Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 62

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 62

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Weatherwax, Aaron L., was born in Schenectady county, March 13, 1817. Ilis mother came to Troy when he was two years of age, and to Lansingburgh when he was four years of age. Ile was educated in the public schools and learned the trade of shoemaking with his grandfather, Aaron Learned, and has followed it all his life- time. In 1841 he married Phebe Alexander, of Oneida county, by whom five chil- dren have been born: Sarah II., who died in infancy; Alexander, Francis C., Mary A. and lda. Francis C. died at the age of twenty-one. Alexander married Ida Crandall, of Brooklyn, by whom two children have been born: Mary and Georgiana. Mary A. and Ida, at this date, reside at home Mrs. Weatherwax died in August, 1889. 1lis grandfather, Aaron Learned, was born April 12, 1770. The father of Mr. Weatherwax, John, married Sally Learned, who bore him three children, one of whom is living, Aaron L. Mr. Weatherwax died in 1819, and his wife died in 1874. The family are related to Judge Learned. The ancestry of the Weatherwax family is Duteh.

Jessup, Edward M., was born in Troy, N. Y .. in 1865. Ilis father, Samuel Jessup, was born in England, came to the United States and settled on Long Island, and in 1850 came to Troy and entered the Burden Iron Works. His mother is Mary E. (Gledhill) Jessup. He received his education in the public schools and went to work for Starkweather & Allen, where he remained until 1882, when he with Henderson formed the firm of Jessup & Henderson, dealers in imported and domestic erockery, importing goods direct from England, France and Germany. They continued in business until they were burned out, February 17, 1896. His present business is located at 274 River street, where he is an importer and dealer in china, glass, kerosene fixtures, silverware, etc., making a specialty of ent glass and fine china and lamps. He is a member of King Solomon's Lodge, F. & A. M., Apollo Chapter, Apollo Commandery and Oriental Shrine. His wife, Lottie Harris, to whom he was married in 1886, was born in Oregon. She is the daughter of Horace Harris, who was the first to start a blast furnace west of the Mississippi River. Mr. and Mrs. Jessup have one daughter, Helen.

Strobel, Charles A., was born in Grafton Center, near Troy, May 24, 1857, and was educated in public schools and Lansingburgh Academy, and is a business man and farmer. September 27, 1887, he married Sophia A. Epting, of Troy, by whom three daughters have been born: Ida A., Edna H. and Zetta S., who died when one year old. Frederick Epting, the father of Mrs. Strobel, was born in Germany and came to the United States when a young man, and enlisted in the Second Infantry, New York State Volunteers. lle captured a Confederate spy with his horse near Newport News, and served in the Seven Days' battles, at Malvern Ilill, and at

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Bristoe Station, where he was wounded, and was honorably discharged on surgeon's certificate in 1863. He married Elizabeth Schweiker, formerly of his native place, by whom five children have been born: Sophia A., Frederick J., Edward C. O., Amelia A., and Edna E. Mr. and Mrs. Epting are living at this date, 1896. He is a member of the Grand Army of the Republic.

Evans, Warren, was born at Schaghticoke Hill, October 12, 1852, and was educated in the common schools there, with a term at the Troy Academy under Prof. Wilson. Hle then finished learning his trade of miller with his father, in what is known as the Knickerbocker Mills, on the Tomhannock Creek at Schaghticoke Ilill. Before he attained the age of twenty-one he graduated from Troy Business College and worked for his father under salary; his brother James was taken in as partner by his father and he worked for them nuder salary. Soon after his father's death he became of age and sold his share of the property to his brother James. Soon after he became of age he was made a member of Victor Lodge, No. 680 F. & A. M. at Schaghticoke. He then went to the National Cemetery at Yorktown, Virginia, and disinterred the remains of his brother George W., who was a solcher in the 44th N. Y. Vols, popularly known as " Ellsworth Avengers," and died in Virginia of brain fever; he secured the remains, brought them home where they are buried in the family plot in Schaghti- coke Elmwood Cemetery. For three years he visited with horse and buggy nearly every town in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania, introducing the new "Spring Roller Shade," he being the owner by purchase of the patent of the original inven- tion. He then became a member of Montgomery Chapter No. 257, R. A. M., of Stillwater, N. Y., and is also a member of the Knights of Honor in San Francisco. In February, 1876, he went to California and located in San Francisco, making a trip to China in the employ of the Pacifie Mail Steamship Co., in a minor official capacity. lle has visited nearly all the Pacific Islands and has traveled all over the Pacific Slope, from Alaska to Chili, with San Francisco as his home. He has had a variety of occupations, but always positions of responsibility. In 1878 he entered the employ of the Cutting Packing Co. and was sent by that company to Fresno, Cal., to operate and conduct a canning factory, also a dried fruit packing house. While there he became interested in the raisin industry and purchased a fruit ranch, which he now owns and some day expects to make it his future home. In Isss he severed his con- nection with the Cutting Packing Co. and entered the employ of the Pacific Can Co., a concern which has large and varied interests in the metal line, and has absorbed many smaller concerns and is now known as the Pacific Sheet Metal Works, with branch factories in Los Angeles, Cal., Astoria, Ore., and at Vancouver, B. C. The San Francisco plant alone employs 500 hands, its capacity per day is 350,000 cans and boxes. Our subject is mechanical foreman, he also has the responsibility of in- stalling new plants as they are established. He is also part owner of the Dutch Milling and Mining Co., Quartz Hill, Tuolumne county, Cal., a gold mine which is a dividend payer. In 1878 he married Elizabeth, daughter of Joseph Bulson, then of Schaghticoke Hill, formerly of the town of Brunswick, where his wife was born. They have one son, George Warren, born April 1, 1890, Mr. Evans's father, George, was born in Schodack, Rensselaer county, N. Y. in 1810 and moved to Saratoga county with his parents wben a boy and was educated in the district schools. One item of interest in his boy life he loved to dwell upon in particular, is, he helped to

