Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 28

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 28

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LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

Dean, Peter, one of the most thrifty farmers of Stephentown, a native of Ger- many, was born April 18, 1824. Ilis parents were Peter and Christina Dean; they were farmers of Germany where they lived and died. Peter received his education in Germany and in 1852 emigrated to America, settling first in Grafton, thence came to Stephentown where he still resides on a farm of 258 acres which he purchased in 1875. He keeps a dairy of about seventeen cows. In 1850 Mr. Dean married Phobe, daughter of Daniel and Mary Youngs, of Germany, by whom he has had six children: Christina, died at the age nineteen; Jacob, a farmer of Stephentown ; Charles B., of Cane's Mill, Sand Lake; Mary, wife of Andrew Wise, of Stephen- town : Carrie P., wife of Andrew J. Lapp, who farms the homestead; Peter, engaged with Hugh & Simpson, manufacturers of boxes, Troy.

Pomeroy, Harmon, was born in Stephentown, December 23, 1827. He is a son of Quartus Pomeroy and Sally (Tifft) Pomeroy. The grandfather, Titus Pomeroy, came from the East and settled in Rensselaer county where he engaged in farming; he died at Sand Lake. The father of Mr. Pomeroy was born July 20, 1794. He was four- teen years old when he came to Rensselaer county; he settled in Stephentown on the farm now owned by his son Harmon Pomeroy in 1834, and died February 12, in 1870. Mrs. Pomeroy was born June 10, 1794, and died August 10, 1869. Harmon Pomeroy has spent the greater part of his life on the farm which he now owns. In 1856 he married Ellen M., daughter of Clark Vary, of Stephentown. To Mr. and Mrs. Pomeroy have been born three children: Ida J., Silas H. and Charles V.

Weatherby, George W., was born in Stephentown, February 13, 1808, and died in December, 1885. He was a son of Uriah and Betsey (Coleman) Weatherby. Mr. Weatherby came from the North of England when a young man and settled in Stephentown where he married Betsey Coleman. Ile engaged in farming and here lived and died. George Weatherby was reared on a farm. He learned the carpen- ter trade and engaged in and ran the turning business for about forty-five years at Stephentown Center. He was for years deacon of the Baptist church at Stephen- town Center. August 29, 1830, Mr. Weatherby married Zillah U. Town; she was born in Nassau December 17, 1810, and still resides at the Center. Her parents, John and Lois (Willard) Town, were natives of Rhode Island, whence they emigrated to Nassau about 1800 He died at Glenville December 17, 1814, and she died at Dunham Hollow, November 20, 1842. Mr. Town was a shoemaker by trade. To Mr. and Mrs. Weatherby were born two children. Nancy, who died in 1848 at the age of five years and six months; Martha, married William H. Brown, who was a turner at the Center. Mr. Brown died January 1, 1885. Mrs. Brown, with her adopted daughter, Addie U. Brown, reside with Mrs. Weatherby.

Russell, William F., was born in Stephentown, and is the fourth generation of the Russell family on the farm he now owns. The farm was first settled by his great- grandparents, William and Mary Russell, at a very early date; he came from France, and died September 28, 1812, at the age of eighty-two, and she September 23, 1816, at the age of seventy. The farm was next occupied by a son, John, whose wife was Sarah Humphrey; he was born on the farm, and she was born near Garfield; they died on the homestead, he November 4, 1859, at the age of seventy-nine, and she in 1857, at the age of seventy seven. He was succeeded by Frederick Russell, father

FAMILY SKETCHES.

