Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 93

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 93

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Berne in 1792. His parents being poor his education was very limited, and when a boy he was apprenticed to a Dr. Hubbell to learn the mercantile business and also was to study medicine; the failure of the doctor to remain in business left him without a place, but he found other employment and in 1811 was taken in as a part- ner in the store business by Col. Johan Jost Deitz. From 1811 to 1864 he was en- gaged in the mercantile business, building up a trade second to none in the town. He represented his district in the Assembly, served as supervisor, justice and town clerk, was for thirty-five years postmaster, and several years commissioner and in- spector of common schools. May 7, 1818, he was appointed by Gov. De Witt Clin- ton cornetist of the 5th Regt. Cav. of the State of New York, in 1821 was commis- sioned as captain, in 1824 was appointed major of the 31st Regt. and in 1825 was raised to the position of lieutenant-colonel. He was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. His wife was Cornelia R., daughter of Minor Walden, who was one of the pioneers in Berne, coming from Vermont about 1809. Theodore Settle received his education in the common schools and spent his early life in assisting in his father's store. When nineteen years old he engaged as clerk for his brother Charles, who had succeeded the father in business. After seven years he succeeded his brother and has since done a very successful business. Mr. Settle has served as town clerk two terms, postmaster eight years, and was one of the organizers of an Odd Fel- lows' lodge in Berne, which after twenty years was abandoned. He is treasurer of the Albany, Helderberg and Schoharie Railroad. In 1890 Mr. Settle married Kate L., who was born in Guilderland and is a daughter of Jacob and Alida (Hallen- beck) Mann. They have one child, Howard E.

Van Heusen-Charles Company, The, was founded in 1843 by Theodore V. Van Heusen and Daniel D. T. Charles, both natives of Albany, and succeeded to the crockery business of Wardwell & Bordwell at No. 66 State street. In 1844 they moved to Nos. 62 and 64 State street and in 1856 they purchased the Mansion House property on Broadway and built the store since occupied by the establishment. The original firm name of Van Heusen & Charles was changed in 1864 to Van Heusen, Charles & Co. by the admission of George W. Pierce as a partner. Mr. Charles died August 1, 1892, and soon afterward the firm adopted is present name of the Van Heusen-Charles Company. This is the oldest and largest enterprise of the kind in Albany or Eastern New York and commands an extensive wholesale and retail trade in fine and ordinary china, bric-a-brac, silverware, lamps, gas fixtures, etc. Both founders were representative and highly respected business men, and took a keen interest in the prosperity of their city and its institutions. Mr. Van Heusen, born in 1818, became somewhat prominent in politics and in 1882 was the Republican nominee for Congress. He died June 15, 1893. The officers of the Van Heusen- Charles Company are Charles M. Van Heusen, president ; George W. Pierce, vice- president and treasurer ; Leonard Jones, secretary.

Weaver, William J., was born in the town of Cocymans, January 27, 1835, and in the following year his parents removed to Albany. His parents came from Oneida to Coeymans and were also natives of this State. Mr. Weaver received his early education in the public schools and at the age of sixteen, following the example of his brothers, he went to sea on a whaler for a three years' cruise. This, however, did not satisfy his longing for the sea, and after a brief visit to his home he again

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embarked on a two years' cruise. Returning again in 1854, he went into partner- ship with his father and established a steam packing-box manufactory on the corner of Cherry street and Broadway, continuing in it from that date down to 1871. In 1868 he was elected Democratic supervisor of the old First ward, and in 1869-70 and 1871 he was chosen to represent the Third ward in the Board of Supervisors and during the last two years served as president of the board. In 1871 Mr. Weaver was appointed city assessor by Mayor Thacher and has held the position continu- ously down to the present time. He was once nominated for the Assembly in the First district, but withdrew in favor of a rival Democratic candidate on the evening before election. In the year 1869 he brought to the notice of the Board of Super- visors the great inequality then existing in the State equalization as it affected Al- bany county, and was at that time appointed chairman of a committee on State equal- ization, which position he held continuously until 1895. Mr. Weaver was married in 1856 to Mary A. Allen, by whom he has had six children, four of whom are living.

Miller, Henry, jr., is a son of an old and representative citizen, and was born at the family residence in Colonie, May 11, 1871. His father, Henry Miller, was of German birth, and was one of the early settlers here. He has become a very large land owner and is also interested in the sale of various types of agricultural machinery. Mr. Miller, jr., now conducts the dairy business, delivering the milk from about fifty cows, chiefly in the village of Green Island.

