Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 4

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 4

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REV. JOHN J WALSH.

REV. JOHN J. WALSH was born at Deer Park, County Tipperary, Ireland, March 15, 1847. As a consequence of a famine in Ireland, his parents emigrated to America, and on December 28, 1849, settled at Cohoes, N. Y., where he received his early education from the Sisters of St. Joseph. Ile subsequently attended the Christian Brothers' Academy at Troy, and in September, 1863, entered the Univer- sity of Our Lady of Angels, at Suspension Bridge, N. Y., where he remained until he completed his studies, receiving a first prize in logic, moral philosophy, and met- aphysics. In September, 1866, he entered St. Joseph's Provincial Seminary, Troy, to pursue his ecclesiastical studies for the priesthood, and was ordained by the Rt. Rev. John J. Conroy, then bishop of Albany, N. Y., October 16, 1869, and was as- signed to duty at St. Bernard's church, Cohoes. N. Y.

In 1878 he was selected for the pastorate of the venerable and important church of St. John at Albany, where his work in the development of the parish and the resto- ration of the church was carried on with intelhgent and untiring ardor, and he was equally successful in every department of church work.

In 1882 Father Walsh was promoted to the rectorship of the Cathedral at Albany by the Rt. Rev. Francis MeNeirny. The more elevated dignity of this position brought increased labors which he gladly and successfully performed, continuing his efforts to improve the parish, both in a spiritual and temporal sense. During his incumbency of this important position he acted as secretary to the bishop, chan- cellor, and official prosecutor.

In 1887 he was appointed to the care of St. Peter's church, Troy, where he built a handsome convent, and improved the entire church property, emphasizing his repu- tation as a preacher, and a many-sided scholar, and has been prominent in all public movements for the reformation of the city, and the protection of its good name. He was one of the originators and officials of the Catholic National Union, organized at Newark, N. J., in 1875, and was also active in the establishment of a Catholic Summer School, on the plan of Chautauqua. For six years he was editor of the Troy Catholic Weekly, and is a member of the Troy Scientific Association.

In 1889 he made a tour through the East, and in 1896 through Spain and Southern France. He was one of the lecturers of the first session of the Catholic Summer School at New London, Conn., and was elected corresponding member of the Albany Institute in 1894. Rev. Father Walsh has friends among all classes, and

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while he is a positive churehman, he endeavors to avoid extremes, and socially is respeeted by all persons, regardless of ereed.

His contributions to literature are multiple and replete with original information. Biography, history, architecture, Egyptology, geography, metaphysics, and theol- ogy are some of the topies touched by his versatile pen. His style is pure, clear, and vigorous. Ilis treatment of a subject is strongly suggestive of a mind studious in the extreme and dissatisfied with beaten paths.

REV. HERBERT C. HINDS.

HERBERT CALVIN HINDS, A. M., pastor of the Ninth Presbyterian Church, Troy, N. Y., was born at Lake, now Cossayuna, Washington county, N. Y., June 22, 1857. Ile was the second son of William and Lydia (Somes) Hinds and lived with his pa- rents on a farm till he began his literary course for the gospel ministry, He received his primary education at the public schools in the vicinity of his home, and, at the age of seventeen, entered the State Normal School at Albany, N. Y., graduating from this institution, January 30, 1877, and, having completed the prescribed course of instruction with credit, was selected by the faculty as one of ten to read an essay at the commencement exercises. In September, 1877, he entered the prepara- tory school of Westminster College, located at New Wilmington, Pa., where he continued his studies, taking, or successfully passing an examination in the subjects considered in the Third Preparatory and Freshman years, and, at the end of the college year, was regularly entered as a member of the class of 1881. But feeling that the Eastern college offered advantages and inducementsnot attainable in West- minster, in the fall of 1878 he entered the Boy's Academy at Albany and continued preparations under President Merrill E. Gates for entrance to college, and on Jan- uary 6, 1879, rather unexpectedly entered Union College at Schenectady, N. Y., where he maintained the same high standing in college work which had previously marked his eareer in college preparation, graduating with honors in the class of 1882. As a mark of distinction he was elected a member of the honorary soviety, Phi Beta Kappa by name, and was also selected by the faculty, on account of high standing, to compete on commencement day for the Blatchtord medals. In the contest he re- ceived honorable mention. In September, 1882, he entered Princeton Seminary, Princeton, N. J., for his theological course of instruction and received on the 5th day of May, 1885, his diploma with thirty-seven other young men. During the vacations in the seminary course he preached at Matapedia, Quebec, and Flat Lands, N. B., and, at the latter place, secured the co-operation of the people in the erection of a church building. At both places large accessions were made to the churches and some reforms were instituted which have been of lasting benefit to the communities. Within the month of graduation he had accepted a call to, and was quietly installed in the work of the gospel ministry at Park Place Chapel, under the shadow of "Old Union," and under the auspiees of Rev. T. G. Darling, D. D., and the session of the First Presbyterian Church of Schenectady. And here he labored with much ac- ceptance, thoroughly uniting the people and securing many members for the strug. gling organization, After a trial of ten months, it was decided (after listening to the

