Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 23

Author: Anderson, George Baker
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1424

USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3 > Part 23

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).

Case, Nathan, is the owner of the 400 acre Case farm of Hoosick Falls, which has never been in the possession of other than the paternal ancestors of the Case family. His father, Jonathan Case, a native of this place, died in 1881, after having spent a life of eighty-one years in agricultural pursuits. His mother was Lydia Baker of an old family. She ched twenty one years ago, leaving two sons and six daughters. Nathan spent his boyhood on the old farm where he was born in 1844. He has an- other farm of 210 acres, thus making 640 acres under his direct supervision. Being possessed of an inborn love for horses, he deals largely in the Old Volunteer stock and other famous breeds. He married in 1866 Waity, daughter of Joseph Swan of Potter Ilill. Three sons and three daughters are the issue of this marriage. Mr. Case is a Republican.

Cottrell, Jay C., is the eldest of the Cottrell brothers, and conducts the well known Cottrell Valley Stock Farm, one and one-half miles west of Hoosick Falls. They made a specialty of thoroughbred short horn cattle, Shropshire and Merino sheep. Mr. Cottrell was born in Hoosick in 1869, where he spent his boyhood and has since been engaged in farming. Ilis father, the late Sherman Cottrell, was until his death a correspondent for agricultural papers. The correspondence has been continued by Jay on the same topics for the American Agriculturist. He is also correspondent

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for the local papers. Mr. Cottrell is a member of the First Baptist church, and of the Military Band, Thirty-second Separate Co. In 1890 he married Georgia Agan, daughter of Lyman B. Agan of Rayniertown.

Percey, Elon, is a representative of an old local family whose ancestors came from Rhode Island and from England. Ilis father, James Percey, was a native of this town and a farmer. Elon was born in Hoosick in 1830, and has always lived here, being educated in the common school and at Ball's Seminary. He engaged in farm- ing until 1873. In 1881 he established a feed store and acted as a grain buyer and shipper ; he also deals in coal and wood. He is a Republican and has been justice of the peace five years and police justice of the village three years, but does not seek political preferment. He married in 1855 Mary Walworth of Hoosick, daughter of Harper Walworth, by whom he has three children: Morgan F. Percey, elerk in the Wood Machine Co. ; Welton C. Percey, a lawyer educated at St. Lawrence Univers- ity who was admitted to the bar at twenty-one years of age after two years in the office of Attorney-General Russell at Albany; Blanch R., wife of Victor M. Allen of Albany.

Riley, Hon. Francis, the present county clerk of Rensselaer county, enjoys a wide popularity in both social and political circles and is a man of much publie spirit and liberality. He is a Democrat and has been prominently identified with the affairs of the town of Hoosick, filling with credit many of the principal offices, including that of school trustee, president of the village three years, overseer of the poor three years, supervisor two years, and county clerk three years; also treasurer of the Industrial Manufacturing Company. He is a prominent member of the R. C. church and trustee of the parochial school. Mr. Riley was born m Ireland in 1848, son of John Riley, who came to America and to Hoosick Falls in 1860, where for forty years he was an employee of Walter A. Wood. He is now a resident here, eighty-six years old and universally respected and has twice been village trustee. Hon. Francis Riley acquired his education in Ireland, and first engaged in a grocery business at Trumanville and erected the Trumanville hotel while there. He estab- lished a liverv business at his present location in 1875 which has become an exten- sive one. He also engaged in the coal business in 1890, and the agency for carriages. lle married Margaret Bowen of Bennington, by whom he had ten children, of whom four are living.

