Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 51

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 51

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Aird, Andrew, was born in Scotland, March 25, 1834. He came to this country in 1854, with his father and mother. He went into the sewing machine repair business in 1860, and continued in the same business until 1868. He was instrumental in the development of the sewing machine, making it useful in the collar and shirt business, assisting in bringing it up to its present state of perfection. He went into the jewelry business in 1875; since that time he has built up one of the largest trades in that line in the city. Ile is a prominent member of the Presbyterian church, of which he has been an elder for twenty-three years. In 1858 he married Agnes Ferguson, who came from Scotland.

Ilander, George W., M. D., was born in Stockport, Columbia county, N. Y., in 1856. Ilis ancestors originally came from Holland. He is the son of Robert Har- der, a wagon manufacturer of Stockport. His mother, Catherine (Shufelt) Ilarder, was born in Ghent, N. Y. George W. received his medical education at the New York Homeopathie Medical College, from which he graduated April 20, 1890, and opened practice in Stockport and came to Troy, N. Y., in the fall of 1892. Hle be- longs to the Homeopathic Medical Association of the State of New York, and is examining physician for the Sons of St. George. April 20, 1892, he married Miss Mary A. Lee of Troy, by whom he has had one son and two daughters: Rita, de- ceased; Catherine Gertrude, and George Lee, deceased.

Bolton, Edward, was born in County Donnegal, Ireland, April 26, 1830. His father, James Bolton, came to this country in 1832 and settled in Troy and was a prominent contractor of that time; he died in 1890 at the age of cighty-three. His mother was Mary (Slevin) Bolton, and died in 1846. Edward was educated at

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private schools and entered Oak Grove Academy; after graduating from there he learned the trade of brickmason at which he worked until 1858, when he went into the coal business and he remained in the same business until he retired in the spring of 1895. Ile was assessor for several years and has been treasurer of St. Peter's church for thirty-seven years. Ile was an active member of the old militia of Troy for twelve years. In 1852 he married Bridget E. Curley of Troy; she died. He has two sons and two daughters living and lost fourteen children. In June, 1896, lie was appointed by the Board of Health as registrar of vital statistics.

Demers, William II., was born in Troy, N. Y., Mareh 25, 1864. Ilis father is David H. Demers, a native of Troy and a printer by trade. Ilis ancestors date back to General Schuyler of the Revolutionary family. His mother, Juliette (Broad) Demers, whose parents were of English descent, was born in New Lebanon, N. Y. William H. received his education in the public schools of Troy, entered the office of C. Edward Loth of that city and remained about seven years, and then entered the office of Fuller & Wheeler, architects of Albany, during which time he was married to Alice E. Whitehead of Brooklyn, N. Y., November 6, 1889; the following year he opened an office in Troy. Ile has designed many of the finest residences and principal buildings of Troy and vicinity. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge, F. & A. M., and Phoenix Chapter, R. A. M.

Fielding, Harry P., was born December 25, 1863, in West Troy, N. Y. He is the son of John B. Fielding, who came from Leeds, England, in 1852 and settled in West Troy; for many years he was a harnessmaker of Troy, but has retired from business. His mother is Mary (Payne) Fielding, who came from Leeds, England. Harry P. received a common school education, and the balance of his education at the business college and private schools. He is a well known architect of Troy and has drawn the plans for many of the public buildings of that city, Ile is the archi- tect of the new Masonic temple of Cohoes. He is a member of Mt. Zion F. & A. M. and B. P. O. of E.

Graser, Charles F., was born in 1841 in Germany where he learned the trade of a confectioner. Ile was left an orphan at an early age and came to this country in 1859 and went to work in a confectionery in Brooklyn, N. Y., where he remained for one year; he removed to Albany in 1860 and worked in Briare's celebrated cater- ing and confectionery establishment of that city, and six years later came to Troy and opened a fancy bakery and confectionery at 63 Congress street, where he still is in business and is known throughout Troy and vicinity as a first class caterer and confectioner. Ile married Margaret Toolan of Albany, by whom he has two sons and two daughters; both of the sons are assisting in their father's business.

