Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 6

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 6

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JACOB F. STOLL was born in Wolfshlugen, Wurtemberg, Germany, August 16, 1831, came to America in 1850, and was married in New York city on October 6, 1851, to Frederica K. Ernst, who was born in Germany in 1832. After living in New York, Buffalo, Lockport and Saratoga, they settled in Troy in 1857, and the same year Mr. Stoll formed a partnership with A. L. Ruscher, under the firm name of Ruscher & Stoll, and started a brewery on Fourth street where Ruscher's brewery now stands. Mr. Stoll was a practical brewer and cooper. In 1864 he sold his interest in this establishment, and in the spring of 1865 purchased the old Coup brewery on the Hol- low road, now Spring avenue, of which he remained the proprietor until his death on January 16, 1888. He rebuilt practically the entire plant, enlarged its capacity, and by adopting the best modern methods of manufacture made it one of the most complete and efficient breweries in the country. The concern was originally started in 1855, when the yearly output was about 100 barrels of beer. He increased the capacity until in 1895 it produced more 10,000 barrels of the finest beer in the market. At the time of his death in 1888 it was producing more than 5,000 barrels annually. After that his widow conducted the establishment until July 1, 1895, when the Stoll Brewing Company was incorporated with Mrs. Frederica A. Stoll, president, and Frederick A. Stoll, secretary and treasurer. Mr. Stoll was a successful business man, and enjoyed universal respect and confidence. He was one of the foremost of Troy's German citizens. He was a prominent member of St. Paul's German Evangelical church, the Order of Druids, the 1. O_O. F., the K. of P., the Cannstatter Volksfest Verem, the Saengerbund and Mannerchor of Troy, the Deutcher Sterbe Casse Verein, and the Fidelio Quartette Club of Lansingburgh. He had six children: Ed- ward J. (deceased), Mrs. Birkmayer, Mrs. Charles R. Alber, Mrs. Gustav Schock (deceased), Mrs. Bernard Molahn, and Frederick A. Frederick A. Stoll was born in 1873, was educated at the La Salle Institute, and from the first has taken an active part in the business of the brewery, becoming by degrees thoroughly conversant with every detail and with the entire process of manufacture.

IRA R. TRAVELL.

IRA R. TRAVELL was born in Schoharie county, N. Y., September 21, 1836. He is the grandson of Circuit Travell, a native of London, England, who came to Albany

JACOB F. STOLL.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

county about 1800, and later removed to Schoharie county where he bought a tract of land; he died there in 1841, and his wife Judith in 1846, aged seventy-one years. The parents of Ira R. were John and Celecta (Rose) Travell, he born in Albany and she in Schoharie county. The former, a farmer, died in Schoharie county May 27, 1862, and the latter July 4, 1887.

Ira R. Travell was brought upon his father's farm and obtained his scholastic knowledge in the common school and at the Gilboa Seminary in Schoharie county. When sixteen years of age he came to Troy and obtained a clerkship in the grocery house of Bosworth & Holmes. In 1856 he entered the employ of Joseph H. Jackson & Co. as bookkeeper at the Albany Iron Works store. The following year he pur- chased Mr. Jackson's interest in the business, and the new firm name became McCoy & Co. In 1869 he sold his interest to J. McCoy and purchased an interest in the wholesale boot and shoe house of Ilenry E. Weed & Co., forming the firm of Weed, Haskell & Travell. This connection continued for three years when the firm became Travell & Johnson. About two years later Mr. Travell sold out to Johnson and engaged in the manufacture of shirts and collars at Nos. 710-712 River street.

In 1880 his factory was destroyed by fire, when he removed to Pittstown upon a farm of 143 acres. He is interested in real estate and owns a number of buildings in Troy. He has been eminently successful and alone has been the architect of his fortune. He is now assessor of Pittstown, serving his third term. For seven years he served in the old Troy fire department, one year as vice-president. He is a mem- ber of King Solomon Lodge F. & A. M. No. 78.

August 8, 1859, Mr. Travell was married by the Rev. N. S. S. Beman to Elvira A. Pierce, a native of Troy, born July 26, 1834, daughter of Hiram D. and Sarah J. (Wiswell) Pierce, he a native of Columbia county and she of Troy. The former died May 19, 1866, and the latter February 15, 1886. Mrs. Travell was graduated from the Emma Willard Seminary, and was preceptress of the Troy Conference Academy at Poultney, Vt.

