Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 57

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 57

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

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on Lake George; John II., is guide and manager of W. Durant's establishment at Pine Knot Camp; and Lucy is the widow of James Roland, deceased. Mr. Tillson is a great traveler and has been in the employ of some of the best families in the United States and other countries. He went to West India and was employed on a large plantation, Ile then came to Halifax where he was gardener to Governor House. In 1861 he came to the States and was for seven years in the employ of the Aster family, and then gardener on Long Island for Morgan and Sanford, and has also been with Frank Leslie and Durant. In 1880 Mr. Tillson came to Averill Park and ran the Park House until 1859, when he purchased the Sand Lake Hotel of which he is still proprietor. Mr. Tillson is a member of the Reinbech Lodge No. 132 F. & A. M. In 1892 he married Mary E. Luffer of Albany. He is a member of the Scho- Jack U. Lodge No. 87 F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter No. 15, Bloss Council No. 14. Apollo Commandery No. 15, and Interlachan Lodge No. 641 I. O. O. F.

Strait, George W., born in East Nassau, June 21, 1851, is the son of W. and Emily (Cole), he a native of Stephentown born in 1811, and she a native of Lebanon. The grandfather was Shaderich Strait, a native of Rhode Island, and he and his brother, Meschach Strait, came from Rhode Island to Stephentown, N. Y., about 1500) and there lived and died. The father of George W. was reared in Stephentown and at the age of sixteen began teaching and afterwards studied medieme and gradu- ated from Pittsfield Medical College, and practiced in Dutchess county a short time, in Philadelphia one year and New York city about five years, but most of his life in East Nassau, about forty-five years. He had a very large practice and devoted but little time to polities. He died October 21, 1859, and his wife died May 2, 1555. George W. was reared on a farm and educated in East Nassau and learned the car penter's trade which he followed a few years and bought the farm he now owns of 110 acres and follows mixed farming. He has twice been married, first to Anna Layden, by whom he has one dangher, Mary E., at home. Mrs. Strait died July, 1877, and Mr. Strait in 1885 married Rozelia A. Cook, by whom he has two children: Ethel A., and Rozelia A. Mrs. Strait died March 5, 1993. Mr. Strait is a Republi- can. The family are Baptists and attend and support the church at East Nassau. Dr. Strait, father of George W., by a previous marriage to Mary Harris had three children Hannah E. deceased, Harry D., Mary J

Sliter, Willard F., born in Sand Lake, March 7, 1816, is the son of Silas and Fannie (Foster) Sliter, both natives of Sand Lake, he born Nov. 11, 1992, and she Nov. 29, 1922. The parents of Silas Sliter were Clement and Ruth ( Welmot) Sliter, he a native of New Concord, N. Y., and born March 25, 1772, and she born at Waterbury, Conn., Sep- tember 30, 1776. They came to Shiter's Corners, now Sand Lake, previous to 1500, and purchased a large tract of land. The parents of Clement were William and Mary (Ray) Sliter, he a native of Holland and she of Connecticut, They were also pioneers of Sand Lake. The great-grandparents of Willard F., Seth and Hannah (Merrick) Briggs, lived and died in Vermont. Silas Sliter made farming his life work. Besides Willard F. he has one daughter, Ella, wife of Walter Boker, in Iron Works, Columbus, Ohio. They have three children: Harriet, Annie and Charles. Mr. Sliter died May 14, 1977. He was a Republican in politics and held the office of collector and a number of years assessor. He was also constable and for a long time deputy sheriff. Mr. Sliter was educated at Seranis school and Brookside In-

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stitute. He was six years in New York city, and has been overseer of the estate of James K. Averill for twenty years. Ile now has charge of the freight office at Averill Park. Mr. Sliter has been constable for years. He is a member of the Oneida Valley Lodge No, 282 F. & A. M., and Order of the United Friends of New York city.

