Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 97

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

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Battershall, Walton W., D. D., was born in Troy, N. Y., January 8, 1840, and is of English descent. The name was originally spelled Battishill and is probably of French derivation. His father, Ludlow A. Battershall, was the senior member of a wholesale grocery house in Troy from 1832 to 1866, when he removed to New York city. For many years he was president of the Union Bank of Troy and prominently interested in financial and educational enterprises. His mother. Eustatia Ward, belonged to a large and respected family which settled in Westchester county. The subject of this sketch was, at an early age, convinced of his duty to prepare himself for the ministry and to this end directed his training, He was graduated from Kim- ball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H., in 1858, and continued his studies in Vale College, from which he was graduated in 1864. While at the college he took the Yale literary prize medal, one of the Townsend premiums of the senior class, and delivered the class poem on commencement week. He studied theology under Rev. Henry C. Potter, M. D., present bishop of New York, at the time rector of St. John's church, Troy ; in which Dr. Battershall was ordained deacon. He subsequently en- tered the senior class of the General Theological Seminary in New York, from which which he was graduated in 1866. In the same year he was ordained priest of the Protestant Episcopal church by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Potter, bishop of New York. After serving for two years as assistant minister at Zion church, Madison avenue, New York, he held the rectorship of St. Thomas's church at Ravenswood, N. Y., from which he was called to Christ church, Rochester N. Y., in 1869, of which parish he was rector five years and a member of the standing committee of the Diocese of Western New York. In 1874 he was called to the rectorship of St. Peter's church, Albany, N. Y., which position he now occupies. He received the degree of D. D. from Union College in 1876. Dr. Battershall has been for sev- eral years trustee of Hobart College, Geneva, N. Y., a member of the Diocesan Board of Missions and a delegate from the Diocese of Albany to the Triennial Con- ventions of the Protestant Episcopal church. St. Peter's church is one of the oldest and most important in the country, rich in historic associations and the number of eminent men which have been included in its membership. During the rectorship of Dr Battershall the magnificent church edifice has been greatly enriched and beautified and the parish has shown increased activity as a moral and spiritual power in the community. October 13, 1864, in St. Mark's church, Newark, N. Y., Dr. Battershall married Anna Davidson Williams, who died in Christ church rectory, Rochester, N. Y., September 25, 1872. Dr. Battershall has three children: Fletcher W., Cornelia Smith and Anna Davidson.

Gaus, Major Charles H., son of John H. and Agnes (Boehm) Gaus, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, September 1. 1840, and removed with his parents in 1842 to Brook- lyn, N. Y., where he attended the public schools and also received private tuition. In 1857 he came to Albany and engaged in the retail drug business, which he has practically followed ever since. He was first associated with his uncle, Louis Saut- ter, with whom he was a partner from 1868 to 1872, when he purchased the property on the corner of Washington avenue and Lake street, where he built his present block in 1874. His military record begins with the years 1864 and 1865, when he was detailed, with rank of hospital steward, in charge of the medical stores on Hart's Island in New York harbor. In 1880 he enlisted in Co. K. 10th Regt., N. G. N. Y.,

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and in October, 1884, was appointed inspector of rifle practice, 10th Batt., by Col. W. E. Fitch; was appointed inspector of rifle practice of the Third Brigade October, 1856 by General Parker, and still holds this position, ranking as major, having been reappointed by General Oliver. He won in 1889, '90, '91 and '92 the Wimbledon Cup, an international trophy originally presented by the National Rifle Association of Great Britain to the National Rifle Association of America, to be shot for annu- ally and to be held by the winner one year. This cup was first won by Major Fulton in 1876, and has been held by American riflemen ever since. In 1890 Major Gaus won the military championship of the United States for rifle practice at Creedmoor, 1 .. 1. He is a Republican, was supervisor of the Thirteenth ward in 1874-75, a member of the Board of Public Instruction five years, being president of the same one year, and on August 20, 1894, was appointed by Mayor Wilson, street commis- sioner of Albany. He is a 32 Mason, a member of the Fort Orange Club, a charter member of the Albany Club, a founder and director of the Park Bank, a director of the Albany Exchange Savings Bank, and a director of the Albany Mutual Fire In- surance Company. In 1869 he married a daughter of Leo Kirchner, of Troy, N. Y., and their children are Edward Leo and Edith Agnes.

