Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 41

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 41

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in a vessel of which he was part owner until 1853. On his return he studied medi- cine and graduated from the medical department of Columbia College in 1854. He then began the practice of medicine in Troy, N. Y., where he is now located. He belongs to the County and the State Homeopathie Societies and the American Insti- tute of Homeopathy. In 1863 he married Catherine Van Schaick of Troy; she died in 1893. He has two sons and one daughter: Frederick S., also a physician of Troy ; Richard P., resident engineer of Duncan Pulp and Paper Works, at Mechanieville; Gratia L., married Frank Harrison of Toledo, Ohio.

Chase, Philander, was born in Chesterfield, N. IL., in 1814. He is the son of Charles and Thirza E. Symonds Chase, formerly of Chesterfield, but now living in Keene, N. II. Philander received his education in the public schools of New Hamp- shire, where he worked until he was twenty-two years old when he came to Troy in 1866 and entered the employ of the Street Railroad Co., where he remained until 1877 when he went to work for J. B. Anthony & Co. and for their successors in the roasting business and bought out the business and has since been sole owner and proprietor. He belongs to Clinton Lodge F. &. A. M. He was married in 1868, to Miss Mary Herbert of Troy, by whom he has seven daughters and one son.

Davitt, Alfred HI., was born in Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, N. Y., in 1850. Ile is the son of George W. and Catherine (Stowell) Davitt. Ilis father died in 1888. Alfred received an academic education in the Lansingburgh Academy and came to Troy and formed a co partnership with William Place in the grocery business, the firm name being Davitt & Place; two years later he bought out Mr. Place and con- dueted the business himself. He was in the grocery business for twenty-two years. In 1899 with Thomas HI. Dwyer he opened a carriage repository at No. 1500 Sixth avenne, the firm being Dwyer & Davitt; they have also a large storehouse. He ran for supervisor in 1893 but was defeated by twelve majority. He married, January, 1875, Frankie Horton of East Poestenkill.

Dutcher, T. Henry, was born in Troy, N. Y., September 28, 1844. His father, Jacob M. Duteher, was born in Hadley, Saratoga county, N. Y., June 24, 1818, and died in Poestenkill, February 22, 1890. His mother, Phoebe A. (Morrison) Dutcher, was born in Sand Lake. T. Henty left school and entered the grocery store of his uncle in Troy and later was appointed mail clerk by Postmaster Clowes, which position he resigned to enter the mercantile business with his father under the firm name of J. M. Dutelier & Son, in the manufacture of tin, sheet iron, etc., at 118 Congress street ; they were burned out in 1881, then started business at 96 Congress street, adding to their regular business hardware and fishing tackle. He has represented the Second ward in the Board of Supervisors and had the honor of introducing the resolution to build the new court house which is now in course of construction. November 15, 1869, he married Lydia A. Northrup, by whom he has one son and one daughter.

Dickson, Thomas G., M. D., was born in Troy, N. Y., October 2, 1868. His father, Thomas Dickson, was a member of the Legislature in 1887 and 1888, and was county treasurer from 1889 to 1891. His mother was Sarah (Purdy) Diekson. Thomas G. attended the public and high schools of Troy and entered the University of Pennsyl- vania in 1888 and was graduated from that institution May 1, 1891. After associating with Dr. Harvie in practice for a short time he opened an office on Fifth avenue for

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the practice of medicine, where he is at present located. He is assistant surgeon at the Troy Hospital; a member of the State Medical Association, the Rensselaer County Medical Society and secretary of the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity.

Dickinson, Melville Day, M. D., was born in Seward, Schoharie county, N. Y .. March 24, 1868. His early ancestors came from England in 1660; he is the son of Dr. Charles Dickinson, a physician of Seward, N. Y. ; his mother was Celia (France) Dickinson. who died in 1877. Melville Diekinson was graduated from the Cobles- kill High School, and after taking a two years' preparatory course at Cornell Uni- versity he entered the Albany Medical College, from which he was graduated in 1890. He studied with Dr. Van Devere of Albany, during which time he was house physician for St. Peter's Hospital. In the fall of 1890 he came to Troy. He belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society, which he served as secretary, and to the New York State Medical Association; also is a member of the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity, and a member of the New York State Medical Society: he is assistant surgeon with the rank of first lieutenant to the 12th Separate Co., N. Y. N. G. ; he is assistant surgeon of the Troy Hospital, attending physician of St. Vin- cent's Female Orphan Asylum, and has been city physician of Troy for four years. He married Miss Emma G. Cole of Brunswick, N. Y., in 1889; they have one daugh- ter, Celia.

