Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 31

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 31

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Devoy. James 11., was born in Ireland in 1841. He is a son of Mathew and Ellen Grady, both natives of Ireland, the Devoys being of Spanish descent; the father of Mr. Devoy came to New York city in 1847, then went to Canada, and from there to Connecticut, from there to Schaghticoke where he now lives, aged eighty-five. His wife died in 1847 in Quebec. Mr. Devoy was educated in Colchester, Conn., and first worked in a rubber factory in Connecticut and farmed in Canada. Hle came to Pittstown, July 4, 1862, and has lived here since. He first worked in an axe factory for several years, and then for five years was in the grocery business in Troy, and in 1873 returned to Johnsonville and engaged in the produce business and hotel busi- ness, and built the Devoy house in 1873. October 29, 1865, he married Margaret Campfield of Troy, N. Y. She died December 29, 1893.

Gerhaensser, Charles, was born in Augsburg, kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, July 4, 1856. His parents came to the United States in the year 1864, locating in Brook- lyn. Charles was partly educated in Germany, and also in Brooklyn, N. Y. In process of time he began to learn the barber's trade. The family came to Troy in ISit, and returned to Brooklyn for their permanent residence in 1877. Charles came to Schaghticoke the same year ( 1877) where he owns and conducts a first-class barber shop. September 11, 1877, he married Orcelia Bedell of Sand Lake. They have had six children, three sons and three daughters, Ella, Harry, who died in his sixth year; Alice L., who died in her third year; Grace B., Foster II., and Ralph A. Mr. Gerhaensser's father, Anton, was born at the old home in Germany, January 6, 1829 lle was educated in their schools. He had married twice, second time to Josephine Sindel of Bavaria; they had thirteen children; he died in 1876, and his widow survives. Mrs. Gerhaensser's father, John Bedell, was born in Saratoga, Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1829. He married Sarah Strope of Sand Lake; they had four children, three daughters and one son: Orcelia, Alice, Carrie and Joseph. Mr. - Bedell died in 1882, and his wife in 1895. Mr. Gerhaensser is a member of Schagh- ticoke Lodge No. 526 I. O. O. F. and was its chaplain one term. He has held the position of steward for the past thirteen years, collector for nine years and is now

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recording steward. Commodore Perry was related to the family. Ilis unele has been secretary of state in Germany. The ancestry of the family is German and English.

Reynolds, Thomas J., the well known musician and orchestra leader of Hoosick Falls, was born at Dundee, Scotland, in 1870, of a family distinguished for their musical ability. He came to America in 1881. Mr. Reynolds began the study of music at the age of nine years ; the violin being naturelly his favorite instrument. Ile was placed under the instruction of the late Prof. Andrews ; later he studied with some of the best teachers in Troy and afterwards with Felix Winternitz, the celebrated Austrian violin soloist. In 1890 he commenced the study of clarinet un- der E. S. Thornton of Troy, and afterward studied banjo, mandolin and guitar with V. W. South of Troy. He has at present a class of nearly one hundred performers. In 1895 he was married to Miss Antoinette Cahill of Hoosick Falls, who is also a musician. Prof. Reynolds is a very successful and popular teacher and his fine orchestra of twenty pieces is in frequent demand.

Sproat, William II., was born in Lansingburg, N. Y., May 25, 1855. Ile was a son of Henry Sproat. William Il. was reared as a carpenter at Lambertville, N. J., and educated at Valley Falls. He followed his trade about ten years and in 1877 engaged in the meat business for about four years, and then again worked at his trade, and November 1, 1885, he again engaged in the meat business and was very successful. March 12, 1879, he was married to Mary G. Andrew of Pittstown, by whom has been born two children, George W. Sproat and Hattie Irene Sproat. Mr. Sproat was collector for one year and is a member of Columbian Lodge No. 659, I. O. O. F.