Haskell, William Hervey, is a son of Simeon Parsons and Mary Huntington (May) Haskell, and comes from good old Puritan stock, being on his maternal side a direct descendant of William Bradford, the first governor of the colony of Massachusetts. His ancestors on his paternal side came to this country about 1632, settling at Bev- erley, Mass. Simeon P., a native of Western Massachusetts, came to Albany about 1820, was a school teacher, merchant and elder of the Presbyterian church. He died in 1839. His father, Simeon, was one of seven brothers who were Revolutionary soldiers. William Hervey was born in Aibany, February 14, 1832, was graduated from the Albany Academy in 1849 and first became a clerk in the bookstore of E. H. Bender. He was for three years a clerk in the Canal Department, and for more than thirteen years bookkeeper and teller for the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank. In December, 1865, he went to New York as paying teller in the First National Bank, but the next summer returned to Albany and engaged in the wholesale coffee and spice business, which he continued until 1880. He was then the general manager of the Albany agency of the Equitable Life Insurance Company of New York, till August, 1894, when he was appointed by Mayor Wilson, chamberlain, which posi- tion he still holds. He has been chairman of the Republican County Committee, is president of the Permanent Savings and Loan Association, and one of its incorpo- rators, is a 32 Mason, being past master and treasurer of Masters Lodge No. 5, and has for several years a trustee of the Second Presbyterian church. During the Re- bellion he was a member of the war committee and was active in raising troops. In January, 1855, he married Jane Strong, daughter of George Davidson of Albany and of their seven children, five are living: George Davidson, Mary Huntington, Grace Grant, Harriet Reed and William Hervey, jr.

Horrocks, John, a retired manufacturer and well known resident of Cohoes, is the son of Samuel Horrocks, who came to America from England in 1849 and to Cohoes in 1854. The latter was a man of upright character, much beloved by his fellow- citizens, and was for many years a vestryman of St. John's church. His death oc- curred February 12, 1892. Mr. Horrocks was born in Hyde, Cheshire, England, in

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1841, but was educated here. Since entering business life he has been closely iden- tified with municipal affairs, and has taken an active interest in church, Masonic and educational matters. He was for many years a manufacturer of knit underwear, of the firm of George Warhurst & Co., then Horrocks & Van Benthuysen, and later known as the Atlantic Knitting Company.

Houghton, George H., M. D., son of Thomas and Hannah (Harrison) Houghton, was born in the town of Vernon, Oneida county, November 6, 1852. He is a de- scendant of General Houghton, who was killed at the battle of Albura in the Penin - sular war. Dr. Houghton attended the district schools until he was seventeen, when he ran away from home to the lumber regions of Michigan, where he spent four years in Michigan, Minnesota and Manitoba and traveled over most of the Western States, returning east in 1873. He attended the Utica Business College and Whites- town (N. Y.) Seminary, where he was graduated. He then taught school two years and studied medicine with Dr. William M. James of Whitestown, N. Y. In 1879 he entered the Albany Medical College and graduated in 1882, after which he studied three years in the Swinburne Hospital, Albany, N. Y., since when he has practiced in Albany. He is surgeon for the D. & H. and N. Y. C. R. R. Cos. He is a mem- ber of Mt. Vernon Lodge No. 3, F. & A. M. In 1884 he married Catharine, daugh- ter of Rev. J. E. Bowen and they have two children, Guy and Oscar E.

Armatage, Hon. Charles H., son of Jared H., born in Saratoga county in 1832, and Rachel Martin, his wife, of New Braintree, Mass., both living in Albany, was born in Albany January 30, 1849, and descends from New England ancestry dating back 200 years. His grandfather and great-grandfather were residents of Dartmouth, Mass. He was educated at the Albany Boys' Academy, and for several years was assistant superintendent of the Buffalo division of the West Shore line, but resigned this position to take charge of his father's grocery business and soon became an active factor in politics. In 1892 he was elected alderman at large and in 1892-93, was president of the Common Council. August 21, 1894, he was was appointed by Mayor Wilson superintendent of the almshouse and overseer of the poor, which po- sitions he has since held. He is a prominent Mason, being a member of Temple Lodge, De Witt Clinton Council, Temple Chapter, Temple Commandery (of which he is past eminent commander), and the Scottish Rite bodies, thirty third degree, receiving the latter at Boston, September 18, 1894; a trustee of the Scottish Rites, illustrious potentate of Cyprus Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, first lieutenant commander of Albany Sovereign Consistory, sovereign grand inspector-general of the thirty-third and last degree, and a trustee of the Masonic Hall Association. September 12, 1893, he was elected eminent grand warden of the Grand Command- ery, K. T . of the State of New York. While eminent commander of Temple Com- mandery No. 2 he inaugurated the annual pilgrimage on Christmas day to the Albany Orphan Asylum, which has been observed every year since. In 1891 he also inaug- urated the trip of Temple Commandery to Europe, and there he was made a member of Quator Coranota Lodge of London. He is also a member of the Craftsman Club of New York city, vice-president of the Albany Bicycle Club, a manager of the Acacia Club of Albany, member of the Empire Curling Association, president of the local branch of the Mercantile Co-operative Bank, a founder of the Albany Mutual Boat Club in 1868 and in 1870 won several trophies for rowing on the Hudson. He