Geer, William Clarke, was born in Orange, N. J., September 29, 1859. Ilis father, George S. Geer, was born in Troy. Through the influence of John A. Griswold he secured an appointment on the Monitor and remained with that vessel until she was lost off Cape Hatteras. Ile was in the United States navy until the close of the war, when he was engaged as engineer on a steamship running between New York and Brazil, and came to Troy in 1870 and was for some time engaged in the paving and stone business. Ile was a charity commissioner two terms and was a member of Post Griswold, G. A. R., and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1893, he had charge of the Bradley Fertilizer Works at Charleston, S. C., at which place he died. Ilis mother was Martha Clarke (Hamilton) Geer of New York city: she came from an old Quaker family; she now resides in Troy. William received his education in the public and high schools of Troy and entered the real estate and insurance office of Gilbert Geer, jr., as clerk. In 1880 he was admitted to the busi- ness, the firm taking the name of Gilbert, Geer, jr., & Co., which is the oldest m- surance firm in Troy. Ile is secretary and treasurer of the Wynantskill Knitting Mill, vice-president of the Harvester Fertilizer Company, director in the Boutwell Milling and Gram Company, trustee and secretary of the First Baptist church and has been civil service examiner for a number of years. Ile married Kate Ever- ingham, daughter of Richard Everingham, who was for some years connected with the Burden Iron Company store. Ile has one daughter.

Hutchison, James C., M. D., was born January 18, 1846, in Halifax, England. Ilis parents were Scotch and came to this country when he was seven months old. Ilis father, James Hutchison, was a designer of earpets and oil cloths and made the first designs for tapestry carpets that were made in this country. He died August 25, 1893. James C. received his preliminary education in the Lansingburgh Academy,

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Mount Pleasant Academy in Sing Sing, and the Troy Academy. He graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York eity March 8, 1866. After attending lectures with the class of 1861, P. and S., he came to Troy and entered the Marshall Infirmary as medical assistant, where he remained until 1865. After taking his degree he praetieed for a few months in Newark, N. J., then came back to the Marshall Infirmary as assistant physician; two years later he opened an office on Ida Hill, and in May, 1875, removed to the eorner of Third and Ferry streets; he remained there until 1891 when he moved to his present quarters on Fourth street. Ile was one of the attending physicians at the Troy Hospital for fourteen years, and is now one of the consulting physicians. He is a member of the New York State Medical Society and also of the Rensselaer Connty Medieal Society, of which he has been secretary, vice-president and president; lie was eity physician in 1874 and 1875; he took charge of the small pox hospital during the epidemic of 1881. He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge No. 91, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48, Bloss Council, R. & S. M., Apollo Commandery and the Albany Sovereign Con- sistory. He married Alice Miller of Troy in 1869, and has two daughters, Sarah Louise and Jane Carmichael Eddy of Rockford, Ills. He attends the Fifth Avenue Baptist eliureh.

Hannon, Edward, was born in Albany eounty in 1842 and eame to Troy in 1847 ; he re- eeived his education in the public schools and the La Salle Institute and for many years was a prominent contractor and builder of Troy. He represented the Eleventh ward in the Board of Aldermen from 1870 to 1877 inclusive, and during that time was president of the board one year, and was police commissioner for twelve or fourteen years; he was one of the commissioners appointed to construct the City Hall in 1875 and 1876; in 1889 he was appointed by Governor Hill as superintendent of public works, which office he held until January, 1892, and was reappointed by Governor Flower and served until the middle of January, 1895, sinee which date he has resumed his former business as builder and carpenter, which he is carrying on with his old time vigor. He married Ellen Ilalpin of Troy in 1872. Ilis children are Charles, Edward, Frank and Ellen.

Howes, W. J., was born in Peru, N. Y., in 1819, and was reared in Chelsea, Vt., until sixteen years of age when, in 1886, he moved to Troy, N. Y. He worked on a farm for two years, then went to Boston and learned the trade of carpenter and brikler; he then returned to Troy and entered the employ of Hezekiah Thayer, one of Troy's most competent builders, and after four years he commenced business for himself with varied success until 1878, when he entered the wholesale and retail lum- ber trade; he retired from business in November, 1883. In the great fire of 1862 Mr. Howes lost $12,000. Some of the finest buildings in Troy were erected under his plans and direct supervision. Mr. Howes has a beautiful farm in Castleton, Vt., where he spends most of the summer months and where he is a very successful breeder of horses. In 1842 Mr. Howes married Miss Eliza Bartlett of Stillwater, who died in ISIB, and in 1845 he married Miss Flora Mackie. During their married life they adopted and reared four children, only one of whom is now living. He and his wife are members of the Second Presbyterian church.