Akin, Byron S., born in Pittstown, N. Y., November 12, 1838, is a son of Benja- min, a son of William. Benjamin Akin was born in Pittstown on the farm where he now resides December 23, 1802. He was educated in the common schools. IIe is a farmer and owns about 250 acres of land, but he sold and divided among the children. His wife was Amy J. Stitt, a native of Pittstown, by whom he had seven children, of whom four are now living. She died in September, 1893. Mr. Akin, by a previous wife, Nancy Falkner, of Pittstown, had two children, one of whom is living. Mr. Akin was reared on the farm where he now resides. He is engaged in farming and mereantile business, and except fifteen years in the flax business and hotel business at Minnequa Springs, has resided in Pittstown. He engaged in the mercantile business December 18, 1894, carrying a general line and agricultural im- plements. He has a farm of 140 acres. He was married in February, 1862, to

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LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

Sarah J. Darrow, daughter of Josiah and Agnes (IFill) Darrow, both born at Cam- bridge, Washington county. To Mr. and Mrs. Akin was born one son, Harry B., November 13, 1871, educated in the common schools, Poultney Academy, Vermont, and Mount Herman, Mass., and graduated from Albany Business College in 1894. He is a member of Johnsonville Lodge No. 411, I. O. O. F., and Hoosick Falls En- campment No. 130.

Akin, John, born in Pittstown, N. Y., November 5, 1811, is a son of William, a son of Benjamin Akin, who was a Quaker, born at Quaker Hill, Dutchess county, and came to Pittstown in 1776 and settled on Hoosiek River and owned a large tract of land, which he gave to his son and spent his last days in Dutchess county. The father of John was a farmer and owned 1,000 acres of land adjoining and in Pitts- town. His wife was Rebecca Follett, daughter of William Follett, a native of Con- necticut, who came to Pittstown at an early day, and was a blacksmith ; his wife was Lois Burnham of Nova Scotia; he was the first Methodist coming to the town. To Mr. and Mrs. Akin were born four sons and six daughters. William A. was a Jack- son Democrat and afterwards a Republican. He died in January, 1860, and his wife in December, 1858. John was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. When he was twenty-four years old his father gave him a farm of 140 acres; he has owned 260 acres with personal property and pays the highest taxes in the town. Mr. Akin was appointed one of the enlisting committee and was sent to Canada to enlist men and remained there during the war. John Akin has been deputy sheriff for twenty-three years. He was married November 20, 1834, to Jane Button of Troy and has had four children: Dr. Washington Akin of Troy; Daniel S, died in 1879; John and Francis, at home. Mrs. John Akin died March 16, 1891, aged seventy-seven years and sixteen days.

File, Hiram, was born in Brunswick, November 27, 1830, and is a son of Peter and Hannah (Hayner) File, both born in Brunswick. Peter was a son of Christopher File, a native of Dutchess county and a son of Malchart File, a native of Germany, who came to Dutchess county and finally to Brunswick, where he lived and died. The father of Mr. File was a farmer, and at the age of sixty-five came to Pittstown with his father and here lived and died. His wife died May 6, 1840. Mr. File was reared on a farm and educated at the Albany Normal School, and taught for about fifteen years. He owned a farm in Brunswick, which he sold in 1866. He then came to Raymertown and bought a farm of fifty acres. He bought a saw and grist mill, and also had a flax mill, which he ran on a large scale for fifteen years. Ile has been justice for fourteen years and resigned and has been supervisor for two years. In 1863 he married Margaret L. Wool of North Lansingburgh by whom he has had two children: B. W., who was educated at Lansingbuigh Academy and Union College and read law with Gale, Alden & King and was admitted to the bar in May, 1889; and Sarah J., deceased.

Herrington, Merritt C., was born on the farm he now owns, March 2, 1835. He was a son of Abraham W. and Sallie (Comstock) Herrington, natives of Pittstown; she was a daughter of John and Sarah (Stover) Comstock of Connecticut. The grandfather of Mr. Herrington was Silas Herrington. The father of Mr. Her- rington was a farmer and had 135 acres of land. He died 1839 and his wife March

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20, 1883. Mr. Herrington was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and Cambridge Academy. He followed farming and has 157 acres of land. No- vember 17, 1869, he married Emily, daughter of Clark and Sallie B. (Cottrell) Shedd. She was a daughter of Nathaniel Cottrell. Clark Shedd lived and died in Pittstown, his death occurring in 1847. His father was Asa Shedd, born July 2, 1779, died April 20, 1834; his wife was Hannah Joslin, born June 27, 1783, died April 30, 1863. Their children were Isaac, Clark, Anna and Sarah. Clark Shedd's children were Asa, Sarah, Priscilla, Charles and Emily (Mrs. M. C. Herrington). Mr. and Mrs. M. C Herrington have one son, Clarence M., born September 27, 1872. He was educated in Troy Conference Academy and Lansingburgh Academy.

