USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3 > Part 47
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Teson, Charles, the subject of this sketch, was born in Troy, November 18, 1830. For several years he was in the employ of the New York and Troy steamboat Co. as stewards. Was later steward of the Steamboat Empire of Troy which was wrecked on the morning of July 16, 1853, a few miles south of Poughkeepsie, by which dis- aster several lives were lost. Since that time and for nearly eight years he was in charge of the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad bridge as collector of tolls. Mr. Teson was initiated in Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., May 27, 1852 and since that time has received all the grades in Masonry, up to and including the 32d degree. lle was a chatter member of Bloss Counted No. 11, R. & S. M., and principal conductor of the works from 1859 to and including 1862 and was elected thrice illustrious master December 18, 1863. Was appointed district deputy for the then oth Masonic Dis- triet for the year 1860. Mr. Teson was worshipful master of Apollo Lodge No. 13, during the years 1859 and 1860, was appointed tiler for the Masonic bodies of Troy, June 6, 1865, which office he has held for the past thirty-one years, and still occupies that position, and is the oldest living past master in Troy. In 1850 he married Amelia Brightman, of Poultney, Vt. She died June 27, 1871. June 8, 1880, he was again married to Mrs. Anna M. Freeman. He has one son by his first wife. .
Hansen, Nicholas, born in the Province of Rhine, Prussia, January 4, 1824, is the son of Mathew and Catherine Hansen, natives of Prussia. Nicholas came to this country about 1854 and for fifteen years was a farm laborer, after which he took up land for himself. January 21, 1856, he married Margaret (died May 28, 1893), daughter of William Zenner, and has three children, Herbert A., John, Philip and
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one deceased, Nicholas, died October 26, 1873. Nicholas is public spirited. He is interested in school, churches, and all affairs of his town and county. He is a self- made man. He commenced with nothing and now has one of the finest farms in the country. His son, Herbert A., lives with his father and takes a great interest in all publie spirited enterprises and affairs of the town and county. Nicholas served five years in the Prusian army. He enlisted in 1846, and was in the Prussian Baden war, and has his honorable discharge.
Allen, Isaac A., is of English descent, and was born in Westford, Otsego county, N. Y., April 27, 1843. Two years later his parents removed to New York where the family resided until the death of his father, William Allen, in 1850. Mrs. Allen, the mother, with her children then removed to Cherry Valley, N. Y. Mr. Allen received his education primarily in the ward schools of New York and later in the old Cherry Valley Academy, a noted institution of learning at that time In 1865 Mr. Allen in company with a brother, James W. Allen, came to Iloosick Falls, and became asso- ciated with the Walter A. Wood M. & R. M. Co. He was foreman of the painting and packing department for a period of seven years. Later he traveled in the inter- est of the company in Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois and Penn- sylvania until 1878 when he was recalled to take the position of yard foreman. In 1882 Mr. Allen became one of the firm of Parsons, Redmond & Allen, but with- drew from that firm in 1884; since that time he has been identified with the extra department of the Wood Co. In 1869 Mr. Allen was married to Mary Fay Hinsdill of Bennington, Vt., who was a sister of Mrs. J. Russell Parsons. The death of Mrs. Allen occurred in 1884. Two sons, Russell J. Allen and Harry Fay Allen, also a daughter, Caroline A. Allen, survive her. Mr. Allen has always been one of the most active members of St. Mark's Episcopal church. He became a communicant of Grace church, Cherry Valley, under Rev. Dr. Nicholls at the age of sixteen and was elected a vestryman of that parish before twenty years old. He has been a vestry- man of St. Mark's parish for more than a quarter of a century, and for many years as at present the clerk of the vestry. Ile is also prominent in Masonic eireles and well known throughout the State as an enthusiastic member of the order. He has served two terms as master of Van Rensselaer Lodge No. 400; also four terms as high priest of Raymond Chapter, No. 248, Royal Arch Masons, and is a member of and secretary of the Masonic Veteran Association of Hoosick Falls and vicinity. In 1885 Mr. Allen was appointed district deputy grand master for the 12th Masonic Dis- tuict, comprising the counties of Rensselaer, Albany, Schenectady and Columbia- the largest district in the State. This position was held by him during four succes- sive terms. In politics Mr. Allen has always been a staunch, uncompromising Dem- ocrat. He was elected unanimously in 1879 to the office of village president and has been appointed to other positions of trust.
