Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 87

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 87

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Haswell, Leah E., is the widow of John B. Haswell and daughter of Albert I. Slingerland, who was one of the builders and promoters of the growth of Slinger- lands, where he was a farmer and large real estate owner. He was for some years engaged in the lumber business in Albany, but returned to Slingerlands in 1875,

where he remained until his death, in June, 1896. He left two daughters: Catherine (Mrs. Dr. Frasier of Amsterdam), and Leah E. (Mrs. John E. Haswell), who has re- mained on the old homestead since the death of her husband in 1880. Mr. Haswell was a son of Joseph and grandson of Edward Haswell, who was among the early settlers of Albany county,

Mann, Benjamin A., born in Albany June 7, 1854, entered in the employ of Mann, Waldman & Co. in 1868. The firm then consisted of Aaron Mann, Isaac Waldman and Joseph Mann, who founded the business in 1851. In 1884 Benjamin A. Mann was admitted to the firm. The business originally comprised both dry goods and millinery ; about 1857 the latter department was discontinued, and in 1860 the manu- facture of cloaks was commenced, and the business was placed upon broader lines, a wholesale branch being added and the retail and wholesale business was continued to January, 1896, with unvarying success. In the spring of 1896 the stock was com- pletely sold and was marked by the retirement from active business of the three original members of the firm, Aaron Mann, Isaac Waldman and Joseph Mann. The retail business of the firm was given up and the wholesale only is to be carried on by Benjamin A. Mann, under the old style and firm name of Mann, Waldman & Co. The business will make a specialty of hosiery and underwear of all kinds, domestic and foreign ; Mr. Mann's connection with mills for the many past years giv- ing him exceedingly favorable opportunities to make satisfactory arrangements. Mr. Mann is a director of the Alpha Knitting Co., Schenectady, N. Y., and is secretary of the Hudson River Aniline Color Works of Greenbush, Mass. Mann, Waldman & Co. will occupy the old quarters of the wholesale department, namely the third and fourth lofts over 54, 56 and 58 South Pearl street, which are connected by a passen- ger elevator with their sample room, 75 Hudson avenue.

Slingerland, Hon. William H., of Slingerlands, Albany county, is descended from Tunis Cornelius Slingerland, who came from Amsterdam, Holland, to what is now Bethlehem in 1650, (see sketch. of the late Hon. John I. Slingerland in this volume), is a son of John A. and Leah (Brett) Slingerland, and was born November 13 1820, and has always lived in his native town, Bethlehem. His chief occupation has been that of an expert civil engineer and surveyor. He was member of assembly in 1880 and originated and successfully carried through several local and general laws of great benefit to the people. He was subsequently three times unanimously nomina- ted for the assembly, but declined the nomination each year, preferring to follow his profession to entering the field of politics. He was civil engineer of the United States government building in Albany, and when the stability and permanency of the beautiful assembly ceiling was in question in 1881-82 and 1887, he was appointed by the Legislature to take measurements of the new Capitol, make examinations and report upon any possible defects in the structure. In each of his reports he challenged the stability of the assembly ceiling, and in the last one warned the as- sembly of its dangerous condition and requested its removal, while other experts claimed its permanency. These reports were afterward verified, the ceiling was re- moved and a new one as recommended by him was substituted. Mr. Slingerland was also, in 1890, appointed and authorized by the War Department of the United States government to negotiate for the purchase by optional contracts of the farmers for one year, of a territory of about 3,500 acres, being one mile in width by ten

miles long, comprising parts of the towns of Watervliet and Guilderland, to be used by the ordnance department for a proving ground in connection with the Watervliet Arsenal, and his report and map of the territory as selected by him, and options taken for the same, were unanimously adopted by the War and Ordnance Depart- ments of the United States government, and Major Scofield of the army, and unan- imously recommended by them to Congress and for an appropriation to pay for the land so taken by him ; but Congress at that time failed to make the appropriation, yet it is still thought by the authorities that these lands will yet be taken for that purpose in connection with Watervliet Arsenal in place of Sandy Hook. He was one of the chief originators and founders in 1850 of the village of Slingerlands, named after the family, and secured a post-office and other improvements there. During the historical pageant of 1894 in Albany, he represented the great ancestor of the Slingerlands in the reproduction of the installation of the first mayor of that city. In 1842 he married, first, Elizabeth Wayne, and had five children: John H., assistant engineer on the New York Croton Aqueduct, who married Alice Preston ; George W., superintendent and assistant general manager of the National Express Company of New York, who married Rosalia Mattice; Helene, who married Hiram Bender in 1882 and died in December, 1884; Lizzie W., who married William H. Coughtry in 1895, and William H., jr., a civil engineer and surveyor, who married Ahce Bullock in 1896. Mr. Slingerland married, second, in 1868, Maria, daughter of Andrew Whitbeck.