of William F. ; he married Eliza Kittle, and they spent their lives at farming on the home farm. Frederick Russell and his wife Eliza both died at the age of eighty- three. William F. married in 1851 Harriet E., daughter of Alonzo and Matilda (Chapman) Rogers, he a native of Stephentown and she of Connecticut. To Mr. and Mrs. Russell have been born seven children: William E., born June 13, 1855; he married and has four children: Mary L., Laura V., Ida M. and Lillian P. ; they live in lowa. Virginia is at home. Joseph F. was born October 8, 1859, and is a farmer of Stephentown; he married and they have four daughters: Elizabeth, Marguerite, Louise R. and Dorothy G. Antoinett E. C. is a graduate from the New York Medical College and Hospital for Women in New York city, and is now resi- dent superintendent of the Women's Homeopathie College of Philadelphia. Harriet R. is the widow of Byron Greene and is a graduate of Waltham Training School, Mass., and is a professional nurse. John died in infancy. Mary W. married Horace W. Provost. Mr. Russell has the old home farm of eighty acres and bought 120 acres, of which he gave to his son a part. Mr. Russell has made a specialty of sheep husbandry.

Tooley, Hiel J., was born in Rutland, Vt., January 1, 1833. He is a son of Ben- jamin F. and Manda (Carr) Tooley. he a native of Rutland and she of Stephentown. The grandfather, Joshua Carr, cameto Stephentown in pioneer times and engaged in carpenter work and farming; he was one of the founders of the Baptist church at the Center. Benjamin F. Tooley came to Stephentown in 1833 and engaged in farming and lumbering; he died in 1895, at the age of ninety-five years; Mrs. Tooley died in 1840. Hliel J. Tooley has given his principal attention to the coal and lumber business. Ile bought the farm of 107 acres near Stephentown Center in 1878, where he still resides. In 1862 Mr. Tooley married Delia, daughter of Sylvester and Betsey Craver of Sand Lake, by whom he has two children: John F., a farmer of Stephen- town, and Ilarry, in an electric shop m New York city. August 11, 1862. Mr. Tooley enlisted in Co. E, 125th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. He participated in the battles of the Wilderness, Cold Harbor, Gettysburgh, and in all eighteen battles and skirmishes. At Gettysburg he was wounded, and also in the thigh at the first charge of Petersburgh.

Chase, Lorenzo D., was born at Stephentown Center, December 18, 1810. Ile is a son of Lorenzo and Permelia (Casey) Chase, both natives of Rensselaer county, he of Stephentown. The grandfather, Benjamin, was a pioneer of Stephentown from Connecticut; he married Margaret Sweet; he was a farmer and lumberman. The father of Mr. Chase spent his life at the Center ; he was a carpenter and mason, and ran a turning mill at the Center. Lorenzo D. Chase was reared and educated at Stephentown Center. He ran a saw and turning mill and in 1865 he bought the farm where he has since resided, carrying on general farming. In 1862 Mr. Chase married Mary A., daughter of Samnel and Eliza Cole of Stephentown.

Fellows, Lorenzo D , was born in Stephentown, December 2, 1822. Ile is a son of David and Chloe (Turner) Fellows, he a native of Stonington and she of Nassau. The grandparents were William and Susana (Rathbun) Fellows, natives of Connec- ticut; he was a ship carpenter by trade and came to Stephentown, where he spent the latter part of Ins life, and died at the age of eighty-four. The maternal grand-

LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

father, John Turner, was an early settler of Nassau, and was a minister of the Bap- tist church. David Fellows was three years old when his parents came up the Hudson River and settled in Stephentown. He was reared on the farm and always followed farming; Mr. Fellows died in 1857 at the age of seventy. L. D. Fellows has always been a farmer.

Knapen, John J , born in Herkimer county, N. Y., May 15, 1841, is the son of Jo- siah and Phebe (Smith) Knapeu, he a native of Stephentown, born April 7, 1801, she of Chatham, born January 21, 1805. The grandparents were Asa and Sally (Fuller) Knapen; he was born in Columbia county. The great-grandfather of John J .. Samuel Knapen, was a cooper at Chatham where he died. The Knapen family are of Welsh extraction. The maternal grandparents were Seth and Eunice (Aldrich) Smith, who were married in 1995; he died 1858 and she in 1846; he was a farmer and butcher. Asa Knapen was an early settler of Stephentown and a shoe- maker by trade. The father of John J. was reared in Stephentown, married and removed to Herkimer county, thence in 1852 to Chatham and finally settled on the farm now owned by John J., where he died in 1863. Mrs. Knapen died in 1889. John J. was reared on the farm and was fourteen years in the butcher business in Stephentown; then he went on the farm in South Stephentown where he carries on general farming and buying and selling butter, eggs, and poultry. He has 128 acres. In 1871 Mr. Knapen was married to Maggie, daughter of Dyer and Marga- ret (Chatman) Arnold of Berlin, by whom he has one daughter, Alice M., wife of William G. Costine; they have one son, Harold E.