Jordon, William, was born in Westphalia, Germany, September 5, 1845, son of Joseph and Sophia Jordan. He was educated in their schools, and afterwards learned the trade of brushinaker. In 1865 he came to the United States and located in Lan- singburgh, N. Y., where he plies his vocation. April 4, 1868, he married Caroline Bebernitz, of this place, formerly of Germany, by whom he had seven children, four of whom are now living: Fred, Frank G., Harry J. and Eugene. Mr. Jordon is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., in which he has held the position of
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secretary for twenty years. He is also a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R A. M., and has been its secretary fifteen years; of Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T. He has served as trustee of the village in the First ward from 1886 to 1888. The ancestry of the family is German on both sides.
Downey, William, was born in Cropseyville, town of Brunswick, February 29, 1852. He is the youngest of two sons and two daughters, born to Samuel and Car- oline (Honsinger) Downey. The father was a laborer and died when William was an infant. The mother was born, lived and died in Cropseyville. Her death oc- curred in about 1860. Mr. Downey at eight years of age began life's battles for him- self, first doing chores and anything he could to gain a meal or a night's lodging, going from one house to another. He was later employed by his unele in Pittstown who was a farmer, hotel keeper and butcher. With his uncle he remained for eighteen years, managing all his uncle's out of door work, buying all the cattle and butchering them and attending to the hotel business during his uncle's absence. In 1887 he engaged in the hotel business at Clum's Corners in his native town on his own account ; there he remained seven years, when he removed to North Adams, Mass., but remained there but one month, when he returned to Brunswick and con- dueted a hotel in Rock Hollow two years. In March, 1887, he removed to Poesten- kill where he purchased his present hotel property. Since his residence here Mr. Downey has remodeled his hotel, added to the hotel building and made many essen- tial improvements, making his house and barns highly suitable to all the require- ments of a country village hotel. He served his town as tax collecter, and is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows, Poestenkill Lodge No. 704, having been transferred from the Mechanicville Lodge of which he had been a member for over ten years. In 1874 he married Hattie A. Newcomb of Pittstown, daughter of William and Betsey A. (Chase) Newcomb. They have four children: Carrie, wife of Edgar Wager of Poestenkill; Foneta, Ermah, and Alta.
Cottrell, George N., was born in the town of Poestenkill on the farm he now owns, March 9, 1856. Major George, the father, was also born on this farm, May 6, 1812. and spent his whole life time on the homestead, which was left to him by the will of his father. Ile was a lumber manufacturer and farmer all his lifetime. He tilled the office of justice of the peace for several years, overseer of the poor, commissioner of highways, and was assessor for about twenty years, and was also major of the State militia. His wife was Bridget Sheary, who was a native of Ireland. Their children are Mary A., George N., James B , Mrs. Sarah M. Feathers, Mrs. Louise C. French, John W. and Calvin E. He died in January, 1891, and his wife died in August, 1893. Mr. Cottrell has spent his life on the homestead, dairying being his chief occupation, and is a thorough and practical farmer. He was collector for two terms, and was elected and served two terms on the Board of Supervisors. In 1892 he married Lulu Barber, a daughter of Charles Barber of Poestenkill.
Fairweather, Alexander, was born in Schaghticoke, January 27, 1844. He is the son of David Fairweather, who was born in Scotland and came to the United States in 1824, settled in Sehaghticoke and later moved to West Milton, Saratoga county, N. Y., where he settled on a farm and died in 1881. His mother, Sarah Gilchrist, was also born in Scotland and died in 1878. Alexander receiving a district school
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and academie education, accepted a clerkship in Ballston, N. Y., where he remained eight years and came to Troy for two years and then returned to Ballston. Later he came again to Troy and was a salesman for P. M. Marston in a store where the State Street M E. church now stands. Then for three years he conducted a retail grocery business on River street, under the firm name of Fairweather & Williams; selling this business to M. II. Williams, Mr. Fairweather went into the wholesale commission and grocery business at 380 River street. In 1876 he sold out the busi- ness and took a position as traveling salesman with Grace, Page & Co .. and three years later acted in the same capacity with Wing Brothers & Hart of Albany, N. Y., and was with that concern twelve years, and since January 1, 1895, has been traveling for a New York house. Hle is a trustee of the Universalist church and has been superintendent of the Sunday school of that church. He has taken great interest in the Commercial Travellers' Accident Association at Utica, N. Y., and is now second vice-president of that association. Ile married Mrs. Mary Ogden of Troy, N. Y., a daughter of the late James Ogden, who died in 1856. They have one son, Dr. Ilarry Ogden, a graduate of Albany Medical College, who is now located at Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
Derrick, Lewis W., was born in the village of Lansingburgh, February 6, 1838. He was educated in the common schools and has had a variety of occupations. He has been a railroad man, a fireman, and an engineer on the Troy and Boston Rail- road. March 1, 1881, he was appointed by the Board of Fire Commissioners as superintendent of the Fire Department of Lansingburgh, which position he has since filled with satisfaction. December 25, 1866, at Whitehall, Washington county, he married Alice E. Jillson of that place. They have four children: Carrie A., J. Edward, Ilelen E. and Clarence L. J. Edward married Frances R. Wood of this place ; he is superintendent of the Glens Falls, Sand Ilill and Fort Edward Electric Railroad. The other children at this date reside at home. The father of Mr. Derrick, John S., was born in the town of Brunswick ; he was educated in the schools of his day and was a farmer by occupation. He married Helen Weaver, of Lansing- burgh, by whom four children were born: Lewis W., John, who died at the age of twenty-two years, Samuel and Adam, twins. Samuel died at the age of thirty-six. Mr. Derrick died April 14, 1867, and his wife died in 1879. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. a. A. M., and also of Phoenix Chapter No. 138, R. A. M. The ancestry of the family is German and Dutch.
