member of Cas- cade Lodge F. & A. M., and of the Capital City Chapter of Albany.

Baumes, Mrs. Mary E., is the daughter of John, and the grand-daughter of Am- brose Wiltsie, who was among the first settlers of Bethlehem, and had nine sons. John settled on a farm near his father's and died there in 1860, leaving three sons and six daughters, one of whom, Mary E., married Peter H. Baumes, who was a farmer of Bethlehem until 1888, when he sold his farm and settled at Ravena, where he died in 1891, and left three sons: Howard, Hiram and Omar, and two daughters, Katie and Mary.

Denison, Edward M .- John Denison, after being discharged from the army in the war of 1813, came to Albany county from Stonington, Conn., and settled in the town of Knox. In 1818 he married Mary Chesebro, moved to Schoharie county near Cobleskill, went into the wool-carding and cloth-dressing business, and raised a family of six children: Gilbert W., Julia A., Mary J., Charles M., Eli and Andrew. In 1831 he returned to Knox and went on a farm; in 1841 his wife died, and his death occurred in 1854. In 1843 Gilbert W. Denison came to Watervliet to work at gardening; in 1847 he married Sarah Swan; then had no children ; in 1869 he bought a farm near Newtonville ; he died in 1895, and his wife in 1896. Julia never married, but lived with her father, Gilbert, and died in 1892. Mary J. married Petet Chick- man and died in 1875, leaving a family of four children. Charles M. went west in

1844, returned in 1858, married Sarah M. Chesebro in 1864, bought a farm in the town of Guilderland ; had three children: L. Augusta, Edward M. and William C .; in 1880 he sold his farm, moved to Newtonville to work his brother's farm; in 1885 he bought a farm adjoining his brother's on the east and went into the milk business. Edward M. lived with his uncle until the latter's death, and then bought the farm ; in 1885 he married Miss Ida, daughter of Sylvester Pitts of Colonie ; by her he has four children. L. Augusta and William C. are with their father. In October, 1896, William C. married Jessie Furgurson. Eli served in the war of the Rebellion, was taken prisoner and died on Belle Island. Andrew is still in Knox engaged in farming.

Fuller, Aaron, a prominent landmark, was born in the town of Guilderland, within a mile of where he now resides, in 1832. He is the son of Major John Fuller, who was born in New Scotland; one of the four sons and two daughters born to Aaron, and of Scotch ancestry. He was a farmer in New Scotland and his wife was Margaret McMillin. Major John was a great military man and a member of the State militia. By vocation he was a farmer. He settled in the town of Guilder- land and on this land was later located Fuller's Station. He was an active and pub- lic spirited man and was interested in all town enterprises, and was the founder of town insurance, and through his efforts were established the first town insurance organizations in the State of New York. He was a member of assembly in 1847; his wife was Harriet Moak, daughter of William Moak; she was born in New Scot- land ; they reared six daughters and one son. Mr. Fuller died in 1882, aged eighty and his wife in 1861, aged fifty-eight. Aaron Fuller attended the common schools and spent two years at the Schoharie Academy, and as he was the only son, he re- mained with his father for many years, and then embarked for himself by purchas- ing his present farm, and for the past thirty years has been engaged extensively in the hay and straw business at Fuller's Station, where he now resides, having leased his farm. He has held many important town offices, having served as supervisor of the town for four years, and one term as commissioner. In the fall of 1881 he was elected to represent the Second Assembly district of Albany county in the Assembly. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Noah Lodge, No. 754, and was formerly a member of Temple Lodge, No. 14, of Albany, and has been a member for forty years. In February, 1862, he married Ada Fitch, who was born in New Scotland, a daughter of Ebenezer A. Fitch; she died in August of the same year.