Eldridge, Nathaniel A., was born in Haneock, Mass., in 1820. He'is a son of Thomas and Rachel ( Hall) Eldredge, he a native of Hancock and she of Stephen- town. The grandfather of Mr. Eldredge was Thomas Eldredge, a pioneer settler of Hancock, coming thither from Rhode Island. George Hall was a blacksmith by trade and died in 1812 at the age of seventy-eight. The father of Mr. Eldridge was born In Hancock in 1778 and came to Stephentown in 1849 and died in 1859. Mrs. Eldridge was born April 11, 1780 and died in 1860. Mr. Eldridge has always fol- lowed farming, at which he has been remarkably suceessful. In 1844 he married Nancy M. Gorton of Hancock by whom have been born three children: Dorr, who died at the age of three; E. Dora, who married Lewis Brown, and after his death she married C. 11. Brown, brother of Lewis, who is the leading criminal lawyer in the city of Omaha; Eldorus, formerly traveling salesman in the West, but now a farmer on the home farm of 250 acres; he is also a dealer in horses; he married Lelia, daughter of E. R. Potter of Stephentown; he was supervisor of Stephentown in 1888, 1889, and 1890, and was also elerk. Ile is a member of the Mt. Whitney Lodge No. 647, I. O. O. F. Mrs. Eldridge died in 1881 and in 1884 Mr. Eldridge married Mrs. Thomas J. Hazard.

Moffitt, John Jay, was born in Stephentown, January 7, 1831. He is the son of Jay and Amy (Clark) Moffitt, he a native of Stephentown, and she of New Lebanon. The father of Jay, General Hosea, was also born in Stephentown where he lived and died. Ile was high sheriff of this county and for two terms was member of congress from his district. He was one of the leading men of this section of the country, both in farming and politically; he owned a large tract of land in Stephen-

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

town, and his father, Dr. Thomas Moffitt, was one of the first settlers of the town. Jay Moffitt was reared on the farm, and followed farming; he died in 1841 aged forty years, John J. Moffitt was reared on the farm and farming is his occupation. In 1853 he married Miss Lney E., daughter of Sylvester and Alma (Russell) Gardner, she a native of Stephentown, but her grandparents came from France. Mr. Gardner had a large farm in Stephentown; his father, Benjamin Gardner, emigrated from England and was a pioneer at Stephentown Depot, and at one time owned all the land around where the village now stands. The wife of Mr. Gardner was Eunice Northope, daughter of Captain Northope, who married a Miss Needham, daughter of an English gentleman. The brother of Eunice, Elder Nicholas Northope, was the founder of the first Free Baptist church of Stephentown Centre about 1790. To Mr. and Mrs. Moffitt have been born one son, Charles, who died in 1892, and Ora E., who died in 1882; she married Charles Ford, and leaves one son, C. Moffitt Ford, who has been reared by John Jay Moffitt. Mr. Moffitt's children were both of exemplary habits, and their loss will always be deeply mourned.