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report of Mr. Hinds) that it was not advisable then to organize a third Presbyterian church for the city and the services of a clergyman were dispensed with. During , the following summer Mr. Hinds took an extended tour through Europe and gained much by study that has been valuable to him in the services in which he has since been engaged. In August of this same year he was engaged to assist the Rev. C. II. Baldwin, D. D., of the Second Presbyterian church of Amsterdam, N. Y., and continued in the discharge of the duties which devolved upon him by reason of the illness of the pastor for four months. In December he undertook the formation of another church in the west end of the city, holding Sunday school exercises and conducting evening services in a house generously put at his disposal by Elder David Cady. In February, 1887, the new church was organized with about eighty members and was christened " Emmanuel." Within three months the pastor had seeured the pledges of the friends of the new organization for several thousands of dollars and lots were purchased and a church building was decided upon and the contraets were given for its construction. The work on the structure was not pushed as rapidly as anticipated, and in the fall, it was evident that the edifice would not be ready for occupancy till the following spring or summer. As no other place could be obtained for the services the work was at a stand still and, rot desiring to be a burden upon the society during the building period of its history, Mr. Ilinds in September accepted a unanimous call to the pastorate of the Second Reformed church of Schenectady and was installed as pastor the following month. Here he labored for three and one half years with the same untiring zeal which had characterized his work in other places. As, in every other settlement, the work was crowned with large acces- sions to the church membership, with an improved financial condition and with the erection of an addition to the chapel of the church. In January, 1891, a unanimous call was received from the Ninth Presbyterian church of Troy and was soon after- wards accepted and the labors of the new field were cheerfully assumed in March, the installation taking place on the 18th day of the month. During the five years of the present pastorate, as in the haleyon days under the leadership of Rev. N. B. Remick, D. D., the "Old Ninth " has been steadily marching on and the high stand- ing of church work has been maintained. The membership of the church has steadily increased till at the present the number on her roll is a little less than seven hundred, with a Sunday school membership of more than six hundred. In 1994 the officers of the Sunday school became painfully aware of the fact that the chapel was inadequate for the demands of the school and immediate steps were taken to en- large the capacity of the building. The chapel was accordingly raised five feet and commodious rooms were fitted down stairs for the use of the primary and intermediate departments of the school. The people have had a mind to work and are now act- uated with a disposition to give and soon they will "owe no man anything except love." Mr. Hinds is a man of liberal views, is a member of Apollo Commandery, of the Knights of Pythias, Improved Order of Red Men, and other kindred societies. He has often been sought after for addresses and lectures at the conventions of young people and his voice has often been heard in the advocacy of honor and truth. He is a man of firm convictions and will not allow any designing person to control his actions. Proofs of his ministry are appearing on every hand. Wise in his methods and plans, his place of power is in the pulpit. Clear in thought, logieal in argument, chaste in diction, sympathetic in delivery, his sermons are models of dircetness. In-

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creasing audiences are waiting upon his ministry. Ile believes in doing much good and with as little noise as possible and one of his favorite sayings is, " Kindness makes friends of us all." The keynote of life is

"Try to make others better, Try to make others glad, The world has so much of sorrow, So much thal is hard and bad.

Love yourself last, my brother, Be gentle, and kind, and true, True to yourself and others, As God is true to you."

JAMES THOMPSON.