Coleman, Pierce, born in Germany, December 25, 1840, is the son of Jacob and Catherine Coleman, who were farmers of Germany where they lived and died. Pierce was reared and educated in his native country and came to America when about nineteen years of age stopping for a time in New York city. From there he removed to Nassau and in 1876 came to Sand Lake and purchased the farm of sev- enty-seven acres where he has since carried on general farming. Mr. Coleman and family adhere to the religion of their parents, the Roman Catholic. In 1965 he mar- .ried Caroline Ruhl of Germany, and they have these children: Katie, Frank, John, Lydia, Carrie and Emma.

Luell, John, was born in Prussia, April 5, 1838. He is a son of Casper and Anna (King) Luell, who lived and died in Germany. Mr. Luell was reared and educated in Prussia, and served three years in the army as cavalry man. Ile came to America in 1863 and settled in Poestenkill where he remained for five years. In 1879 Mr. Luell came to Sand Lake and purchased a farm of 175 acres, where he has since been engaged in farming. He married Antona Leibach, a sister of Charles Leibach. They have six sons and two daughters: Fred L., John E., Joseph H., Minnie W., Johnnie F., Anna C., Charles, and Walter,

White, Frank H., one of Hoosick Falls's most esteemed and leading business men, was born at Bennington, Vt., in 1854 of English ancestry and son of Salem White, now sixty nine years of age. His maternal great-grandfather, Lemuel Fuller, came with the " Mayflower." He was educated at his native place, and at sixteen left the farm and began work in a meat market, This was the beginning of the vocation he has followed so successfully, and has ever since been engaged in the work. He now has a most extensive market, corner of John and Church streets, dealing in the choicest beef, mutton, pork and poultry, with game and vegetables in their season. He also opened an extensive carriage repository in 1890, being agent for the Water- town Spring Wagon Co. He is a Republican but not an aspirant for political ad- vancement. Both himself and wife are worthy and efficient members of St. Mark's Episcopal church. She was Ida E., daughter of Nathaniel Gardner of this place. They were married in 1874 and had one son, Guy Herbert, who died in 1884 aged seven years, and in whose memory St. Mark's church has a memorial candlestick placed by his bereaved mother,

Byars, James G., is a prominent citizen of Hoosick Falls who came to America in 1865 from Scotland where he was born in 1839 and where he was educated. He is a son of Hugh Byars, and by trade a cotton spinner, locating in Lawrence, Mass., thence to North Adams in 1876 as superintendent in a woolen mill. He came here in 1871, establishing a bottling business and conducting a general store at North Hoosick. Mr. Byars also deals in real estate and built a handsome block on Church street in 1989. He is a Republican, a member of the Masonic order and of the Epis- copal church, and a man of firm convictions and shrewd business capabilities. He

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has two sons who are associated with him in the bottling business devoted entirely to temperance drink.

Stevens, Frank L., general superintendent of the Walloomsac Paper Co., and elder son of S. S. Stevens, was born at North Hoosick, October 28, 1864. Carefully ed- ucated at Peekskill and at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, he completed in 1881 the full course at the latter institution, graduating a practical machinist and mechanical engineer. Mr. Stevens has since 1884 been associated with the paper manufacturing industry at North Hoosick and Waffoomsac and has had a general supervision since 1892. In 1889 he married Miss Fredericka Wallich of Detroit, Mich., and has one (laughter, Lois. Of unbounded personal popularity Mr. Stevens is a member of all the local clubs and societies. In 1884 he became a charter member of the Thirty- second Separate Co., N. Y. National Guard, was during the next year promoted to the first lieutenancy. and in 1893 made captain, a position for which he is eminently fitted and which he fills with grace and efficiency. A Republican in politics, he was appointed postmaster at North Hoosick in 1890.

