USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3 > Part 52
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Lee, William, was born in Ireland in 1844 and came to this country with his mother and two brothers and three sisters and settled in Washington county. Ilis mother died in 1881. He received a common school education and in 1854 came to Troy and was employed as a driver for one summer. He then went to school for three winters, after which he entered the anetion store of Ackley & Marston, where he remained for one year. He started his trucking business when sixteen years of age, and lost everything, horses, trueks, trunk, large sum of money and all his clothes in the big fire of 1862, but started in business again, increasing from time to time. 1Te is the only teamster iu business in Troy at the present time, that was in business when he started. He is a stockholder in the Wilber Shirt Company, and also in the Adams Laundry Machine Company. He is a member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter and Bloss Couneil, and the Masonie Veterans' Associa- tion. In September, 1863, he married Pamelia M. Van Schaick, daughter of the late Capt, Cornelius Van Schaick. They have one daughter, Amelia Lee Richard- son, of New York city; her husband is agent for the Hoosae Tunnel Line.
Mann, Herbert R., was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1860. He is the son of David and
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Mary E. (Roome) Mann, Ilis father was a very prominent citizen of Troy, and was engaged in the forwarding business between Troy and Philadelphia for many years. He was also a director in the Mutual National Bank and died in 1890. His mother died in 1895. Ile graduated from the Troy Ihigh School in 1878, and entered the store of H. B. Nims & Co., where he remained until 1883, when he formed a copartnership with Mr. Burtis in the stove manufacturing business under the firm name of Burtis & Mann. He bought Mr. Burtis's interest in 1891 and sold the business in 1893 to James Van Ilagen & Son. In February, 1894, he embarked with H. F. Hastings m the book and stationery business at 266 River street, they buying the old established busmess of Smyth & Co. He is a member of the senior company of the Troy Citizens Corps, the Laureate Boat Club, the Odd Fellows, and all the Masonic bodies of Troy. On January 29, 1881, he married Miss V. Adelaide Spicer, daughter of the late Theron Spieer, a former prominent lumber dealer of Troy. They have four daughters.
Manning, John G., was born in Troy, N. Y., September 26, 1860. His father, Bernard Manning, was born in Ireland and came to the United States with his parents when young and settled in Troy ; he was a moulder and one of the founders of the Co-operative Stove Works and died in 1878. His mother, Mary A. Galligan, was born in Troy where she still resides. John G. received his education in the pub . lie schools of Troy and graduated from the Troy High School in the class of 1878; he then went to work for W. A. Chapman in the saddlery hardware business, and in 1881 Mr. Chapman sold out to Manning, Patterson & Co. Mr. Patterson withdrew from the concern in 1890 and since that time the firm name has been John G. Manning & Co. Ile is a member of the Troy Citizens Corps; he served eleven years in the Sixth Separate Company and is now sergeant in the senior branch of the Troy Citi- zens Corps; he is a member of the Laureate Boat Club of which he is treasurer and one of the trustees. Ile was married to Minnie Geer of Troy, April 11, 1888.
Meredith, George L., M. D., was born in Keeseville, Essex county, N. Y., October 30, 1857. Ile is the son of Rev. Sammuel Meredith, who came from Ireland in 18-16, and died December 16, 1891. Ilis mother, Ellen (Boomer), was born in Ireland and died in 1880. Ile received his education at the public and high schools and after- wards entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York city, graduating in 18SS. He then opened an office in Troy where he has since been located. He belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society and the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity, He is a medical examiner for the zEtna, Connecticut General, and the John Hancock Life Insurance Companies and the Royal Arcanum. He mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Yetto of Troy, and has three children. In July, 1896, he was nominated for the office of coroner by the Republican party.
Magee, Daniel, M. D., was born in Thurman, Warren county, N. Y. Ile is the son of Patrick and Ellen (MeDonald) Magee. His father died in 1875 and his mother in 1850. Dr. Magee, after studying with Dr. Harcourt of Staten Island, went to the Burlington College at Burlington, Vt , and afterwards entered Dartmouth Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1866, Ile then began practice in Chestertown, N. Y., where he remained for three years, when he came to Troy (1878), where he has since practiced. He is a member of the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity, New York State Medical Society and the Rensselaer County Medical Asso-
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ciation. He belongs to Warrensburgh Lodge, F. & A. M., the Knights of Pythias, and the B. P. O. E. In 1875 he was married to Hattie Carey of Troy, by whom he has one daughter.