Cary William M., is a native of West Troy, and was born May 28, 1866. He is the son of Joseph C. Cary, who served in the Rebellion in the 104th N. Y. Vols., and has been a compositor on the Times for thirty years. William M. Cary began the up- holstering business in 1890, which he continued for two years, when he engaged in undertaking in which he has been successful. He received his education in West Troy, and is an exempt fireman, and is held in high repute both in social and busi- 1.ess circles, as a man worthy of the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.

Tompkins, Charles M., is the son of Alva C., grandson of Abraham W., and great- grandson of William Tompkins, who came from Dutchess county to Albany county about April, 1788. Mr. Tompkins, after graduating from the Normal School in 1879, entered the law office of Newcomb & Bailey, January, 1881, where he read law and was admitted to the bar in 1884. He then came to the village of Coeymans and entered into a law partnership with Stephen Springstead, and since the death of Mr. Springstead, in 1891. has continued the business alone. He married Margaretta, daughter of Francis Nodine, and has two children: Alva M. and Frances J.

Thayer, Hon. Lewis V., was born at Glens Falls, N. Y., April 28, 1862. His father was Lewis Thayer, born in Luzerne, Warren county, N. Y., and is now en- gaged in active business in the city of Troy. His mother was Catherine Van Huesen, a native of Rensselaer county, who died at the age of forty-four. Lewis V. Thayer was a studious boy ; he first attended the public schools of Troy and afterward the Business College in that city. After completing a practical education he entered the employ of the National Express Company as a messenger boy in the cashier's office, from which humble position he rose to higher positions, finally establishing and managing express agencies at Plattsburg and Glens Falls, handling large amounts of money, of which he never lost a dollar. In this capacity he served several years,

when, in 1887, he was seriously injured in a railroad accident, which confined him to his bed for two years and nine months. His recovery, through the aid of the noted Dr. Sayre, was complete, and was considered almost miraculous, so severe was the injury to his spine. He ascribes much of the success of his cure to the tender and faithful care of his devoted wife. After his recovery he engaged with his father in the livery business, in which he is still interested, with stables and offices in Troy.

Mr. Thayer has always been a firm Republican, though not a politician. In Octo- ber, 1894, he was nominated for sheriff of Albany county, and was elected by a plurality of 5,784, and entered upon his duties January 1, 1895. Sheriff Thayer possesses excellent executive ability, and is endowed with the best traits of character as displayed in the various walks of a useful, honorable life. He is a member of all the Masonic bodies, the Elks, the Red Men, the Troy Yacht Club, the Y. M. C. A. of West Troy and of the Presbyterian church of the latter place. He married on April 30, 1884. Miss Elizabeth A., daughter of Robert Hunter, an influential citizen of West Troy. They have one daughter, and reside at Twenty-fourth street and Eleventh avenue, West Troy.

Gleason, John H., was born in the city of Troy, February 25, 1857, and was edu- cated at the Academy of the Christian Brothers, supplemented by a course at Troy Business College. When about nineteen he began the study of law with A. D. Lyon. of Troy, afterward entering the office of Judge Landon in that city. After three years' association with Hon. Galen R. Hitt, he was admitted to the bar early in 1880, and opened an office at West Troy, where his manifest abilities received early recognition by an appointment to the position of corporation attorney of West Troy, which he filled for three years with much credit. Joining the ranks of the Albanian legal fraternity in January, 1892, he continues the active practice of his profession in the capital city and is now the city attorney of the new city of Watervliet, where he resides.

Graham, Hugh, one of Cohoes's most prominent business men, began life without a dollar. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 1844. He was brought up to the hardware, seed and grocery business, a son of a farmer in his native county, and upon coming to Cohoes in 1864 he accepted a confidential clerkship in a wholesale grocery. In 1868 he began business for himself on Willow street, as Stanton & Gra- ham. The grocery business became so extensive that a large, handsome store was erected. Later his partner sold out to Mr. Conway, who died in 1896 when Mr. Graham also left the business. In 1888 he purchased the plant of the American Soap Company, and with Mr. Andrae the industry has become an extensive one, now known as the "American Soap & Washoline Company," of which Mr. Graham is president. He is a trustee of the Manufacturers Bank, a member of the City Hall Commission, one of the first commissioners of the Hospital Commission, an organ- izer and director of the Cohoes City Railway, president of the New York State Re- tail Business Men's Association, 1888, and was re elected again in 1892, and presi- dent of the Cohoes Business Men's Association four years, 1888 to 1892.

