USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3 > Part 37
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Anderson, Ilon. George, was born in Albany county, December 11, 1839, and after learning the carpenter's trade and pursuing it for a few years he embarked in the manufacture of rakes for three years. Ile then returned to farming for two years when he went into the meat business under the firm name of Anderson & Co. This firm did a large trade and continued for eighteen years, when Mr. Anderson pur- chased the fine farm he now owns and to which he gives his entire attention outside of his political duties. He is a prominent Repubhean and was three times president of the village of Castleton and has been supervisor of Schodack for four years. In the fall of 1895 he was elected to the Assembly where a still wider field of usefulness awaits him. Ilis popularity and the confidence of the people in his executive abili- ties are well illustrated by the fact that he was the first Republican supervisor in Schodack in nineteen years. Mr. Anderson married Elizabeth Requa. They have three children : Franl. Anderson, William Anderson, and Etta, now Mrs. Thomas Timmons of Peekskill. Mr. Anderson's parents were Gilbert and Julia (Lawrence) Anderson,
Burton, Charles W., was born in Nassau, August 22, 1837. He is a son of Isaac and Ruby (Taylor) Burton, he born in Chatham and she in Nassau. Isaac was a son of Ruben Burton, who lived in Columbia county and finally went to Sand Lake where he died in 1810. The maternal grandfather was William Tabor, who lived and died in Nassau. The father of Mr Burton was a blacksmith by trade, but died a farmer ; he came from Nassau to Schodack in 1839 and died September 20, 1884, and his wife chied in 1852. Mr. Burton was reared and educated in Schodack. He is a farmer and owns ninety-two aeres of land. In October, 1860, he was married to Maggie Palmateer, of Greenbush, by whom one son has been born: Peter P., born in Scho- dack April 1, 1862. He was educated in Claverack College and followed farming at home. His wife was A. Catherine Pockman, by whom one son has been born: Charles R., born April 25, 1895. The Burton family is of high English descent.
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Bame, William II., was born in Clavarack, Columbia county, October 9, 1817. He was a son of John and Jane (Mull) Bame, both born in Schodack, he a son of William Bame, born in Dutchess county, a son of Mr. Bame, born in Germany, who settled in Dutchess county, where he died. The grandfather of Mr. Bame died in Claverack and the father died in Schodack, Mr. Bame was reared and educated in Schodack and has always followed farming. He has a farm of 101g acres of land and has lived there for forty years. He was first married to Ann Traver, by whom three children were born: Jane Il., wife of Otis Bates of Massachusetts; Mary, now Mrs. Golder of Greenbush; Eugene, a farmer of Schodack ; and Anna, died Novem- ber 8, 1842. For his second wife he married Catherine Barner, by whom have been born seven children: John II., Eva, Ida E., Catherine A., Hanna C., Emma L. and Abram. Mrs. Bame died November 10, 1888. llanna, a daughter of Mr. Bame, died November 10, 1885, and Ida A. died September 28, 1889.
Callanan, Stephen, was born in Albany county in 1821, and is a son of James and Mary (Williams) Callanan. He was born, lived and died in Albany county. His father was Patrick Callanan, who came from Ireland at the age of eight with a brother, and spent his days at Callanan's Corners, Albany county. He died in 1824 at the age of eighty-four. Stephen was reared on a farm and educated in the com- , mon schools. Ile lived in Albany county until 1866, when he came to Castleton and bought the Downers mills, of which he has since been proprietor. He was first married to Emma Coonley of Albany, by whom four children were born; Ilenry (deceased), Esther (deceased), James and George. James is superintendent of the Barber Asphalt Company of Omaha, Neb., and George has charge of the mill. Mrs. Emma Callanan died July 16, 1876. George T. Callanan was born in Castle. ton and educated in the common school, Home Lawn, N. Y., and the Albany public schools. Ile followed railroading and was doorman and conductor for the Long Island Railroad Company, and took charge of the mill in 1889. Ile is a member of the M. E. church at Castleton June 13, 1878, Mr. Callanan was married to Mary J. Hunter. She died May 21, 1896.