Noack, Bernhardt J., was born in Zittau, Saxony, in 1850 and came to this country in 1868. He received his architectural education in Germany, where he also learned the carpenter and mason trade at which he worked for five years, and upon arriving in this country worked as mason in New York city; he then went into an architect's office for two years in New York city, and in 1871 came to Troy and entered the office of M. F. Cummings, where he remained until 1892, when he opened an office for himself at 257 Broadway. He has had charge of the construction of a number of breweries and malt houses of Troy and vicinity, and a great many of the stores and residences about that city and vicinity have been designed by him. He is a member of Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, R. A. M., Knights of Pythias, and Odd Fellows. He also belongs to the Turn Verein and Saengerbund and Maennerchor Societies. He was married to Julia Baumeister of Troy, who died in 1884. His present wife is Louise M. (Frank) Noack of Albany, to whom he was married April 22, 1896. He resides and keeps his office at 105 Fourth street, Troy.
Nichols, Calvin E., M. D., was born in Elizabethtown, N. Y., April 8, 1845. His ancestors, on both paternal and maternal sides, were of old New Eng- land stock. His grandfather, Ezra Nichols, was a Revolutionary soldier. His father, Edmund D. Nichols, was born in Elizabethtown and died in 1870. His mother is Mary (Gates) Nichols, who is still living. He received an academic educa- tion and entered the medical department of the University of the State of Vermont, from which he was graduated in 1858, and commenced practice the 25th of June, 1868, in Port Henry, N. Y. In 1822 he entered Bellevue Hospital Medical College of New York city, taking special courses in the study of medicine, taking another in 1873. Hle came to Troy in 1875, where he has been in continuous practice since, with the exception of fourteen months that he spent in traveling in Europe and this country. Ile served for a short time in the 1st Minnesota Regiment during the Civil war; he served as attending physician in the Troy Hospital for ten years, and is senior consulting physician at the present time. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the New York State Medical Association, the Rensselaer County Medical Society and the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity. He is a 32 degree Mason, belonging to King Solomon Lodge No 91, Apollo Chapter No. 48, Bloss Council No. 11, Apollo Commandery, Albany Consistory, and Oriental Tem- ple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In 1891 he was married to Miss Gertrude Pine of Troy. He has one son, Le Roy Eugene.
Purcell, John J., was born in Ireland, March 22, 1858; his parents are John C. and Johanna (Williams) Purcell. John J. was born while his mother was on a visit to the old country. He received his education in the Christian Brothers' Academy and the High School, after which he learned the plumbing trade. He with his brother started in the plumbing business in 1882 at 411 and 413 Second street. In 1883 he was elected alderman of the Twelfth ward and served until 1891, when he was elected general assessor, and in 1893 was appointed plumbing inspector, which position he now holds. He was manager of the Y. M. C. L. A., of which for several
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years he was treasurer; he is a member of the A. O. H. No. 1, and of Branch 6, Emerald Association. November 28, 1888, he was married to Miss Annie Donovan of Troy, by whom he has two sons and one daughter.
Ross, Adam, was born in Scotland, May 20, 1839, and came to this country in 1855 and settled in Troy. He was a stonecutter by trade and worked at his trade in New York and Troy. In 1869 he started in business for himself, under the firm name of Cornell & Ross, for three years. Mr. Ross fitted the granite for the crematory in Oakwood Avenue Cemetery. The firm name is now Adam Ross & Son, of 2748 to 2750 Sixth avenue. He is a member of the Caledonian Club of Troy, a member of the Oakwook Avenne Presbyterian church, and is a trustee of the Samaritan Hos- pital. In 1865 he married Agnes Connell of Troy, and they have ten children: Charles, a member of the firm; William, a pattern maker; Kate, George A., a drug- gist at Hoosick Falls; Belle, John, Jessie, Lillian, Adam A. and Agnes. Mr. Ross is an uncle of Robert Ross, who was killed in the election disturbances of 1894.
Riekerson, Seward, was born in Greene county, N. Y., in 1855. His great grand- father was in the Revolutionary war. His father, Lyman Riekerson, was a farmer of Greene county; later he came to Troy, where he now resides with his sons, Le Roy and Seward, His mother, Laura (Bagley) Rickerson, died in 1889. Seward received his education in the public schools of Greene county and came to Troy in 1878, entered the saddlery hardware store of M. G. Curtis as clerk, and in 1885 was taken into the concern as a partner, the firm becoming Curtis & Rickerson, which continued until 1891, when with W. D. O'Brien he formed the Troy Harness Manu- facturing Co., jobbers of saddlery, hardware, blankets, robes, ete. He married in 1883 Miss Lillie Collins, daughter of William Collins of Troy, by whom he has three daughters.