Ross, George A., of George A. Ross & Co., leading druggists and apothecaries of Hoosick Falls, has been a resident of this place about six years, and has already taken a prominent place among up to date business men and society. He was born at Troy in 1870 and was a clerk in a drug store before reaching fifteen years of age. Hle came to Hoosick Falls in 1889 and became an assistant of Henry W. Stone and in March, 1895, purchased the business, Mr. Stone retiring. Mr. Ross is a graduate of the Albany College of Pharmacy and by his personal ability and industry did much to make the house a most prominent and successful one in its line.

Gardner, David E., a retired farmer of Hoosick Falls, is a descendant of a Quaker family and one of four children of Daniel Gardner also a farmer. His grandfather, John Gardner, came from Rhode Island. He was born at Petersburgh and was ed- ucated in the district schools there, and has only one brother living, Nelson J. of Pittstown ; the two sisters who died were Alice A., and Hannah L. David has always followed the vocation of farming, and was in every way a successful farmer, retiring in 1875. Though a sturdy Republican he has never entered the political field or that of matrimony.

Kautz. John, the River street grocer, has been a resident of Hoosick Falls fifteen years. In 1882 he established the business as a general store, handling groceries, shoes, crockery and house-furnishings His father was a flax merchant at Grafton, N. Y., and he was born at that place in 1848. When sixteen he went into business on his own account and is in every way self made. He is a member of the M E. church, and like the great majority of Americans whose ancestry is German, casts his vote and his political allegiance with the Republican party. In 1880 he married Miss Sarah J. Eldred, of Potter Ilill.

Waddell, Archibald R., merchant tailor, continues at Hoosick Falls the business established by his father, the late James Waddell, thirty years ago. James Waddell died October 16, 1895, mourned by a large circle of friends. He was of high rank as a Mason, had served for many years as village treasurer, and was in every way a valuable citizen and a man whom to know was to honor. He was born near Belfast, Ireland, and had been a resident here since 1866. Archibald Waddell was born here

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October 12, 1873, and learned the business of his late father, with whom he was as- sociated as a partner. He is a member of the crack military company known as the Thirty second Separate.

Babeock, W. F. - Few families of this locality can boast of a more venerable genea- logical tree than that of the house of Babcock, and in fact the paternal lineage of Mr. Babcock may be traced withont a break to that pregnant date, 1620. W. Frank Babcock of Hoosick was born in this town in 1858. His father was the late Nelson P. Babcock, born in 1813 and died in 1893, a lifelong resident. Frank as a boy had a stong penchant for the art preservative and as an amateur printer he started a local paper called the " Centennial' in 1876, of which he was himself the editorial staff and publishing department. In 1880 he embarked in mercantile life and now operates a large and complete general store with his own name as the firm style. That he is successful and popular goes without saying.

Richmond, E. A., of Richmond & James, general merchants at Hoosick, represents an old Rhode Island family who were among the first settlers of Hoosick. Born in this town in 1853, his father, P. W. Richmond of West Hoosick, was also born here, and has lived so much of a long and useful life within its borders. E. A. Richmond remained upon the homestead farm of his birth until twenty-three years old, then engaged in mercantile business at Hoosick, where we find him enjoying a large and well deserved patronage. . In 1891 he married Miss Mattie, danghter of J. P. Arm- strong of Hoosick, and they have four children. At about the same date Mr. R. C. James became a partner in the store business. Mr. James was also born in Hoosick in 1859, a grandson of Col. Randall James of the Rhode Island militia.