Ilutton, M B., M. D., was born in Washington county, N. Y., August 12, 1854. He was a son of William and Mary A. (Blair) Hutton, both natives of the town of Putnam, Washington county, where Mr. Hutton died in 1889. He was a farmer by occupation, and justice of the peace for about thirty years. The grandfather of Dr. Hutton was Peter IFutton, who was a native of Putnam, Washington county, his father being one of the first settlers. Dr. Hutton was reared on a farm and educated in the Albany Normal School, and then taught three years. After a while he studied medicine with Dr. J. Fenimore Niver and was graduated from the medical depart- ment of the University of Michigan in 1882, and in the fall of that year came to Val- ley Falls where he has had a very successful practice. October 10, 1883, he married Helen M. Wright of Cambridge, N. Y., by whom he had one daughter, Annie M. Dr. Hutton is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., and Montgomery Chapter No. 257, R. A. M., at Stillwater. Ile is a member of the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity, New York State Medical Society, and also of the Rensselaer County Medical Society.

Hunter, Judge Albert, was born in Pittstown, September 1, 1841, He is a son of John E. and Amy J. (Eycleshymer) Hunter. He was born in Pittstown and was a son of Jeremiah Hunter, who came to Pittstown at an early day and there lived and died. The mother of Mr. Hunter was born in Pittstown and was a daughter of Peter and granddaughter of John, who was one of the first settlers of the town where he died. Jeremiah Huuter was in the war of 1812. The father of Albert Hunter was a farmer and died in 1978; his widow still lives in Pittstown. Mr. Ilunter was reared on a farm and educated in the common and high schools. He followed farm- ing summers and taught school winters for a time and afterwards learned the car- penter trade, and was contractor and builder for many years. In 1871 he was married to Hattie Martin of Monroe county, and hasone daughter, Eva. He has been justice for ten years, still holding that position, and has been justice of sessions. Mr. Ilunter has dealt in wagons and farm implements for several years, und represented the Walter A. Wood firm for about fifteen years,

HIerrington & Co. is composed of Silas and Henry Herrington ; Silas is a native of Pittstown, and was born November 2, 1842, He was a son of Merret, a son of Silas Herrington, a native of Rhode Island and who was one of he earliest settlers of the town where he lived and died. His father was a farmer and was assessor nine years and justice for twelve years. He died April 3, 1886. His wife was Catherine A. Snyder, born in Pittstown and a daughter of Christopher, a son of one of the first

LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY,

settlers. Silas Herrington was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Ile followed farming until thirty-six years of age, also buying and selling produce. In 1879 he came to Valley Falls and engaged in the produce, coal and straw business, and in 1889 formed a partnership with Ilenry J. Herrington; their business now is coal, lumber, lime, cement, straw, hay, grain, feed, grass seed, farn- ing tools, etc. December 14, 1864, Silas Ilerrington was married to Rachel Ingra- ham of Pittstown, by whom he had one daughter, Georgianna, Mr. Herrington has been commissioner of highways for nine years in succession. He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M. Henry Herrington was born in Hoosick January 10, 1846. He was a son of Ephraim, a son of Josiah, a native of Rhode Island, born June 24, 1780, and there lived and died, and Ephraim was born in Hoosick. The father of Mr. Herrington was a farmer and a manufacturer of mowers and reapers. His wife was Mary A. Hill, born in Hoosick, a daughter of Henry Hill, who owns a farm in Hoosick. He and his wife lived in West Hoosick. The Herrington family are of English descent and emigrated from Durham, England, to Rhode Island in 1660 and settled at Smithfield with five children. Mr. Herrington was educated at West Hoosick common schools. He learned the trade of machinist at the age of eighteen years, followed it three years and then came to Valley Falls and engaged in the manufacturing and selling of agricultural implements for about eight years. He then was in the grist milling business for six years and in 1889 formed a partner- ship with Silas, as stated. December 7, 1869, he was married to Clara Ball of Pitts- town, daughter of John P. Ball, one of the early settlers. Mr. Ball was engaged in the manufacturing of linseed oil, and owned one of the first mills in this section. Hle was prominent in politics, and served as county clerk, Mr. Herrington is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M.