Boyce, Josiah W., was born in Schodack, N. Y., October 14, 1824. He is a son of Ananias Boyce. Mr. Boyce was reared on a farm and educated in common schools, Albany Normal School and the Nassau Academy. He followed teaching for about twenty years and was superintendent and commissioner for two terms, and was also first commissioner for the Second district of Rensselaer. He then bought the farm he now owns of 109 acres and followed farming for several years, now making a specialty of dairying. He was justice of the peace for four years. He is a member of Schodack Union Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M. March 1, 1851, he was married to Martha E. Shaver of Sand Lake, by whom four children have been born: Alice C., wife of James W. Vosburgh of East Schodack; Ella M., who married Myron W. Devereaux, died in 1891; Carrie L., wife of Henry Legal of Schodack ; Mary L., deceased.
Boyce, Frank M., M. D., was born in Schodack, August 3, 1851. He is the son of Anson M. and Carolina (Stewart) Boyce, both of whom were born in Schodack. Anson M. was the son of Ananias Boyce, mentioned elsewhere ; and she a daughter of George W. Stewart, a farmer and teacher, and came to Schodack early. He finally went to Wayne county, where he died. Anson M. Boyce was educated in the common
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schools and the Nassau Academy. He was a teacher at Saratoga Springs for seven- teen years. He was also school commissioner of Saratoga county and supervisor of Saratoga Springs. He died in September, 1878, and his wife in 1889. Frank Boyce was reared in Castleton until three years of age, when he went to Wilton, Saratoga county, and at the age of eight years he went to Saratoga Springs, where he was educated. He graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1872, and practiced medicine at Saratoga Springs for seventeen years. In 1891 he came to Schodack and settled on a farm, where he also practiced medicine. He owns 168 acres. Ile was married February 5, 1874, to Catherine Payne, daughter of Harmon Payne, who spent his life in Schodack. To Dr. Boyce and wife were born three children : Cora A., Frank M. and Edwin A. Mrs. Boyce died April 20, 1889. August 9, 1896, he was married to Emma Van Buren of East Greenbush. Dr. Boyce was supervisor of Saratoga Springs in 1889 and represented the second district of Sara- toga county in the Assembly of 1890. Ile was also trustee of the Second ward of the village for four years. lle was coroner of Saratoga county for three years. In the spring of 1896 Dr. Boyce was elected supervsior of Schodack.
Bedell, Aleandar, was born in Schodack, May 18, 1823. He is a son of Daniel and Ellen (Perry) Bedell, he born in Schodack, and son of Joseph Bedell, of Dutchess county, who settled in Schodack at a very early date; his wife was Phoebe More- house, of Dutchess county. The father of Mr. Bedell was a farmer and spent his days in Schodack. Mr. Bedell was reared on a farm and educated in the commnon schools. He owned two farms in Sand Lake, which he sold in 1873. He then came on the farm he now owns of 108 acres and followed general farming. In 1851 he was married to Emaline Backus of Saratoga, by whom four children have been born, but one of whom is living-Willard H. He is a farmer and is married to Emma Francis and has three children: Effie, Ada, and Horace. The great-grandfather of Mr. Bedell came from England and settled in Dutchess county.