Moffit, Henry, was born in Stephentown, August 7, 1828. He was a son of Guy and Elizabeth (Bennett) Moffit, both natives of Stephentown and both died on the farm now owned by Henry. He died in 1859 and she in 1880. Henry is a grandson of Hosea Moffit and great-grandson of Thomas Moffit of Scotland, Henry Moffit has always followed farming on the Moffit homestead. He owns 140 acres and keeps a dairy of fifteen cows. In 1851 he married Nancy, daughter of Elisha and Betsey (Chapman) Bennett, natives of Stephentown. The grandparents of Mrs. Moffit, Willard and Abigail (Eggleston) Bennett, were pioneers of Stephentown. The father of Mrs. Moffit died in 1858 and her mother died in 1836. Mrs. Moffit is a member of the Presbyterian church. They are the parents of one child: Mary Jane, wife of Sylvanus Pratt.

Platt, Theodore D., was born in Stephentown March 15, 1818. He is a son of Henry and Martha (Chatman) Platt, both natives of Stephentown, The grandparents, Henry and Susan (Delaverne) Platt, were natives of Dutchess county, N. Y., who came to Stephentown about 1780 and here lived and died. He was a merchant and miller. He was nine or ten years supervisor of the town, and for about ten years member of assembly. He died in August, 1842; Mrs. Platt died in January, 1843. The father of Theodore D. was also a merchant and miller; he died April 17, 1876, and Mrs. Platt died February 18, 1864. Theodore D. Platt has been a farmer and merchant, and for many years was engaged in the mannfacture of wadding at Gar- field which business he established in 1849 and retired from it in 1873. In 1840 Mr. Platt married Ann Drozilla, daughter of Alexander and Polly Gardner, both natives of Stephentown. To Mr. and Mrs. Platt were born three children. Emiline, wife of Freling II. Smith, lawyer of New York city; Theodore died May 4, 1893, at the age of forty-nine, and William IL is a farmer on the homestead farm. Mr. Platt has been justice, clerk and supervisor of the town,

Potter, E. R., was born in West Greenwich, R. I., June 22, 1835. He is a son of Allen and Waity (Arnold) Potter, both natives of Rhode Island, where they lived and died. The grandfather, George Arnold, was a pioneer of Stephentown, and was aid-de-camp to George Washington during the Revolutionary war. E. R. Potter

LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

was left an orphan when a small boy and his first work for himself was at forty dol- lars a year. He then worked by the month in Rhode Island till he was of age, when he came to Stephentown and worked four years by the month, then at farming and speculating for seven years. In 1872 he engaged in the sale of lumber, lime, coal, feed, cement, and in shipping all kinds of produce, in which he has been very suc- cessful. In 1855 Mr. Potter married Phoebe, daughter of George Taylor, a farmer of Stephentown; she died March 12, 1882, and September 4, 1885, he married Anna McMahon. lle had five children: Lelia Z., wife of Eldorus Eldridge; Minnie, who died aged twenty-one; George A., Agnes M. and Gertrude A.

Brown, Spencer C., was born in Stephentown, March 26, 1833. He is a son of Joseph R. and Amanda M. (Carr) Brown, he a native of Connecticut, and she of Columbia county, N. Y. The parents of Joseph were Adam and Susana (Morey) Brown, who came from Stonington, Conn., in 1802, Joseph being then two years old, and settled in Stephentown where they lived and died. He was a captain in the war of 1812. The maternal grandparents were Spencer and Zelpha (Goodrich) Carr ; he was born in Stephentown, and his father, Edward Carr, was a very early settler of the town; he came from Rhode Island, being in Stephentown during the Revolu- tionary war; he helped to establish the Baptist church in Stephentown, and was a deacon many years; he died at the age of ninety years. Joseph R. Brown was a farmer of Stephentown throughout his whole life; he died in 1850 at the age of fifty years. Spencer C. was reared on the farm and at the death of his father took charge of the home farm. In 1871 he married Annie, daughter of John H. and Mary Ann (Goodrich) Conklin of Hancock, Mass. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born three children: J. Willis, at school at Suffield, Conn .; Edith E., also at school; and Mary, died at the age of three years. In 1871 Mr. Brown engaged in general mercantile business in Stephentown, which business he is still carrying on in connection with farming. Mr. Brown has been road commissioner, justice, supervisor, and for fifteen years auditing superintendent of the poor of the county, and is also postmaster at Stephentown. He is a member of the New Lebanon Springs Lodge No. 9, F. & A. M.