Willis, Wilbur F., was born in Coeymans, Albany county, September 24, 1851. Ile was educated in Coeymans Academy and Fort Edward Institute. Ile began his life as a clerk in a grocery store and at the same time opened a telegraph office. After five years he came to Castleton as assistant to J. W. Van Hoesen and took charge of the post-office and also the railroad office as assistant agent. When J. W. Van Iloesen died in the spring of 1895 Mr. Willis became agent for the New York Cen- tral Railroad, American Express Company and manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company at Castleton, Mr. Willis is a member of the Masonic fraternity in which he has passed to the Royal Archi degree. His parents were Alexander IS. and Harriet (Blaisdell) Willis. His father was born at Ballston, Saratoga county, in 1812 and died in 1895. He began business in Troy as a dry goods merchant along with his brother, Uriah B. Willis, and from there he went to Coeymans where he engaged in the freighting business, and finally went into the grocery business. Ile also owned the Cedar Point grist mills. He was an active and successful business man and lived a long and honorable life. Mrs. Harriet Willis is still living at Coey- mans. Their children were eleven: David, Benedict, Alexander Blaisdell, Wilbur F., Charles Clifford and Sarell Wood, growing to manhood. Charles Clifford was a dentist and Alexander Blaisdell was a physician, both now deceased. The Blais- dells were a Scotch family and influential in the old country, and a lineage of second cousinship existed between N. P. Willis (the poet) and Mr. Willis.

McCormick, John J., son of John and Mary Ann McCormick, natives of Ireland,

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was born in Brunswick, Rensselaer county, November 23, 1849. His parents came to America about 1815, were married in Troy, and settled on a farm in Brunswick, but later removed to Troy, where they died-the father in 1871 and the mother in 1889. Mr. McCormick was educated in the publie and high schools of Troy, was for two years a clerk for W. W. Whitmen, dealer in wall paper, and then Jearned the carpenter's trade with W J. Howes, which he followed as a journeyman under sev- eral contractors. In 1878 he accepted a clerkship in the County Clerk's office under James Keenan, and two years later became bookkeeper and cashier for Kennedy & Murphy, now the Kennedy & Murphy Brewing and Malting Company, which posi- tions he has sinee held. He has been secretary of the Democratie General Commit- tee of the city of Troy for twenty years, has been delegate to various county, dis- triet, State and other political conventions, and has been the city clerk since 1886, being first appointed by Mayor Whelan, He is a member of the C. B. L. and has been treasurer of St. Francis's church about ten years.

Winslow Bros .- William James Winslow was born in Argyle, Washington county, in 1825. Ilis education was obtained in the public schools; in his early life he was a carpenter and in 1851 he came to Schaghticoke village and carried on the clothing trade and also the grocery business in connection with it. March 23, 1852, he mar- ried Mary J. Thompson of this village; seven children were born to them: Estella, Margaret J., Ella A., Edward M., Charlotte, Albert and Mabel. The four children who survive reside at home. Mrs. Winslow's father, Robert Thompson, was born in the North of Ireland about the year 1803. Ile was educated there and came to the United States when a young man, and located in this village He married Sarah Irvin of Schaghticoke. They had six children: John, James, Mary J., Ruth A., Robert and Sarah C. Mr. Thompson died January 7, 1851, and Mr. William James Winslow died February 26, 1894, and his wife survives at this date, 1896. The sons, Edward M. and Albert, succeeded him in the grocery business. Mr. Winslow was a member of the Vietor lodge No. 680, F and A. M., and was a village officer when he died. He was also overseer of the poor of the town of Schaghticoke for fourteen years. Edward M. is treasurer and assistant secretary of the Presbyterian Sunday school.