In 1876 Mrs. Travell hired a room on Twelfth street, Troy, and organized a union Sunday school, of which her son, C. Howard, is superintendent; Ira R. was also superintendent of this school for seventeen years. Mrs. Travell was also the origi- nator of the Sunday school from which sprang the Woodside church.

Mr. and Mrs. Travell have had tive children, as follows. Jessie C., born Jannary 28, 1862, died Jannary 19, 1865. Charles Howard, born August 22, 1865, was gradu- ated from Troy High School, Williams College and Albany Medical College, and is now a practicing physician in Troy. Ira Winthrop, born January 17, 1868, was graduated from Troy High School, Williams College and took a post-graduate course at Cornell; he taught two years in the academy at Malone, N. Y., and is now principal of Plainfield (N. J.) High School. John Willard, born November 5, 1869, prepared for college at Troy High School and was graduated from Williams College, was a student of the Albany Medical College and is now house physician of the Albany County Hospital. Warren Bertram, born July 20, 1872, prepared for Williams College at the Troy High School and was graduated from the Troy Polytechnic In- stitute in 1894; he is now engineer inspector of public works, New York city. Ira Winthrop Travell married Miss Belle Ansley, of Geneva, N. Y., a graduate of the Troy Female Seminary ; they had one son, Ralph Winthrop, who died June 28, 1896.

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LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

CHARLES M. POTTER.

CHARLES M. PorTER was born in the town of Brunswick, N. Y., June 23, 1823, a son of Ilenry and Eunice (Filkins) Potter, natives of Brunswick. Henry was a son of Josiah, who was born in Providence, R. L., in 1744, married Mercy Manchester, in 1969 for his first wife, and second, Weltha Arnold. Eunice Filkins was a daugh- ter of Henry and Jerusha (Smith) Filkins; the former, accompanied by his brothers Israel and Cornelius came from Dutchess county and settled in Pittstown previous to 1779. Henry Potter had a family of twelve children: Josiah, Eliza, Emeline, Ilarriet, William, Charles M., Julia, Jane, and four deceased. They were all born in Rensselaer county,

Charles M. Potter was a public-spirited man, interested in all good works; although not an office-seeker, he was active in town and county affairs. Ile was a self-made man, and by his own exertions secured a competency. He married on November?, 1854, Adelia, daughter of David P. and Catherine Coons, natives of Brunswick. David P. Coons was a son of Phihp and Elizabeth (Wheeler) Coons, and descended from the Puritans of German stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles M. Potter had six children, as follows: Mary Kate (de- ceased), Harry W., Medora C., wife of Dr. Edward Welch, of Sutton, Mass. ; Eunice A., wife of Miles E. Hodges of Wilton, N. Y. ; Stephen M., married Jessie Mambert; and J. Howard, married Pearl Woodin, of Albany county.

Charles M. Potter died November 29, 1889.

CHARLES W. REYNOLDS.

CHARLES W. REYNOLDS was born in Petersburgh, Rensselaer county, N. Y., Feb- ruary 8, 1848. He is descended from William Reynolds of Providence, R. L., who, on August 20, 1637, with twelve others, signed the following compact:

We, whose names are here under, desire to inhabit in the town of Providence, do promise to subject ourselves in active and passive obedience to all such orders of agreements as shall be made for public good of the body, in an orderly way by the major assent of the present inhab- itants, masters of families incorporated together into a town fellowship, and such others whom they shall admit unto them, only in civil things. 1

The great-grandfather of Charles W., William W. Reynolds, came from Westerly R. I., and settled in Petersburgh in 1780. Prior to this, in 1977, it is said, he took his gun and as a volunteer without pay served in the defense of his country against the English, at the battle of Bennington. He spent Ins remaining days in Petersburgh, and became prominently identified in public affairs, being supervisor and magistrate for many years.

!" The government established by these primitive settlers of Providence was an anomaly in the history of the world. At the outset it was a pure democracy, which for the first time guarded jealonsly the rights of conscience by ignoring any power in the body politie to interfere with those matters that concern man and his Maker. Principle, not precedent, formed their only standard of judgment. Could the record of their proceedings have been preserved (meetings were held monthly), with what interest should we now peruse the debates of this earliest of modern democ- racies !- Arnold's History of Rhode Island.

ـوت

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

The grandfather of the subject was Parley Reynolds, who was born in Peters- burgh in 1780. He became a merchant and for many years, in partnership with his brother Thomas, conducted an extensive and profitable business in Petersburgh. He took an active interest in politics and served his town on the Board of Supervisors, ete. Ile had five sons and two daughters, and to each of his sons he gave a good farm and assisted his daughters in other ways.