Greene, Chauncey O., was born in the village of Weedsport, town of Brutus, Cayuga county, N. Y., April 2, 1825. His father was a descendant on the paternal side of the Greenes who settled in Rhode Island about 1635, and his father's mother was a descendant from the brother of Hendrick Hudson who settled in New Eng- land. ITis ancestors on the maternal side (the Folgers of Massachusetts) were rela- tives of Benjamin Franklin. Ilis father was William Greene who was born in Wor- cester county, Mass,, in 1787, his parents having moved there from Rhode Island, and followed his trade, that of stone mason. He assisted in building the stone work

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of Auburn prison at Auburn, N. Y., and subsequently moved to Peru, Clinton county, N. Y. In 1826 he moved to Danby, Vt. ; in 1837 he lived in North Bridge- water, now Brockton, Mass., where he died in 1862. The mother of Chauncey O. (Phoebe (Barker) Greene) was a member of the Society of Friends (or Quakers) until her marriage; she was born in 1789 and died in 1866 at North Bridgewater (now city of Brockton, Mass.). Chauncey O, received his education in the free schools of New York and Vermont. In 1839 he went to reside with his uncle, Chauncey Greene, in East Dorset, Bennington county, Vt. His unele Chauncey conducted stove manu- facturing and general machine work. Chauncey O., having considerable knowledge of the stove business, eame to Troy in 1844; he secured with N. Starbuck & Son en- ployment at stove moulding. After six months he went to work for Choller & Jones of West Troy, N. Y. He returned to Vermont and went to school during the winter of 1844 and returned to Troy the following year and again commenced work at stove moulding. His health having partially failed he was compelled to give up moulding, and was given the position of time keeper and assistant superintendent of the works when only twenty-one years of age. When only twenty-two years of age he was made superintendent in full charge of the moulding department-two hundred men. In 1849 he went to Broekville, Ontario, but returned to Troy in 1850 and entered the employ of Wager, Pratt & Co. as superintendent of their stove foundry on Sixth street in Troy. In 1857 Chauncey O. leased the property of Smith & Sheldon (the successors of Wager, Richmond & Smith) and manufactured the work by contract. In 1858 he acquired a quarter interest in the concern, which went under the firm name of Smith, Sheldon & Co. In 1861 Sheldon and Greene purchased the interest of their senior partner, Henry Smith, and the firm name became Sheldon & Greene, continuing as such until dissolved in 1874, when he retired. During several years thereafter he conducted in Troy a wholesale and retail business as stove manufae- turer. His old firm (Sheldon & Greene) was burned out of business in the great fire of 1862, but in four months the business was running again. After the Chicago fire, which occurred in 1871, the firm was forced to give up business. He traveled on the road for seven successive years, then returned to Troy and engaged in the life and accident insurance business, in which he is engaged at present. He was alderman of the Third ward for three terms and was nominated and elected without opposition. . Ile was president of the Young Men's Association, and was the last president of the old Board of Trade. He has been a trustee of the Troy Academy for twenty-five years, and served many years as trustee and treasurer of the First Unitarian Society of Troy. He was married November 6, 1847, to Elizabeth Eggleston of Danby, Vt. Ile has one son, James Wager Greene, who is superintendent of the Polar Cold Storage System of Newark, N. J., and one daughter, Mrs. A. Gould Millard of Troy.

Haynes, William, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1851. He is the son of Winslow Haynes and Catherine (Pillion) Haynes. His father died in 185-1, and his mother died in 1869. William was educated in the public schools and the Christian Brothers' Academy of Troy and after elerking in a store a short time learned the carpenter's and joiner's trade and worked at that trade ten years, when with John S. Bulmer he formed the firm of Buhner & Haynes, contractors and builders; since that time they have ereeted many of the public buildings of Troy as well as a large number of the beautiful residences in Troy and vicinity. He was a member of the School Board

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for six years and for nine years was trustee of St. Mary's Cemetery Association. He has been president of the Boss Carpenter's Association for three years, and a member of the E. Dolan Association twenty years. He has one daughter, Mary Philamena.

Hayes, Edward J., was born in New York city in 1853. He received hiseducation in Troy and entered the employ of the Burden Iron Works, and later with Hannibal Green, spring manufacturer, where he learned his trade. He left Troy in 1872 and worked in New Haven, Conn., Cleveland and Coshocton, Ohio, and Chicago, Ill. ; he returned to Troy in 1888 and formed a partnership with P. W. Delee, in the man - ufacture of carriage springs. In 1892 he bought out Mr. Delee and since that date has been sole proprietor of the concern. Ile was married to Lottie McCain of Coshocton, Ohio, in 1879; they have four children: Lilian, Edward, Maggie, Ethel

