USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3 > Part 55
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Betts, Joseph B., born near where he now resides August 12, 1821, is the son of Thomas and Catherine (Wheeler) Betts. Thomas was a son of Nathan who came from Norwalk, Conn., with his family about 1785 and kept a hotel near where Rich- ard Derrick now lives; they had three children, Thomas, Burwell and Nathan. Thomas followed farming; his children were Esther, Edward, Azubah, Mary A., Jane Ann, Joseph B. ; Thomas was a Quaker and took great interest in religions work, also was active in town and county affairs; he was overseer of the poor, asses- sor, etc. In early life Joseph B. attended the district school winters and farmed summers, which occupation he has followed to the present time. He has been over- seer of the poor three terms. October 26, 1811, he married Sarah E. Clum and has five children, Thomas A., Maria A., Clarence E., Caroline O, and Frances ().
Barber, jr., George, was born in East Poestenkill in 1848. Israel Barber, his
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great-grandfather, was a native of Rhode Island, born in 1761; his wife Permelia was born in 1767; they removed to Poestenkill in the early part of this century and settled where Barberville now is; here he cleared him a farm and made a home in the wilderness; their family consisted of eight sons and four daughters: Israel, Nathan, Thomas, Benjamin, David, William, Martin, John, Rhoda, Permelia, Eliza- beth, and Lucy ; he died April 1, 1818, and his wife died August 7, 1818. Benjamin, his grandfather, was born in Rhode Island in 1803 and came to Poestenkill with his father; he became a tavern keeper and merchant in Barberville, where he spent all his business life ; his wife was Selisa Sayles, who was born in 1809; they reared two sons and two daughters; he died in July, 1864, and his wife died in April, 1857. George, thefatherof our subject, was born in Poestenkill in 1822, and while a young man followed teaching; later he settled in East Poestenkill and engaged in the general mercantile business, which he followed a number of years and then resumed teach- ing, which he followed principally the balance of his life; he filled the office of jus- tice of the peace for many years, being first elected to that office soon after he be- came twenty-one years of age, and was still justice at the time of his death in 1893; he was also assessor for a number of years; he was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity; his wife was Alzina, a daughter of Roswell and Harriet Brunson, who was born in Poestenkill; their children are George, jr., and Alzonzo; his wife survives him and resides in Poestenkill. George, jr., was educated in the common schools and the Poughkeepsie Business College, from which he was graduated when twenty years of age. The following year he engaged in the general mercantile business in East Poestenkill in a store belonging to his father. With the exception of one year, which he spent in Troy as a clerk in a store, he has conducted this business ever since. For a number of years he was extensively engaged in the manufacture of shirts by contract, doing work for Troy and New York parties. After the death of his father he was appointed to fill his unexpired term of justice, and after that he was elected to that office and is now filling the same. Ile is a member of the Ma- sonie fraternity, King Solomon Lodge of Troy. He has held the office of clerk of his district for a number of years. In 1867 Mr. Barber married Augusta R., daugh- ter of Martin Niles, who was born in the town of Berlin. Their children are Mrs. Hattie Herrington of Poestenkill, and Harry. Mr. Barber has held the office of postmaster several terms and is now assistant postmaster, with office in his store.
Cottrell, William C., was born in the town of Greenfield, Saratoga county, October 23, 1858, and is a son of James who was born in Poestenkill in February, 1814. Samuel Cottrell, the great-grandfather of William C., was a resident of Roxbury, Mass., and though not a soldier he rendered great active service to the Revolution- ary army and participated in some of the skirmishes; it is said he hauled the first load of earth used in building the embankment at Bunker Hill; a portion of his house was used as a barricade. John Cottrell, the grandfather of William C., settled in Poestenkill about 1809. Hle cleared the farm and made him a home, did an ex- tensive lumber business and owned an interest in a saw mill; in 1810 he married Sarah Davitt; they reared five sons and four daughters; he was born December 15, 1776, and died August 10, 1812; his wife was born in 1988 and died September 8. 1869; their children were George, born May 6, 1812; James, born February 13, 1814; Mary J., born January 13, 1817; Sally A., born November 14, 1818; John C., born
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January 26, 1821; William L., born October 26, 1823; Amasa, born June 6, 1825; Eleanor M., born July 26, 1831. The early life of James, the father of William C., was devoted to farming and lumbering; he kept a store a short time during the late war ; he has served his town as highway commissioner, collector and held other offices ; his wife was Betsey A. Simmons, born in Poestenkill and daughter of Jacob Sim- mons; to them were born children as follows: Mary, born September 28, 1837, died January 29, 1889; John J., born July 29, 1839, died April 6, 1843; Lewis J. and Lois J. (twins), born Sept. 11, 1843; Sally A., born Sept. 1, 1848, died July 3, 1857; Will- iam C., born Oct. 23, 1858. Mr. and Mrs. Cottrell are now residing near the village of Poestenkill; he oversees his own farm and is very active. William C. Cottrell re- ceived a common school education and began hfe for himself when twenty-two as a farmer, which business he has followed successfully to the present time. In 1880 he purchased his present farm of 100 acres and conducted a milk and dairy business for some years. In 1893 he engaged in the general mercantile business in Poestenkill village, in connection with which he superintends his farm. In March, 1895, he re- ceived his appointment as postmaster of Poestenkill. In polities he is a Democrat . and served his town as collector for three years. He is a member of the Odd Fel- lows, Lodge No. 701, af which he has been secretary. In 1887 he married Mary E. Snow, who was born in Batchellorville, Saratoga county, and daughter of Winslow E. aud Cordelia M. (Jones) Snow; to this union were born three children: Bessie, born November 30, 1859 (died December, 1895), Raymond W., born June 14, 1891 (died March, 1892), and Erwin Judson, born August 6, 1895.