Downer, James R., was born in the village of Castleton, February 1, 1840. Ile was educated in the public schools and Fort Edward Institute. He was engaged in the forwarding and freight business for many years between Castleton and New York : Mr. Downer was associated with Joel D. Smith and Capt. J. V. D. Witbeck in the building of the steam propeller, Audrew Harder, which was chartered and used by the government as a transport during the Civil war. He became cashier of the National Bank of Castleton in 1874, which position he has since filled with marked ability and snecess. In 1864 Mr. Downer married Margaret N. Herrick and they have a family of three sons and one daughter: Frank II., Edgar J., Mary L., and Charles R. Mr. Downer's parents were John R. and Mary (Smith) Downer. John R. Downer came to this country in 1823 and purchased a mill property near Castle- ton. He was the inventor of the first revolving hay rake. Mr. Downer's grand- father, John Smith, kept the old Tammany Hall in New York city and had Aaron Burr as one of his boarders at the time Burr and Hamilton fought a duel. Mr. Downer has been interested at various times in property tending to the commercial welfare of Castleton, and is one of the leading citizens of the town Schodack. He has been identified with the Republican party and has been prominent in its counsels many years. Ilis father, Jolin R. Downer, is ninety-three years old and hale and hearty.
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Fuller, W. K., was born in Castleton, October 12, 1844, and followed boating for some years prior to the war, He enlisted in 1864 in Co. 1, 91st New York Volunteers, and served with his regiment till the close of the war, participating in the battles of Gravelly Run, Five Forks and other engagements and was present at the surrender of Lec. After the war he engaged in boating for some time, but finally went into the meat business in 1887, which he has since that time conducted most successfully. Mr. Fuller has as partner Mr. G. J. Davenport, and the business is now conducted under the firm name of Fuller & Davenport, In 1867 Mr. Fuller married Josephine Follansbee. Ilis parents were John S. Fuller and Betsey (Rose) Fuller. Mr. Fuller's family originally came from the vicinity of Danbury, Conn. Some of his ancestors on his mother's side were soldiers in the Revolutionary war,
Wilcox, George E., is a native of Hoosick Falls, and was first associated with the Wood Machine Co, in 1880 as clerk, but now has charge of a warehouse and incom- ing freight, and is also connected with the main office. He was born in 1848, son of the late John E. and Eleanor J. Wilcox, daughter of Jacob and Naney Odekirk, who were the earlier residents of the town of Hoosick. She died in 1870 and the father in 1894. The death of the latter removed a most influential and honorable citizen of his native town. He was the eldest son of Oliver and Sophia Wilcox, and en- gaged in mercantile business with J. P. Armstrong at Hoosick, the firm afterwards becoming Wilcox & Richmond, Later he became associated with the firm of Thayer, Hawks & Wilcox here. Selling out in this firm, he took a position with Walter Wood Co., where he remained twenty-five years, being one of the stockholders. He was also interested in the Gas Light Co. and the New York Architectural Terra Cotta Co., and one of the organizers of the First National Bank here. For four years George was druggist in Washington county, and was one year with Morey Brothers. Eight years he was correspondent for the Budget, Telegram, and Press. He is a member of the Masonic order, and was town clerk in 1870 and tax collector one year. He married in 1885 Emma F. Clement of Janesville, Wis., at that time a resident of Troy. They have two children, Edmond Clement, aged ten years; George Skinner, aged eight years.
IHitchcock, William C., was born in Hoosick, May 19, 1847, and is the son of George W. and E. G. (Carpenter) Hitchcock, he a native of Pittstown and she of Hoosick. George W. Hitchcock was a carpenter by trade but spent his life at farming. lle was a Republican in politics, twenty years overseer of the poor and assessor a num- ber of years. He was a very active member of the Reformed church, The parents of George W. were Lewis and Nancy (Springer) Hitchcock, Lewis H. was born at Deerfield, Mass. Ile was a carpenter and cabinetmaker by trade at East Pittstown and owned a large traet of land. The father of Lewis was Oliver Hitchcock, whose father, Arthur, graduated from Harvard in 1969. Oliver was a member of the Ma- sonic Lodge with General Washington when the meetings were held under trees, Oliver was at the battles of Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill, and helped to throw up entrencements at Dorchester Heights. Edward I. was president of Amherst College from 1845 to 1854 and professor of natural theology and geology from then till his death. The family of Hitchcock have always been educational people. Will- iam was educated at seleet schools under the auspices of the Reformed church at Buskirk Bridge, taught by a student of Middlebury College. He has taught school
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thirty years. He married, in 1870, Fannie, daughter of Peter and Harriett (Parker) Link, of Saratoga county. To Mr. and Mrs. Ihtelicock have been born four chil- dren: Charles Roscoe, Bessie A., George B., and Henry Gordon. In pohtics Mr. Ilitchcock is a staunch Republican and is contributor to several newspapers. fle is also a recognized authority on entomology and a member of the Reformed church of Buskirk Bridge. Oliver Hitelcock was, while a native of Massachusetts, a member of the Congregational church, but united with the Dutch Reformed church at Bus- kirk Bridge. Ile, his son Lewis and grandson George, have served as elders in that church.