Smith, Victor W., was born in Troy, July 25, 1869, and his father, John C. Smith, came from England in 1837 and was the son of a gentleman farmer ; he was a carver and designer by trade, and died July 29, 1887. His mother was Hannah B. (Robi- nett) Smith of Wilmington, Del., and a descendant of very prominent okl French settlers. Victor W. was educated in the public schools of Troy and in the Troy Business College, and his musical education was received under the tutorship of E. 1. Maschile, and was the first orchestra leader of Maschke's Cadet Band. He has been musical director of the Griswold Opera House for eight years. He is a teacher of the violin, banjo and guitar, and has a very large class. May 9, 1886, he married Mary E. Johnson, of West Troy. Mr. Smith was the first person to introduce the mandolin into the city of Troy, which he did in 1885.
Stoll, Gottlob F., was born in New York city in 1863. His father, Christian G., was born in Stuttgart, Würtemburg, Germany, and came to this country in 1852, settling in New York; he was a bricklayer by trade; he came to Troy in 1865 and has been a contractor and builder in this city for many years. His mother, Mary K. (Oesterle) Stoll, died in Troy in 1893. Gottlob F. was educated in the public schools of Troy and worked in the tailoring establishment of Ametrano & Cook as office boy for two years, and then entered the office of the Clinton Foundry as stock clerk, where he remained for about two years. Hle afterwards worked for W. & L. E. Gurley and in the grocery store of Rudolph Beckman. Ile then learned architecture
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in the office of M. F. Cummings & Son, where he remained for eight years He is a member of Apollo Lodge No. IB, F. & A. M., of Apollo Chapter No. 18, Bloss Council No. 14, and of Apollo Commandery No. 15. He was a charter member and first president of Junglings Verein-der German Evang. St. Paul's church.
Strait, Thomas M., was born in Covington, Ky., February 1, 1856. His father, Hiram Strait, was born in Rensselaer county, and in his younger days had charge of an academy.in New York city; later he engaged in the trunk manufacturing busi- ness in Cincinnati, Ohio. His mother, Hannah (Malone) Strait, was born in Nash- ville, Tenn. Thomas M. attended the public schools and graduated from the high school; he went to work for a florist in Cincinnati and in 1871 took a position with W. & L. E. Gurley. He was with that concern until 1885, when he went into busi- ness himself, opening the Danbury hat store on Fulton street, Troy. He belongs to the B P. O. of E.
Stein, Christian Adolph, was born in Troy, N. Y., December 18, 1863. Ilis father, Christian Stein, and mother, Henrietta (Meyer) Stein, were born in Germany and came when young. He received his education in the public schools of Troy; his musical education was also received in Troy. He has been a teacher of the organ and piano for fifteen years and many of the best musicians of Troy were formerly his pupils. He has been connected with the Vocal Society as accompanist for many years; also a member of the Choral Club since its organization; and second basso of the Excelsior quartette. For the past twelve years he has been organist and choirmaster of St. Paul's church. He married Miss Grace La Rose of Albany, May 12, 1896.
Vandercook, Charles E., was born in Cohoes in 1850. His father, Mathew G. Van- dercook, was a prominent farmer of Saratoga county. N. Y .; he died in 1889. His mother, Elizabeth (Ilines) Vandercook, died in 1866. He received a common school and academie education and entered the Grant fanning mill and cradle factory at Melrose where he remained one year. In 1872 he started in the lumber and box manufacturing business at 6 and 8 Front street, Troy, where he has built up an ex- tensive business, employing sometimes over a hundred men. He is a member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., Bloss Council, Apollo Chapter, and the Mystic Shrine. In ISSB he married Marie T. Ryles, daughter of George Rylee, by whom he has three children: Le Roy, Bertha and Lewis.