JAMES THOMPSON was born in Belfast, Ireland, March 12, 1833. His parents were Jolin and Mary Thompson, both natives of Scotland, whence they removed to Bel- fast and in 1868 emigrated to New York city, where they spent the remainder of their lives, and at their deaths were buried in Greenwood Cemetery.

Mr. Thompson was reared in Belfast, where he learned the business of manufactur- ing linen goods. In 1852 he arrived in New York city and until 1859 worked in a cotton factory. At the latter date he engaged in the same business for himself, which he continued in that city until 1872, when he removed to Valley Falls, N. Y., and established the manufacture of cotton and linen goods; in this he has been very successful, his business steadily increasing; he employs about 300 people.

Mr. Thompson is the owner of about 150 acres of land, which is known as the Valley Stock Farm. Here he has made a business of breeding Wilkes trotting horses for the past eight years, having at the present time about 120 head. He is a true lover of fine horses, and has devoted much time, study and money to the im- provement of the particular strain he raises.

In 1854 Mr. Thompson was married to Isabella Curran, a native of Belfast, Ire- land, by whom he had six children, as follows: Mary J., wife of Allen Milks of Val- ley Falls; Hannah, wife of Adam Lohnes of Valley Falls; James, jr., who married Carrie Smodell and lives at Valley Falls; Isabella, wife of Thomas Doran of Valley Falls; Eliza, wife of Francis Stover, deceased; William is at home. Mrs. Thomp- son died in October, 1879, and Mr. Thompson married Lucy E. Larken, by whom he had one son, Leslie.

ROSWELL A. PARMENTER.

HON. ROSWELL A. PARMENTER was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y. He received his education in the publie schools and at the Troy Conference Academy in Poultney, Vt., where he was graduated in January, 1846. He then entered the law office of Willard, Raymond & Woodbury, in the city of Troy, and was admitted to practice in December, 1817. In the following spring he formed a copartnership with Judge Isaac MeConihe, the firm name being MeConthe & Parmenter. He later joined his brother, F. J. Parmenter, in partnership, under the firm name of R. A. & F. J.

ROSWELL A. PARMENTER.

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Parmenter, which relation continued until 1874, sinee which date he has practiced alone.

He was elected State senator in 1873, and served one term of two years, and was a delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1894. He was city attorney of Troy from 1871 to 1885, and subsequently corporation council of same city. In polities Mr. Parmenter has always been a Democrat, and is influential in the ranks of his party. As a lawyer he stands in the front rank among the best in the eity, and is recognized as one of the ablest counselors in this part of the State. He brings to bear on the trial of a eause an aeute and logieal mind, and is thoroughly versed in the principles and precepts of the law and an able exponent of its principles.

Mr, Parmenter was married in April, 1855, to Mary L. Reynolds of Petersburgh. N. Y., by whom he has one daughter, Alice M., his only living child, having lost by death three sons and one daughter.

HENRY GILBERT LUDLOW.

HENRY GILBERT LUDLOW, one of the most noted inventors and manufacturers of Troy, has been conspicuously identified with the best interests of that city for many years. lle was born in Nassau, Rensselaer county, N. Y., March 28, 1823, and is a son of the late Hon. Samuel B. Ludlow of Oswego, N. Y. His father was a noted lawyer in Western New York, and was graduated from Union College in 1809, having entered at the age of fourteen. He studied law in Albany and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1812. He practiced his profession in Nassau, later was the editor and proprietor of The Philadelphian, a religious paper published in Phil- adelphia. He settled in Oswego in 1836 as secretary of the Northwestern Insurance Company ; was presiding judge of the Court of Common Pleas six years from 1811; was one of the founders of the Congregational church in Oswego; was prominent in organizing the Oswego Gas Company, and at his death April 12, 1882, the oldest graduate of Union College.