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is also president of the New Democracy. In 1870 he married Susan Denison of Al- bany, whose grandfather donated the site on which stands the Leland Opera House. Their children are Carrie G. and Elmer E.

Downs, Michael B., one of the leading politicians of Cohoes, represents the Fourth ward in the Albany County General Committee. He is a Democrat, and his first publie office was that of commissioner of police in 1888, which he filled with efficiency four years. In 1895 he was elected one of the four coroners of Albany county, which position he at present occupies. Mr. Downs was born at West Troy in 1854. When two years of age he removed with his parents to Lock No. 8 Erie Canal, in the town of Watervhet. He received his education at St. Bernard's Parochial School and St. Patrick's School. West Troy. He also attended St. Joseph's Academy of Troy for a short time. In 1870 he moved with his parents to Cohoes, where he engaged in business as clerk for his father, who opened a canal grocery and provision store at Lock No. 9, Erie Canal, which he conducted for nineteen years. He is a member of St. Bernard's church, a member of the Young Men's Sodality, of which he was prefect and treasurer for four years. He is ex-president and treasurer of St. Bernard's Sunday School Teachers' Association, charter president of Talevera Council No. 411 C. B. L. and treasurer of Division No. 1 A. O. H., Cohoes.

Clarke, John Mason, M. A .. is a descendant of William Clarke, of England, who came to Dorchester, Mass , in 1637, settled in Northampton in 1656, and was a rep- resentative at the General Court for seventeen years (see life of William Clarke, by John M. Clarke, 1892). Descendants of this family still live at Northampton but various of its branches moved to Lebanon, New London and Saybrook, Conn. William Clarke, great-grandfather of John M., bought with three others from Phelps & Gorham, the present town of Naples, Ontario county, and there his grandson, Noah T., was born in 1817. The latter was for nearly forty years principal of the Canandaigua Academy and is one of the few survivors of the original University Convocation. He married Laura M. Merrill, of Castleton, Vt., who died in 1887. John M. Clarke, the fifth of their six children, born in Canandaigua, April 15, 1857, was graduated from the academy in 1874 and from Amherst College in 1877, and for one year was instructer in geology in the latter institution. He taught a year each in the Canandaigua and Utica Academies, in 1881-82 was professor of geology in Smith College, and then spent two years in studying geology, zoology and mineral - ogy at the University of Göttingen, Germany. In 1885 he returned to Smith Col- lege, and thereafter became lecturer on geology at the Massachusetts State College. In January, 1886, he was appointed by the Regents of the University of the State of New York to special work on the geological survey, and soon after to his present position of assistant State geologist and paleontologist at Albany. Since 1895 he has also been professor of geology and mineralogy in the Rensselaer Polytechnic In- stitute at Troy. In 1880 Amherst College conferred upon him the degree of M. A. He is a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Geological Societies of Germany and Westphalia, the Imperial Mineralogical Society of St. Petersburg, and the Psi Upsilon and Phi Beta Kappa fraternities; and since 1894 has been an editor of the American Geologist. His writings cover a wide field of technical and scientific literature. In 1887 he married Emma, daughter of Joseph Juél, of Philadelphia, Pa., who died March 18, 1893, leaving a son, Noah T. Octo-

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ber 23, 1895, he married Mrs. Fannie (Hoffman) Bosler, also of Philadelphia. Pro- fessor Clarke's mother, a daughter of Selah H. and Laura (Mason) Merrill, was con- nected with the families of Elder Brewster of the Plymouth Colony, Jonathan Trum- bull of Connecticut. John Brown of Harper's Ferry fame, Gov. William Bradford and John Mason, the Pequod Indian fighter.