Webster, Stephen II., M. D., was born in Troy. N. Y., October 27, 1865. llis father was Jasper Webster, who was a bridge builder by trade; he came to Troy in 1855; he built all the bridges on the Troy and Boston Railroad. His mother is Emily De Sylva (Cushing) Webster. Stephen Webster received a public and high school edu- cation and was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1886, afterwards en- tering the Polyclinic Institute of New York city. In 1889 he went to Europe and studied medicine in Prague, Vienna and Berlin, returning to Troy in 1890 and opened an office at 811, afterwards removing t., 817 River street. He belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society of which he was vice-president one year. He was married, November 12, 1895, to Miss Mabel Carpenter of East Greenwich, R. 1. Ile is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge, No. 91, Apollo Chapter, No. 48, Bloss Council No. 14, Apollo Commandery No. 15, and Oriental Temple, No- bles of the Mystic Shrine.
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Wales, Edwin R., was born in Cherry Valley, N. Y., in 1819. His father, Philip Wales, came to this country about 1847 and settled in Cherry Valley; he was a cabi- netmaker by trade and died in 1851. ILis mother, Eliza Keable, was born in Eng- land and died at Troy in 1885. Edwin R. received his education in the public schools of Cherry Valley and came to Troy in 1862 and was a clerk for Snyder & Co., grocers, later elerked in the drug stores of Dr. Fowler in Hoosick Falls and in Troy for J. W. Jones and Hawley & Co. He then learned the painter's trade and went to Cleveland, Ohio, in 1572, but returned to Troy again in 1848 and started in the painting and decorating business in 1877 under the firm name of Hollen & Wales, which continued until 1889, when he formed a partnership with W. F. Crain in the paper hanging and decorating business and in 1899 sold out and has since been engaged alone. He is a thirty-second degree Mason; he is a stockholder and dircetor in the Troy Steam Laundering Co., and was assistant captain of the Trojan Ilooks in 1886, captain from 1887 and 1892, and treasurer in 1893. He married in 1889 Mary S. Lent of Troy, by whom he has one son and one daughter,
Waldron, George E., was born in Troy, May 17, 1817. His father, Ephraim D. Waldron, was born in Half Moon, Saratoga county, in 1818, and was one of the pio- neer sloop captains on the Hudson River, and started in the lumber business in Troy in 1855 under the firm name of Cottrell & Waldron, which was succeeded by E. D. Waldron in 1857, and in 1864 his two sons, Wilham H. and George E., were taken into the concern under the firm name of E. D. Waldron & Sons, which continued until the death of William HI. in October, 1882, when the firm became E. D. Waldron & Son. E. D. Waldron died April 11, 1894; his mother, Sarah Ann (Watson) Wal- dron, is still living in Troy, George E, was educated in the public schools of Troy and in the seminary at Fulton, N. Y., and became connected with the lumber busi- ness with his father in 1861, and since the death of his father has been sole proprie- tor of the business, which still retains the name of E. D. Waldron & Son. He is also manager of the Globe Ventilator Company. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge No. 48 F, & A. M., of the Apollo Chapter, Bloss Council, Apollo Cammandery, and Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine, and is also a member of the Troy Yacht Club and the Ionic Club. In 1868 he married Minnie A. Daniels, of Troy, and has one daughter. Mabel D.
Young, jr., William 11., was born in Troy, N. Y., June 23, 1855. He received his education in the ward schools of that city and Scramm's boarding school at Sand Lake. Ile learned the marble worker's trade with his father, and in 1884 started in business for himself at the corner of Hoosick and Eighth streets, Troy, where he is still located, and does all kind of art and monument work ; he has erected many fine monuments in the cemeteries of Troy and vicinity and the Berry vault at Raymer- town, which is one of the finest in the county; also constructed the Goldstone arch at the Mount Ida Cemetery. He is a member of the Citizens Association. Ile mar- ried June 1, 1582, Grace Eddy of Troy, Their children are Emma and Harry. .
Hamm, Charles Webster, M. D., was born in the town of North Greenbush, Rens- selaer county, April 19, 1869. He is a son of Henry Hamm, who is a native of Sar- atoga county, born in August, 1815; he was one of two sons and one daughter, born to John Henry; he is a mason by trade and while a young man he spent some time
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in Florida and other parts of the South; the greater portion of his life has been spent in the town of North Greenbush; for a number of years he has devoted his attention to gardening ; his wife was Mary A. Miller; to them were born thirteen children, of whom five sons and two daughters are now living. Dr. Charles Webster's early education was in the common district schools and later he attended the Troy Acad- emy, from there he went to Lansingburgh Academy, and began the study of medi- cine when eighteen years of age under Dr. M. A. Wheeler, then of Albia, with whom he registered. He later entered the Albany Medical College and was graduated from that institution with the class of 1893. While attending college he was the his- torian of his class. Ilis first practice of his profession for himself was in the city of Troy, the same year he was graduated. In January, 1894, he removed to the village of Poestenkill and entered the office of Dr. Hull as a partner, which partnership terminated eleven months later with the death of the latter. lle then had the entire practice to attend to, which he not only retained but increased, He enjoys an ex- tensive practice in his own and four other adjoining towns, and yet retains some of his Troy practice. Dr. Han is a member of the Medical Society of the County of Rensselaer, and the Troy City and Vicinity Society. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows, Poestenkill Lodge No. 704; he is also a medical examiner for sey- eral insurance companies. June 6, 1894, he married Miss Ella L. De Freest; she was born in Greenbush and is a daughter of Edwin and Louisa (Bass) De Freest; they have one child, Herbert De Freest.
