Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 53

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 53

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Easton, C. W., the original member of the firm of Easton, Rising & Worden of lloosick Falls, began business life as first clerk in a news-room at North Adams, Mass., where he was born in 1815, a son of a shoe dealer, and where his education was completed. After three years in the news-room he entered the post-office at Pittsfield, Mass., remaining one year, then returning to North Adams as clerk in a general store. In 1866 he went to South Adams and opened a confectionery store, which he condueted for three years. lle then spent five years on the Hoosac tun- nel, having charge of the central shaft store. He came here in 1875 and established a fire insurance business, also a coal trade which lie conducted five years when in 1879 he was joined by George F. Rising, and later by L. E. Worden, the firm name now being Easton, Rising & Worden; this firm has grown to be one of the oldest as well as the most prominent one in the place. Mr. Easton married in 1867 Mary C., daughter of II. Il. Clark, a prominent eotton manufacturer of South Adams. Of the eleven children that were born to them only four daughters are now living. Mr. Easton is a director in the First National Bank of floosiek Falls, also president of the Industrial Building and Manufacturing Company; he is a Republican, but not an aspirant for public office; he is a leading member of the M. E. church, trustee and treasurer, also superintendent of the Sunday school,

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Brown, Willet A., was born in the city of Brooklyn, June 13, 1847. He was a son of Thomas S. and Wilhelmina (Burtchell) Brown, he a native of Connecticut and she of Brooklyn. Mr. Brown was a blacksmith by trade and carried on the business in Albany and Greenbush, coming to Albany in abont 1847. He was a member of Greenbush Lodge I. O. O. F. ; he died in 1893, and Mrs. Brown died in 1854. Willet A. was reared and educated in Greenbush. In 1869 he married Lucy, daughter of John N. and Caroline (Wheeler) White, he a native of Boston. Mr. White died in 1864 and Mrs. White died in 1859; he was engaged in the manufacture of shoes in New York city. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born five children: Willet L., Edgar W., Mabel W., Virginia P., and Lena V. Mr. Brown commeneed his business career as cabin boy on the Hudson River, nest as a brakeman on the Hudson River Railroad, and then went to Troy as ticket inspector and in 1870 he was promoted to passenger conductor, In 1881 Mr. Brown came to Sand Lake and purchased the Crooked Lake Hotel, of which he is still proprietor. He has in connection with the house a farm of thirty-six aeres. Ile has one of the most delightful locations in the State for summer homes.

Feathers, John W., was born in Sand Lake, November 27, 1844. He is a son of George and Betsey (Peck) Feathers, he a native of Brunswick and she of Sand Lake; the parents of George Feathers were Adam and Catherine (Bonesteel) Feathers; he was born in Middletown, May 9, 1789, and she in Brunswick, January 29, 1997; the father of Adam, George Feathers, was born in Sharon, May 5, 1761 ; his wife, Elizabeth Jacobs, was born at Little Hoosick, April 12, 1766; the father of John W. was born December 23, 1817. In 1838 he married Betsey. Peck, and died November 27, 1893. Mrs. Feathers still survives him and is eighty-one years of age. Ile was a farmer and poormaster for about twelve years, and was assessor for about eighteen years; he was very active in the M. E. church and was class leader for fifty-three years. John W. has always given his attention to farming and garden- ing. In 1878 Mr. Feathers married Eunice M., a daughter of Barton and Almina (Flint) Horton, both natives of Poestenkill; the grandfather was Platt Horton. Mr. and Mrs Feathers have two children: Charles Wesley and Sylvester B.

Gillespie, Nelson, of the well-known firm of Gillespie Bros., is one of the most prominent, influential and highly respected citizens of Hoosick Falls. He was born at Johnstown, Fulton county, N. Y., in 1848, son of Joseph and Fanny Hogeboom-Gil- lespie, natives of Greenbush, N. Y. He is of Scotch and Dutch ancestry and inherits the sterling qualities which distinguish the best of both races. His thirteenth year, which was the commencement of his successful mercantile life, was also the last opportunity given him as a pupil in school. For eighteen years he was department manager with the firm of G. V. S. Quackenbush & Co. Troy, and came to Hoosick Falls in February, 1886, having been for the three previous years a member of the firm of Gillespie Bros., dry goods, then located on John street. Now their extensive establishment ocenpies double stores in Cheney Block, Main street. Mr. Gillespie was always interested in historic research and is corresponding secretary of the local historical society, Ile is independent in politics; a communicant and vestry- man in St. Mark's church, and a past master of Apollo Lodge, F. & A. M., Troy, N. Y. In 1886 he wrote and published a brief history of the lodge, and is engaged in the work of compiling an enlarged centennial edition.