William W. Reynolds, the father of Charles W., was born September 25, 1816, and died June 4, 1876, devoted his whole life to farming at which he was eminently suc- cessful. Like his ancestors he became prominently identified with public affairs, efficiently filling the office of supervisor and other minor positions in the gift of his townsmen ; he was a Democrat. He was married to Mary (born January 14, 1825), daughter of Braddock Peckham, jr. (born June 4, 1781, died January 2, 1834), and granddaughter of Braddock Peckham, sr. (born May 4, 1757, died January 9, 1830), who was a soldier in a Rhode Island regiment during the Revolutionary war. Pre- vions to this service he was second in command in an expedition composed of patri- otic citizens of Wickford, R. L., that made a prisoner of the British General Prescott, July 10, 1737, at Newport, R. I. ; the prisoner was delivered to General Washington at Newburgh by the same party, and on July 18, 1977, was exchangod for Major- General Harry Lightfoot Lee. At the close of his connection with this duty, he came to the valley of the Little Hoosick, looking for a future home. He had but just ar- rived when Captain Hull's company was being formed to go to the relief of General Stark at Bennington; he joined this company, was made lieutenant and served in that capacity at the battle of Bennington and continued with the company until after the battle of Bemis Heights and the surrender of Burgoyne, when the company was disbanded; he then joined the command of General Gates and with that little army of 1,500 marched away to New Jersey. He was at the defeat at Brandywine and on the bloody fickdl of Monmouth. He remained with General Gates's command until the latter was superseded by Gen. Nathaniel Greene, and with him saw the surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown. At the termination of the war he returned to his home in Rhode Island, and in 1786, accompanied by his brother Abiel, came to the beautiful valley of the Little Hoosick and there reared a family of thirteen chil- and where many of his descendants still reside.

The ancestor of Braddock Beckham was John Beckham of Newport, R. l., who was admitted an inhabitant May 20, 1638; he married Mary Clarke, who was a sis- ter of the Rev. John Clarke from Bradfordshire, England, "one of the ablest men of the seventeenth century and a founder of Rhode Island." In 1648 John Peckham was one of the ten male members in full communion of the First Baptist church. Ilis residence in 1655 was in that part of Newport which afterwards became Middletown, and a stone marked " J. P." (on land owned by William F. Peckham) is supposed to mark his grave.

Charles W. Reynolds grew to manhood on his father's farm, and obtained his ed- ucation in the common schools, at Fort Edward Institute and Alfred University. When twenty-one years of age his father assisted him in purchasing an interest in a general store in the village of Petersburgh in partnership with David II. Kelyer, where they soon after, in connection with their mercantile interests, began the man- ufacture of shirts by contract, and with such encouraging success that in 1844 they sold their store and engaged exclusively in the manufacture of shirts on their own

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account, in which undertaking they have been successful as well as furnishing em- ployment to a large number of people. Mr. Reynolds makes the village of Peters- burgh his home, but spends the winters at his Albany residence, where his children enjoy greater educational facilities.

In 1874 he married Luey M. Gifford, born December 7, 1856, a native of Albany and daughter of Alonzo (born in March, 1832) and Mary J. (Hakes) Gifford (born August 4, 1835), who has borne him five children, as follows: William G., born August 12, 1875; George T., born September 21, 1878; Grace, born December 31, 1880; Alonzo P., born January 21, 1886; and Noyes, born April 8, 1891.

Mr. Reynolds has traveled extensively over the United States, and in 1891, ac- compamed by his son William G., was of the party of over two hundred Knights Templar who visited Europe, sojourning in all the principal places of interest in that country.

In the spring of 1896 Mr. Reynolds was elected supervisor of Petersburgh without opposition, and takes great pride in the fact that he was so honored, after his great- grandfather, grandfather and father had held the same positions.

ANDREW M. CHURCHI.

ANDREW M. CHURCH was born July 25, 1838, at Shushan, Washington county, N. Y. He is a descendant in the third generation of Jonathan Church, and in the fourth generation from Peregrine White, who came to New England in the Mayflower. Ilis father, Leonard Church, was born October 13, 1795, and died in October, 1866.

Andrew M. Church left home when eleven years of age and began elerking in a country store. March 1, 1856, he came to Troy and entered the dry goods store of George Bristol as cashier. In 1863 he was admitted as a partner with Mr. Bristol under the firm name of George Bristol & Co. In 1868, upon the death of Mr. Bristol, his interest reverted to the latter's sister and the business was continued under the same firm name until 1880. In 1887 the firm was reorganized as a stock company with $100,000 capital and called The A. M. Church Company, which is under the sole management of Mr. Church.