Buckley, Joseph, in his eventful political life has been a faithful servant of his townsmen, and in an official capacity he has won for himself an enviable record. He was elected justice of the peace in 1871 and held the office until he resigned, and for years was trustee of the Hoosick Falls Union Free School until his resignation to accept the supervisorship to which he was re-elected. Ile has filled the presi- dential chair of the village and served as village treasurer again and again. The Democratic party may point with pride to so able a member. Hle was born in Ire- land in 1846 of parents in humble circumstances, who came to Troy when Joseph was but six years old. At an early age he was apprenticed to O. G. Clark, a builder. When but twenty years of age he secured a contract for the building of a large cot- ton mill in Vermont. He came to Hoosick Falls in 1869, where he became the most active and successful builder and contractor of his day, as the very many public buildings here and m other places will attest. Among other buildings erected by him are the St. Mary's Catholic church here, the Walter A. Wood Works after being destroyed by fire, the Catholic church at North Adams, the Congregational church at Bennington, and a Catholic church at Williamstown, Mass. In 1876 he entered in the business of grocer and coal dealer on Elm street where he still remains. He married Margaret Clifford of West Troy and has two sons: Joseph, jr., associated with his father since 1895; and William, a student.
Benedict, Mrs. L., is the widow of the late Lyman Benedict, whose death in 1876 was a source of universal regret. He was a man of decided character and possessed those noble and generous qualities which have served to embahn his memory in the hearts of both young and old. Ile was a liberal supporter of the Presbyterian church, where his memory still lingers as a benediction. He was born in 1805, son of a farmer who died when Mr. Benedict was small, leaving a large family. They
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were very poor but the mother, heroine that she was, maintained a home, keeping the flock together. Mr. Benediet learned the mason trade and came to Hoosiek Falls about 1830, engaging in building and contracting, and most of the factories and many brick houses were erected under his supervision. Ile was also an exten- sive contractor on the Fitchburgh Railroad and its bridges. He was a member of the Wood Machine Co. from its organization, and erected in 1874 a handsome resi- dence. Ile allied himself in 1839 to one of the first families of this place by his mar- riage to Caroline E. Bishop. She is of English ancestry, a daughter of the late William Bishop, who was also born here. Her grandfather, Nathaniel Bishop, was one of the first settlers here.
Crape, Crist, was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, June 20, 1848. He is a son of Joseph and Margaret (Snyder) Crape, who came to America in 1850 and settled at Glass House where Mr. Crape was employed in the glass factory. He afterward en- gaged in farming which he followed until the fall of 1862, when he enlisted in Co. D. 10th N. Y. Vols. Hle returned to his home in August, 1863, and died about ten days after. Mrs. Crape died in 1891. February 1, 1868, Crist was married to Henrietta, daughter of llenry and Harriet Warger, who came from Germany in abont 1840. Mr. Warger was a mason by trade, and lived and died in Sand Lake. Mrs. Warger died in 1883, after which Mr. Warger resided with Crist until his death, which oe- curred in 1893. To Mr. and Mrs. Crape have been born four children, all of whom are at home; they are Libbie, Maggie, Charles, and Harry. Mr. Crape commenced his business career as a peddler, and then for several years was in the lumber busi- ness at Sand Lake, and in 1880 bought the Central Hotel which he has greatly en- larged and improved and where guests will always receive the best of accommoda tion. Mr. Crape has been assessor for four years and supervisor for one year. Ile takes a great interest in schools and has been for ten or twelve years trustee of the Sand Lake school. He is a member of Schodack Union Lodge No. 87, F. & A. M., Interlachen Lodge No. 541, 1. O. O. F., of Rensselaer Encampment, No. 96, and also P. of 1. or Wynantskill.
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