Horton, Mahlon F., was born in Sand Lake, N. Y., in 1846. ITis father, James

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Horton, was a carpenter of Sand Lake, and died in 1878. His mother, Lany (Feathers) Ilorton, died in 1854. Ile was educated in Sand Lake and in 1866 went to New York and for three years was in the employ of the Knickerbocker Ice Co. ; he came to Troy in 1869 and became connected with the firm of B. Cooper & Co., wholesale and retail ice dealers, and is still a member of that concern. In 1868 he was married to Cornelia Cooper, who died in 1889; his second wife was Alice Brade of Troy, to whom he was married in 1883 and who died in 1894. Ile had four chil- dren: Meritt D., Allie, Lucy and Clarence.

Kennedy, John II., was born in Ireland, June 26, 1850, and came with his parents to this country when very young. He received a public school education and went to Boston, Mass., in 1866 and entered the firm of Stephen, Smith & Co. as an appren- tice in the manufacturing of furniture and was later in the employ of Edward Hixon of Cambridgeport, Mass. He came to Troy in 1871 and worked for Robert Green three years and then returned to Boston and two years later came back to Troy and was in the employ of Green & Waterman five years, and with three of his fellow workmen started in the furniture and upholstery business, but in 1889 he became sole proprietor of the business, which is located at 55 Congress street, where he does all kinds of custom work in the furniture line, also does hard wood finishing, uphol- stering, etc. lle was a member of the Robert Ennnett Association and is senior vice-chancellor of the C. B. L. Ile married in 1876 Katie llart of Troy, N. Y., by whom he has two children, Mary and John.

Mattocks, James E., M. D., was born in New York city, May 29, 1823. His father, John S. Mattocks, was born in Sing Sing in 1997 and was a practicing physician in New York city and Troy, and died in 1878. His mother, Clarissa (Palmer) Mattocks, died July 20, 1873. James E. received a common school education and entered the Metropolitan Medical College in New York city, graduating in 1853. In 1862 he entered the army as a contract physician and after the war was over he came to Plattsburgh, Clinton county, where he practiced medicine until 1870, then removed to Sing Sing where he remained until 1876, when he came to Troy and has been in active practice since in that city, Ile is a member of the State Medical Society, be- longed to the Seventh New York Regiment, and is an exempt fireman of Troy; for a number of years he served as police surgeon. He married Anna M. Thompson of Troy 1 1818, and has one daughter living, Josie Palmer, and lost one daughter, Emma A .. and a son, George A. The family belong to the Episcopal church.

Murray, John A., was born in Troy, October 25, 1863. His father was John Murray, born in Brandon, Vt. ; he came to Troy in 1839, and was for many years in the hotel business; he died May 1, 1889. His mother was Sabina (Fitzpatrick) Murray, born in Ballinrobe, Ireland, and came to this country with her parents when quite young ; she died November 29, 1893. John A. entered the Brothers' School of West Troy, then attended the public schools of Troy, and in 1878 entered Troy Business College. He was in the employ of W. HI. Frear for six years. The follow- ing eight years he managed the upholstery department of the A. M. Church Co., and for the past four years has had a large furniture store on River street. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Mcdonough of Richmond, Va., in 1887. He has two daughters and one son.

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Prendergast, Felix R,, of Prendergast Bros., was born in South Derset, Vt., Feb- ruary 5, 1865. Ile is the son of Patrick Prendergast who came to this country from Ireland in 1846 and settled in West Granville, N. Y .; later he moved to Dorset, Vt., where for twenty years he was foreman in a stone quarry and monumental works, and later removed to Schaghticoke where he was engaged in business in monumental work, and came to Troy in (883. His mother is Mary Ann (McConnell) Prendergast ; her parents came from Ireland nearly one hundred years ago. Felix R. Prendergast attended the public schools of Schaghticoke, and there with his brother, P. J. Pren- dergast, took charge of the monumental works when their father retired at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Rensselaer streets. Patrick J. belongs to the A. O. IL .. and has five sisters living.