MeEachron, J. II., the leading watchmaker, jeweler and optician of Hoosick Falls, conducts what is perhaps the oldest established business in town, at No. 11 John street. Ile was for three years a partner of the late Il. II. Parsons, the pioneer jeweler, and after Mr. Parsons's decease took as partner Charles A. Robson, who had been an employee of the house for five years, aud was six years a partner. Mr. MeEachron carries a very large stock and also a good line of musical instruments. Ile sustains a high reputation as an eye specialist in the fitting of glasses, having had marked success in many difficult and complicated cases during the past ten years. Ilis father, David II. MeEachron, is a jeweler at Argyle, Washington county, and was a resident of Oquawka, Ill., at the date of Mr. MeEachron's birth in 1858. The family have been long time residents of Washington county in the vicinity of Argyle. They are of Scotch ancestry, as the name would indicate. Mr. MeEachron
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learned the trade of his father at Argyle. He has taken a prominent place in Hoosick affairs, especially so in the Presbyterian church and in the local society of Y. P. S. C. E. Mrs. McEachron was Miss Dora Peters, youngest daughter of C. Edward Peters of this place. They were married in 1884, and have four children.
Shea, Jeremiah, who represented the Prudential Insurance Company in Hoosick Falls and vicinity, was the son of an old resident here, Thomas Shea, a native of Ireland. Mr. Shea had charge of this agency from 1891, and previous to that time was employed by the Wood Company as moulder. When a boy Mr. Shea exhibited unusual intellectual attainments and after graduating from the public schools here he attended Troy Business College. He was a member of the R. C. church and for twenty years was a member of the Father Matthew Temperance Society, of which organization he officiated as president and financial secretary. In 1887 he married Alice Kearney of Hoosick, by whom he had four children. Mr. Shea. died Septem- bor 28, 1896.
Craver, P. II., was born in East Greenbush, N. Y., May 20, 1828. IIe is the son of Jacob and Catherine (Shaver) Craver, both of Rensselaer county. He was born on the farm now owned by Mr. Craver, and which was settled by the great-grand- father of our subject. Johannes Craver came from Germany to New York city prior to the Revolution, thence made his way to the farm in East Greenbush, which has passed down to Jacob and Rebecca (Spoor) Craver, Jacob and Catherine, and then to P. H. Craver. Johannes and son, Jonathan, joined the American army and fought in the Revolutionary war. Jacob Craver spent his life on the farm. Ile died March 26, 1886, and his wife July 25, 1872. P. H. Craver has always resided on the Craver homestead except four years which he spent near Albia, North Green- bush. In 1868 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Barney U. and Eva (Hayner) Sharp of Wynantskill, by whom he had two children: Chester B., at home; and Willie II., who died aged four years.
Jordan, Abraham, was born at East Greenbush, N. Y., in 1812, son of John and Sarah Ann (Smith) Jordan, who came from England in 1837 and 1841, respectively, having been married prior to coming here. In 1880 Abraham Jordan married Bertha M., daughter of Joseph and Mary Ann (Gregory) Stickley of Bath, by whom he had four children: Bertha L., Rodney V., Abraham L. and John R. Mrs. Jordan's parents came from Gloucestershire, England, about 1822 or 1873; for a time her father was an engineer at the west end of the Hoosac Tunnel, but is now in the em- ploy of the N. Y. C. & II. R. Railroad as an engineer. Mr. Jordan when a young man worked for twelve years at the painter's trade, and in 1875 settled on the farm where he and his brother carried on general farming and gardening nutil 1893, when our subjeet bonght out his brother's interest, and has since carried on the business alone. Ile also runs a milk dairy for East Albany. He makes a specialty of fruit culture, having one of the finest peach orchards in the county. He is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M.