De Freest, Charles R., was born in Troy, N. Y., July 24, 1852, and is a son of David De Freest of North Greenbush, Rensselaer county, N. Y. He attended the public schools of North Greenbush and Troy, and graduated from the Troy High

School in 1869. He first engaged as a reporter on the Troy Daily Press, where he he remained two years, resigning to accept a similar position on the Troy Daily Times. For a number of years he was the city editor of the same paper. Subse- quently he became editor of the Troy Northern Budget. When the Hon. Edward Murphy, jr., was elected mayor of Troy, in 1875, Mr. De Freest was appointed city clerk. He was afterward made deputy comptroller and was connected with the Troy city government during Mr. Murphy's mayoralty. For eighteen years he was a member of the Democratic Central Committee from the Third ward in Troy. In 1887 he was made clerk of the Democratic State Committee, which position he re- signed in 1896." In 1891, '92 and '93, he held the Assembly clerkship. On January 1, 1894, Mr. De Freest was elected secretary of the Board of Railroad Commissioners and has since held the position with ability and success. He is a vice-president of the Holland Society of New York city, a life trustee of the Young Men's Association of Troy and an active member of a number of social organizations.

Flagler, Peter H., was born in the town of Westerlo, in 1810. John, his grand- father, came from Dutchess county to Albany county and settled in Westerlo on a farm about 1800. He reared seven children: Peter, Daniel, John, Eli, Julia, Kate, and Elizabeth. Peter, the father of Peter H., grew to maturity in the town of Westerlo and was a farmer by occupation. In 1840 he represented his district in the Legislature. He died in 1866; his wife was Letta Lawrence, daughter of William Lawrence of Westerlo. Their children were Chester, Morgan, John, William. Julia- ette, Peter H., and Almira. The mother died in 1893 at the age of eighty-nine. Peter H. spent his early life on his father's farm, and attended common schools and Fort Edward Collegiate Institute. He began for himself as a farmer, which he fol- lowed until 1882; in 1866 he came to the town of New Scotland, and removed from his farm to the village of Clarksville in 1882, where he has since resided. For a num- ber of years he was a dealer in agricultural implements, and for five years manu- factured shirts by contract, in the village of Clarksville. By profession he is an auc- tioneer of about thirty years' experience. During President Harrison's administra- tion he received his appointment as postmaster at Clarksville, which came as a surprise to him as he had not applied for it. He takes great interest in educational matters aud is school trustee of his district. He is one of the most active workers on the proposed Albany, Helderberg, and Schoharie Electric Railroad, and is also one of the promoters and stockholders of the Canadian Pacific Railroad, from New York to Ogdensburg. In 1860 he married Miss Julia A., daughter of Elsbree Jones of New Scotland, by whom one child has been born, Millie, wife of R. Clinton Bagley, who is a merchant of Clarksville. Mr. Flagler has been superintendent of the M. E. Sunday school for over twenty years, and is also president of the town of New Scot- land Sunday School Association. In 1895 he received the appointment of deputy sheriff and court officer of his town for a term of three years, which duties he per- formed to the entire satisfaction of all. Mrs. Flagler is a member of the Ladies' Aid Society.

Hallenbeck, John E., was born in 1845. He was the son of Abraham and the grandson of Ephraim Hallenbeck, who came from Holland and settled in Bethlehem, and died leaving three sons: John, Charles, and Abraham, who came to Coeymans in 1857, and settled on the farm that J. E. Hallenbeck now owns. Mr. Hallenbeck

remained on the homestead and farmed it until 1882 when he moved to Coeymans Landing, where he has since carried on a delivery and express business. Mr. Hal- lenbeck has been deputy sheriff of the town for nine years, and is also special trans- fer officer for the West Shore Railroad. He has one son, G. W. Hallenbeck, who is associated with him in business.