Marshall & Wendell Piano Forte Manufacturing Company (Ltd.), The, was founded in 1853 by John V. Marshall, a practical pianomaker, in James street Albany. In 1856 he was succeeded by the firm of Marshall, James & Traver, of which he was the principal member. This firm was dissolved and he formed a co- partnership with Harvey Wendell in 1868, under the style of Marshall & Wendell, and this continued successfully until 1882, when the present Marshall & Wendell Piano Forte Manufacturing Company (Ltd) was organized and incorporated with a paid up capital of $100,000, the officers being Henry Russell, president; Harvey Wendell, treasurer and manager; and John Loughran, secretary. Mr. Russell sub- sequently resigned and Jacob H. Ten Eyck was elected president and still holds the position. In 1892 Thomas S. Wiles was chosen vice-president; Edward N. McKin- ney, treasurer and manager; and Mr. Wendell, secretary. In 1896 the latter was succeeded by James L. Carpenter. In 1872 the present building, Nos. 911 and 923 Broadway, was erected and occupied, It has a frontage of 145 feet and a depth of 175 feet. At this time the business was materially increased and the new plant afforded an enlarged capacity that has ever since been successfully utilized. The firm manufactures pianos in all kinds of fancy woods, warranting them for five years, and maintains a large trade throughout the United States and Canada. They make strictly high grade instruments, finer than were ever made in the history of the com- pany, and among their agents are many of the largest and most prominent piano houses in the country. The members are all well known business men, Mr. Wiles being a director in the Merchants' National Bank and Mr. Mckinney a director of the New York State National Bank.

McDermott, John, superintendent of the Champlain Canal north from Albany fif- teen miles, is a man who has spent his whole life on canal works, and who helped build the first water works at Montreal, Canada. The death of his father caused

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him to early seek his own maintenance, and he began work for contractors on the canal; he worked his way up to overseer and foreman in various localities and has been inspector of locks, also inspector of Champlain Canal repair work. For some time he was on a Pennsylvania railroad, and during the war had the contract for the reservoir at Washington, D. C .; in 1865 he was sergeant of Capital Police, and after- ward captain. Mr. McDermott was born at Kingston, Ont., in 1829, leaving his na- tive city at the age of thirteen years. His education was acquired at Rochester, where he went in 1850 to reside with a brother. In 1854 he came to Cohoes and be- gan contracting in the dredging business. He also has the agency of the Phoenix Insurance Co., and real estate. Officially he has served as alderman for two years, and as assessor for one year.

Johnson, Edwin S., military storekeeper at Watervliet Arsenal since 1856, was born at Hudson, N. Y., in 1826. His father was William G. Johnson, also an arsenal employee for twenty-five years, from 1840 to 1865. The early life sf Edwin S. John- son was one of considerable adventure, although his boyhood was passed on a farm. He was a sailor on the deep sea for several years, chiefly on coasting vessels, plying between New York, Massachusetts and Virginia ports. He first went into the Arsenal at the outbreak of the Mexican war in 1846, and again in 1860, and received his appointment as assistant military storekeeper on the 10th of May, 1865, and has remained in the same place until the present.

Miller, John H., son of John and Mary (Kelley) Miller, was born on a farm in New Baltimore, Greene county, October 8, 1860, and received his education in his native town. He engaged in various occupations till about 1886, when he came to Albany and established a livery and boarding stable en North Pearl street. In 1890 he pur- chased his present livery and boarding stable on Hudson avenue of John Sanborn. In 1893 he married Hattie, daughter of John Saulsman, of Albany, who died in March, 1894, leaving one son, Bhilip J.

Appleton, Joseph L., M. D. S., son of George and Elizabeth (Garton) Appleton, was born in York, Ontario, Canada, October 24, 1858. His father, a native of York- shire, England, came to America in 1836 and died December 25, 1882. His mother, who was born in Canada, died in March of the same year. Dr. Appleton received a public school education, came to Albany in 1879, studied dentistry with Dr. E. C. Edmunds, attended the New York Dental College, and afterward received the de- gree of M. D. S. from the State Board of Dental Censors in May, 1886. He re- mained with Dr. Edmunds until the latter's death in November, 1887, when he suc- ceeded to his practice. He is a member and ex-president of the Third District Dental Society, has been a delegate to the New York State Dental Society since 1888 and in 1895 was a delegate to the American Dental Association. He is a member of Temple Lodge, Capital City Chapter, De Witt Clinton Council and Temple Com- mandery of Masons, an officer of Grace M. E. church and superintendent of its Sun- day school since 1894. In 1887 he married Margaret E., daughter of John Q. Graham of Albany, and they have two sons: Joseph L., jr , and Andrew Graham.