Henry G. Ludlow is a descendant of an old and honorable English family on his father's side and one of the most noted Scottish families on the maternal side, his mother being Naney Douglas, a descendant of William Douglas, who emigrated from Scotland to New London, Conn. From his paternal ancestor he inherits the business tact and commercial ability for which the best ancient English blood was noted ; while from his mother's family there descended to him the sturdy character- istics of the Scotch which have resulted in his most honorable and eminent business successes. After receiving a preparatory education in the schools of Nassau and Oswego he entered Union College, taking the classical course and gradnating with the class of 1843. Soon afterward he acted upon the advice of a friend of his father, went to Philadelphia and spent some time in one of the gas works in that city, familiarizing himself with that business. After attaining the proficiency sought, he and others were associated erecting gas plants in Hartford, Conn., Pough- keepsie, N. Y., Bridgeport, Conn., Oswego, N. Y., and Burlington, Vt. ; Mr. Lud- low being the engineer. Within a year after Mr. Ludlow embarked in the enterprise the firm of Dungan, Steever & Co. was formed, and appreciating his high ability

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and judgment, made him an equal partner, leaving the construction of the gas plants for which they contracted entirely to him.

After devoting himself to this work for about five years Mr. Ludlow, appreciating the need of sneh a contrivance, set to work to devise a straightway stop valve. In this undertaking he was successful and soon after the completion of his inven- tion patented the same. The main feature of this invention is a sliding gate, with a separate wedge moving up and down on its back, pressing the gate to its seat after the gate had ceased or nearly ceased its closing movement. In open- ing the valve the wedge loosens the gate before it begins to rise, thus avoiding much of the frietion and wear of the faces of the valves and seats. The invention was tested for the first time in the gas works in Poughkeepsie. So well did it oper- ate and so great was the need for it that Mr. Ludlow decided to devote all his time to the manufacture of the new valves, not only for gas works but for regulating the flow of water, steam and oil, and in fire and yard hydrants. Therefore in 1866 he became instrumental in incorporating the Ludlow Valve Manufacturing Company, whichi began operations in a shop on Second street in the village of Waterford, N. Y It was not long before the demand for the valve became quite general, and the busi- ness he founded increased rapidly. In 1872 the works were removed to Nos. 54 to 70 Second avenue, Lansingburgh, N. Y. In 18'6, to such great proportions had the business grown that a more commodious manufactory was found neces- sary, and a part of the plant formerly occupied by the Troy Iron and Steel Company in the southern part of the city of Troy was purchased and remodeled, and the company at once began preparations to remove thereto. Valves of all sizes are now made, from half an inch to five feet in diameter. The company is now said to be the largest manufacturer of these specialties and hydrants in the world, ship- ping its product to nearly every civilized country. Owing to failing health Mr. Lud- low withdrew from active business in 1893, but still retains an interest in the com- pany.

Though Mr. Ludlow has always been closely identified with the welfare of the commumty in which he resides and has ever shown an interest in the cause of good government, he has never sought nor held any political office. His generosity alone has been sufficient to cause his name to live forever in the history of Troy. The cause of education and numerous charitable institutions have been beneficiaries at lus hands, and in this noble work his wife has ever stood at his side. He is an elder in the Second Street Presbyterian church of Troy, a governor of the Marshall In- firmary, a trustee of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the Troy Orphan Asylum and the Emma Willard Seminary. lle has also given frequent substantial evidences of his generosity toward other institutions of Troy.

Mr. Ludlow is a gentleman of spotless character, honorable in every transaction, staunch to his friends and unflinching in his devotion to all that is good in life. Though of a retiring disposition he never loses an opportunity to make lumself use- ful to his fellowmen. His whole life has been one of exceptional purity, free from the slightest taint of dishonor in any of his transactions. As a companion and friend his influence is helpful and elevating, and his conversation never fails to impress one with the cultivation of his mind as well as the purity of his character. To Mr. Ludlow and his wife, Harriet M., daughter of Ira Shattuck of Burlington, Vt , has

R. B. BONTECOU, M. D.

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been born one son, Henry Shattuck Ludlow, who graduated from Williams College in 1895 and is now one of the proprietors and an editor of the Troy Record.

REED B. BONTECOU, M. D.

REED BROCKWAY BONTECOU, Troy, N. Y., born April 22, 1824, in that city, is the son of Peter and Semantha (Brockway) Bontecou, of Huguenot and Scotch descent, respectively, and grandson of David Bontecou. He was educated at the Troy High school and academy, at Poultney academy, Vt., and at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, from which he received the degree of B. N. S., in 1842; commenced the study of medicine in 1842, under Drs. A. G. Skilton, Thomas C. Brinsmade and John Wright, of Troy; attended lectures at the Medical Department of the Univer- sity of the City of New York, 1844-45, and at Castleton Medical College, Castleton, Vt., graduating M. D. from the latter institution in May, 1847, when he at once en- tered into practice with his preceptor, Thomas C. Brinsmade, at Troy, N. Y. In 1846 he made a voyage up the Amazon River, South America, passing the entire year exploring that region in the interests of natural science. IIe served through the cholera epidemic of 1848 at Troy, N. Y., andagain, in 1858, at Troy, N. Y., when he used tranfusions on numerous hospital cases of the disease, being at that time surgeon to the Troy Hospital.