Woodford, O. D., was born in Canastota, N. Y., March 7, 1869. He was educated at Pompey and Cazenovia Seminary. He then went into the undertaking business in Pompey, but in 1891 came to Castleton and established his present business, in which he has been remarkably successful under his able management. In addition
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to the undertaking business he conducts a first-class upholstery and furniture estab- lishment. In 1893 Mr. Woodford married Bertha Sherman. Mr. Woodford's parents were Melvin and Catherine Woodford. The latter died when he was quite young. Mr. Woodford is an enterprising and successful business man and a member of the Masonic fraternity.
Dykeman, Garrett, was born in Paterson, N. J., June 6, 1843. He was a son of Richard and Catherine (Lochies) Dykeman, both born in New Jersey, and both fam- ilies of Holland descent. Mr. Dykeman was master machinist of Thomas Rodgers's Locomotive Works in Paterson, N. J. He died in 1847 and his wife died in 1884. Garrett Dykeman was reared and educated in Paterson, N. J., and at the age of nine years began to work in the silk mills for John Ryle. Ile worked until sixteen years old and then came to Greenbush and learned the machinist trade Ile worked at it for nine years and then took an engine and has been in the employ of the Hudson River Railroad for about thirty-seven years. Ile spent one year in South Alabama and one year in California. Mr. Dykeman is at present police con- missioner. In 1873 he married Sarah E. Foreman, a native of England who came to Greenbush with her parents, George and Rebeckah Foreman, when a child. To Mr. and Mrs. Dykeman were born five children: G. Louis, Caroline D. (deceased). John F., William F. (deceased), and Alice. Mr. Dykeman is a member of Green- bush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., and also of B. of L. E. and A. O. U. W.
Griffin & Rockefeller, undertakers .- Mr. Rockefeller was born in Greenbush, Jan- uary 28, 1864. Ile was a son of Norman and Maria L. (Yergeson) Rockefeller, he born in Kinderhook, and she in Castleton. Mr. Vergeson was her stepfather, but her real name was Wellington, one of the first settlers of the town. The father of Mr. Rockefeller was an engineer for the B. & A. R. R. ; he was with them for twenty- five years, but formerly was a carpenter; he died March 6, 1895, and his wife lives in Bath. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Rockefeller is William T. Rockefeller, who lives in Albany. Mr. Rockefeller was reared and educated in Greenbush, and attended the Albany Business College, from which he was graduated in 1886. Will- iam E. Griffin, his uncle an undertaker, came to Greenbush and engaged in the un- dertaking business in 1870; he died June 20, 1893, and Mr. Rockefeller in partner- ship with his wife, Elizabeth Griffin, are now carrying on the business. February 6, isso, he married Josephine Canon, by whom two children have been born: Edward G., born May 23, 1890; and Elizabeth W., born March 8, 1895. Mr. Rockefeller is a member of Greenbush Lodge No. 337, F. & A. M., and Greenbush Chapter No. 274, R. A. M. His father and uncle were also members of the same lodge. Ile is a member of Rensselaer Lodge No. 210, A. O. U. W., and of the Select Knights of East Albany No. 87. He has been inspector of election for five years.
Marshall, Philo P., was born in Germantown, Columbia county, N. Y., November 4, 1842. Ile was the son of Alonzo and Margaret (Staats) Marshall of Germantown, where she died when Philo P. Marshall was an infant. Mr. Marshall came to Green- bush in 1846 where he was employed by the Boston & Albany R. R., and remained with that company until his death. Philo was reared and educated in Greenbush, and was elected school trustee for several years. He was at the battles of Gettys- burg, Malvern Hill, Antietam, and Seven Days battle of the Wilderness. Ile was
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in all the battles with the army of the Potomac. Mr. Marshall has a medal issued by the State of New York which was given to all soldiers that served in the battle of Gettysburg from the State of N. Y. He returned to Greenbush and aeted as fireman for the Boston & Albany R. R., and was promoted engineer in 1870, and still holds that position. December 8, 1864, he married Jane E. Potts, a native of Columbia county, N. Y., and a daughter of William and Lucinda ( Moore) Potts. Mr. Potts died in Columbia connty and his wife now resides in Winona, Minn. To Mr. and Mrs. Marshall were born two children: Minnie A., wife of George II. Mayer of Greenbush, having one daughter, Helen M .; and William B., a telegraph operator for the Boston & Albany R. R.