Barnes, W. D., born in Columbia county, N. Y., April 4, 1856, is a son of Walter and Mary (Dillon) Barnes, both natives of Columbia county, and there Mr. Barnes died and his wife died in Canada. He was a land architect which he followed for years. Mr. Barnes was reared in Hudson and educated in the public schools of that place. He began the manufacture of cotton cloth in 1879 in Brainard which he fol- lowed for four years and was burned out; he then built a paper mill and has since been engaged in the manufacture of paper except six years in New York city, where he built a paper mill and followed the same business. He manufactures manilla paper, box paper, and light wood boards, manilla tissue, and white and colored tissue a specialty. The capacity of the mills is 10,000 pounds per day; Mr. Barnes is also engaged in the manufacture of shirts. He was married in February, 1891, to Miss Katharine F. Ilart, daughter of John Hart of Albany, to whom two children have been born : William Harold and Annette Marion.

Goodell, George W. E., M.D., was born in Mexico, Oswego county, N. Y., Janu- ary 21, 1863. Ile is a son of William S. and Martha (Hamilton) Goodell of Mexico. George W. E. was reared on a farm and educated in Mexico Academy. He studied

FAMILY SKETCHES.

medicine with Dr. George P. Johnson of Mexico, and was graduated from the Al- bany Medical College in 1894. He practiced medicine at Green Island and in 1895 came to Brainard Station, where he has a successful practice. Ile is a member of the Tsatsawassa Lodge No. 356, I.O.O.F.

Bonacker, Adam, was born in Germany in 1843. Ile was a son of Conradt and Catharine (Boider) Bonacker, both born, lived and died in Germany. Adam Bon- acker came to New York city in 1859 and was educated in the common schools; he remained there two years, then went to Greenbush, where he found a brother, August Bonacker, who had been in the United States about six years. August, one of the well-to-do business men of the place spent his life in Greenbush. Adam Bonacker had eighty-seven cents when he came to the United States. He enlisted in 1861 in a New York State regiment and served three years and two months; he was a prisoner twice, was in seven battles and eight skirmishes, and was wounded at Sulphur Springs, Va. The regiment numbered 1,100 and had eighty-eight men when discharged. Mr. Bonacker was first lieutenant before twenty-one years of age. After his discharge he came to Greenbush and after a short time went to New York city and started a meat market; being defrauded out of this business and losing his money, he again returned to Greenbush, settling on a back street, and be- gan work in a coal yard but soon hired out to Mr. Bret in a slaughter house ; he re- mained with him nine winters; during the summer he bought calves and slaughtered them and peddled them in baskets. He butchered them in his wood-shed, back of East street, then owned by Bryan Smith. He soon bought a horse, wagon and harness for seven dollars and traded until he had a better horse. He continued in the stock business until 1890, having a meat market from 1875. Ile also worked a piece of land. He now owns the Van Rensselaer Island ice business whose capacity is about 20,000 tons, a building on Broadway where he lives, two near the viaduct, one in East Greenbush, and several others in Greenbush. Mr. Bonacker now lives a retired life. He was married in 1864 to Mary Bodesine, by whom he has had ten children, four of whom are living. His second wife was Mary O'Neil, by whom he had seven children, three of whom are living. Two sons of Mr. Bonacker, Philip and Adam, are engaged in the ice business; the youngest son by the first wife, John, is now engaged in the grocery business. Mr. Bonacker worked two months for his board when he came to this county and now he is the second largest taxpayer in the village of Greenbush. He was lieutenant in the 25th Regiment of Home Guards, serving for twelve years under Captain Health, he being the senior captain.