Cady, Harvey J., son of Eli F. and Eunice P. (Parish) Cady, was born in Windsor, Mass., June 10, 1842, attended the public schools and the High School at Huntington, Mass., and was graduated from the Westfield Academy in 1861; he also took a course in a business college at Syracuse, N. Y., and became a clerk in the commis- sion office of Charles J. White, in New York city, who was engaged in shipping goods South to the army. Mr. Cady finally went South with goods and continued in that capacity for Mr. White until 1864, when he became a partner in the firm of Mc- Murray, Hunt & Cady, general merchants of Delhi, N. Y. Three years later Mr. Cady sold out and entered the employ of Morris Brothers, flour and grain merchants of Oneonta, N. Y., with whom he remained eight years, being a partner the last two years. He was then in the employ of O. H. Hastings & Co., proprietors of the Cumberland Mills of Oswego, N. Y., for eight years. In 1888 he came to Albany and engaged in the wholesale flour and grain business. In 1866 he married Minnie E., daughter of Henry G. Smith, a lieutenant in Ellsworth's Zouves, 44th Regt., in the Civil war. She died August 3, 1895, leaving five children: Lizzie P., Pardee Eugene, Frank Thurber, Annie M., and Minnie E. (who died December 12, 1895).

Townsend, Rufus King, son of General Franklin and the late Anna (King) Town- send, was a descendant of Henry Townsend, who came from Norwich, England, to Long Island about 1645. He was born in Albany, March 18, 1853, was educated at the Albany Academy and afterwards became proprietor of the Townsend Furnace, a business established in 1807, which has always remained in the family and in active operation since that time, and of which his father now is the executive head. Very early in life Mr. Townsend manifested an absorbing interest in everything pertain- ing to the fire department and spared no pains nor money in the advancement of it. Later on he offered his services and many times bravely risked his life. April 18. 1892, he was appointed by Mayor Manning a fire commissioner, in which capacity he served faithfully and well up to the time of his death, which occurred December 21, 1895. For several years Mr. Townsend was a member of the Board of Directors of the New York State National Bank and also of the Albany Savings Bank. Generous and genial in disposition, Mr. Townsend gathered to himself many friends, and yet it can be truly said of him (as of few others of like temperament), that he neither sac- rificed honesty of action to sympathy, nor permitted a kind and noble nature to be led into an approval of doubtful measures because of his regard for their author. He seldom failed in correctness of judgment and never in impressing his associates with his candor and fairness. By his death the city has lost a faithful public officer. He was stricken down in the midst of a most brilliant career, but had already won lasting honor and fame in the hearts of those he had helped and encouraged. On June 22, 1891, he married Ida Jerone, daughter of the late Avery Smith and Nellie Corbett Willey of Milwaukee, Wis., who survives him, as does an only child, Anna Jerone Townsend, born June 30, 1892.

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Rogers, Howard Jason, born in Stephentown N. Y., November 16, 1861, is a son of Edwin A. and Laura (Howard) Rogers, and a lineal descendant of Deacon Joseph Rogers (1), who moved from Rhode Island to Stephentown in 1765. The line from him is (2) Joseph, farmer, local magistrate and a captain of militia; (3) Joseph, captain of cavalry in the war of 1812; (4) Alonzo Joseph, one of the earliest seeds- men in the State; and (5) Edwin A., who enlisted in 1862 in the 125th N. Y. Vols., was wounded at the battle of Spottsylvania and died from the effects of the wound in 18;8. In his mother's line Howard J. Rogers is lineally descended from Nicholas Howard, who came from England to Salem, Mass., with Endicott in 1628; and from Gen. Hosea Moffit, a member of the New York Legislature from 1794 to 1798, sheriff of Rensselaer county in 1810, and a member of Congress from 1812 to 1817. In 1879 Mr. Rogers removed to Pittsfield, Mass., and was graduated from the Pittsfield High School in 1880 and from Williams College in 1884, winning among other honors the Graves prize for the best English essay, and taking an active part in athletics. On leaving college he came to Albany, N. Y., and taught English literature and rhetoric in the Albany Boys' Academy for eight years, reading law meanwhile with Heyward & Pruyn. He was admitted to the bar in June, 1887. In 1892 he was made super- intendent of the New York State Educational Exhibit at the World's Columbian Ex- position at Chicago; in the latter part of 1893 he became acting secretary for the New York Board of General Managers at the World's Fair, and as such wrote their elab- orate report, "New York at the World's Columbian Exposition." April 8, 1895, he was appointed deputy State superintendent of public instruction. He was one of the of the organizers of the Albany Chess Club in 1886 and served as its secretary until 1888 and as president from 1888 to 1890, and is now vice-president of the Albany Chess and Whist Club. He was secretary of the New York State Chess Association from 1889 to 1893, and has since been its president. In December, 1887, he married at New Haven, Conn., Anne North, daughter of Jonathan Turner, and their chil- dren are Kathryn Howard and Joseph Edwin.