Van Schaack, Mrs. Alice A .- William W. Van Schaack was born in Stillwater, Saratoga county, N. Y., January 31, 1822. He was edneated in the public schools, and was a house, carriage sigu, and ornamental painter by trade. December 2, 1846, he married Alice A. Thayer of Bennington, Vt. They had three children: Theodore, Chauncey T. and Nettie O. Chauncey T. married Ida Cloeum of Troy, N. Y. Nettie married George Bancroft; they had five children, Thomas E., Alice O., Marcia R. and Gratia L. (twins) who died at the age of six months, and William W. Mr. Van Schaack in 1861 enlisted in Company K, 125th N. Y. Vols., and was wounded in the battle of Gettysburg and was honorably discharged at the close of the war as duty sergeant. He was a member of Hartshorn Post No. 487, G. A. R., Schaghticoke. He died October 8, 1882. Mrs. Beecroft died July 25, 1885. Mrs. Van Schaack's grandfather was Simcon Thayer, who was a solcher in the Revolu- tionary war. The family on the paternal side were of Dutch origin and on the ma- ternal side of New England stock.

Kenyon, Elizabeth J .- The late Benoni Kenyon was born in the town of Schaghti-

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eoke, Rensselaer county, N. Y., December 4, 1789. He was edueated in the Nine Partners Friends school in Dutchess county, N. Y. He was a farmer by occupation. Hle married Hannah Keteham who was born in the town of Easton, Washington county, N. Y. They had ten children. William, Dorcas, Lydia, Benjamin, Sarah, Elizabeth J., Calista, John, Hannah Ann and David Adams. Benoni Kenyon died May 18, 1864, and his wife died April 10, 1887, in her ninety-second year. Miss Ken- yon's grandfather, Benjamin Kenyon, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., Novem- ber 13, 1746, and married Lydia Hawkins, They had twelve children. The family came to the town of Schaghticoke in the year 1783, and four of the children were born liere This locality was then a wilderness and bears and other wild animals were numerous. Miss Kenyon's great-great-grandfather, James Kenyon, came from England at a very early date. He brought a Bible with him which bears the date of 1715.

Banker, Christopher A., born in Pittstown, June 15, 1824, is a son of Timothy and Mary A. (Snyder) Banker, she born in Pittstown March 11, 1803, and he a native of Lansingburgh, born January 24, 1797. He was a son of Adolphus Banker who came to Pittstown very early and here lived and died. The maternal grandfather was Christopher Snyder who was one of the first settlers of Pittstown. T. Adolphus Banker and wife have four sons and one daughter. The father of Christopher A. was a farmer; he was justice of the peace and assessor and held other offices; he and his wife were members of the M. E. church; he died January 12, 1878, and his wife died April 14, 1878. George W. Banker, the oldest brother of Christopher, was born in 1820 in Pittstown and was a farmer and owned a grist mill, saw mill and flax mill, employing at one time seventy-five men; he was supervisor three terms and a member of Assembly one year, elected by 1,500 majority ; his wife was Harriet J., daughter of John and Sarah (Stove) Comstock, he of Connecticut and she of Pitts- town. To Washington Banker and wife were born three children: Sarah S., George S. and Timothy S. George W. Banker died in 1882 and his widow lives in the vil- lage. Christopher A. was reared on a farm and educated in Lansingburgh and Hoosick Falls. He was a farmer until 1866, and then went into the mercantile busi- ness and followed it three years and then manufactured twine for one year, and has since followed various occupations, His wife was Cornelia Miller of Albany county, daughter of Anthony Miller and Naney Dorman, early settlers of Pittstown and Millertown, named in honor of his father, Anthony Miller. To Mr. and Mrs. Banker were born eight children, four sons and four daughters of whom one is living, M. Louisa, wife of Edward Hutchinson who has one daughter and one son, Agnes B. and II. Willis, Mr. Banker has been assessor for three years; he is a Free Mason. Ile and his wife are members of M. E. church. The oldest daughter of Mr. Banker was Nancy D., wife of Frank Viall; she had one daughter, Cora M., a student of Oswego Normal school.