Walz, Rev. Adolph F., was born in Dauphin county, Pa., in 1862. His father, the Rev. Frederick Walz, was born in Baden, Germany, where he received his ed- ucation and came to this country and settled in Wilmington, Del., where he had charge of the German Lutheran church, and later had charges in Dauphin county and from there to Sellersville, Pa. ; for a number of years he was on the editorial staff of the Ilerold and Zeitschrift, a paper printed in Allentown, Pa. Ilis mother, Charlotta (Stimmler) Walz, was born in Wuerttemberg, Germany. Rev. Adolph received his education in the grammar schools of Sellersville and graduated from the college in Elmhurst, Ill. in 1882, and also graduated from the Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1885. He then took charge of a church in Schlichters, Pa., one year and came to Troy in September, 1886, and took charge of Trinity Lutheran church where he has since been located. He has been very successful in the work he is engaged in. He organized a mission in Cohoes in 1889 which is now self sup- porting. Ile is a member of the New York Ministerium and also a member of the State Luther League. In May, 1888, he married Katharine Bissikummer of Albany, and they have one son, Matthias F. Rev. Mr. Walz resides at his home at No. 3. West Sunnyside.

Whitman, William W., was born in Chester, Mass., in 1820. Ilis father, Asa B. Whitman, was a native of Massachusetts, and was in the mercantile and manufac- turing business in Chester and Westfield, Mass .. for many years, and also represented West Springfield and Westfield districts in the Massachusetts Legislature; he was in the war of 1812; his wife, Annis K. Clark, was also a native of Massachusetts and died in 1882 at the age of eighty-three years. Wilham W. Whitman was educated in the public schools and entered Brown University, at Providence, R. L., and was admitted to practice law in Massachusetts in 1846. He practiced until 1849, when he came to Troy and became the proprietor of the Troy Budget, which he sold to Col. MacArthur in 1853. Ile was appointed postmaster of Troy in 1852 and held that of- fice until 1858. Ile then entered the mercantile and manufacturing business, the firm being Whitman & Vosburgh; this partnership was continued until 1862 when Mr. Vosburgh retired. In 1876 the establishment was burned out, and Mr. Whitman has since retired from active business life. In 1846 he married Caroline Perkins of Poughkeepsie, N. Y. ; she died in April, 1868; they had three children: Mrs. Ida N. Marvin of Germantown, Pa. ; Frank P., a professor in Adelbert College, of Cleve- land, O .; and Marie Antoinette, a graduate of Vassar and now a missionary in Japan. Ilis present wife was Mrs. Annie J. Carleton of Waterville, Me., whom he married in 1873; they have one daughter, Helen L., now attending Vassar,

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Goldthwait, B. L., M. D., is a native of the city of Troy, where he was born in 1865, son of Abel G. Goldthwait, the well known mechanical engineer. His medical research began with Dr. Carpenter and afterwards in the office of Dr. J. W. Morse, matriculating in 1885 at Albany Medical College. He first practiced at Rensselaer- ville, and only recently opened an office at Eagle Bridge.

Sherman, Wesley E., born in Pittstown on the Sherman homestead January 21. 1857, is a son of Platt and Phebe (Francisco) Sherman, he also born on the farm of Wesley E., and she in Western New York. The grandfather, Stephen Sherman, came from Dutchess county at an early day, settling on the farm now owned by W. E. Sherman; he married Ruth Sisson. Platt Sherman was reared on the farm and with the exception of about three years, spent his life on the homestead. Mr. Sher- man was born April 11, 1814, and died July 15, 1882. Mrs. Sherman was born Feb- ruary 17, 1820, died February 8, 1892. W. E. Sherman was reared on the farm and has always resided on the homestead which he now owns; he has 194 acres of land. He is at present a road commissioner and a member of P. of HI. January 2, 1879, Mr. Sherman married Ella M., daughter of Stephen and Caroline (Lamb) Pierce, he a native of Hoosick and she of Pittstown; Mr. Pierce was a farmer. Mrs. Pierce resides with Mr. Sherman. To Mr. and Mrs. Sherman were born two children : Everett Eugene, and Emily Frances.

McCarthy, Charles A., the well known lawyer and justice of Hoosick Falls, was born at North Adams, Mass., November 28, 1860. When he was nine years of age his parents moved to Mexico, N. Y., thereby giving him the advantage of an educa- tion at the famous old academy at that place, from which he graduated June 16, 1881. He first studied law with George B. French of Mexico and also spent three years as a clerk in the Second National Bank under Mr. French. Mr. MeCarthy was admitted to the bar at Syracuse, November 13, 1885, and first practiced at Hoosick Falls the following year and has continued since. He has during that brief period of residence made himself a potent factor in business and political life, serving as police justice, from March 17, 1891, to March 17, 1894. He is one of the local man- agers of the A. O. H.