Mr. Church is a director in the Troy National Bank and the Citizens' Steamer Line; one of the governors of the Marshall Infirmary, and president of the Star Knitting Mills at Cohoes. Ile has for many years been recognized as one of the most active and enterprising business men of Troy, having been successful in all his varied undertakings. Mr. Church is a Mason and a member of Apollo Chapter and Bloss Council; politically he has always been a Republican. He is a member of the First Baptist church, of which he is one of the trustees.

October 3, 1866, he was married to Jennie Bush of Joliet, Ill., by whom he has two sons Fred B., a graduate of Troy Polytechnic Institute, and as a civil engineer is at present connected with a large firm of contracting engineers in New York; and Frank L., who is superintendent of The Andrew M. Church Company.

ANDREW M. CHURCH.

615

BIOGRAPHICAL.

MARTIN BAUCUS.

MARTIN BAUCUS was born in Pittstown, N. Y., June 24, 1823, and died in the same town November 16, 1895. llis parents were William 1 and Phoebe (Stover) Baucus, both born in Rensselaer county, and his grandfather was John Baucus, one of the early settlers of Schaghticoke.

William I. Baucus was born in Schaghticoke and when twenty-five years of age removed to Pittstown where he resided until his death. He was a director in the old Market Bank of Troy, and was one of the prominent men of the town, highly esteemed and upright in all his dealings. He was active in his assistance to the gov- ernment during the Rebellion, and advanced considerable money in securing enlist- ments. He died July 22, 1867, and his wife survived him until August 22, 1873.

Martin Baucus received his education in the common schools and at Warner's pri- vate school. He followed his chosen vocation of farming all his life and was the owner of 163 acres of land when he died. Politically he was a Republican. He was an energetic, stirring man, and was active in every movement that promised benefit to the community in which he lived. He died November 16, 1895.

Sarah A. Gifford, wife of Martin Baucus, was born in Schaghticoke, the daughter of Ira and Susan (Cornell) Gifford, born in Dutchess county and Easton, N. Y., re- spectively. Iler paternal grandfather was Elihu Gifford of Dutchess county, who was one of the early settlers of Easton, where he died. Ira Gifford died May 12, 1867, and his wife Susan February 1, 1879.

To Martin and Sarah A. Baucus were born three children, as follows: Elizabeth, wife of Vincent F. Long of Sycamore, Ill .; Caroline G., who died March 19, 1878, aged eleven years and twelve days; and Amanda B., who is living at home with her mother on the homestead farm.

W. F. TAYLOR.

lloN. W. F. TAYLOR was born in Berlin, Rensselaer county, N. Y., October 5. ISSO. He was educated in Berlin and in Adams, Jefferson county. On reaching manhood he had but little capital, but possessed ample capacity and plenty of energy and ambition, and gradually established himself in business, both manufacturing and mercantile, in which he has been quite successful. At the time of his death, April 3, 1896, he was engaged in the manufacture of shirts and collars, and also ope- rated quite extensively in real estate.

Previous to 1860 Mr. Taylor was a Democrat, but, as was the case with many others, the slavery question and the issues involved in the war, impelled him to join the ranks of the Republicans and vote for Abraham Lincoln.

In the spring of 1874 he was elected supervisor of Berlin without opposition, being the second Republican supervisor chosen in that town during a period of sixteen years. In the spring of 1876 he was again elected to the same office without oppo- sition and was tendered the chairmanship of the board, an honor, however, which he declined in favor of a personal friend in his district.

His nomination for assemblyman in the fall of 1874 was entirely unsought on his

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LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

part, and it was a discouraging fact that his opponent, Augustus Peebles, was a popular and worthy man in every respect; however, he went into the fight with his usual energy and succeeded in mereasing the Republican majority in his district by 160 votes; in his own town which polled 525 votes he received all but eighty-one, a fact which indicates quite conclusively the estimation in which he was held by his townsmen. The Troy Press, a Democratic paper, in commenting upon the result shortly after the election, said: "Mr. Peebles made a gallant fight, but he had a strong opponent in Mr. Taylor, who is deservedly popular. There are few men who could have beaten Mr. Peebles, and Mr. Taylor deserves an ovation from his party for doing it." He was re-elected in 1845 by a majority of 28, and increase of 199 votes over the previous year. Ile received the unanimous vote of the nominating convention and was the third member from his district returned for a second term.