Ryall John .- This honorable gentleman was born in Wales, August 3, 1839. He is the son of James and Margaret (Kerwick) Ryall, natives of the county of Tipper- ary, Ireland, who went to Wales in early life shortly after their marriage, and returned to Ireland about six months after the birth of the son, John. James was a farmer and spent his early life as a farm foreman. He was one of four sons, George, Michael, John and James. George went to Australia and the others came to America. In 1851 Margaret, the mother of John, left her home in Ireland without the knowl- edge of her husband and came to America. She communicated her intentions to her husband as she was about to board the ship in Liverpool; after arriving in America she worked, accumulated money, and assisted her husband and family to join her, which they did in 1853. They spent their remaining days in the town of New Scotland where he died in 1857, four years after their arrival in America. His

wife died February 23, 1895, at the age of eighty-six. To them were born seven children: John, James, Elizabeth, Mary Ann, Thomas Edward and Margaret. Elizabeth and Mary died in Ireland at the residence of their grandmother, aged respectively nine and eleven. John spent his early life at farm work and attended the common district school winters for a limited number of terms; he being the eldest, it fell upon him to care for his mother and younger brothers and sisters. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted in Co. D, 91st N. Y. Vols., and later re-enlisted in the same company and served until the close of the war. He was at the siege of Port Hudson, Five Forks, Petersburg, and Appomattox. His brother James was also a soldier in the army from the beginning until the close of the war, enlisting as a private in the 3d N. Y. Vols., and being promoted to a captain ; he died in 1881. Mr. Ryall again engaged in farm work, which he has followed more or less to the present time. He was elected and re-elected four successive terms of four years each as justice of the peace. The years 1893-94 he was justice of sessions; he is a United States loan commissioner for the county of Albany. He is a member of the G. A. R., Lew Bene- diet Post No. 5 of Albany, also a member of the Veteran League of Albany. In 1864 he was married to Miss Mary Stapleton, daughter of John Stapleton of New Scot- land, by whom he has had six children: Mina, wife of Garret Bradt, Idella, Mary, Lillie, who died when seventeen, Estella and Gertrude.

Strevell, A. M., was born in the town of Berne in 1830. He is the son of Harvey and grandson of Mathias Strevell, who came from Dutchess county to Berne about 1800. Harvey Strevell had three sons; Jason W., who is a prominent lawyer; Estus H., who was for some years a merchant at Ravena and died there May 22, 1896; and A. M. Strevell who, in 1857 went to Albany where he was in a store until 1873, when he returned to Berne and engaged in the farming business until 1885 when he moved to New Scotland, and in 1889 came to Ravenna and opened a hardware store, which he has since carried on. He has always taken a keen interest in the affairs of his town, and for nine years served as highway commissioner, and was also a mem- ber of the State Constitutional Convention in 1874.

Slingerland, Henry, was born in Albany county in 1830, and began his business life as a clerk in New Baltimore, Greene county, N. Y., and after six years began business for himself in New Baltimore, which he carried on until 1867, when he came to Cocymans where he has since conducted business, buying, selling and shipping hay and other farm products. In 1852 he married Charlotte Houghtaling, whose father was Anthony C. Houghtaling ; her paternal grandfather was Conrad and great- grandfather Thomas Houghtaling, a pioneer of Albany county ; and her maternal grandfather was Jasper S. Keeler. Mr. and Mrs. Slingerland have had five chil- dren ; two died in infancy, and their three sons are now associated with their father in business.

Willis, Mrs. Alexander, was the widow of A. E. Willis, who died in 1895. Mrs. Willis was the sister of Fletcher Blaisdell and Dr. Wesley Blaisdell, and a daughter of Levi Blaisdell who died in 1833; he was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and afterwards came and settled in Coeymans; he was a ship builder, and had two sons and one daughter: Dr. Wesley Blaisdell, and Fletcher Blaisdell, the daughter being Mrs. Willis, who was married in 1841 and had the following children: David B., of New York; Alexander B., who died in 1890; Henrietta and Henry, who died in in-

fancy ; Charles, who died in 1891; Wilbor, who is a bachelor of Castleton; Sarell, who is a bachelor and lived with Mrs. Willis, and two daughters, Harriet and Min- nie. Mr. Willis was a merchant and speculator of Coeymans. Mrs. Willis died No- vember 27, 1896.