Hoyt, Alden S., was born in Lansingburgh August 25, 1855. ITe is a son of Joseph and Eliza (Lockrow) Hoyt, he a native of Vermont, and she of Brunswick, Rensse- laer county. The grandparents, Joseph and Betsey (Quiniby) Hoyt, were farmers of Vermont. Joseph Hoyt came to Lansingburgh about 1830 where he engaged in the manufacturing of brushes and there died December 28, 1891. Mrs. Hoyt died No- vember 8, 1891. Alden S. was reared and educated in Lansingburgh and graduated

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from Lansingburgh public school in 1871 and Troy Business College in 1873. He was for a while engaged in the brush business with his father, but in 1878 located on the farm of 120 acres in Pittstown near Valley Falls, where he has since been engaged in general farming. December 18, 1878, he married Ettie L., daughter of Edmund J. and Lavinia Gilbert of Green Island by whom he has four children: Bertram A., Grace M., Donald G., and Lotta R.

Satterlee, John 11., was born in the town of Berlin, January 1, 1862, and is the son of David G., who is also a native of Berlin, born December 11, 1833. He is a son of Ilawley Satterlee. Hawley was the son of Rev. William Satterlee, who was one of the organizers of the Seventh Day Baptist church of Berlin, and also one of the organizers of Alfred S. D. B. church of Alfred, N. Y. David G. in early life fol- lowed carpentry, but most of his life has been given to agricultural pursuits, in which he has been fairly successful; he now owns and operates the Satterlee home- stead and is a breeder of Southdown sheep; he has been elected poormaster, as- sessor, etc. ; his wife was Naney U'retta Davis; she was born in Berlin and is a daughter of John Davis, son of Robert Davis of Rhode Island; their children were John 11., Mrs. Uretta M. Tift of Berlin, Henry R., Mrs. Sarah E. Vars of Berlin, William D., who died when nine, and Nancy who died when five years of age; his wife died April 16, 1893; she was a member of the Seventh Day Baptist church, as is also Mr. Satterlee. John 11. was reared on a farm, and attended the Free Union school in Berlin village. When twenty-one he began farming for himself which he followed three years; from that time until 1889 he followed carpentry. He then en- gaged in the manufacturing of cheese, which business he still follows during the summer seasons. Ile was elected inspector of elections in 1885-86-87, and in 1888 he was elected town clerk. In April, 1894, he was appointed postmaster of the Berlin post office. He is a member of the Masonie order, Star Lodge No. 670 of Peters- burgh, N. Y., in which he has passed several of the chairs and has also been elected to Raymond Chapter in Hoosick Falls, N. Y. He is a member of the Sheldon Cor- net Band of Berlin in which he has played for five years. In 1884 he was married to Mrs. Eliza J. (Breer) Martin ; she was born in Berlin and is a daughter of Alonzo and Jane (Smith) Breer. They are both members of the Seventh Day Baptist church Mis Sattedee is a member of the Eastern Star Delta Chapter. No. 3 .N. Y. city.

Brown, Henry F., was born in Atkinson, Me., May 7, 1833. He was the son of Daniel C., who was a native of New Hampshire, born in 1801. He was one of four sons and three daughters born to Jacob Brown, who for many years was a keeper of a temperance hotel in Atkinson, Me. Daniel, the father, was a farmer and a pio- neer in the town of Atkinson, Piscataquis county, Me., settled in the forest and here cleared him a farm ; he was prosperous and acquired over 300 acres of land ; he was prominent in political affairs of his town and county; he filled various town and county offices, and represented his district in the Legislature several terms. flis wife was Betsey Frost, who was born in Lincoln, Me. Their children were Nelson, . Payson, Melinda, Henry, Amanda, Aurelia, Lyman, Daniel C., Thaddeus, Daniel and Emma. Payson died at the age of seventeen; Daniel C. died at the age of nine months; Thaddeus at the age of one year; Melinda died in 1892; Daniel died in 1891, and Amanda in 1862. lle died in 1865 and his wife in 1878. They were both