Lockwood, Leander S., born in the town of Westerlo, November 4, 1833, is the son of Samuel and Margaret (Swope) Lockwood, both natives of Westerlo. The parents of Samuel, Ira and Betsey (Utter) Lockwood, came from Connecticut and were pioneers of South Westerlo. He was a farmer and wheelwright. The mater- nal grandparents were Frederick and Adria (Whitmarsh) Swope, who lived in Westerlo and removed to Oneida county, where Mrs. Swope died, when he moved to Herkimer, then to Oneida county, where he died. The parents of Frederick, John and Katie (Teeter) Swope, came from Germany when young and settled in Eastern New York. Samuel Lockwood was a farmer of Westerlo, born in 1800 and died May 31, 1875. In politics he was a Whig, then a Republican, and a member of the Christian church. Mrs. Lockwood was born in 1803 and died in 1897. Leander S. Lockwood was educated at Troy Academy and in 1860 married Hannah, daughter of Benjamin and Avis (Hunt) Green, of Westerlo; they have five children: Marga- ret, Ella, Alida, Lillian, and Anna, who died aged nine years. Mr. Lockwood com- menced his business career as a clerk for S. I. Peabody & Co. of Troy, where he re- mained four years, then one year for T. Saxton of South Westerlo. He then, in partnership with Robert S. Cryne, bought out Mr. Saxton in 1859. In 1860 his part- ner died, and he was then five years associated with J. B. Taets in the same business. In 1865 he bought out Mr. Taets and has since conducted the business at the old stand, where he carries a general line of goods found in country stores. He owns the old Lockwood homestead of 106 acres, which he carries on. He is a Republican and a member of J. M. Austin Lodge, No. 557, F. & A. M.

Relyea, Abram, was born in Guilderland, November 19, 1835. David D., his grandfather, was a native of Guiiderland and a farmer by occupation. He reared five sons and six daughters, all of whom he provided liberally for. Peter D., his father, was also a native of Guilderland, born in 1808. He came in possession of his father's homestead, where he spent most of his life. His wife was Magdalen Mann, and their children were Mrs. Sarah Miller, Abram, Mrs. Adeline Van Patten, Mrs. Mary Jane Schermerhorn of Schenectady, Mrs. Catherine Van Buren, and Emma. He died in 1848 and his wife died in 1882. Abram attended the common schools, and at his father's death he was twelve years of age, and was obliged to care for himself. He then went to Cato, Cayuga county, and engaged at farm work, and also lived in Onondaga county. He later worked at blacksmithing for a short time and spent five years in Schenectady, and in 1862 came to New Scotland, where he was on a farm until 1864. He then enlisted in the 11th New York Independent Battery and served until the close of the war. Upon his return to Voorheesville he engaged in the meat business and later engaged in carpentry and followed contract- ing and building until 1892. He erected the Presbyterian church in Voorheesville, several of the prominent residences, and some of the stores. He was elected justice of the peace in the town of New Scotland in 1880, being the first Democratic justice elected in thirty years. He was constable for some time and was deputy sheriff for

nine years, and was also court crier in 1895. He has often been chosen delegate to County and Assembly Conventions, and was chairman of the Democratic town or- ganization, and is now a member of the general Democratic county organization. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, Noah Lodge No. 754 of Altamont, and is also a member of Temple Chapter No. 5, Commandery No. 2, and the Shrine of Albany. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity, No. 668 of Voorhees- ville, in which he has passed through several of the chairs and is now trustee and treasurer, and at one time was treasurer of the Presbyterian church and also of the Driving Association. In 1868 he married Amelia M. Earl, born in New Scotland and daughter of Benjamin and Margaret (Stalker) Earl. Their children are Charlie A. and Grace. The Relyeas were originally French Huguenots, who fled from France to Holland, whence they came to America.

Huested, Dr. Alfred B., son of Reuben (died 1841) and Mahala (Birch) Huested, was born in the town of Clifton Park, Saratoga county, May 15, 1840, and came with his mother in 1852 to Albany, where he was educated in the public schools and Boys' Academy. He read medicine with Drs. Armsby and Pomfret and in 1862 be- came hospital steward of the 113th N. Y. Inf. (afterward the ?th N. Y. Heavy Art.), with which he remained until 1863, when he returned home, resumed his studies and was graduated as M. D. from the Albany Medical College. He then passed his ex- amination before the State Military Examining Board, returned to his regiment (the 7th H. A.) and in March, 1864, was commissioned assistant surgeon, a position he held until he was mustered out in Denver, Col., in 1866. Returning to Albany he entered upon the active practice of his profession, but in 1867 engaged in the retail drug business on the corner of Hudson avenue and Eagle street, whence he moved in December, 1886, to his present location on the corner of State and Eagle streets, admitting at the same time Garrett V. Dillenback as a partner under the firm name of A. B. Huested & Co. He has been president of the State Board of Pharmacy since 1884, is a member of the American and New York State Pharmaceu- tical Associations, was president of the latter two years, and is a member of Temple Lodge No. 14, F. & A. M. He was appointed professor of botany and materia medica in the Albany College of Pharmacy in 1883, and still holds that position. In 1867 he married Margaret A., daughter of Dr. James E. Pomfret of Albany, and they have three sons: Frank P., James E. and Alfred B.