Leonard, Edgar, the manager of the Leonard's Express business of Hoosick Falls, is a son of Edmund N. Leonard, who was also manager of express here, which he established in 1852. The latter was born in 1814 at Pownal, Vt., and when he first located here in 1840 was engaged in manufacturing. He was an influential man of the town and enjoyed the respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and his death in 1889 was mourned by the whole community. Edgar Leonard was edu- cated in the public schools of his native place and, after clerking for Wallace, Jones & Ely from April 1, 1865, to April 1, 1871, entered partnership with his father in 1871, who then retired from active life, and has had sole control of the business since that time. He is now agent for the National Express Co. separate from his own private express business, and is also connected with a new clothing industry here. He is a Republican and has offieiated as president of the village and member of the Board of Trade, and is a director in the Building and Loan Association. He was born in 1846 and married in 1869 Mary E. Jones of New York city. They have two children: Walter A., a student of Colgate University; and Norma, wife of George E. Bartlett, of Bristol, Vt.

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Gardner, James J., was born in Petersburg in 1836, and moved with his parents to Iloosick when three years of age, where he has since lived. Ile owns a farm of 300 acres and devotes himself mainly to the raising of sheep, dairying, and cultiva- tion of the grasses. Ile is the son of Varnum W. Gardner and Eliza Steenbergh. Ihis father's ancestry dates back to an old Rhode Island family, and his mother's to the first settlers of the Mohawk valley. His family have ever been noted for their industry and longevity. Ilis great-grandparents, his parents, four uneles and aunts, of which two are still living, lived to an average of nearly eighty-five years, there being ten in number, The aggregate ages is nearly 850 years.

Cottrell, jr., Jonathan, one of the most worthy farmers and estimable men of West Hoosick, was born in 1843. Ilis father, Jonathan Cottrell, also a native here and lifelong resident, died when Jonathan, jr., was but a boy. He is a descendant of an old Rhode Island family ; his grandfather, Sanmel Cottrell, wasone of the first settlers here. lle has always been engaged in farming and once operated 400 acres. In polities he is a Democrat. Ile married in 1866 Mary, daughter of James Pine, one of the oldest local families.

Seriven, Clinton W., was born in the town of Grafton, N. Y., July 16, 1890, is a son of John 11. and Pamelia J. (Ives) Seriven, his father having been born in the same town, September 13, 1840, and his mother in the town of Poestenkill, N. Y., July 15, 1843. Ile was reared in the town of his nativity and educated in the publie schools and the Troy Business College. For the past eight years he has been bookkeeper of the J. A. Scriven Company's Shirt Factory of Grafton. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and was elected justice of the peace in the spring of 1894. lle has for several years been a member of the Rensselaer County Republican Committee, and was a delegate to the State Conventions of 1893, 1895 and 1896. Mr. Seriven is leader of the Grafton Centre Cornet Band, and a writer and publisher of band music. Num- bered among his compositions are the " Town Talk Polka," "Argo Schottische," and overture "Grand Central." His father, John II. Scriven, was at one time a merchant and a manufacturer of shirts. He was a Republican and was postmaster of Grafton for eight years. Ile was in partnership with his brother, J. A. Seriven of New York city, at the time of his death, Angust 19. 1886. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch was Caleb W. Scriven, who was born in Grafton April 5, 1805, and he was a son of James Seriven, also born in the same town. His wife was Merey Seriven, who was born in Grafton September 2, 181, she being a daughter of John Seriven, who was also born in Grafton. As a result of this mion thirteen children were born, eleven of whom grew to maturity. He spent most of his life in Grafton, where he was a hotel keeper, merchant, and engaged in the manufacture of shirts. Ile brought the first sewing machine into Grafton. lle was supervisor of the town three years, which office he held at the time of his death, which occurred July 27, 1868. llis widow is living and quite hearty and strong as the ripe old age of eighty- five years.

West, Daniel M., was born May 3, 1851 ; he was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools, and is a farmer by occupation and owns fifty-three acres of land; he is a Republican in politics. He was married September 16, 1874, to Cela Ilakes of Grafton, by whom have been born six children: Alta, Edna, Cora, Arba,

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 41

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