Carner, Frank II .-- Mr. C. was born September 18, 1856, in the town of East Greenbush, and is a son of John G. Carner and Sarah Harvey, who were engaged in farming. Mr. C. at the age of sixteen entered " The People's Academy" at Morris- ville, Vt., from which he graduated, after which he engaged as manager of a flour- ing mill business, in which he continued ten years. December 25, 1879, he married Miss Cleora V. Cross, daughter of James and Abigail Cross of Sterling, Vt. In 1885 he moved to Brunswick and has resided there since, in the eastern part of the town, where he has one of the finest dwellings in that section. Mr. C. is interested in re- ligious, educational and other matters that are for the town's best interest. Ile has held various town offices and is now serving his third term as assessor. Mr. C. is prominently connected with the Masonic fraternity, being an active member of Mt. Vernon Lodge and Tucker Chapter of Morrisville, Mt. Zion Commandery K. T., Montpelier, and Order of Highpriesthood at Burlington, Vt., having been at the head of most of these organizations. During the year 1884 Mr. C. held the office of grand king of the Grand Chapter of Royal Arch Masons of Vermont. Mrs. C. is also a prominent member of the order of the Eastern Star, having been associate grand matron for Vermont in 188.1.
Clum, Sanford, born in Brunswick, December 28, 1848, is the son of Conrad and Rebecca Clum. Conrad was a pioneer and general farmer; he was much interested in temperance work as well as churches and schools; he was charitable, social and highly respected by all his friends and neighbors. Sanford's early education was a common school one. He afterwards graduated from Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Ile is a farmer and associated with his father until he died, June 12, 1876. He married Etta, a daughter of Abraham Bulson, and has three
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children, Friend M., Cora E., and Waldo S. Conrad's children were Isaac, John Il., Ira, David, Alviah, Charles M., Henrietta, Sanford, Jacob, Ella, Willie and Myron.
Clum, Orlin J., born in the town of Brunswick, July 11, 1815, is the son of James D. and Christina (Brust) Blum. James M. was a blacksmith and was interested in all publie enterprises, such as schools and churches, also town and county affairs; he was constable and deputy sheriff; August 5, 1865, he enlisted as a drum major under Col. Brust. Orlin J. started to learn the blacksmith trade when sixteen years of age which he has followed to the present time. He was associated with his father until he died, August 21, 1875, at fifty-seven years of age. June 30, 1868, he married Josephine, daughter of Nelson Rifenburgh, and has one child, Edna. He was formerly active in town and county affairs. He has been collector aud excise com- missioner.
Collison, Francis C., was born on the farm where he now resides, April 3, 1840. Ile was a son of Francis C. and Betsey (Collins) Collison, he a son of Francis C. and Mary Collison, who came here and took up the homestead and followed pioneer farming. Their children are Jane Keis Orcutt, Mary McChesney, Francis C., James, John L., Eliza Chase, and Catherine Coons. He was publie spirited and actively interested in all public enterprises. The children of Francis C. are Francis C. (deceased), Robert (deceased), Francis C. and Mary Elizabeth (deceased). Francis C. attended district school and Poestenkill Academy. He was associated with his father until his death, which occurred October 17, 1883. Since then he has carried on farming. January 1, 1866, he married Lottie McChesney, who died, and No- vember 27, 1822, he married Harriet F. Link. He is publie spirited and is interested in all worthy enterprises, such as schools, churches, and town and county affairs. Mrs. Collison is a member of the Presbyterian church.