Brasure, John W., grandson of John Brasure, of Nova Scotia, a Frenchman, and son of John W. Brasure, sr., was born in Albany, June 22, 1859. John W., sr., only child of John, was born in Hoosick Falls, N. Y., September 11, 1816, came to Al-

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bany in 1826, where he died October 10, 1892. Apprenticed to Nathaniel Wright he learned the trade of coach-lamp making, which he followed several years. He was a member of the police force under Chief Morgan and also belonged to the old Vol- unteer Fire Department. In June, 1857, he engaged in the undertaking business and continued until his death. He was married three times and left four children. He was a member of Ancient City Lodge F. & A. M. John W. Brasure, his son, was educated in the Albany public and High Schools, and when seventeen associated himself with his father in the undertaking businees, to which he succeeded on the latter's death. He is a graduate of three schools of embalming, and a member and past noble grand of Fireman's Lodge No. 19, I. O. O. F. ; a member of the New York Encampment No. 1, Canton Nemo, and Woodbine Rebekah, I. O. O. F. ; cor- poral of the Albany Burgesses Corps; member of the Albany County Wheelman ; charter member of the Capital Lodge Order of the Chosen Friends, and president of the Albany County Undertakers' Association. He was one of the founders of the Nawadaha Tribe No. 297, I. O. R. M., which was organized in his office with ten members, which now has four tribes numbering about 400 members, was its first sachem, and in August, 1896, represented it at the Grand Council in Saratoga. July 1, 1896, Mr. Brasure married Helen, daughter of William and Mary McCredie of Albany, and of Scotch descent.

Atkins, John R., is one of the most energetic and progressive business men of West Troy, and since 1885 has been engaged as plumber, gas and steam pipe fitter, and is agent for the Boynton steam and hot water heaters. After one year in Roch- ester at his trade, he spent seven years in Philadelphia as an employee in the plumbing business. Mr. Atkins was born at Sing Sing in 1854, and is a son of William Atkins, a grocer. When twelve years of age he removed to Rochester, where he was educated. In 1878 he came as a plumber to Troy, making his home at West Troy.

Bender, Matthew, was born in Albany, December 2, 1845, and is a son of Wendell M., a grandson of Matthew, and a great-grandson of Christian Bender, who came from Wurtemburg, Germany, and settled in Bethlehem, Albany county, in 1740, and was a sergeant in the Revolution in Slingerland's Company, Schuyler's Regiment, 3d Rensselaer Battalion. He married Mary Cramer, and had five sons and four daughters. Matthew Bender, son of Christian, was born in Bethlehem, March 13. 1782, married Elizabeth Ramsey (born March 7, 1789, died December 17, 1839), and died August 8, 1866. Wendell M. Bender, son of Matthew Bender, was born in Bethlehem, October 17, 1812, and married, August 11, 1842, Mary Brown (born Feb- ruary 27, 1823, died October 18, 1854), and died January 10, 1882. Their son, Matthew Bender, was educated in Professor Anthony's Classical Institute and Pro- fessor Collins's Private School, and was graduated from Union College in 1866. He then engaged in the wholesale lumber business in Albany with his father until 1877, when he accepted a position with William Gould & Son, law book publishers, which he held for ten years. In 1887 he engaged in business for himself as a publisher of law books and has since continued with marked success, enjoying a trade all over the United States. He is a member of Masters Lodge No. 5, F. & A. M., Capital City Chapter No. 242, R. A. M., and Temple Commandery No. 2, K. T. July 17, 1867, he married Hannah Louisa, daughter of the late John Thomas, jr.,

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proprietor of the Premium Mills and a prominent coffee and spice merchant of Al- bany. They have had five children: Matthew, jr., and John Thomas, who are associated in business with their father; Louisa and Bertha (who died young), and Melvin Thomas, a student at Union College, class of 1900.

Glass, Edwin G., was born in the village of West Troy, Albany county, in 1861. He received his early education at the Nassau and Mechanicville Academies, and also completed a commercial course at the Troy Business College, after which he became a partner in the extensive drug and paint establishment of his father, whom he succeeded at the time of his death, which occurred in 1884. Mr. Glass still continues the business, and by careful and judicial management he now enjoys the distinction of being one of the foremost business men in that part of Albany county. At the spring election in the town of Watervliet in 1896 he was solicited by his party to take his initial step in politics, by accepting the Republican nomination for supervisor, and was elected in a Democratic town by an overwhelming majority over his opponent, Hon. Terrence Cummings. In 1884 he married Miss Sadie Benedict, the accomplished daughter of an old and respected citizen.