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McLaren, John and Robert .- In 1851, in company with his brother David, John McLaren emigrated from Scotland to America and settled in West Troy, and in 1854 Robert and his parents, John and Mary, joined them. John commenced work in the West Troy Woolen Mills. Robert went to Pittsfield, Mass., where he worked in the mills, thence to North Adams where he was eleven years boss dyer. John was engaged at different places in the mills and in 1865 came to West Sand Lake and became one of the firm of Kidder, Aiken & MeLaren in the manufacture of knit woolen goods. The firm was changed to Aiken & McLaren, and finally the building was burned. In 1881 Robert joined his brother and the establishment was rebuilt and has since been run under the name of J. & R. McLaren. John McLaren was born in Scotland in 1830 and died in West Sand Lake in December, 1891; his widow, Elizabeth Lester, a native of Stephentown, and three children, J. Howard, David G. and Ella M., survive him. Robert McLaren was born in Scotland in 1834 and died in West Sand Lake in September, 1889; his widow, Sarah Bickley, of Lee, Mass., and three chil- pren, John R., Ida B. and Robert L., reside at West Sand Lake. Robert was a member of Lafayette Lodge, North Adams, F. & A. M. On January 1, 1895, J. IJoward and his cousin John R. took charge of the business. They manufacture a fine quality of knit underwear and overshirts and employ about seventy hands.

Mullin, Andrew, when sixteen years of age learned the cigarmakers' trade, which he followed until 1873 when he started in business for himself. In 1875 he married Sarah Henrietta Allen and has one child, Florence Henrietta. In 1876 he moved to Eagle Mills and carried on a cigar manufactory. In 1884 he entered the employ of the Planter IJoe Co. Since 1886 he has lived more retired. In 1878 he was elected town clerk, which office he has held to the present time with the exception of three years. Ile was postmaster during Harrison's term from 1888 to June, 1893, when he was appointed deputy postmaster, which he holds at the present time. He is active in the Church of Christ, of which he has been trustee, deacon and clerk. Hle is active in education and is now treasurer of the district. He is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 48, and Apollo Commandery No. 15. He was made a Mason in 1873, and was formerly a member of Rensselaer Lodge, I, O. O. F., and Crusade Lodge, K. of P., in which lodge he has held all the offices. He was active in temperance work, and has been notary publie for the past seventeen years.

Moses, Charles J., was born in Petersburgh, June 28, 1834. Fle is a son of Dr. Hiram and Abeline (Worthington) Moses. Hiram was a son of Thomas, a na- tive of Norfolk, Conn. Dr. Hiram was a graduate of Yale and afterwards took a course in medicine at Castleton. Vt. In 1825 he practiced medicine with his brother at Hoosick Falls. One year later he moved to Petersbugh, where he spent the remainder of his days. Ile married Abeline Worthington, and their children are Dr. Hiram, Aaron, Thomas, Charles J., Albert A. and Solon. Charles J. had a common school education, and when about twenty years of age he went West and spent five years on the lakes and in Western States. He then enlisted in the sloop of war Hartford and visited China, Japan and other foreign countries. He was mustered out in December. 1861, since which tinie he as followed farming and the hotel business. May 1, 1863, he married Mary Etta Hewitt, and their children are Jennie, Solon and Frank. His wife died April 30, 1891. Later he married Mary,

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daughter of George Perdiger of Poestenkill, N. Y. Aaron Worthington married Abigail Ross, and their children are Sardinia, Sallie, Pauline, John, Abeline, Aaron F., David R., William C., Ambrose and Winfield S. Thomas Moses married Abigail (Brown) Moses, and their children are Solomon, Thomas J., Ralph, Benjamin, Hiram, Betsey, Julia, Eunice, Abigail and Ruth.

Coverly, James Montford, was born in Boston, Mass. He is the son of James W. Coverly, who was born in Sanbornton, N. II., and for thirty years has been superin- tendent in the large dry goods house of Jordan, Marsh & Co. J. M. Coverly was educated in the public schools of Boston and went as clerk in the office of Bradford & Anthony, where he remained for several years, when he took a position in the office of the Standard Clothing Company, with whom he was connected for twelve years, when he came to Troy and with Mr. Wells formed the large clothing house of Wells & Coverly.