Iloag, Jonathan, was born in Pittstown March 21, 1830. Ile is a son of Thomas and Phoebe (Comstock) Iloag, both natives of Pittstown. Thomas Hoag was one of the leading farmers of the town; he served his town as supervisor, assessor, and was captain of militia and was a Quaker in faith. The parents of Thomas were Abraham and Elizabeth (Thomas) Hoag, he a native of Easton and she of Rhode Island ; they were early settlers of Pittstown, where they lived and died. The great- grandfather of Mr. Hoag was Jonathan Hoag, who came from Dutchess county at a very early date to Whitehall where he was prospecting, but not finding the soil suitable went back to White Creek, where he married Sarah Hall and then went back to Beetal Hill, where he reared his family and died at Easton. Mr. Hoag has always followed farming and stock raising; he is now engaged in raising thorough- bred Devonshire cattle in connection with general farming. In 1850 he married Eliza J., daughter of William and Abigail Akin, by whom he had ten children, three of whom survive: Shandanette, who is engaged in the mercantile business at Tom- hannock. Jonathan, jr., a lawyer at Fort Myers, Fla. ; he graduated at the State Normal School at Albany and then taught in the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute; losing his health he went to Florida and studied law with Judge Bullock and was admitted to the bar in September, 1895. U. S. Grant, who is connected with his father in his farming operations, Mr. Hoag was road commissioner for twelve years and served for four successive years as supervisor; has been justice for two terms and served one term as associate justice, having been one of the last to hold that

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position at the time the office was abolished by law. He was one of the first sur- veying agents of the Pittstown Fire Insurance Co., and for eleven years served as secretary when he was elected president, which position he still holds.

Hoag, Alvin T., born on the farm he now owns in Pittstown, July 4, 1847, is a son of Thomas Hoag. Alvin T. was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools and at Fort Edward Institute. Ile follows farming and owns the homestead of his father containing 230 acres to which he has added 195 acres of land. Ile is making a specialty of dairying. He was asessor one year (appomted). He has also been highway commissioner, inspector of election about six years and trustee of his distriet for over twenty years. Ile is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., and has held most of the offices in the lodge. Ile was married September 8, 1869, to Arzelia Akm, daughter of Humphrey Akin. Mr. and Mrs. Hoag have four sons: Thomas A., Howard W., Merritt C., George A. Howard W. married Nellie Francisco of Tomhannock, N. Y. They have one daughter, Mildred. Mr. Hoag has been agent for the Pittstown Fire Insurance Co., the largest insurance company of any one town in the State of New York.