Ives, jr., Garrett, was born in the town of Wynantskill in 1860, and is the son of Garrett, sr. Lazarus Ives, the great great-grandsire of Garrett, jr., was born in Wales in 1233; he was one of three brothers, Lazarus, John and Benjamin, who came to America when young men; the former settled in the town of Sand Lake; he reared two sons (Lazarus and Christopher) and three daughters; he died in 1812; his wife, lydia Giremes, died in 1824 at the age of eighty three. Christopher was born in the town of Sand Lake in fiel ; he was a farmer and his sous were Jacob, Abijah, Rausom, Truman and John; he also reared several daughters; he died in 1830. Jacob was born in the town of Poestenkill in 1989; he was a farmer and lumberman ; he was a great wrestler when a young man; in 1848 he removed to the western part of the State, in 1851 removed to Illinois, were he died in 1853; his wife was Olive Quackenbush; she died in 1819. Garrett, sr., was born in Poestenkill, May, 1825; in early live he was in the charcoal business; he later engaged in the meat business and was drover for some years. About 1860 he purchased the Union Hotel in the village of Poestenkill, which he conducted as a temperance house; in connection with this be conducted a grocery store; he was later interested extensively in the lumber- ing business and for four years owned an interest in a saw mill; he was then for eight years engaged in the dairying and milk business; m his later years he has devoted his attention to his seventy-five acre farm near the village; in 1865 he was one of the building committee who erected the present Lutheran church in the vil-
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lage of Poestenkill, and was the heaviest cash contributor toward the building; in . 1846 he was married to Miss Emily Streeter, who was born in Wilmington, Vt., in June, 1825; she is a daughter of Eri and Lucy C. (Sykes) Streeter; their children are Mrs. Mary E. Colehamer, Sydney V., Mrs. Ella C. McChesney and Garrett, jr. Salem Streeter, the grandfather of Mrs. Ives, was a soldier and died on his way home from the war; his wife, Margaret Rogers, and son, Eri, survived him ; his maternal grand- parents were Samuel and Lucy (Leonard) Sykes; the mother of Lucy, who was Lucy, lived to be 100 years old. Garrett Ives, jr., remained at his father's home till twenty-one; he received his education in the common schools and Troy Business College, from which he was graduated; he then engaged in farming and milk busi- ness for himself, selling his milk in Troy; he owns a farm of eighty acres, and in 1891 he removed to the farm of his father-in-law, which he has since conducted; he is a successful breeder of Jersey cattle and keeps a dairy of twenty cows, selling his cream to the Brunswick Creamery Association of which he is president. In politics Mr. Ives is a Republican, now serving his third year as assessor. He is a prominent member of the order of Odd Fellows, Poestenkill Lodge No. 304, of which he has been secretary and is now chaplain ; he is a member of the Patrons of Industry, is trustee of the Lutheran Evangelical church of Poestenkill, and treasurer of the Christian Endeavor Society of which he and his wife are members. In 1881 he mar- ried Miss Alice Chekner, daughter of Jacob and Lydia A (Ives) Clickner; they have one child, Eva C.
Hunt, Eugene Mortimer, was born in Washington county, N Y., in 1860. He is a son of Thomas Hunt, who was born in England in 1828; he was one of seven sons born to Russell Hunt, who was a blacksmith and who lived and died in England; the sons all came to America; the mother made ladies' shoes in England and also afterwards came to America; she lived in Fort Ann, Washington county, and re- sided with her son Thomas, with whom she spent her last days and died at the age of ninety-eight. Thomas, the father of Mr. Hunt, came to America about 1855 and settled in Fort Ann, Washington county. Ile was a tailor by trade, which busi- ness he followed for a number of years; he then removed to Troy, where he en- gaged for a short time in the liquor business, and then removed to Fort Ann and resumed his tailoring, which he followed until the time of his death in 1995; he was constable for seven years and poormaster for five years; his wife was Elisabeth Batey, who was born in Port Kent, N. Y. ; she was a daughter of George and Ann Batey; the latter lived to be eighty eight years of age; their children were Eugene M., Jennie, Minnie, Thomas, jr., and Nelson; the mother now resides at Glens Falls, N. Y. Eugene M. Hunt began life for himself at the age of sixteen. Hle en. tered the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company as brakeman, re- maining there for seven years. He then engaged in the retail liquor business in Troy, where he remained in active business until April, 1895, when he removed to the village of Poestenkill and purchased his present hotel property which he has since conducted and enjoys a good trade. While in the city of Troy he manifested an active interest in the pohtical affairs of the city and was elected to the office of alderman of the Second ward for one term. In 1890 he married Mrs. Lena (Moore) Furlong; she was born in Poestenkill and was a daughter of Henry Moore; they have one child, Martin William.