Huntington, John Il., was born in Rome, N. Y., January 1, 1830. Ilis aneestors were all from the New England States. His father was born in Shaftsbury, Vt., and was a farmer. He moved to Oneida county in 1826 and later came to Troy where he died in 1872. Ilis mother, Sophronia (Henry) Huntington, was born in Bennington, Vt., and died in Rome, N. Y., November, 1810. John HI. received his education in private and select schools and afterwards helped his father on the farm. Ile came to Troy in 1848 and engaged with M. L. Huntington, his uncle, in the fruit and pro- duce business; in 1860 he went into the belting business. He was in the city cham- berlain's office until 1864 when he took a position as bookkeeper in the First National Bank where he remained for four years; when he took up the fire insurance busi- ness, and in 1881 took a position with the Troy Gas Co., where he is occupied at present. He has represented the Fifth Ward in the Board of Aldermen. Ile is a member of the I. O. O. F. His first wife was Harriet T. Hubbard of Troy, who died in 1893. He was married in June, 1876, to Elizabeth II. Fosdick, who died in November, 1887. Ile has one son (John Il.) and a daughter.

Hardy, William D .. was born in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, February 22, 1852. His father, Joseph Hardy, was born in the North of Ireland and came to Canada when a young man ; he was a steamboat engineer on the St. Lawrence river and Lake Ontario, and died in 1885. His mother, Catherine (Downing) Hardy, was born in Scotland, and died in 1836. Mr. Hardy received his education in the public schools of Kingston. He came to Troy in 1871 and entered the employ of A. F. Clark in the clothing and merchant tailoring business, where he remained until Mr. Clark went out of business in 1872. . He then took a position with the firm of John S. Tobey & Co., jobbers in clothing, as salesman on the road and in the store, and was with that concern until the spring of 1877 when he went into the clothing business at 267 River street, second floor. In 1878 he formed a copartnership with John L. Manny under the firm name of Manny & Hardy, in the merchant tailoring business, now located at 36 Third street. On June 9, 1875, he married Miss Ruth A. Horton, daughter of Leonard M. Horton, formerly justice of the peace, and a descendant of the Hortons, early settlers of Sand Lake. He has three daughters and one son.

Boocock, John, was born in England in 1851. Ile is the son of Joseph and Ann (Jackson) Boocock, of Yorkshire, England. His father died in 1891, and his mother is still living. He came to the United States in 1881 and settled in Troy; he then

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worked at his trade of carpenter and builder with Charles Duncan, the contractor about three months, then entered the employ of Thom & Spencer, and was with that firm until they dissolved partnership in 1886, and he continued as foreman for Mr. Thom until his death, which occurred in 1889, and in 1895 he started in business for himself. He is an exempt fireman of the Beeman Park Hose Co. No. 9. He married Catherine Winspear in England in 1885. They have one son and a daugh- ter.

Bulmer, John S., was born in the county of Durham, England, in 18-18. He came to this country with his parents and settled in New York city and one year later came to Troy. He received his education in the public schools and learned the car. penter's trade, at which he worked sixteen years. He then with William Haynes formed the firm of Bulmer & Haynes, contractors and builders, on the corner of Hill and Jefferson streets. Some of the finest buildings of Troy and vicinity have been erected by them, among them is the Young Women's Association building, the Russell Sage Memorial building, the Rowe Memorial building, and St. Joseph's Home. Mr. Bummer was married to Ellen Costello of Troy, who died in 1882. He has two sons, William and John, jr.

Allen, Rev. Arthur H., was born in New York city, October 20, 1851. He is the son of Richard L. and Sally O. Allen, both born in Massachusetts. His father was a merchant in New York city many years, and died in 1869: his mother died in 1899. Mr. Allen prepared for college on Staten Island, entered Vale in 1869, and was grad- uated in 1873; he was instructor for one year at the University of California at Oakland; he then entered Princeton Theological Seminary and graduated in 1877. He accepted a call to Islip, L. I., in 1878, and was ordained April 15, 1879, his pastorate continuing there until January, 1885. He was installed in the Woodside Presbyterian church of Troy, February 12, 1885. He has been clerk of the Presbytery of Troy for ten years, and is corresponding secretary of the Rensselaer County Bible Society. He is a member of the Committee of Public Safety. lle married, January 16, 1889. Agnes G. Crosby, daughter of Rev. Howard Crosby, D. D., of New York, who died March 18, 1891; they have one daughter, Agnes G. C. Allen.

. Abrams, Capt. Thomas D., was born in Rochester, Ulster county, N. Y. His father, Harvey Abrams, was born in Orange county, and was a farmer; he died in 1865. llis mother, Elizabeth (De Witt) Abrams, was a relative of De Witt Clinton ; she died in 1866. Thomas D. was educated in the district school; he went to school three months in the year and worked on the farm the balance of the time; he left home when nineteen and for a time clerked in a store in Eddyville, N. Y., and later went as a clerk in the transportation office of the D. & HI. Canel Co. in New York. Hle then went as purser on the Thomas Cornell, running from New York to Rondout, afterwards was captain of the Thomas Powell, and five years later came to Troy and was one of the organizers of the Citizens' Line of steamboats. He is a director in the Mutual Bank. In 1880 he was married to Mrs. Marcia A. Harford of New York city.