Martin, Peter W., was born in New Scotland in June, 1834. John, the great- grandfather, was born in Coxsackie; he was left an orphan when quite young; he was a mason by trade and was a soldier in the English army during the Revolution- ary war; he settled in the town of New Scotland, before the war, there he worked at his trade and died in New Salem in about 1816; his wife was Maria Fralick, by whom he had thirteen children, of whom four were boys. Peter, the grandfather, was born in this town in December, 1781; he was a farmer, and a soldier in the war of 1812; his wife was Christiana Allen, daughter of William and Jennie (Drummons) Allen, both born in Scotland; they had seven children: Margaret, Isabella, Mary, Jennie, William, Avery, and John ; he died in June, 1852, and his wife died in 1839. William, the father, was born in New Scotland, October 18, 1806, and came on the farm he now owns with his parents when he was six years of age; when he was thirty years of age he purchased half of his father's farm of ninety-four acres, and in 1851 purchased the other half; since then he has devoted himself to farming; he erected all the buildings and made many other improvements; in October, 1829. he married Mary, daughter of William Moak and granddaughter of Robert Taylor, a native of Ireland, and their children were Mary, Jane, Peter W., William M., Rob- ert, Harriet A., Rachael, and Alden, who died when twenty-two years of age; his wife died April 19, 1880. Peter W. remained on the farm with his father until he was twenty-four years of age, when he engaged in farming for himself; in 1855 he moved to Guilderland and bought a farm, where he resided until 1883; he then sold the farm and moved to Guilderland Center and embarked in the general mercantile business with J. H. Oggsbury. They continued for several years until the store was destroyed by fire and his partner went to Meriden, Conn. In 1893 he opened the store where he is now located. He was elected inspector and is now filling the office of town clerk. In October, 1858, he married Sarah Ann Perry, daughter of Casper Perry, of New Scotland, by whom three children have been born: Elveretta, Emma J., who died when ten years of age, and Levi W.

Leonard, Daniel, was born October 3, 1839, and came to Albany in 1854 from Springfield, Mass., in which neighborhood his family resided from the settlement of Springfield in 1636, and where John Leonard, his ancestor, was killed in King Philip's war in 1676. The family was allied to many of the early Connecticut and Massachusetts families, Mr. Leonard being in direct descent from Governor William Bradford of Plymouth. On coming to Albany he took a position in the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank, in the building then standing next north of the site of the post- office, and was made teller of the bank before reaching his majority. In 1867 he entered the firm of J. G. Cotrell & Co., and in 1878, after the death of J. G. Cotrell, Edgar Cotrell and Daniel Leonard, who were brothers-in-law, formed a partnership and continued the business under the style of Cotrell & Leonard until Mr. Cotrell's death in 1890. The firm now consists of Mr. Leonard and his two sons, Edgar C. and Gardner C. Leonard and the firm name is retained as Cotrell & Leonard. In 1867 the business required only a three story building at 46 State street and was

purely local. In 1870 the firm erected a five story building on the same lot, made necessary by the growth of its wholesale business. Still larger quarters being neces- sary the firm purchased and removed to the present location, 472 and 474 Broadway, in 1884 ; and from year to year have been compelled to connect upper stories in the buildings on either side of them until now their business occupies space equal to ten stories of their present store. Mr. Leonard is president of the Albany Safe Deposit and Storage Co .; vice president and treasurer of the Mutual Fire Insurance Co. ; treasurer of the State Street Presbyterian church; a charter member of Fort Orange Club; a member of the Society of Colonial Wars, and a trustee of the Mechanics' and Farmers' Savings Bank. He is a man of quiet and reserved manner who finds his greatest recreation in his family and home life.

Harris, Morris, was born in Albany in 1857, a son of Alexander, who was a native of Russia, born in 1820; he was an only child and came to the United States when a young man and settled in Albany. He soon engaged at selling goods throughout the county, which he followed with success until his death in 1877. His wife was a native of the same place; they reared six children ; his wife now resides in New York city. Morris, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth of his father's children. He attended the public schools in Albany until fourteen, when he engaged in the ton- sorial business, and four years later in partnership with a younger brother, under the firm name of M. Harris & Co., he engaged in the manufacture of cigars, Mr. Harris acting as traveling salesman, while his brother superintended the manufacturing. Their business increased in small proportions until they employed from twenty to thirty makers. This business they followed successfully for seven years. In 1884 he purchased a hotel interest in Voorheesville, closed his cigar business, and since that time has spent his time catering to the public as hotel proprietor. In 1889 he purchased his present building, which he converted into the hotel he now conducts. His house is well known to public travelers, from which he enjoys a most liberal patronage. His hotel hall has always been used as a court house in that village, and is noted for the many political conventions held in it since his proprietorship. In the spring of 1896 Mr. Harris was one of the promoters of the shirt factory in his village, the capital being subscribed by the residents; he readily became one of the stockholders, and was elected treasurer of the company; also a stockholder in the Voorheesville Canning and Preserving Co. He is one of the five charter members who organized the Odd Fellows Lodge in Voorheesville. He was the first represen- tative of the lodge in the Grand Lodge in October, 1886; also a member of Noah Lodge F, & A. M., Altamont, N. Y. He married Miss Elizabeth Mendelson, who was born in Ulster county, a daughter of Jacob Mendelson.