Dr. Bontecou was commissioned surgeon of the 24th N. Y. S. militia, in 1849; en- tered the Federal service as surgeon of the 2d New York Volunteer Infantry, April, 1861, to September of the same year; was commissioned brigade surgeon and sur- geon of volunteers, September, 1861, to June, 1866, when he was mustered out of the service. Dr. Bontecou was present at the battle of Big Bethel, Va., June 10, 1861, and at the fight between the Monitor and Merrimac; and at the capture of Yorktown, Va. ; was in charge of the Hygeia United States Army General Hospital, Fortress Monroe, Va., from September, 1861, until its destruction in September, 1862, when he was ordered to the Army of the Potomac, for duty in the surgeon-general's office. He was soon ordered to the Department of the South during the yellow fever, and was in attendance on General Mitchel, who died of that disease there, and was placed in charge of one of the hospitals at Beaufort, S. C., and was subsequently appointed chief medical officer of all the hospitals there. Ile was with Medical Director Charles II. Crane in the iron-clad attack on Fort Sumter, and was soon after placed in charge of the hospital steamer, Cosmopolitan, lying off Charleston, during the siege of that city, and collected the sick and wounded from all points below on the Atlantic coast, transferring them to Hilton Head, Beaufort, and New York city. Early in October, 1863, he was ordered to Washington, D. C., to take charge of tlie Harewood United States Army General Hospital, and was on duty there until its discontinuance in May, 1866; after that being employed on various boards of inves- tigation until he was mustered out in June, 1866. Dr. Bontecou was brevetted lieu- tenant colonel and colonel of volunteers, March 13, 1865, for faithful and meritorious services during the war.

At the close of the war Dr. Bontecou returned to the private practice of medicine at Troy, N. Y. He is a member of the Medical Society of the County of Rensselaer,

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president in 1891, and again in 1892; a member of the Medical Society of the State of New York; of the New York State Medical Association; of the American Medical Association; of the American Surgical Association; was one of the council of the seetion on military and naval surgery and medicine of the 9th International Medical Congress at Washington, D. C., 1887; was a delegate to the 10th International Med- ical Congress, Berlin, 1890, and while abroad, in 1891, and in 1892, made a tonr of the principal hospitals of England and the Continent. He is surgeon to Marshall In- firmary, Troy, since 1880, and attending surgeon to the Watervliet Arsenal, Troy, since 1870.

In surgical work his more notable cases are: "Ligature of the Right Sub-Clavian Artery for Traumatic Aneurism," "Operation for the Radical Cure of Umbilical Her- nia," "Ligature of the Right lliac Artery for Aneurismi," " Ovariotomy and Hys- terectomy," "Lithotomy," "Tracheotomy," "Strangulated Hernia," " Operations for Diseases of the Appendix Vermiformis," "Inverted Uteri, Reduced by an Improved Method," and most of the operations in military surgery. He originated and practiced the application of photography to military surgical history; was one of the largest contributors to the "Surgical History of the War," and to the Army Medical Museum. The Transactions of the American Medical Association, 1876, gives a résumé of the operations on the larger joints, frequently referring to Dr. Bontecou as an operator. He originated a modification of Pirigoff's operation for the amputation for the foot; an instrument to reposit inverted uterus; a provisional wound dressing for military service, to be carried in the soldier's pocket, etc. For many years he has been president of examining board of surgeons for pensions at Troy.

Married in 1849, Miss Susan Northrup, of New Haven, Conn. Of their children, Josephine is the wife of J. Lincoln Steffens of New York city; Reed Brinsmade, M. D. (College of Physicians and Surgeons in the City of New York, 1889), is in partnership with his father, Troy, N. Y. ; Louise died at the age of twenty one years; Anna Louise and Horatio Brinsmade died in infancy.

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 4

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