Nussbaum, Hon. Myer, is a native of Albany, and received a common school edu- cation. He was admitted to the bar in 1877 and immediately formed a copartnership with George H. Stevens, which continued for four years. He was appointed police magistrate by Mayor Swinburne in 1884 and served about a year, and in 1892 was elected member of assembly from the Third assembly district of Albany county. In 1895 he elected State senator to represent Albany county for a term of three years. Mr. Nussbaum is actively identified as trustee, or member, with the several charita- ble institutions and social clubs of Albany. His present law partner, who was ad- mitted in December, 1895, is Joseph P. Coughlin, who had been for a number of years his managing clerk.

Chadwick, P. Remsen, whose death in 1891 removed from the city of Cohoes one of its most prominent men, was a native of New York city, born in 1831. He was a resident there during the war and went out in the 7th N. Y. Regiment first, then afterwards in the 100th N. Y. Regiment, and again as adjutant-general on the staff of General Truman Seymour, serving through the entire war. Mr. Chadwick was a de- scendant from an old English family; his grandfather, Joseph, came from England in 1799, and settled in New York city. His father, William, built one of the Har- mony Mills of Cohoes and was one of the founders of the Cohoes Company; he him- self was an owner of the Ontario Mills and a well known manufacturer. He was the first captain of the Seventh Separate Company N. G. S. N. Y. of Cohoes, which he helped to organize. He left, besides his widow, one son, Robert R. Chadwick, who is engaged in an insurance agency in Albany.

Le Roy, Hon. William B., since his graduation in 1880, at Granville Military Academy, and two years' previous work at the Highland Military Academy, Wor- cester, Mass., has been a proprietor of the Globe Knitting Mills, conducted by the firm of Le Roy & Lamb, of which his father, Alfred Le Roy, was the senior mem- ber. His father was one of the foremost figures in the management of the munic- ipal affairs of the city of Cohoes, a position he had once before occupied. He was born at Mechanicville, and is of French ancestry. He came to this place in 1857

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and engaged in the hardware business, establishing the first telegraph office in this city in his store. He was a mason by trade and in later years was a contractor. The many offices in which he served his county as trustee, alderman, mayor and assemblyman in 1877, attest the honor in which he is held. William B. Le Roy is a native of Cohoes, born in 1861. He inherits the sterling qualities of his father, and has filled acceptably many responsible positions among his fellowmen. He was a member of assembly in 1889 and 1890, and afterward police commissioner in 1892-93 and in 1894. He is also prominent in the order of K. of P. and holds high rank in the Masonic fraternity.

Montmarquet, J. D., M. D., was born in Jersey City, April 22, 1860. He received his primary education in the public schools of New York and New Jersey, after which he went to Canada to prosecute his classical studies, where he graduated in 1883; returning to Jersey City, he began the study of medicine in 1886 at Columbia College, N. Y., graduating in 1889. In the fall of that year he came to Cohoes and commenced the practice of his profession. He has held the office of coroner's phy- sician. He is a member of the New York State Medical Association, the Albany County Medical Society and the Troy and Vicinity Medical Association. He is en- joying a lucrative practice. January 18, 1891, he was married to Wilhelmina Zecher of Jersey City ; he has three children, Marcelline, Theresa and Joseph.

Witbeck, C. E., M. D., is of Dutch ancestry, the family name being originally Van Witbeck. The first American ancestor, John Thomas Witbeck, settled at New Am- sterdam, now New York. Mr. Witbeck is the son of Abram Witbeck, formerly su- perintendent in the painting department in the Watervliet Arsenal, and was born at West Troy in 1844, and began his medical study at the Albany Medical College, re- ceiving his diploma in 1866. He located in Cohoes in 1867 where he still practices his profession. He is a member of the Albany county and of the New Yoak State Medical Societies, and American Medical Association, and was president of the Cohoes Medical Association, and was vice-president of the Albany County Medical Society. He has served eight terms as health officer in Cohoes, been police surgeon, and also city physician.