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members of the Christian church. Henry F. received a limited district school edu- cation ; when sixteen he was the mam instrument in forming a Christian church m the town of Atkinson, Me. ; when nineteen he went to Staten Island where he plied his trade, and remained until 1857; during this time he purchased property and erected a house; he then bought out a dining business in New York city which he conducted until 1867, when he sold out his business and removed to Scarsdale, West- chester county, N. Y., where he lived two years; in the meantime his wife, who was Angeline Decker a native of Staten Island, died, leaving a daughter. Ile then re- turned to New York city and engaged in the dining business; in 1822 he married Mrs. Emily R. (Hewitt) Jones, and three years later removed to Berlin, where he built him a home and several tenement houses. He soon became interested in church work, when he with a few other citizens hired a hall and engaged a pastor to preach, and later was instrumental in forming a class of thirty and started a Sab- bath school of which he was superintendent. Through him in 1878 an M. E. church was formed. Ile solicited subscriptions and raised money to build a church, he doing nearly the entire carpenter work himself. A portion of his time he was in- terested m the meat business and later added furniture, which business so increased that he erected his present store and put in a full hne of furniture, carpets, bedding, etc., and in connection with this he conducts an undertaking business. Ile later added to his line blacksmith and wheelwright supplies. Mr. Brown is an enterpris- ing business man and carries the largest stock and most complete assortment of goods that can be found outside of a large city.

Still, Charles .- The late George Still was born in Brandon, Vt., in 1820; he was educated in the schools of his day, and was a manufacturer of bedsteads and carried on the painting business. In 1844 he marred Elizabeth Spotten of Lansingburgh, and a daughter of one of the old settlers, by whom six children have been born: Anna, George, Charles, Edward, Josiah and William. Mr. Still died in 1894 and his widow survives at this date. His father, Pember Still, was born in Hinsdale, N. II. He married Eliza Pratt, by whom he had eight children. Ile died in 1856 and his wife died in 1869. Mrs. Still's father, William Spotten, was born in Lansingburgh about 1782, and August 6, 1814, he married Betsey Gilliespie of this place, who bore him six children: Andrew, Sally, Josiah, Thomas, Elizabeth and Charles, all of whom are now dead with the exception of Elizabeth. Mr. Spotten died about 1836 and his widow died about 1876. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and Andrew Gilliespie was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. George is a member of the Masonic order. The ancestry of the family is English, Scotch and Dutch.

Bovie, William H., was born in Pownal, Vt., June 4, 1842. He was the son of Parker R. and Caroline (Palmer) Bovie, he a native of Vermont and she of Troy. The grandfather of Mr. Bovie was a native of New Jersey, but settled in Vermont where he engaged in farming, He was a soldier in the Mexican war and drew a pension for services. Parker Bovie was a carpenter by trade. He died in 1843 at the age of twenty-seven. Mr. William Bovie lived on a farm in his boyhood days, and for a few years at a hotel, then he learned the blacksmith trade which has been his life work. In 1861 Mr. Bovie married Annie, daughter of John and Annie Whit- beek, of Albany, by whom he has had two children: George P., a blacksmith of Chicago, and John E., who is with his father in the blacksmith business in Defrees-

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ville, where Mr. Bovie located in 1871. They make a specialty of shoeing horses. John E. Bovie is a dealer in bicycles in addition to his business connection with his father; he married Fannie L., daughter of David Philips (see elsewhere). She died February 6, 1890, leaving one daughter, Ella.

Fortier, John F., was born in Lansingburgh, December 23, 1865. His father, George N., was born in Canada, where he was a merchant for a number of years and came to Troy in 1859 and was identified with the stove industry; he died in 1886. His mother, Louisa (La Croix) Fortier is still living in Troy. John F. was educated in the Christian Brothers' Academy and entered the store of J. M. Warren & Co., where he is still engaged as salesman. He is a member of the Iroquois Club, of which he is financial secretary; of the Snow Shoe Club, and is treasurer of the Franco Republican Club, and is also a member of the Troy Yacht Club. He is a Republican in politics and has been prominent in the Eleventh ward and has been delegate to several different State conventions.