Allen, James W., has been a resident of Hoosick Falls since 1865, when he came with Rev. Nicholls, his rector and personal friend of Cherry Valley, N. Y., as organ- ist of St. Mark's Episcopal church, in which capacity he officiated for twenty-five years. Ile had previously rendered sinnlar service for a period of ten years at Cherry Valley, his former home, having returned there with his mother after the death of his father, William Allen, in 1850 at New York city. His father, though engaged in milk delivery at the time of his death, had been formerly a farmer in Westford, Otsego county, where James was born in 1839. The latter was educated at New York and Cherry Valley. He became an expert mechame and musician and was known as a cabinet organ maker. He has been connected with the Wood Works as painter for thirty years, but music teaching is his more natural vocation and he taught organ playing here many years In 1868 he married Sarah, daughter of David Timmerman of Canajoharie, a farmer and cabinet maker of that place. Her mother's father, Colonel Rolf, in the war of the Revolution, was one of the car- liest settlers of Canajoharie, and he built the first hotel and the first mill at that place. Mr. Allen has one son, William D. Allen, aged twenty-four years, who is engaged with him as contracting painter.

O'Neil, John J., an energetie business man, is a native of Hoosick Falls where he in 1892 opened a drug store at No. 15 John street, establishing a good business. He is a Democrat but not a political aspirant. He is of Irish ancestry, born in 1867, son of John O'Neil, who has been a resident here more than forty years, Mr. O'Neil had been three years an assistant of Dr. Skinner previous to his gradnation at the

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Albany College of Pharmacy. He was also eight years with Henry W. Stone, who for a number of years conducted a drug store on John street. He is a member of the R. C. church.

Corey, B. F., a resident of Hoosick since 1866, is a retired carpenter, a vocation he followed throughout his active business life as did his father, Philip W. Corey, be- fore him. The latter came from Rhode Island to Cambridge where B. F. Corey was born in 1827. Before his residence here he lived in Easton, Washington county, where he married Ruby Jane Willis, who bore him two children: Jesse, at present engaged as agent for the D. M. Osborne Company of Auburn; and Ella.

Allen, George W., a native of Buskirk's Bridge is of English ancestry, born in 1839. He has always resided here and been engaged in harness making, except two years at Eagle Bridge as elerk in the post office. His father, James J. Allen, was also a harness maker and served as justice of the peace here for many years. His grand- father, Eben Allen, was expelled from the Quaker church for becoming a Revolu- tionary sokhier. George is an ardent Democrat, has served one year as justice of the peace, and ten years as notary public. Mr. Allen is an able writer and acts as cor- respondent for various papers. He married Amy Surdam of North Hoosick, and has three children living. One daughter, Carrie, wife of William Reinhart, is de- ceased.

Snyder, Prof. D. Horatio, was born in West Sand Lake November 12, 1862. He attended district and select schools in West Sand Lake for many years and later at- tended the Troy Academy, and took there a special course preparatory to becoming a teacher, returned to West Sand Lake, and for many years taught in the district schools at the latter place and vicinity. He went to Hoosick Falls in 1887, and was appointed principal of the Classic Street Academy, which position he filled in a highly satisfactory manner for three and a half years. Ile was then promoted to fill a vacancy as teacher of several branches in the high school, and to have complete su- pervision of the music in all of the public schools in this place. This position he is still filling in a most satisfactory and painstaking manner. During his term of office in the position, the 1,500 public school pupils there have taken an unprecedented interest in the study of music, and wonderful strides have been made in that im. portant branch. Prof. Snyder is also a graduate of the American Institute of Normal Methods of Vocal Music, and also received a certificate from the Metropolitan Con : servatory in pianoforte. lie is also chairman of the committee of specialties of pub- lie school music of the New York State Musical Association. Ile is of a genial and friendly disposition, and has a vast circle of friends in the musical world. For the past six years he has acted as director of the quartette choir of St. Luke's church in Cambridge.