· Consalus, John, was born in West Charlton, Saratoga county, N. Y., in 1828. His great-grandfather settled in Charlton during the Revolutionary war and was killed by the Indians. His father, Emanuel Consalus, was born in West Charlton and be- sides being a farmer was a dealer in real estate and died in 1881. His mother was Catherine Worden, who died in 1887 at the age of eighty-three. John was educated in the common schools and the Amsterdam Academy and when twenty-two years of age assisted his father in buying cattle, sheep, wool, etc., and in 1862 came to Troy and with his brother started the firm of J. & D. A. Consalus, wool dealers; twelve years later he bought his brother's interest in the concern and since 1888 has done a brokerage business in wool; his office is at 351 River street. He was town collector of Charlton and while living there represented his distriet for two terms in the Board of Supervisors. He belongs to the American Protective Tariff Association of New York, also a member of the Royal Arcanum. In 1865 he was married to Julia McDowell of Canada, by whom he has two sons and two daughters: John E., D. Arthur, Charlotte F. and Edna N.

Cahill, John F, was born in Cambridge, N. Y., in 1851. He is the son of John and Margaret (Flannery) Cahill, who came from Ireland in 1849, and settled in Washington county, where they remained until 1858, when the mother and children came to Troy, John Cahill having died in 1857. Mrs. Cahill died in 1895. John F. was educated at the Brothers' Academy and went as an apprentice to the Clinton foundry to learn the moulder's trade. lle was a member of the Iron Moulders' Union No. 2, and represented them at their convention, and was president of the organization two terms. He worked at his trade for nine years, and took the posi- tion of superintendent of the Troy Electric Light Company. In 1889 he was made superintendent and still remains in that position. He was a member of the School Board from 1876 to 1882, and from 1885 to 1891, and president of the School Board in 1891. He is alderman from the First ward, and for the past two years has been president of the Common Council. He married Miss Belle E. Maloney in 1888.

Craver, Sylvester J., was born in East Greenbush, January 27, 1832 Ile is a son of John W. and Catherine (Cooper) Craver, a native of East Greenbush and she of Poestenkill. The grandparents, William and Elizabeth (Koon) Craver, came from Dutchess county and settled in Greenbush in pioneer days. The maternal grand-

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parents, Christopher and Catherine Cooper, were farmers of Poestenkill where they lived and died. John W. Craver was a farmer of East Greenbush; he was assessor for a number of years; he died in 1888 and his wife died in 1878. Sylvester J. Craver was educated at the academy at Sand Lake and taught school for a while. In 1858 he married Esther, danghter of Daniel M. and Abigail (Monl) Haywood. Mr. Ilay- wood was a native of Dutchess county and spent Is life on the farm now owned by Mr. Craver. To Mr. and Mrs. Craver have been born three children: Elmer 11., coal dealer of Troy; he married Carrie M. Lawson; Abbie, wife of Edward Graham, elerk and bookkeeper for the electric works of Schenectady, and Mary E., who died at the age of two years. Mr. Craver has a farm of 135 acres in North Greenbush where he has carried on general farming since 1858. He makes a specialty of dairy and fruit growing.

De Forest, George Thompson, was born in North Greenbush, December 24, 1866; he is a son of De Witt Clinton and Mary Thompson De Forest. The father died in 1891. Mrs. De Forest resides at De Freestville and is seventy-two years of age. The father of De Witt was Col. John De Forest, of the war of 1812; his parents were David and Rachael Vanderheyden of Albany; John married Ann Knickerbacker, of Schaghticoke. David settled in De Freestville in 1755, where he died in 1833; he built the De Freestville Hotel, was a large land owner; was largely instrumental in the organization and building of the Reformed church, giving the ground for both the chinrch and parsonage, and was an elder in the church for a number of years; and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The maternal grandparents of Mr. De Forest were James and Rhoda (Whalen) Thompson; he was born at Stillwater, November 20, 1775, and she was born in 1793; he died December 19, 1845; he was a lawyer by profession and judge of the Court of Common Pleas from 1818 to 1833; he wasappointed Regent of the University in 1822; he was educated at Stillwater and was graduated from the academy, now Union College, Schenectady, and was admitted to the bar in 1797. The father of James was John Thompson, born in 1748 and died in 1823; he married Frances MeFarlane and settled in Stillwater about 1763; he was a farmer and soklier of the Revolutionary war, and was at the battle of Bemis Heights; he was a member of assembly and first judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Saratoga county, and held that position until incapacitated by old age; he was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1801, and was also a member of the sixth, tenth, and thirteenth Congresses. George T. De Forest was educated in Ballston and Union College and made a specialty of civil engineering; he was bridge engineer on the Kansas City, Fort Scott and Memphis Railroad, and was with the Phoenix Bridge Company of Pennsylvania. Ile is now at De Freestville managing the farm and business of his mother. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Drake, Charles F., was born in Troy in 1851. His grandfather, Samuel Drake, was born in Ulster county and came to Troy when young; he was a captain in the Mexican war. His father, Francis Drake, founder of the business in which the sub- ject of the sketch is engaged, was born in 1838 and died in 1866. llis mother was Mary (Wheeler) Drake, of Troy, daughter of Capt. John Wheeler. After a common school education, Charles F. entered the store of his father on River street in the saddlery business. After the death of his father in 1876 the business was carried on by Winnie, Burdiet & Co., which was succeeded by Winnie & Drake and in 1890 Mr.