Leggett, Joseph A., was born in Marmora, Canada, January 3, 1860. He came with his parents to Troy in 1864, attended the public schools and the business col- lege and entered the employ of his father in the manufacture of paper boxes, in which business he became a partner in 1882. lle is a member of all the Masonic bodies, and was master of King Solomon Lodge, F. & A. M., and upon retiring from office was presented with an elegant past master's jewel. He is also a member of the Elks, a trustee of the Fifth Avenue M. E. church, a director in the National Bank of Troy, treasurer of the Troy File Company and a director of the Troy and Cohoes Shirt Company. Mr. Leggett is a staunch Republican and is at this date, 1896, chairman of the county committee; he is also a member of the Pafraets Dael and the Riverside Clubs. In July, 1896, he was elected president of the Empire

LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

State Paper Box Manufacturers' Association. In 1880 he married Mary Belle Davis of Troy, by whom he has two daughters.

Wilkinson, jr., Joseph B., was born in Troy, N. Y., September 8, 1847. His father, Joseph B. Wilkinson, was born in Scituate, R. I., October 17, 1817. He took an aetive part in what is known as Dorf's Rebellion in 1840. He came to Troy in 1842 and opened a clothing store at 169 River street, taking his brother as a partner. Eight years afterwards he opened an establishment in New York and remained there until the death of his brother, when he returned to Troy and again took charge of the business. He died January 22, 1890. Joseph B., jr., received a common sehool and academie education. He was admitted to the bar in Albany in 1870 and prac- ticed about a year in Troy. He was elected alderman in 1872, and was in the eham- berlain's office two years. Since 1879 he has been in the fire insurance business, and is connected with the State Board of Underwriters. He has been a member of the fire department since 1865, and also of the Troy Citizens Corps. He is a member of Apollo Lodge, Chapter and Commandery, and of the Oriental Temple, Mystic Shrine. He was married in 1874 to Ella S. Crane. He has four children.

Ingalls, H. II. G., was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, N. Y., May 18, 1850, and is a son of Daniel T. and Sally M. (Dake) Ingalls, he born at Bellows Falls, Vt., and she in Greenfield, Saratoga county. Daniel T. was a journeyman papermaker from the time he was fourteen years of age until 1860, when he began leasing and operating mills on his own account and superintending for others until 1873, when he and H. H. G. Ingalls (his son) bought a mill in South Manchester, Conn., and were in business until 1888; Daniel T, then sold out his interest and lived retired in Castleton, where he died in 1892, and where his widow still resides. II. H. G. Ingalls entered a paper mill at the age of twelve years and continued as a journeyman papermaker and superintendent for others up to 1873, when he formed a partnership with his father, as above stated. Upon the retirement of his father from the firin, H. H. G. formed a partnership with his snecessors, and afterwards formed a stock company in Castleton and built the Oak Grove Paper Mills, of which company Mr. Ingalls is secretary, treasurer and general manager. In 1872 Mr. Ingalls was married to Jane E. Reese of Fonda, N. Y., who died August 30, 1881. April 16, 1885, he was married to Hattie R. Tracy of South Manchester, Conn., who has borne him four children: Huella E., Maud H., Florence L. and Edmond Harvey. For the past twenty years he has been a member of the Methodist church and has been superintendent of the Methodist Sunday school of Castleton for two years, and for fifteen years has occupied an official capacity in the church. He was a member of the Board of Trustees of Castleton for two years, and in politics is a staunch Republican.

Kniekerbocker, Milton I., was born in Schodack on the farm he now owns, Jan- uary 29, 1852. He is a son of Milton, born in Columbia county, January 10, 1815, who was a son of James Knickerbocker, who lived and died in Columbia county. The father came to Schodaek about sixty years ago and bought the farm Milton I. now owns, where he lived and died; his death oceurred September 8, 1894; he was supervisor for three years and was justice for twelve years; his wife, Sally A. Pock- man, died April 2, 1878, Mr. Knickerbocker was reared on a farm and educated in

FAMILY SKETCHES.

the public schools. He is a farmer and has 121 acres of land. In 1888, he married Ora E. Link of Columbia county, by whom four children have been born: Beula L., Claud M., Harry P., and A. Irving.

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 28

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