Cushman, Col. Harry C., is a lineal descendant of Robert Cushman of the May- flower, in whose name the charter for Plymouth Colony was granted. Paul Cush- man, sr., who came to Albany from Vermont, was one of the first in America to engage in the pottery business, having an establishment near the site of the present Park Bank. He married Margaret McDonald, and their son, Paul, jr., born in Al- bany, December 25, 1822, began his business career in the produce and commission business, which was finally discontinued. From 1853 to 1869 he was in partnership with his brother, Robert S., founding the present wholesale importing wine house, which he carried on until his death, June 3, 1895. He was a director in the Capital City Insurance Company, a trustee of the National Savings Bank, interested in railroads and other projects, a member of the Masonic order and a foundation member of the Fort Orange and old Albany Clubs. He married in 1845, Mary Jane, daughter of Capt: I. I. Taylor of Oswego, N. Y., who died in 1854, leaving two children. January 21, 1856, he married Julia A. C. Blackwell of Richmond, Va., who died September 5, 1885, leaving three children, of whom Harry C. is the eldest. Harry_C. Cushman, born in Albany, July 31, 1857, was educated at the

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Albany Academy, and St. John's Military School at Sing Sing; he intended entering the University of Virginia, where his mother's family had usually attended, but the effects of an attack of the Roman fever prevented; after three years passed in travel- ing, his health being restored, he in 1881 organized and became secretary and treasurer of the Albany Pharmaceutical (now the Albany Chemical) Company. Three years later he withdrew and associated himself with his father, in 1885 became a partner and in 1895 succeeded to the business. He joined Co. A. 10th Regt. N. G. N. Y., February 10, 1879: was made aide-de-camp on Gen. R. S. Oliver's staff, 5th Brigade, January 31, 1883, and was promoted assistant adjutant-general, 3d Brigade, January 8, 1891, a post he still holds. He is a member of Masters Lodge No. 5, F. & A. M., the Albany Institute, the Fort Orange Club, Albany Country Club, the Reform Club of New York and the Order of Founders and Patriots of America, and a director in the Park Bank and trustee of the National Savings Bank. June 26, 1890, he married Celia Eli abeth, daughter of Edward Sanderson of Milwaukee, Wis., and their children are Paul and Edward Sanderson.

Hurlbut, Gansevoort de Wandelaer, is a descendent of Thomas Hurlbut, who came from England to Wethersfield, Conn., in 1636, and was a soldier under Lion Gardner, receiving 10,000 acres of land in Wethersfield, Conn., from Queen Anne for conspicuous bravery in border warfare, and on his maternal grandmother's side from Harmon Harmense Gansevoort, of Holland, who was in Albany as early as 1660 and who had a brewery on the site of Stanwix Hall, which property has always remained in the Gansevoort family. Oldest son of Harmon Harmense married Catrina de Wandelaer. Mr. Hurlbut's great-grandfather, Leendert Ganse- voort, 1753-1810, was prominent during the Revolutionary period, serving as a member of the provincial Congress, 1775-1777; delegate and president of the Con - tinental Congress, 1777; assemblyman, 1778-1779; member of the Council of Ap- pointment, 1781; appointed by Governor Clinton, county judge, 1794-1797; State senator from 1798 to 1802 ; probate judge, 1799; member of the Constitutional Conven- tion, 1801; and colonel of Light Cavalry during the Revolution; he received his appointment as attorney-at law from the Earl of Dunmore and Governor Tryon. In 1770 he married Hester Cuyler, and his daughter, Catherine Gansevoort, married Tuenis Van Vechten, the late mayor of Albany, a descendant of Tuenis Dirkse Van Vechten, who settled in Greenbush, 1636; he was a nephew of the noted lawyer, Abram Van Vechten, to whose practice he succeeded. A daughter of this marriage, Catherine Cuyler, was the wife of Elisha P. Hurlbut and mother of Gansevoort de W. Hurlbut. Elisha Powell Hurlbut, son of Judge Daniel Hurlbut, of Court of Common Pleas of Herkimer county and member of assembly in 1811-1812 of Mont- gomery county, was born October 15, 1807, and died September 5, 1889. He became presiding justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the Court of Appeals and a writer of considerable note. He was largely instrumental in effecting many legal reforms through the constitution of 1846 and was deeply interested in science. Gansevoort de W. Hurlbut was born in Newport, Herkimer county, November 8, 1857, received an academic education, studied medicine at the Albany Medical College, read law in Albany with Jenkins & Cooper, and was graduated from the Albany Law School and admitted to the bar in 1880. He has since practiced his profession in Albany, and in 1893 was the Republican candidate for recorder of the city. July 6, 1881, he

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 93

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