Lohnes, George W., was born in Schaghticoke, August 18, 1845. He is a son of Adam and a grandson of Adam Lohnes, a native of Germany, who came to Bruns- wick, N. Y., in a very early day and was in the war of the Revolution and also of 1812 under Major Lansing as an ensign ; he died in Pittstown. The mother of Mr. Lohnes was Jane Whalie, born in Hoosick. His father was born in Brunswick ; he was a manufacturer of powder and politically was a Democrat until 1862 and Repub- liean thereafter until his death, which occurred in 1886; his wife died in 1882. Mr. Lohnes worked for the Schaghticoke Powder Co. until eighteen years of age, and then learned the carpenter trade at which he worked about nine years. Ile then engaged in the coal and lumber and general produce business which he followed at Valley Falls for fourteen years, and then disposed of it and engaged in manufactur- ing wood alcohol for three years, and also in fire insurance, and, finally, March, 1895, began mercatile business. Ile was married September 22, 1871, to Mary E. Sproat of Valley Falls, by whom he has two sons, Harry and Willie (deceased). Mr. Lohues is a Republican; he was collector for two years and served as supervisor during the years 1888 90. He is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., and Columbia Lodge No. 689, 1. O. O. F. He enlisted in the 96th N. Y. Vols., and was elected sergeant and promoted to second lieutenant, holding that office imtil the company was disbanded. Mr. Lohnes is a member of the M. E. church of Valley Falls, trustee and treasurer of Elmwood cemetery and treasurer of Union Free school at Valley Falls. He was postmaster during Harrison's administration, and the first year of Cleveland's administration.

Bissell, James Harvey, M.D., was born in Beloit, Wis., in 1857. His father, Ben- jamin F. Bissell, was born in Cooperstown, N. Y., in 1808 and removed to Beloit in 1853 and entered the paper manufacturing business. Later he removed to Ballston, N. Y., where he at present resides. His mother is Harriet (Du Bois) Bissell, born in Rock City Falls, N. Y., in 1817 She was a student of Oberlin College. Hle at- tended the grammar school and graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1887, being historian of his class, and commenced the practice of medicine in Troy; later

LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

studied medicine in Berlin and Vienna for one year and returned in 1893 to his prac- tice in Troy. Ile belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society, the New York State Medical Association, and the Anglo-Austrian Medical Association. He was married to Miss Della Leggett of Troy in 1895. He is a prominent member of the Masonic order, being a member of Apollo Commandery, K. T., Troy ; he is also a Shriner.

Waldo, Howard L., M.D., was born in Centreville, N. Y., September 13, 1852. His great-grandfather, Dr. Waldo, was a surgeon in the Revolutionary war. Ilis father, Dr. Lyman B. Waldo, was born in Otsego county, and for a number of years he practiced in Adams, Lansingburgh and Oswego, N. Y., and died in West Troy in July, 1879. His mother, Mary S. (MeEntee), was born in Oneida county. She died in 1891. He attended the Hungerford Collegiate Institute and graduated from the High School in Oswego. Ile then went into the office of Dr. II. M. Payne in Albany, and at- tended lectures in Albany Medical College. In 1875 he passed the examination of the State Board of Medical Examiners and received the degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of the State of New York. For thirteen years he practiced in West Troy and in 1887 he came to Troy and has since that time been in active practice there. Ile belongs to the Homeopathie Medical Society of Albany county and the New York State Homeopathic Medical Society, and has been president of the Al- bany County Medical Society, and secretary and treasurer of the State Medical So- ciety. He married Maria Elizabeth Hawley of Albany, in May, 1880. He has two daughters. In politics he is a Republican.

Belding, Rufus Elisha, M. D., was born in Minerva, Ohio. His father is Warren A. Belding who was born in Randolph, Ohio, September 5, 1816. Hle practiced medicine for many years, and then changed his profession to that of a preacher of the gospel. He is now a very prominent divine and has baptized over 10,000 people with his own hands. His mother was Myra E. (Ward) Belding of Randolph, Ohio. She died in November, 1860. Dr. Belding received a common school and academie education, afterwards he attended Hiram College in Ohio, the Cleveland Honieo- pathic Medical College and the Homeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1866. He commenced practice in Syracuse and in 1870 came to Troy, where he has established a large and extensive practice. Ile belongs to the Central N. Y. Homeopathic Medical Society, the International-Hahnnemanian Association, also honorary member of the Albany County Homeopathic Medical So- ciety. He is a member of the Church of Christ and has been chorister of the same for many years. He is a member of the Troy Vocal Society. He makes a specialty of diseases of the eye. lle was married to Martha A. Seymour of Meridian, Cayuga county, N. Y., January 6, 1862. He has four sons. The oldest, Warren S., is an electrician in Buffalo, His second son, Paul W., is in the rubber manufacturing business. Ile has one son in New York city, and one attending school.