Mr. Taylor always retained the confidence of his party. In 1880 he was elected alternate with Hon. John M. Francis to the Chicago convention which nominated James A. Garfield for president. He was a great admirer of Roscoe Conkling, and when the latter and Mr. Platt resigned their seats in the United States Senate, Mr. Taylor gave his active aid at Albany for their re-election.

During the war Mr. Taylor rendered valuable assistance and aided lus brother in raising a company in his town, which joined the 125th Regiment as Co. B, with Charles II. Taylor as first lieutenant. The town of Berlin contested the validity of 846,000 of railroad bonds, the litigation lasting about thirteen years; Mr. Taylor aided the council of the town all these years without compensation. A final settlement was made with a saving to the town of over $40,000.

Mr. Taylor's last effort for his town came to an adjustment February 14, 1896. The supervisor of the town had caused to be audited $2, 100 to various persons on claims for exemptions from taxes paid by them over thirty years since. Mr. Taylor caused a special town meeting to be called to investigate the matter; on presentation of the case the taxpayers of the town were indignant. Mr. Taylor was appointed one of the committee of three, and money was appropriated to defend the town. There being no law for such a claim, the town was saved from paying this and other claims for which arrangements had been made to charge to the town.

In 1852 Mr. Taylor was married to Sarah G. Denison, by whom he had three clubdren. Fannie wife of Judson Cowee of Berlin ; Tracy D., who married Jennie Halbert ; and one who died in infancy, Mrs. Taylor died in 1885, and in 1887 he was married to Mrs. Mary L. Morton of Bennington, V't.

GEORGE F. BOND

GEORGE F. BOND was born in Essex county, England, in 1837, and was brought to this country by his parents when very young. His father, Richard Bond, who was a railroad contractor, doek builder, etc., in England, came to this country and settled in Troy, where he entered the employ of Orrs & Co., paper manufacturers, as fore- man, and was afterwards engaged as superintendent of construction with Morrison, Colwell & Page; he died in 1894. His mother, Mary (Smee) Bond, died in 1860,

GEORGE F. BOND.

ALBERT M. WRIGHT, M. D. S.

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BIOGRAPHICAL.

George F. received a common school education and afterwards learned the car- penter's trade ; he later went to work for Cooper & King in the ice business. Cooper & King dissolved partnership in 1859, and he took an interest in the business under the firm name of B. Cooper & Co., which has been an incorporated company since November 5, 1891. They have an extensive wholesale and retail ice business.

He served as alderman of the Tenth and Thirteenth wards for several terms. Ile is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M. Ile has been class leader in the Grace M. E. church for twelve years and is now serving as trustee of the same. ITe is secretary and treasurer of The B. Cooper & Co. Mr. Bond is in every sense what may be called a self-made man; beginning at the foot of the ladder, he has worked his way upward to his present position.

Ile was married to Almeda M. Dutcher, of Troy, December 5, 1865. They have three children.

ALBERT M. WRIGHT, M. D. S.

DR. ALBERT M. WRIGHT was born in Middle Granville, N. Y., in 1848. He at- tended the common schools and afterwards was a student at Cambridge Academy. Ile began the study of dentistry with Dr. Cotton, of Cambridge, and afterwards studied with Dr. Young, of Troy. After passing an examination before the Board of Censors of the State Dental Society, the degree of M. D. S. was conferred upon him. Ile opened an office in Troy in 1880.

Ile is a member of the Troy Scientific Association, the Troy Microscopical Society, the Third District Dental Society for twenty-four years, the New York State Dental Society for twelve years, and was a member of the Board of Censors; when the Board of Censors went out of existence in 1895, it was followed by the Board of Examiners, of which he is a member.

lle is a member of King Solomon's Primitive Lodge, Apollo Chapter No. 48 (of which he is past high priest), Bloss Council No. 1, Apollo Commandery (of which lie is prelate), and of Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Patracts Dael, Republican and Good Government Clubs.

lle married Miss Mary Hart, of Troy, in 1850.

FRED A. PLUM.

FRED A. PLUM was born in Troy in 1812. Ilis carly ancestors on the paternal side settled in New Jersey and were among the original settlers of the city of Newark; those on the maternal side settled in Massachusetts about 1700. Ilis great-grand- father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. His father, David B. Phun, was born in Newark, N. J., and came to Troy when a young man, and was for many years associated with his brother Elias in the leather business, under the firm name of E. & D. B. Plum; he died July 15, 1851. His mother, Leonora (Whittaker) Plum, was for many years the leading soprano in the choir of the First Presbyterian church ; she died in 1843.

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 6

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