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Sheary, Michael F., was born in Troy, N. Y., March 26, 1866. His father is Law- rence Sheary of Troy, for many years connected with Rusher & Co. in the brewery. Michael F. was graduated from the Troy High School in 188.1. He then entered the Manufacturer's Bank where he stayed for ten years, working his way from a clerk to head bookkeeper. He was appointed postmaster of Troy by President Cleveland, May 29, 1894. He was the first to occupy the new Government building, which had been erected at the cost of $500,000. He is a member of the Troy Citizens Corps and the Laureate Boat Club, and a director mu and auditor for the Boutwell Milling and Grain Company. Mr. Sheary was also one of the organizers of the Pioneer Building and Loan Association and served as auditor thereof for three years.
Bonesteel, Howard F., M. D., was born in Troy in 1868. Ile is the son of Dr. William M. Bonesteel, who was born in Brunswick, and came to Troy about 1560 and began practice in 1863. Ile has been county and jail physician. His mother, Frances (Fox) Bonesteel, is the daughter of the late Rev. Robert Fox, a prominent divine of the State. Dr. Bonesteel was educated at the public and high schools of Troy, was graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1889, and later spent three months in the Post-graduate School in New York city, then opened practice in Troy in 1890. Ile is a member of the New York State Medical Society of Troy and Vicimty. He has been city physician for the lower district four years. July, 1890, he married Miss Hattie MeCormick of Indian Lake, Hamilton county, N. V., by whom he has two sons, Elmer and Ralph.
Buchanan, jr., Archibald, M. D., was born in Albany, N. Y .. April 3, 1866. Ilis father, Archibald Buchanan, sr., was born in Scotland, came to this country and settled in Albany in 1862, afterwards removing to Troy. During the war he served as first lientenant in the 125th N. V. Vols. His mother, Janet (Muir) Buchanan, was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Dr. Buchanan attended the common schools, worked for a number of years, and then entered Albany Medical College from which he was graduated in 1895. He opened an office at 128 Third street where he since has been successfully engaged in the practice of his profession. He is a member of Rensse- laer County Medical Society, of which he is secretary. Ile was married in April, 1896, to Miss Hattie E. Mack of Troy.
Brown, Elias A., M. D., was born in Mannsville, Jefferson county, N. Y., January 31, 1861. He received a common school education and was graduated from the academy at Sandy Creek, afterwards entering the Medical Department of the Uni- versity of the City of New York, from which he was graduated in 1892. He then came to Troy and began the practice of his profession; he is now located at 1619 Fifth avenue corner of State street, where he since has been successfully engaged. lle belongs to the Rensselaer County Medical Society, and the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity.
Smith, Adam R., was born in Troy, N. V., October 20, 1826, of Massachusetts parentage and puritan descent. lle is the son of Adam and Ruth (Reed) Smith, both natives of Massachusetts and residents of South Reading (now Wakefield); they became residents of Troy in 1816; here Mr. Smith became a manufacturer of mill. stones, at which he prospered; both died in Troy. Adam R. was educated in a pri- vate school in Troy and for a period in New York enty, and in the years 1842 and
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18.13 in the Troy Polytechnic Institute. He became discount clerk in the Com- mercial Bank in Troy, January, 1816. He was made treasurer of the Troy Savings Bank in 1851, but went back to the Commercial Bank the same year as teller. He was made teller of the Union Bank in 1858 and cashier in 1870. Of all the persons in Troy connected with banks in any official capacity since 1846, he is, since the death of William Gay, the only one who still continues in office. Prior to the Re- bellion he was a Democrat, but since that time he has been identified with the Re- publiean party. Mr. Smith was made trustee and treasurer of the Oakwood Cem- etery Association in 1868, and in 1870 was made president, which office he still holds. Ile has been an official of that association longer than any other person except John Hobart Warren, whose election antedates Mr. Smith's by seven years. Mr. Warren resigned in 1894, leaving Mr. Smith the oldest official.