Guy, Thomas IL., was born in Troy, N. Y., March 31, 1867. He is the son of Dr. Thomas J. Guy, president of the Board of Education. He attended the Troy High School, and from September, 1886, to January, 1887, was at Georgetown College. He entered Vale in September, 1887, and graduated with the class of 1891, afterwards graduating from Albany Law School, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1893. In 1891 he was appointed private secretary to Mayor Molloy, which position lie still holds.
Gibson, George Il., was born in Troy, N. Y., in February, 1874. His father, James W. Gibson, was born in Schenectady county, and eame to Troy early in life ; at present he is a foreman in the Troy File Works. His mother, Laura A. (Sherman) Gibson, was born in Troy and is a daughter of William C. Sherman. George Il., after leaving the Troy Business College, entered the insurance office of Neher & Carpenter, where he remained six years, and was afterwards in the law office of King & Speek, where he remained one year. Mr. Gibson is a member of the Royal Arcanum. He was married in February, 1895, to Miss Bessie C. Green, a daughter of Fred C. Green of Troy.
Eagle, Herman J., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1867. Ile is the son of Jacob Eagle, who came from Germany in 1857 and settled in Troy. His mother, Louisa (Falken- hagen) Eagle, was also born in Germany. Mr. Eagle was educated in the common schools and at the Christian Brothers' Academy, and entered the drug store of his father as a clerk. On July 21, 1890, he started in the drug business for himself at det Fourth street, where he remained until 1894, when he moved to his present site at 539 Fourth street. He does a general drug business and also deals in paints, ous, and varnishes, and hardware. Mr. Eagle also manufactures Eagle's impervious oil for floors, which allows no dust to rise, and requires sweeping only to insure per- fect cleanliness. Mr. Eagle pays particular attention to his prescription department, which is second to none in the city.
Burdick, W. R., was born at Afton, Wis., in 1858. His father, M. W. Burdick, now a resident of Hoosick Falls, is a citizen of considerable prominence, the first to hold the office of police magistrate. For thirty years he has been a deacon of the First Baptist church. During his residence in Wisconsin he was justice of the peace for a long term of years. In 1875 W. R. Burdick was first employed by the Walter A. Wood Co., and in 1877 he married Miss Hattie, daughter of George W. Wilson, representing a family of local pioneers. Mr. Burdick is an active and enthusiastic element in the Republican party here, having filled ably several official positions in its organization. He was a charter member of the local Temple of Honor, and is
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an active and faithful member of the Presbyterian church; assisted in the organiza- tion of the Thirty-second Separate Company, and has served as its lieutenant and otherwise. He is a musician of much ability and a forcible and dramatie public speaker, having been at one time a pupil of Prof. Frank Bradford, the noted elocu- tionist. Ile has served for a term of years as captain of L. E. Worden Division No. 30, 4th Regiment, Uniform Rank, Knights of Pythias, a finely drilled organiza- tion. Mr. Burdick has served for several years as president of the Board of Health and is an active member of the Board of Trade.