Broderick, Edmund, was born in Troy, N. Y., July 12, 1839. His father, Edmund Broderick, came from Ireland about 1834 and worked on the Erie Canal at Amster dam, N. Y., and came to Troy where he died in 1843. His mother, Mary (Kelley) Broderick, was born in Ireland and died in Troy in 1870. Edmund received his education in the public schools and learned the mason's trade first with Burns &

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Lyons and completed it in Chicago. Ile then returned to Troy and started in busi- ness in 1861 forming the firm of Kelley & Broderick, which continued until 1875; he then carried the business on alone until 1890 when his son, Edmund D., was taken in and the firm name of Edmund Broderick & Son was assumed. Among the build- ings erected by them are several malt houses, Washington Steamer house, the Anna Plumb Memorial building, the new court house, the Hart Memorial, the St. Law- renee German Catholic church, the Presbyterian church on Green Island, and others. He served on the Board of Supervisors in 1873-1875 and is now president of the Master Masons Society. He was married in 1865 to Catherine Higgins of Troy. His children are Edmund D., Margaret U., and George J. Ile and his family are all members of the Catholic church and worship at St. Joseph's church. In politics he is a Democrat.

Garrison, Henry, was born in the town of Schaghticoke, N. Y., November 26, 1832. His education was obtained in the public schools, and he has been one of the town's best farmers. December 20, 1865, he married M. Emma Ralston, of his native town, and they had two children, a daughter and son; Stella E., and Clarence II. Stella E. was born March 13, 1871, and died December 25, 1879. Clarence II. was born October 17, 1872, and died March 18, 1880. Mr. Garrison's father, Hassil, was born in the town of Hoosick in the year 1800, was educated in the schools of that day and was a farmer. He married Mary Hunt of the town of Schaghticoke, and had six children, four daughters and two sons: Henry, Esther E., Kate M., Abbie, H. Jane, and John H. Hassil Garrison died in 1885, and his wife May 9, 1872. Mrs. Garrison's father, John Ralston, was born in this town February 9, 1801. He was educated in the schools of his day, and was a successful farmer. He married Caro- line Briggs of Schaghticoke. They were members of the Presbyterian church of that place. They had three children, two sons and a daughter: Warren E., John E. and M. Emma. John Ralston died July 23, 1872, and his wife March 7, 1776. Mr. and Mrs. Garrison are members of the Presbyterian church of Johnsonville.

Gifford, Hiram, was born in Easton, Washington county, N. Y., September 19, 1816. He was educated in the common schools, and at an academy at Rensselaer- ville, Schoharie county. Ile has been an intelligent farmer since he attained his majority. In 1841 he married Lois Hall of his native town and county; they have two daughters, Elizabeth and Europa. Elizabeth married William Gow, of John- sonville, N. Y. Europa at this date resides at home. Mr. Gifford's father, Allen, was born in Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., in 1792. He too was a farmer. Ile married Anna Hoag of Easton: they had six children: Hiram, Haviland, Eliza- beth, Lydia, Cornelia, and Elisha. Mr. Gifford died in 1890, and his wife died in 1886. Mrs. Gifford's father, Richard Hall, was born in Easton in 1783. He married Europa, daughter of Redford Dennis of his native town. They had five children: Hiram, Lucina, Anna, Emeline, and Lois. Mr. Hall died November 19, 1835, and his wife died in 1822. Mr. Gifford and family have resided in the town of Schaghti- coke since the year 1875. He is one of the solid men of the town, and has been the architect of his own success, ably seconded by his exeellent wife. The ancestry of the family is of Norman origin, on the maternal side of New England stock of Eng- lish origin. Hiram Gifford has always been a staunch Republican,

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 23

Author: Anderson, George Baker Publication date: 1897 Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co. Number of Pages: 1424

Author: Anderson, George Baker
Publication date: 1897
Publisher: Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & Co.
Number of Pages: 1424