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Drake purchased Mr. Winnie's interest and since that time has conducted the busi- ness himself, which is now one of the largest stores of the kind in the State

De Freest, Isaac, was born September 12, 1840. Ile is the son of William and Anna Maria (Wendell) De Freest, both of Greenbush, where they lived and died; they had four boys, Sanmel V. A., Isaae W., Charles W. and Madison V. ; the grand- parents were Philip and Kezia De Freest; the great-grandfather of Isaac De Freest came from Holland and was a pioneer of Greenbush, settling at De Freestville. William De Freest spent his life on a farm in North Greenbush where he chied in May, 1876. Mrs. De Freest ched in 1863. Isaac De Freest was reared on the farm, and farming and fruit growing has been his occupation ; he now gives his attention principally to the cultivation of small fruits. In 1868 Mr. De Freest married Kezia, daughter of Philip V. and Jane (Van Allen) Winne, farmers of Albany county ; the maternal grandparents of Mrs. De Freest were John and Jane Van Allen of Albany county. He has been collector of the town for four years, and in 1896 was elected supervisor of North Greenbush, and is the present incumbent.

Enos, Edgar A., D. D., is of New England colonial ancestry, being a lineal de . scendant on the paternal side of John Enos of Westerly, R. I., 1650, and on the ma- ternal side of Henry Stevens, of Stonington, Conn., 1666. He was prepared for college at the Whitestown Seminary, Whitesboro, N. Y., and entered Hamilton Col- lege in 1870, graduating with the class of 1874. In 1875 he was instructor in Latin and mathematies in the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. In 1876 he entered Union Theological Seminary, New York city from which he was graduated in 1878; for several years thereafter he was connected with the Hasbrouck Institute, Jersey City, as instructor in history, rhetoric and elocution. On Trinity Sunday, 1881, he was ordered deacon by Bishop Horatio Potter in St. Paul's chapel, Trinity parish, New York, and on the 12th of January, 1882, he was ordered priest by the same bishop, in the Church of the Transfiguration, New York. His first service in orders was in the Church of the Heavenly Rest in New York under the direction of the late Rev. Dr. Robert S. Howland. After this service he was the rector successively of All Saints, Larchmont Manor, N. Y., Christ's church, Towanda, Pa., and St. John's church, Bridgeport, Conn., and in April, 1887, he entered on the rectorship of St. Paul's parish, Troy, N. Y. In 199 the degree of Doctor of Divinity was con- ferred upon him by St. Stephen's College, Annandale. Ile is married and has three children ; his wife is a daughter of the late General F. W. Hopkins of Rutland, Vt.

Fry, Edwin A., was born in Hartwick, Otsego county, N. Y., July 14, 1833. Ilis grandfather was a captain in the Revolutionary war and his great-grandfather served in the Revolutionary and French and Indian wars. His father, William Fry, was born in Rhode Island, and served in the war of 1812; he died in 1872. Edwin A. received his education in Sherburne Academy and Albany Normal School, and commenced teaching in West Troy. He afterwards taught in Cohoes, Green Island, and has been teaching in Troy twenty-four years. He enlisted in the Civil war and served until its close. Ile is a past commander of Post Griswold G. A. R., and a member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M. His first wife was Catherine A. Hackett of West Troy who died in 1886. Ilis present wife was Gertrude A. Cressey also of West Troy ; they have two daughters.