Beckett, James A., though born in Ireland in 1854 is of English ancestry, and son of William Beckett, late of Hoosick Falls. They came to America in 1860 when James was but six years of age, yet a storm at sea between Westport and Liverpool is visibly impressed upon his mind. They located at Cohoes, where James was ed- ucated at St. John's school. He came to Hoosick in 1871, beginning work for Mr. Wood in learning the molding trade. Ile became an enthusiast on the subject, and in 1887 was made superintendent of the foundry, where instituted reforms and im- proved methods are due to his genius. Mr. Beckett is a Republican, and was chair- man of the assembly and of the county convention in 1895, and was twiee commis- sioner of police, and conspicuous in local reforms of government. He is a member of St. Mark's Episcopal church and prominent in Masonie circles. He is the author of "One Hundred Years of Free Masonry in Hoosick," issued in 1893 and recognized as a masterly and exhaustive work. In 1876 he married Annie Aeton of Albany.
Johnston, C. A., whose position as postmaster attests the popularity in which he is held, is a son of Alonzo L. Johnston, the well known manufacturer. He assumed control of the post office immediately after his appointment in 1892. Ile was ed- ucated in the high school of Hoosick Falls, where he was born in 1860 and went in- to his father's store at the age of nineteen, where he still remains. He has practi- cally managed the establishment, his father being occupied with other enterprises. Ile is an attendant at the Presbyterian church and a member of the Hoosac Club, was married in 1882 to Mary L., daughter of Henry C. Thayer. Their two children are as follows: Mary T. aged twelve, and Bessie L. aged seven.
Agan, Willard J., an energetic, progressive young man, is the owner of the gen- eral store at Potter Hill which he established in 1880. He is a Republican and acting postmaster since 1881. Ile is also interested in farming, and one of the di- reetors of the Hoosick Fire Insurance Co. In 1882 he married Alice M. Clint of Troy, by whom he has one son, Ralph W., aged eleven years. Both are members of the M. E. church. In 1872 he attended the Hudson Vale Institute, Lansingburgh, N. Y. In the winter of 1874 he attended the Troy Business College, and the following spring accepted a position as clerk with R. T. Broek, druggist and retail grocer, Troy. In the spring of 1877 he enlisted as private in the Troy City Artillery, N. G. S. N. Y .; in July, 1878, was elected corporal and in 1879 was elected sergeant of the company, which office he held until he left the city in the spring of 1880. Ilis father, Richmond Agan, is a farmer in Iloosick, where he was born in 1866. Ilis grandfather, the late James P. Agan, was a farmer and blacksmith in Potter Hill.
Perey, G. N., the well-known horse dealer, has an elegant place in North Hoosick where he breeds and drives his fancy stock, training trotters and pacers and like
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work connected with the business. He was born at White Creek, Washington county, in 1845, of English ancestry, where his father, Benjamin A. Percy, who now resides in Cambridge, was also born. At eleven years of age he came to live with his grand- father and began business life as a farmer. Later he left farming and went to New York city engaging in the ice business where he remained eighteen years. Ile then returned to Hoosick at the present location. He married in 1871 Rebecca Sweet of Walloomsac, daughter of Truman T. Sweet, a retired resident of this place. They have one son, Burton, born in 1877 who has not completed his education.
Tyler, Amos H., was born in Boonville, Oneida county, N. Y., November 12, 1833. He was a son of Amos and Elizabeth Tyler, he born in Woodstock, Vt., and she in Fairfield, Herkimer county, N. Y. The family is of English descent, and his ances- tors came on the Mayflower. Mr. Tyler was reared in Boonville, and attended select schools under Harvey P. Willard and Holland Patent Academy and Watertown Academy. He began teaching school and followed farming until about eighteen years old; he then began as clerk at Forestport, Oneida county, and clerked about three years for Jackson & Blake, formerly of New York city. Ile was afterwards in company with Jackson & Co. ; dissolving partnership, he purchased another store and had a successful business. For about five years he assisted in filling the quotas. He was nearly killed two or three times by men who wished to prevent drafting. He then formed a copartnership with N. B. Foot of Rome, N. Y., and followed the wholesale and retail business at Lyons Falls, Lewis county, N. Y., under the firm name of A. II. Tyler & Co .; he was also postmaster at Lyons Falls. After four years he dissolved partnership and came to Troy, N. Y., and engaged in the shoe business on River street for a few years. He lived in Troy for about three years, then sold out and came to Bath-on-the Hudson, where he engaged in the grocery business for about two years, and was then a traveling salesman for Wolf & Co. of Philadelphia, and has since engaged in real estate business. `Ile married about 1866 Laura E. Ilale, of North Granville, Washington county, N. Y., and has had five children: Arthur (deceased), Mary B., Hattie Blinn, Bessic L. and Edith HI.