Pruyn, Jesse A., was born in Hoosac, N. Y., February 11. 1858. He was a son of Daniel F. and Salotta Sharp. He was born in Hoosick, and she in Ohio. The grandfather of Jesse A. was Francis Pruyn, who spent his days in Hoosick. The father of Jesse A. was a carpenter and builder. He was a Republican, but not an aspirant for office. He resided at Hoosick Falls. Jesse A. was born and educated in Hoosick and Troy Business College and graduated in 1876. He was first employed in a wholesale grocery house at Glens Falls, N. Y., and was there two years, and

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afterwards assistant bookkeeper at the same place with Finch & Pruyn He then went to New York city and was a commission merchant in fruits for eight years, and in 1891 bought of E. J. Fort his flour, feed, grain, coal, hay, straw, lime, cement, ete., business. He then started business in Johnsonville which he has since continued. He was married in 1880 to Mettie M. Durfee of South Cambridge, N. Y. Ile was a Republican in politics. The family attended and supported the Presbyterian church.

Humphrey, Olin J., was born in Pittstown, N. Y., August 8, 1865. He was a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Iloag) Humphrey, both born in Pittstown. The grand- father of Mr. Humphrey was Ira P. Humphrey, a native of Pittstown and a son of one of the earliest settlers of the town. Mr. Humphrey's father was a farmer and owned ninety-six acres of land. He was a member of Victor Lodge No. 680 F. & A. M. lle died in 1894 aged fifty-eight, and his widow died in 1871. Mr. Humphrey was reared on a farm and educated in common schools. He followed farming and owns sixty four acres of land. June 28, 1895, he was married to Anna L. Lawton of Pittstown, N. Y.

Iloag, Shandanette, was born in Pittstown, N. Y., August 14, 1865. He was a son of Jonathan Hoag. He was educated in common schools, Fort Edward Institute, Albany Normal and Troy Business College. He was at home until 1894, when he en- gaged in the mercantile business at Tomhannoek. October 22, 1889, he married Minnie F. Durfee of Cambridge, Washington county, N. Y., by whom he has one child, Gladys, born October 14, 1892. Mr. Hoag is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680 F. & A. M. Mr. Hoag has been excise commissioner of the town.

Francisco, Henry, born in Pittstown, N. Y., April 16, 1827, is a son of Michill and Lavina Felkins Francisco. The grandfather of Henry was Abram Francisco, who spent most of his days in Pittstown, The father of Henry was a farmer by occupa- tion and was constable several terms. He died September 25, 1855. Henry was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. Lle follows farming and owns eighty-one acres of land. He was married first, November 30, 1853, to L. Mar- garet Snyder, of Brunswick, N. Y., and had one child, Augustus, deceased. Mrs. Francisco died June 12, 1855, and January 28, 1857, he married Lucy A. Coonradt of Brunswick, daughter of Wilham and Sarah Coonradt of Brunswick, where she died and he died in Poestenkill, N. Y. To Mr. and Mrs. Francisco were born four sons and two daughters. The sons died young and the daughters are Ida M., wife of Isaac M. Hunt of Tomhannock; they have a son, William Willard; Nellie, wife of Iloward Hoag of Pittstown; they have one child, Mildred. Mr. and Mrs. Francisco are members of the Lutheran church and their daughters are Methodists as also are their husbands.

Akin, Orrin, born in Pittstown, N. Y., June 5, 1840, is a son of William, a son of Benjamin. The father of Orrin was born in Pittstown March 16, 1809. He was reared on a farm and educated in the common schools. He has followed farming and owned at one time 360 acres of land, and was one of the prominent farmers of the town. Ile was married in 1828, to Abigail Johnson of Troy, N. Y., and daughter of John Johnson who lived and died in Waterford. To Mr. and Mrs. Akin were born six children of whom four are living. William deceased; Eliza J., wife of Jon- -

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athan Hoag; David of Brunswick; Shandanette, deceased; Orrin; Analine, wife of Christopher Yates, William Akin was reared on a farm and educated in the com- mon schools. He followed farming and owns 225 aeres of land, on which he came with his parents when thirteen years of age. Ile has been excise commissioner for six years. le and family attend the M. E. church, He was married December 24, 1862, to Caroline Akin, a daughter of Humphrey Akin, a son of Humphrey, and a brother of Benjamin, To Mr. and Mrs. Akin were born eight children: Lottie, born November 14, 1867, deceased; Arzelia, born October 25, 1869; Harry S., born November 5, 1871; Ilumphrey D., born June 1, 1874; Maud, born August 26, 1876; George B., born February 25, 1881; Orrin, born November 28, 1882; Nettie, born November 22, 1888. . Mr. Akin is a member of Vietor Lodge No. 680 F. & A. M.