Myers, Charles G., D. D. S., was born in North Greenbush, November 15, 1868, and is a son of John S. and Sarah (Gordinier) Myers, both of Brunswick, Rensselaer county. His father is a farmer of North Greenbush, where he has resided since 1852. The great grandfather of Dr. Myers on the paternal side came from Holland to Rens- selaer county at an early day; his son Lodewick was born, lived and died in this county; he had eleven children, five sons and six danghters. John S. was the third son, born April 5, 1524; he stayed on his father's farm until his twenty eighth year, at which time he married and moved to North Greenbush. On the maternal side Dr. Myers can trace his ancestry back to his great-great- grandfather, Hendrick Gordinier, who came from Holland and was one of the first settlers of Rensselaer connty; he was a miller and blacksmith; he received a grant of land of 800 acres from Patroon Van Rensselaer, for whom he worked; during the Revolutionary war he raised a company (1776) of wluch he was captain, and served in Col. Philip Schny- ler's regiment. Ilis son, Henry Gordinier, married a Miss Vanderheyden, one of the first families of Troy, by whom he had five children John, the youngest, was the grandfather of our subject, and was a farmer as had been his forefathers; he married Elizabeth Bonesteel of Gra'ton in 1832, by whom he had eight children, Sarah being the eldest daughter. Dr. Myers was educated in the Troy Academy and entered the University of Maryland at Baltimore, from which he was graduated in dentistry in 1890. He came to Troy the same year and practiced dentistry with George Woolsey, under the firm name of Myers & Wookey, and in 1899 Woolsey retired from the firm. In 1992 Dr. Myers removed from No. 1 Third street to No. 99 Fourth street, where he is now located. He is a member of the Third District Dental Society, and is also a member of Apollo Lodge F. & A. M., and is a member of the East Side Chib, the Trojan Wheelmen's Club, and of the League of American Wheelmen. In Jume, 1895, he married Maria Myers, daughter of James H. and Harriet Peckham Myers of Troy.
McCulloch, William A., has been a resident of the town since 1832. He was born February 14, 1810, and is a son of Hathorn McCulloch, who emigrated from Scot- land in 1803 and died in 1859. Mr. MeCulloch resides upon a portion of a tract of land sitnated about one mile and a half from the village of Greenbush upon which, during the war of 1812, extensive barracks were erected, making it the chief military station near the northern frontier during that contest with the mother country, and, measurably, historie ground. The tract was purchased from the United States gov-
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ernment in the year 1831, by Hathorn MeCulloch above mentioned, after whose decease the portion not disposed of during his lifetime to William A. McCulloch, was divided between his grandchildren, William H. Kirtland and Mrs. Augusta G. Genet. Mrs. Genet is the wife of George C. Genet, a son of Edmond C. Genet, minister plenipotentiary of the French Republic to the United States in 1792, who lived for many years and until his death in this town. Mr. and Mrs. Genet make use of their portion of the tract as a summer residence, while Mr. McCulloch, since his retirement from active business pursuits, occupies his portion continuously. Mr. McCulloch was reared and educated in the city of Albany. In 1841 he married Caroline M., daughter of William Aiken, one of the founders of the village of Greenbush. To them were born three children : William II., a lawyer by profession, died in New Mexico. Ilis surviving sons, Aiken and Walter B., are both residents of East Greenbush.
Connolly, Prof. Edward J., was born in Albany, April 13, 1831. His father, John Connolly, was born in New York and was a manufacturer of carriage trimmings, and removed to Troy in 1839 and later started a saddlery hardware store on Broad- way; he possessed a fine tenor voice and directed the choir of St. Mary's and after- wards at St. Peter's churches; he died in 1873. His mother, Emilie Berault, was born in New York and died in 1887. Edward J. received his education in the public schools and Troy Academy, and when about ten years of age began to take lessons on the piano, and commenced his career as organist of St. Mary's church at the age of thirteen. When twenty-one years of age he went to New York and was the or- ganist at St. Ann's for a number of years. Afterwards he was choirmaster and or- ganist of the old Broadway Tabernacle, the Reformed church (corner Fifth avenue and Twenty-first street) the Fifth Avenue Baptist church, and organist and pianist of the Harmonie Society of New York city. In 1872 he returned to Troy and for a short time was in business with his father, but returned to New York in 1879. 1le was the first and only musical director of the Troy Vocal Society; he still holds that position which he has filled for twenty consecutive years. He has been organist and choirmaster of Christ church since his return to Troy in 1891, In 1869 he was mar- ried to Alice M. Harrison of New York eity, where she was at that time a prominent soprano. They have three daughters and two sons.
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