Youlen, P. M., dealer in watches, clocks, jewelry, etc., at Hoosick Falls; he has been a citizen of this place only since 1883, but has in those few years gained much personal popularity as well as success in business. He was born in Saxville, Wis., January 6, 1856, the son of Philip E. Youlen, late of Utica. Ilis boyhood years were passed mainly at the farm home at Rupert, Vt., and at Ilion, N. Y. He learned at Utica the technical and mechanical details of the watchmaker's trade, and in 1883 after several years experience engaged in business at the present location on Main street, Mr. Youlen is an expert adjuster of time keepers and makes a specialty of fine and accurate watch work. He married in 1892 Miss Lila M. Wark, of Hoosick Falls. Mr. Youlen is of English and Welsh descent. Mrs. Youlen's father is of Scotch de- scent, though he was born in the North of Ireland ; her mother is of English descent. Mrs. Youlen is one of eleven children. Iler people are all devoted church members, mainly Methodists; she has one brother-Rev. William Orr Wark-who is pastor of the Congregational church at Saratoga. Mr. and Mrs. Youlen belong to the Protest- ant Episcopal church.
Boland, Charles P., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1869. ITis father, Lawrenc
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Boland, was born in Ireland and eame to this eountry when young and settled in Troy; he was later in the coal business under the name of Buckley & Boland ; he has since retired. llis mother, Margaret (Buckley) Boland, was born in Troy, a daughter of Lawrenee Buckley, a prominent mason and builder of that city; he died in 1879. Charles P. Boland received his education in the public schools and was graduated from the La Salle Institute; he learned the mason's trade with Button & Buekley. afterwards Peter H. Buekley, with whom he was associated ten years, after which he formed a partnership with John MeGowan as McGowan & Boland, in the contracting and building busmess Among the buildings they have erected are the eity hall, court house and jail buildings at Cohoes, N. Y .. the Stanton ale brewery, refrigerator and storage building, and many residences in Troy and vicinity. In September, 1896, the firm of McGowan & Boland dissolved and he continued in busi- ness alone. Ile is vice-president of the Master Masons' Association, a member of the Robert Emmett Association, the C. M. B. A, and the C. B. L. He married in November, 1894, Elizabeth M. Ilunt of Syracuse, N. Y .; she is the daughter of Frank Hunt, a prominent contractor of Syracuse. They have one son.
Faulkner, T. H., was born in Johnsonville, N. Y., June 5, 1870. He was a son of Albert and Mary J. (Miller) Faulkner, he a native of Pittstown, N. Y., and she of Pellstown, N. Y. He is a son of Jacob Faulkner, who lived and died in Middletown . The maternal grandfather was Reuben W. Miller, a native of Pittstown, a son of one of the early settlers of the town of Pittstown. Millertown was named in honor of the family. The father of Mr. Faulkner was a butcher by trade and spent his life in Pittstown. Mr. Faulkner died July 24, 1890, and his widow still lives at Miller- town. T. H. was reared on a farm and educated in common schools, and graduated from Troy Business College in 1892, and worked as clerk for John Robinson & Co., wholesale druggists of Troy, for two years, and in 1894 came to Johnsonville and engaged in the mercantile business, where he has been very successful.
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