Shroder, James D., was born in Troy, N. Y., November 9, 1858. He is the son of Charles J. Shroder, who came to Troy when but a young man and worked for many years at his trade of carriage making and died in 1893. His mother was Louisiana (West) Shroder, and she died in 1875. He left school when but thirteen years of age, and learned photography, and in 1883 opened a studio on River street, where he is in business at the present time.

McCrea, Fred A., was born in Williamsburgh, Mass., in 1851. His father, Chris- topher M. McCrea, was born in Scotland and when young came to the United States and settled in Williamsburgh; he died in Troy in 1881. His mother, Jane (Mason) McCrea, was born in Troy and is now hving in Massachusetts. Fred was educated in the public schools and went in 1885 into the fruit and oyster business in Troy, N. Y. llis business is mostly with the jobbing trade. Ile belongs to the Diamond Rock Lodge, I. O. O. F. In 1871 he married Ella F. Hicks, of Troy.

Myers, John L., was born in North Greenbush and is a son of John S. Myers. John L. was educated in the common school and in the Troy Business College, from which he graduated in 1875. In 1880 he married Anna A., daughter of Prof. Henry Izard and Pamelia (Reynold:) Izard of Woodstock, Ont., Canada, who were natives of Brighton, England, and who now reside in Troy, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Myers have been born five children; Alice, John, Minnie, George and Warren. Mr. Myers has a farm near Troy, upon which he resides. In 1889 he received the appointment of letter carrier in Troy which position he still holds. He is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. and A. M.

Ileinzer, Peter, was born in Germany, October 26, 1854, and came to America in 1871, settling in Albany, where he pursued the occupation of baker for several years ; he also worked at his trade for a year and one-half in Greenbush. He came to Cas- tleton in May, 1879, and in February, 1880, began business for himself in which he has been very successful, and is a man of moderate means and controls a large trade. lle is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Castleton and was one of its organizers. He is trustee of the village, to which position he was elected without any effort or desire on his part. Mr. Heinzer married Catherine Brickner and they

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have a family of two children: Frederick and Jennic. Mrs. Ileinzer's parents were also German.

Ostrander, Louis F., was born in Columbia county, December 19, 1823. He was a son of Simeon and Hannah (Fellows) Ostrander, he born in Schodack and she in Troy. He was a son of Hubbard Ostrander, born in Schodack, and son of Abram Ostrander, a native of Ilolland. He, with two brothers, came to this country, of whom two settled in Rensselaer county and one in Dutchess county. The great- grandfather, grandfather and father were all farmers and lived and died in Scho- dack. The father died in March, 1876, and his wife died in 1874. Mr. L. F. Os- trander was reared on a farm and educated in public schools, and also attended the Canaan Center Academy for three years. He is a farmer by occupation and was superintendent of a large plantation in Virginia previous to the time of the war. Ile owns twenty-four acres of land where he resides and raises small fruit. March 20, 1854, he married Cornelia M. Lansing of Schodack, daughter of Garrett Lansing, one of the prominent men of Schodack. To Mr. and Mrs. L. F. Ostrander were born seven children: Harriet, Magdaline, Louis L , Jacob L., Frances M., Cassie L. and Rachel K. Harriet married Abram C. Ostrander of Schodack. She was graduated from the East Greenbush Academy and the Utica Female Academy and followed teaching until she married. Magdaline was educated at East Greenbush Academy. Louis L. was educated at Pontiac High School. He is in Duluth and December 4, 1890, married Harriet G. Cook. Jacob L. was educated at Castleton and is with the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company Railroad at Albany. Octo- ber 8, 1895, Jacob L. married Frances Prentice. Frances M. Ostrander was edu- cated at home and the Castleton Academy and is now teaching at Tonawanda, N. Y. Cassie L. was edueated at home and also attended the Albany Normal School and is now teaching at Freeport, N. Y. Rachel K. is at howe.

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 31

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