Rockwell Hiram J., son of George T., was born in Luzerne, Warren county, N. Y., July 13, 1832, was educated at the Glens Falls Academy, and was afterwards asso- ciated with his father at the Rockwell House at Luzerne until 1866, when he assumed charge of the Lake House at Lake George, which he successfully conducted for five years. In 1871 he built with his brother, Charles L., the Rockwell House at Glens Falls, which they kept until 1878, when Hiram J. became manager of the Fort Will- iamt Henry Hotel at Lake George for one season. He was then proprietor of the American House in Troy for nine and one-half years, being also manager of the Wayside Inn at Lake Luzerne for seven years. May 14, 1888, he came to Al- bany as proprietor of the Hotel Kenmore, which was built in 1878 by Dr. James McNaughton for Adam Blake, the noted landlord of the old Congress Hall. Later this popular hotel received several additions and now occupies a whole block, except- ing Jermain Hall, fronting on North Pearl street. It is the largest and foremost hotel in Albany, and under the able management of the Rockwells has attained a wide popularity. In December, 1895, Mr. Rockwell admitted his son Frederick W. as partner, under the firm name of H. J. Rockwell & Son. Both are members of the New York Hotel Association, of which Hiram J. is one of the originators and founders, and which he served as treasurer until the spring of 1896.

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Daubney; William H., is of English ancestry. His father was a remarkable man, having served for seventeen years in the British Royal Artillery. He was a skillful swordsman and horseman and taught the art to the nobility. He came to Montreal in 1846, and died in 1893 at the age of eighty-one. He was the only man who ever received a pension from the British Government after becoming a citizen of the United States. Mr. Daubney spent three years in Montreal, thence to Plattsburg, where he learned the blacksmith's trade, and came to Troy in 1855 and opened a shop until 1872; after that he engaged in the news business and book store until 1884, when he went to Virginia for one year. On his return he worked as agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for two years, and then opened the pres- ent grocery. Mr. Daubney has been trustee of the Fourth ward twice, and was canal collector from 1890 up to 1895. He has a fine tenor voice, which be has devo- ted to the churches, having sung for fifty-three years and at present sings in St. Patrick's church of West Troy.

Evory Frank H., son of James and Alice J. (Hickok) Evory, was born in Indian Fields, Albany county, June 26, 1864. His parents moved from Durham, Greene county, to Indian Fields in 1863, and thence to Albany in 1870, and here Frank H. received a public school education. His great-great-grandfather came from Holland to Connecticut in the early history of the country. Here his great-grandfather, Obadiah Evory, was born in July, 1775; he married Alcha, a daughter of Peter Vermilyea, whose father Johannes was one of the early settlers of New Amsterdam. Later Obadiah moved to Durham, Greene county, N. Y. Here seven children were born, one of whom (Peter) served with distinction as a soldier during the war of 1812. The youngest son, James, married Margaret, a daughter of John W. Welch and Hannah Van Etten, in 1832, and remained on the old homestead until his death in 1860. Here James, jr., the father of Frank H., was born in 1839, and married Alice J. Hickok in 1860. His mother is of an old New England family ; her grandparents were Gideon Hickok and Annie Buckingham on her father's side, and Roswell Post and Temperance Kirtland on her mother's side. Her father, David Hickok, who died in 1870, aged seventy-two, was a well-to-do farmer of Greenville, N. Y., an elder and one of the pillars of the Presbyterian church; he married Lydia Ann Post, who died in 1883, aged eighty-two, a daughter of Ros- well, who was a large land and mill owner of Durham, Greene county, N. Y. Frank H. Evory learned the printer's trade with the Prouty Printing Company, and in 1885 entered the employ of Brandow, Barton & Co. On November 1, 1887, the Bran- dow Printing Company was incorporated with A. S. Brandow president; W. B. Jones treasurer, and Mr. Evory secretary and superintendent. January 1, 1890, Richard W. Brass succeeded Mr. Jones as treasurer ; the other officers remained the same. Mr. Evory is an active member of the Y. M. C. A. and the Tabernacle Baptist church, and assistant superintendent and chorister of the Sunday school. Also a charter member of Albany Senate No. 641, K. A. E. O. November 23, 1887, he married Estella J., daughter of Ithamar Spencer of Albany, and they had two sons: Clifford Spencer Evory, born September 10, 1889, who survives, and Harold Evory, deceased.

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Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Part 97

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