Witbeck, Andrew H., was born in 1824, and is the son of John W. Witbeck and grandson of Walter Witbeck, who was one of the early settlers in the northern part of Coeymans, in Manhattan Hook. John W. Witbeck was born April 10, 1773, at Manhattan Hook, a little valley in the northern part of Coeymans, about four miles from where Andrew H. now lives. On the 20th of May, 1795, in company with his father (grandfather of Andrew H.) he purchased the farm, now the homestead of his son, Andrew H. The latter lives on the farm where he was born, and where his father settled, when married, and lived until his death in 1853. He left five sons: Walter, John, Jasper, Peter and Andrew H., as above, who married Lidia E., daughter of Frederick and granddaughter of John E. Powell. They have one son, John W., and three daughters, Hannah E., (Mrs. Clifton Bedell) Sarah E. and Jen- nie, (Mrs. A. C. Koonz.)

Baker, George Comstock, was born in Comstock N. Y., April 29, 1868. He is a

son of Isaac V. and Laura D. (Clark) Baker, and is a descendant of John Baker, who was a soldier in King Philip's war and who lived in Swanzey, Mass. George C. Baker is the seventh in direct descent from John Baker, the names of those inter- vening being John (2), John (3), Reuben (1), Reuben (2), Isaac V. (1), Isaac V. (2). Mr. Baker received his preparatory education in private schools and was graduated from the Granville Military Academy in 1885. The year of 1886 he spent at Will- iams College and the years of 1887 and 1888 at Union, taking a partial course in the arts and literature. While at Union he was class poet and a member of the Psi Upsilon fraternity. He was graduated from the Albany Law School in 1889, and in 1891 was graduated and received the degree of LL. M. from Cornell University. During 1892 and 1893 Mr. Baker was in the law department at the attorney-general's office. He is vice-president of the Society of the War of 1812 in the State of New York; registrar of Philip Livingston Chapter, Sons of the Revolution ; treasurer of the Albany Chapter Society of the Colonial Wars; member of the Sons of the Amer- ican Revolution ; member of the Society of the Old Guard, and a member of the Fort Orange and Albany Camera Clubs. Mr. Baker is also a thirty-second degree Mason and holds office in several Masonic bodies. In 1895 he married Mary Louise, daughter of Jasper Van Wormer of Albany.

Ball, David, was born in the town of Berne in December, 1817. His grandfather was a native of Berne and his parents were immigrants to America from Switzer- land. John Peter Ball, the father, was also a native of Berne, born in 1788, and spent his life as a farmer. Once while plowing in his field, during the war of 1812, he was suddenly confronted by Indians and taken prisoner on his own horse ; after being gone some time he persuaded the Indians to release him and he returned home with his horse unharmed. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of Ephraim Bo- gardus, and their children were Robert, Ephraim and David. He died in 1865 and his wife survived him several years and died when seventy-eight years of age. Mr. Ball is one of the leading farmers of the town of Berne. He received a very limited district school education and when a lad of but fifteen, began life for him- self. Having a natural mechanical turn of mind, he engaged to learn the carpenter's trade ; this he followed as a journeyman until twenty-five years of age, when by the financial failure of others, he lost what he had earned. He then married and be- gan life anew, this time as boss or contractor of carpentry jobs, which he succeeded in and followed the business over forty years. In connection with this business he also conducted a farm, and during forty years (from the time he was thirty-five years of age) by hard and industrious work and practice of strict economy, he amassed a fortune of over 840,000; from time to time he has added to his real estate possessions, until he now owns some 590 acres, his homestead containing 200 acres. For many years he was an extensive sheep grower, turning off large wool clips. Mr. Ball was elected commissioner of highways and filled the office for nine consecu- tive years. His wife was Louise M., daughter of Peter Reinhart, and they had five children: Caroline (wife of Hiram Wilsey), Christana (wife of Luzene Deitz), Catharine (wife of John D. White), Ephraim, and Theodora (wife of Dr. Wallace E. Deitz of Berne); Ephraim resides on the home farm and assists in its management. His wife was Esterloa Delemarter, and they have two children: Louisa and Mertie.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 87

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