Harvey, David H., son of William and Susan (Shannon) Harvey, was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., in 1856. Ilis father died in 1885 After leaving school Mr. Harvey entered the employ of his uncle, Robert Harvey, in the wholesale salt fish

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business, and after the death of his uncle in 1884 he formed a copartnership with C. G. Eddy under the firm name of Harvey & Eddy. Ile is a charter member of the Y. M. C. A., and belongs to King Solomon Lodge, F. & A. M., and all the Masonic bodies of Troy. In 1882 he was married to Miss Emeline Elder of that city.

Connor, William, was born in Troy, October 1, 1856. Hle is a son of John and Mary Connor, William was educated in the common schools, succeeded to the business of manufacturing printer's ink, paints and colors in 1877, since which date the growth of the enterprise has been steady and important; the present spacious works, 677-681 River street, first occupied January 1, 1889, comprise a large three- story building containing all the latest machinery for the manufacture of paint, and employs about fifty people in the extensive factory, Mr. Connor is a practical manufacturer with an experience in the paint trade for many years, and has estab)- lished branch offices at 9 Peck Slip, New York, 243 Lake street, Chicago, 409-411 North Twelfth street, St. Louis, and Toronto, Ont. Mr. Connor is held in the highest estimation for bis progressive and liberal business methods, as well as his sterling personal worth,

HIelliwell, Thomas B., was born in Newburgh, N. Y., July 25, 1849. Ihis father, Edward Helliwell, was born in England and came to the United States when a young man and settled in New York city, where he worked at his trade, that of a tanner and currier, and after came to Troy and worked for Elias Plum. Previous to the late war lie started in business in Albany, and at the outbreak of the war he bought a tannery in Brunswick. He supplied the government with leather almost to the close of the war. He started in the enrrier's business in Troy, which he con- tinued until his death, which occurred in 1891, His mother, Sarah ( Booth) lelliwell, was born in England and died in Troy in 1881. Thomas B. was taken into the con- cern with his father when he was twenty-one years of age, and since 1891 has been sole proprietor. Ile is a fur skin dresser and dyer. He is a 32 Mason. December 21, 1880, he married Romaetta Willsey of Albany county.

Felton, William A., was born in Troy in 1836. Nathaniel Felton, his venerable ancestor of Massachusetts, came to Salem, Mass., in 1633. When seventeen years of age he settled in New Salem, Mass., afterwards called Felton Hill and later called Danvers. this great great grandfather, Benjamin Felton, was born in Salem, Mass., in 1789, and at the age of sixteen was sent with others to Canada to repel the French and Indians and did not succeed in returning for five years. He was a lieutenant at the close of the Revolutionary war, and was in the battles of Bunker Hill, White Plains, Trenton, and others, and commanded a body of cavalry in the Shay insur- rection in the winters of 1786 and 1787. In 1793 he retired on his farm in Brookfield, Mass. Skelton Felton, the grandfather, was born November 13, 1784, He was a school teacher for many years and an officer in the war of 1812; he died in Lansing. burgh in 1851. The father, Amory Felton, was born in Brookfield, Mass., in 1813, and came to Troy when a young man; he was a merchant for a number of years; he was a patentee for portable grain mills and a stock company was formed to man- ufacture them; he later bought an interest in the Empire Foundry, where he soon became discontented and sold out to Swett, Quimby & Bennett. He married Nancy Boynton of Bennington, Vt., in January, 1849, by whom he had four children, He

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died in Troy March 3, 1851. William A., is the manager of the Empire Stove and Machinery Foundry, and has remained in the concern forty years; he always lived in Troy until 1895, when he moved to Lansingburgh; he is a member of the Apollo Lodge F. & A. M. ; he served for seven years in the National Guard and held the position of first sergeant in Company G, at the time of his discharge; he is one of the original members of the Osgood Steamer Company; he was formerly a member of the Troy Yacht Club, and the East Side Club. In October, 1859, he married Mary A. Faxon of Hoosick Falls; they had two children

Gleason, John I., wasborn in Schenectady, N. Y., September 22, 1841. Ile received a public school education and came to Troy in 1856 to live with his sister, and later learned the carriage maker's trade with Daniel Lucey and finished with Culkin & Donohue and was later in the business for himself where he remained for fifteen years. Mr. Gleason is president of the Northern New York Asphalt Paving Co. Ile was deputy sheriff several years and was boiler inspector for two years, He held the position of postmaster of the New York Assembly one year. Ile has heldl nu- merous municipal offices, having been a member of the School Board for nine years, and assistant superintendent of the water department for the past nine years. Ile married in 1870 Margaret Inwood of Troy, N. Y., by whom he had two sons, John E. and Robert I.