Myers, James, born in Ireland in 1834, came to Pittstown in 1851 and engaged in farming, and owned at his death forty-eight acres of land. His wife was Catherine Day, born in Ireland. They had seven children: Maggie, wife of Michell Fogarty of Melrose, N. Y. ; Katie at home; Patrick B. ; Ellen, wife of James Haughey, and they have two children, James and Andrew; James A. at home; Eliza A. at home, The family sold the homestead and bought the farm they now own in 1888 of 123 acres of land and follow general farming. Mr. Meyers died August 12, 1871.

Snyder, Martin, born in Pittstown, 1820, is a son of Christopher and Elizabeth (Stoves) Snyder, natives of Pittstown. The father of Christopher, also Christopher Snyder, spent his life in Pittstown where he died The father of Martin was reared on the farm and made farming his life work, at which he was eminently successful. Ile represented his town as supervisor and was also justice of peace several years. Martin Snyder was reared on the farm and has always been engaged in farming, being one of the most prominent in his business in the town. He has a farm of 238 aeres and real estate in Buffalo,

Herrington, Merrit, was born in Pittstown May 3, 1816, and died on the farm April 3, 1886. Ilis life occupation was farming and his widow still resides on the farm of 117 aeres of land they own, Mr. Herrington carried on general farming. In 1839 Mr. Herrington married Catherine A., a sister of Martin Snyder, by whom they had four chillen: Elizabeth, who died aged thirty-three years; Anna T., wife of Peter D. Rychleshiner, farmer of Florida; Harriet, widow of George C, Penoyer, who died January 14, 1895, and was a farmer of North Chatham, Columbia county. He had one daughter, Edith S. Mr. Herrington was justice for nine years and assessor for several years.

Piser, Charles B., born in Pittstown November 9, 1873, is a son of Peter and Mary A. (Cline) (Bedell), he a native of Pittstown, and she of Greene county. The grand- parents were Peter and Margaret A. (Eyeleshimer). The father of Peter, Christian Piser, came from Germany and he and his brother Martin engaged in the milk busi- ness near Boston. They accumulated quite a property but lost it during the Revo- lutionary war. They then came to Pittstown and purchased land, getting a deed from King George, The land is now owned by Mr. Piser and brother Jacob. Peter E. Piser, father of Charles, spent his life at farming in Pittstown where he died. Mrs. Piser died October 20, 1881. Mr. Piser was reared on the farm and educated in Lansingburgh Academy and Troy Business Institute, graduating March 21, 1894.

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Ile is engaged in general farming, owning about 150 aeres of land. In 1894 he mar- ried Mabel, daughter of E. B. and Eva J. (Nichols) Manchester, of Petersburgh. They have one daughter, Susan M. Mr. Piser is a member of the M. E. church, and of Vietor Lodge No. 680 F. & A. M.

Ketcham, Lansing, born in Pittstown, March 25, 1850, is the son of Francis F. and Elizabeth (Lane) Keteham. Mr. . Ketcham was reared by an uncle on the farm in Pittstown. When a young man he went to lowa where his mother and family re- sided, came back to Pittstown and married and returned to lowa and was for seven years engaged in farming. In 1850 he returned to Pittstown, where he died in 1888. Mrs. Ketcham died in 1889. They gave support to the M. E. church. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Ketebam, Abijah and Irene (Keteham) Lane, were natives of Pittstown. The father of Irene Ketcham was a pioneer of South Pittstown, where he lived and died. Abijah was a Revolutionary soldier,

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 57

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