Emery, John W., son of John P. and Betsy (Thing) Emery, was born in Kennebunk, Me., October 29, 1856. He is a descendant of English ancestors who settled in York county, Me., early in the seventeenth century. He was educated in the public schools and in 1874 completed the course of instruction at the Boston Business College. For the two years following he engaged in the real estate business at Hyde Park, Mass., and at the end of that time he entered the establishment of S. B. Thing & Co .. shoe dealers of New York city. He was subsequently sent to branch stores at Syr- acuse, Auburn and Binghamton. In the latter city he was given the management of the store and was also manager of the Elmira store for five years, from which city

he moved to Troy, N. Y., where he entered the partnership of S. B. Thing & Co., and had at that time the supervision of fifteen retail stores. While at Troy Mr. Emery resided in Lansingburgh, and was elected a member of the Board of School Trustees of that village. August 1. 1896, he retired from the firm of S. B. Thing & Co., and purchased the Albany and Schenectady branches, which are now conducted in his name. July 20, 1881, he married Bessie Linaberry of Binghamton, N. Y., and they have three children: Wesley M., Samuel B. and Angie E.

Ogsbury, Junius D., and John D., comprise the Enterprise Company, editors and proprietors of the Altamont Enterprise, and are kinsmen. Junius D., the senior member of the company, was born in the town of New Scotland, February 14, 1857. James, the father of Junius D., was born in Guilderland in 1832; his wife was Almira Wands and their children were Junius D., Maggie, Stanley, William, Ella, George and Jennie. He died in 1890 and his wife survives him and resides in Alta- mont, where they were both members of the Lutheran church. Junius D. was reared in the village of Altamont, attended the village school, and when eighteen spent a year in Michigan with an uncle who conducted a printing office, where he acquired his first practical knowledge of the art of printing. Upon his return he engaged in school teaching and clerking for a few years, and in 1885 purchased the Enterprise, which was then but sixteen months old and known as the Knowerville Enterprise. A year later he associated with him his present partner. a cousin, John D. He is an Odd Fellow and one of the consistory of the Lutheran church. In 1880 he married Anna, daughter of James Ostrander of Guilderland, and they have five children : James, Nettie, William, Junius, jr., and Charles. His wife died in November, 1893, In August, 1896, he married Margaret J. Bell, a daughter of the late Chauncey Bell, of Rensselaerville. John D. Ogsbury was born in the town of Guilderland, August 31, 1856. His father, John P., was born in Guilderland, November 7, 1818. In 1839 he married Margaret J. Van Valkenburgh, a daughter of Johoicam Van Valken- burgh, and their children were Charles A. (who died when two years old). Peter J., Mary C. (who died when twelve years old), David Clayton (who went west and be- came city marshal of Silverton, Col. ; he was called upon in August, 1881, to make an arrest of a party of ruffians and was fired upon by one of the party and killed ; his body was brought back for interment and now lies in the family cemetery in the old Helderberg Cemetery), Ella (wife of Peter Vanderpool), and John D. John D. received a common school education and his life was spent on the farm until twenty- six years of age, when he went on a canvassing tour through the South and West. In 1885 he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Altamont, and in December, 1886, he purchased a half interest in the Enterprise. He is a Republican and filled the office of the first village tax collector. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Altamont Reformed church, in which he is deacon. June 1, 1885, he married Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Francis Brunk of Guilderland, and their children are Bessie Margaret, De Witt Clayton, Milton J., Merlin L., John P., and Howard F.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 86

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