Knibbs, James, was born in England, October 5, 1827, and is a son of Joseph and Anna (Bennett) Knibbs, who came to this country in 1840 and settled in Albany. His father was for thirty years janitor of the Aibany Medical College. Ile died in 1871 and his wife died in 1881. James was educated in the common schools and came to Troy in 1818 and learned the machinist's trade in Starbnek Bros. shop in Troy, and worked at his trade until 1860, when he became connected with the Arba Reed Steamer Company. He took charge of the engine nntil 1883, when he was appointed superintendent of the Troy Fire Alarm telegraph, which position he has since held. JIe is a member of Mount Zion Lodge F. & A. M., of which he is a past master, of Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Commandery, and is also a member of the Masonic Veteran Association, and is the present treasurer. He has held all the of- fices in Athenian Lodge of Odd Fellows and in the Encampment and is the present treasurer of both bodies, In 1850 he married Rhoda A. Harvey of Troy who died in 1876. His present wife is Emma Laws of Cohoes, whom he married in 1879. Mr. Knibbs has one son and oue daughter by his first wife, viz. : William II., who is mn the drug business at Stillwater, and Mrs. Frank B. Marks, of Elmira, N. Y.

Vail, Samuel M., was born in Troy, N. Y., June 7, 1832, and was the eldest son of Townsend M. and Martha (Card) Vail, who were among the most esteemed residents of this city. Townsend M. Vail was practically a life-long citizen of Troy and for many years a prominent flour merchant on the southwest corner of River and Con- gress streets, In 1856 Samuel M. Vail, who had received a liberal education in the schools of his native city, was admitted as a partner of his father under the firm name of Townsend M. Vail & Son, succeeding the old firm of Vail & Ilayner. He carried a successful business for several years and finally retired, and died in Troy on the 24th of April, 1889. Mr. Vail was a trustee of the Troy Savings Bank in 1869, second vice-president in 1879, and 'first vice-president in 1886. He was for

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many years a director in the old Troy and Boston Railroad Company, and was also interested in other railroad enterprises. Ile was one of the directors of the Con- gress street bridge from the organization of the company until his death, and was also a director in the Troy Gaslight Company and a foundation member of the Troy Club. He was long a trustee of the Second Street Presbyterian church and one of the building committee during the erection of music hall. In 1858 Mr. Vail was married to Miss Frances Hart, daughter of the late Hon. Richard P. Hart, of Troy, who sur- vives him. They had three children: Thomas Vail, of Troy; Fanny Hart, wife of Sidney G. Ashmore, of Schenectady, N. Y. ; and Martha Card Vail, of Troy.

Donnelly, James W., was born in Ireland and received a good education-in fact so good that at the early age of sixteen he passed the necessary examinations, obtaining a teachers' certificate, and for about three years taught in the national schools of his native country, and in 1865 went to London, where he remained four years, being a member of the firm of Clayton, Quinn & Co., contractors and builders. In 1869 he eame to America and settled in Troy, where he first engaged in the retail stationery business on King street with James Doud, under the firm name of Doud & Donnelly. In 1870 hc sold his interest to Mr. Doud and became bookkeeper and manager for Thomas H. ()'Brien, wholesale wine and liquor dealer at 458 River street. Mr. O'Brien retired in 1871 and Mr. Donnelly succeeded to the business, becoming associated with his brother, Thomas J., under the firm name of Donnelly Brothers, which firm name has since been retained. In May, 1893, Thomas J. Donnelly withhrew and since then James W. has been the sole owner of both the business and the building in which the busi- ness is conducted, the latter being purchased by the firm in 1879. Mr. Donnelly makes a specialty of a French wine for altar and sacramental uses, for which he has been sole agent for the United States and Canada since 1877, having sub-agencies in Kingston, Outario; Columbus, Ohio; and Dubuque, Iowa. This wine is made expressly for sacramental use. He is a director in the Manufacturers' National Bank, a member of the Robert Emmett Association, and has been bass singer in St. Peter's church continuously since 1869,

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 51

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