Baily, Edmund, was born in Sand Lake, May 29, 1808, and was a son of Silas and Olive (Sweetland) Baily, he a native of Stephentown and she of Sand Lake. The grandfather, Samuel Baily, was a Revolutionary soldier. Ile settled on Baily Ilill, Stephentown, being one of the first settlers in that part of the town, whence he went to Whitestown, where he died. Silas Baily was a farmer at Paris; from there he went to Sand Lake, thence to East Nassau, and spent his last days in Stephen- town, where he died in 1841. Mrs. Baily died about 1846. The great-grandfather of Edmund, Samuel Baily, came from England. In 1841 Edmund married Nancy, daughter of Jonathan and Rachael (Chapman) Turner. The father of Jonathan Turner was a minister in the Baptist church, and a pioneer of Nassau. To Mr. and Mrs. Baily have been born six children: Louisa, wife of Justice Ilunt; Mary, wife of Thomas Greenman; Slias J., farmer of Nassau; Emily, wife of Erving Allen; Lydia A., widow of John Jones, who died in 1892; and Rachael, who died in in- faney. Edmund worked in a factory in Stephentown until about thirty years of age, when he engaged in farming, which he followed until 1894. In 1835 he bought 100 acres of land, and now owns 135 aeres. He is a Democrat in polities, was elected justice of the peace, but did not qualify, and has been poormaster.
Brown, Stephen J., was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., March 22, 1861. His father, Rev. Stephen D. Brown, D. D., was at different times pastor of the State Street and Fifth Avenue M. E. churches in Troy, and at the time of his death, which occurred in 1865, was presiding elder of the New York district. His mother, Lucy (llerrick) Brown of Burlington, Vt , died in 1866. Judge Stephen S. Brown of the Vermont State Court was his grandfather. Stephen received his education in the public schools of New York city, and entered the employ of Louis De Groff & Son, wholesale grocers of that city, afterwards accepting a position with the well known jewelry firm of Aiken, Lambert & Co. In 1880 he came to Troy and went to work as shipper for Taylor & Staley, and later was employed by Morey & Lee. He purchased an in- terest in the Globe Ventilator Co. in 1888, and has sinee been a member of that com- pany. Mr. Brown is a steward of the State Street M. E. church and treasurer of its fund. He married Clara A. Morey in 1888.
Quigley, Thomas F., was born in Troy, N. Y., March 22, 1853. Ilis parents were Michael Quigley of Nenagh, County Tipperary, Ireland, and Mary A. Collins of Abersychan, Monmouthshire, Wales. They came to this country in June, 18.12, and resided in Troy until the death of the former in 1860 and the latter in 1893. Thomas, the fifth son of a family of seven, entered the old Ninth Ward School as a pupil in
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1860. R. W. Hewitt, who retired in March, 1896, after thirty-six years' faithful service as a teacher, was then the principal of this school. In 1867 he passed from the grammar department to the Troy High School from which school he graduated with honor in 1871. In 1869, while still a pupil at the High School, he was elected assistant clerk of the Board of Education. . Ile attended to the duties of his office and at the same time kept up with his class at school by reciting his lessons daily to the late David Beattie, who then held the position of superintendent, also that of principal of the High School. He held this position until 1872, when the board, which consisted of twenty-six members, was legislated out of office and a new one of thirteen members was created. For one year he was employed as salesman by his brother, P. J. Quigley, proprietor of a shoe store at 170 River street. In the fall of 1873 he was engaged by the managers of the Troy Catholic Male Orphan Asylum to teach in the parochial school, and in the following year by the Board of Education as assistant teacher in a branch school organized for the purpose of relieving the overcrowded condition of the Ninth Ward School. This branch school was known as Ninth Ward School No. 2. In 1875 Mr. Quigley was made principal of this branch school and in 1878 was promoted to the principalship of Ninth Ward School No. 1, which was considered one of the most ditheult schools in the city to manage. This position be held for several years, giving entire satisfaction to the School Board and the patrons of the school In 1885 he was transferred to School No. 13, his present position. It will thus be seen that Mr. Quigley has been connected with the schools of Troy as pupil and teacher for a period of thirty-five years.
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