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Ferguson, William, was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1838, and came to this country with his parents the same year. He received his education in the public schools of Troy and afterwards learned the plumber's trade. He was in the United States navy during the war. In 1866 he with Fergus Dodds formed the firm of Dodds & Ferguson in the plumbing business which continued until 1880 when he ' bought Mr. Dodds's interest in the coneern and has since carried on the business himself. Ile belongs to the Royal Arcanum and Post Griswold G. A. R. In 1869 he married Ilelen Arthur, of Cohoes, N. Y., who died December 23, 1895. He has three daughters

Graham, Thomas II., was born in the city of Albany, October IS, 1866, and is a son of John and Margaret (Close) Graham, both natives of the North of Ireland, both born in 1840 and came to the United States and settled in Albany, where Mrs. Gra- ham died in 1879, and Mr. Graham now resides with Thomas II. His grandparents were Robert and Margaret (Smith) Graham, farmers of Scotland, where they were born and reared; they moved to the North of Ireland, where he died in 1848, and she died at Cohoes, N. Y., in 1867. After the death of his father, John Graham was reared in Scotland by his grandparents, John and Elenor (Hogan) Graham; he was a farmer by occupation. Thomas H. was reared and educated in Albany and mar- ried. April 27, 1892, to Jane Carner, daughter of Christopher and Sarah Carner of East Greenbush. To Mr. and Mrs. Graham were born two children: Martha and Walter. From the age of fifteen to twenty-one Mr. Graham was with Mr. Carner, brother of his wife, in the dairy business. In 1892 he purchased the Austin farm of seventy-five acres in East Greenbush. Ile runs a dairy of about forty-five cows.

Hall, Richard F., was born in Troy, N. Y., September 21, 1833. Ile is a son of Daniel and Anjinette (Fitch) Hall. His father was born in Westminster, Vt., and was the son of Judge Lot Ilall of the Supreme Court of Vermont. Ile graduated from Middleboro College and came to Troy in 1801, where he entered the office of Judge Amasa Paine, and afterwards became Is partner and practiced law until his death, which occurred December 10, 1868. Ilis mother died in ISSA. R. F. Hall received his education in private schools in Troy until 1849 when he entered Phillips Academy at Andover, Mass., and prepared for college and entered Harvard in 1850 and was graduated in 1851. He then engaged in the lumber business under the firm name of Culver & Hall at West Troy, and after five years bought Mr. Culver's in- terest and the firm was known as Hall, Russell & Co., and continued in business until August, 1875. In 1879 he was made superintendent of the West Troy Gas Light Company which position he occupied for nine years. He always took a great deal of interest in the fire department and became a member on July 17, 1855, of the Washington Volunteer Fire Company, and was captain of the company in 1857 and 1858, and again from 1860 to 1866, when he was made chief of the fire department of Troy, and held that office until March, 1869. He was made fire commissioner in 1872, serving two terms of six years each. He was appointed water commissioner in 1870, in which capacity he is still acting. He is a member of the American Gas Light Association, a director in the West Troy National Bank, trustee and secretary of the Troy Orphan Asylum, served twelve years in the National Guard and is a member of St. John's Episcopal church. He was married to Miss Sarah Helen Belding, February 2, 1860, who is the daughter of Wells Belding of Troy.

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FAMILY SKETCHES.

Klock, Daniel, jr., was born in Seward, N, Y., November 27, 1836; he is of Ger- man descent; his father, Daniel Klock, was born in Montgomery county, N. Y., in 1817 and died in 1876. His mother, Catherine (France) Klock, daughter of llenry France, lived to be sixty-five years old. Daniel, jr., attended the district school until sixteen years of age after which he worked on his father's farm for some time and entered the Richmondville Seminary in Schoharie county, N. Y., where he re- mained one year. He then went back with his father until he was twenty-three and came to Troy and dealt in farm produce, brrrowing the money to carry on the busi- ness with. Ile later took an agency for a sewing machine. In December, 1865, he purchased from F. A. Plumb the rubber store at 190 River street, a small establish- ment doing from ten to twelve thousand dollars business per year. He only in- creased business as he increased his capital; from a small retail trade his business has increased and he is doing the largest business in the State outside of the city of New York, Mr. Klock is the president of the National Bank of Troy and is treas- urer of the Troy Methodist Conference and trustee of the State M. E. church. He was president of the Rensselaer County Musical Association for twenty years. In 1893 he was married to Miss Minnie Vasey of Troy. In politics he is a staunch Re. publican. Ile is a member of the Masonie order, having attained the degree of Knight Templar.

Keaugh, Bryant, was born in Ireland and came to America when a young man, and commenced work on a farm. He married Mary Burk of Ireland, by whom seven children have been born, five now living: John, who runs the home farm; Mary, Ella, Eliza, Jane and Martha. Mr. Keaugh has about eighty aeres of land near Green- bush, and is engaged in general farming. He is a Democrat in politics.

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 53

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