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haul logs from his father's farm in Saratoga county, N. Y., to build the State dam across the Hudson River at Troy. He married Jerusha Smith and had four sons as follows, Emor, George W., James and Warren as above. Mr. Evans died April 1, 1872, and his wife October 23, 1893. He was a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., also an active Mason and took much interest in the order until his death. Mr. Evans's paternal grandfather was a soldier in the Mexican war. The ancestry is Welsh on the paternal side and Dutch on the maternal side. Mr. Evans's father purchased the " Knickerbocker Mills," property from Judge Knickerbocker, so that by association and environment as well as descent, he is a " Knickerbocker of New York.

Swartwont, Henry, only son of Henry and Sally (Merrill) Swartwont, was born in Troy, N, Y .. January 27, 1809. His ancestry begins with William Swartwout, a citizen of Groningen, Holland, residing there in 1459. His first American ancestors were Thomas Swartwout and Hendrickjon Barents, who were married in Amsterdam, Holland, June 3, 1631, and who about 1651 became colonists of New Netherland (now New York). Being one of the original settlers of Midwout, now Flatbush, L. I .. Thomas was granted by letters-patent 116 acres of land there by Petrus Stuyvesant, director-general of the Dutch West India Company, who, on April 18, 1655, appointed him a magistrate of the court of Midwout. As many as thirty of Henry's immediate ancestors served with distinction in the Revolutionary war, holding positions from private to brigadier-general. November 7, 1833, Henry Swartwout was married in New York city to Maria Amelia, daughter of David and Amelia Lester Kettlehnyn. She was descended from Lieut. Daniel Kettlehuyn, who served in the expedition against Canada in 1709 under Lient. - Gen. Francis Nicholson, and whose wife was carried a captive to Montreal by a body of French and Inchians, after the massacre at Schaghticoke on October 20, 1711, when two of his children were killed by the in- vaders, In 1834 Henry Swartwout became a grocer in Troy. In 1839 he removed to West Troy and engaged in both the grocery and lumber business. From 1847 to 1882 he was a member of the firm of Loveland & Swartwont, millers and flour mer- chants, at No. 317 River street, Troy; from 1852 to 1866 he was engaged in manu- facturing shirts, collars and cuffs, one of Troy's noted industries. In politics he up- held the principles of the old-line Whigs, and in later years was an unswerving Re- publican. He was one of the committee of one hundred citizens in charge of the centennial celebration of the naming of Troy, during the week ending January 5, 1889, and was for many years a member of the Second Presbyterian church of Troy. From 1862 until his death, August 11, 1892, he resided at No. 63 Fourth street. lle is survived by his widow, two daughters, Mrs. Isaac N. Phelps of New York city and Mrs. W. Jerome Green of Utica, N. Y., and an only son, Brevet-Maj. William Merrill Swartwout of Troy, who while serving in the Army of the Potomac, was wounded, on June 1, 1861, at Cold Harbor, Va., and lost his left arm, on August 13, 1864, at Dutch Gap, on the James River, Va.

Shaw, D. C., a native and lifelong resident of Hoosick, is a grandson of Darling Shaw, a Revolutionary soldier who for many years kept the famous old " Goat Tavern" on the Stone Road to Troy. (This road was built in 18.11). His father, Collister Shaw, died at the premature age of thirty-two years. His mother was Chloe Bruce of an old Vermont family, and his wife was Julia M. Coon, daughter of

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Gilbert Coon of Cambridge, whom he married in 1847. Farming and earpenter work receive his attention. His chief business for many years was the moving of buildings. He is a member of the All Saints Episcopal church of Hoosick. Mr. Shaw was born in 1831, and has always been a Republican. His brother, William H. (deceased) was born in Hoosick in May, 1829. Hle there grew to manhood, and in 1848 married Mehitable R. Hathaway of Bennington, Vt. After living near home for several years he removed to Troy where he was connected with the city collector's office. In 1856 he removed to Mayfield and settled upon a farm. When the Rebellion broke out he began enlisting a company for the Black Horse Cavalry ; that regiment was soon disbanded, when he joined the 115th N. Y. Vols. as captain of Co. E. He was wonnded at Olustee, taken prisoner at Harper's Ferry, in due time exchanged and was at the capture of Fort Fisher, where he was seriously in- jured at the explosion of that fort. After the war closed he returned to his farm. Possessing a versatile mind he naturally inclined toward literary pursuits, which led to his engagement with Beers & Co, of Philadelphia in writing county histories, which employment he followed for nearly twenty years. About 1888 he engaged as bookkeeper for Wilkins & Close, glove manufacturers, where he remained until the Daily Republican was started, when he was placed upon the editorial staff of that paper, where he was engaged at the time of his death. He was a Republican and a member of the M. E. church. Ile left no children, his wife alone surviving.

Vandenbergh, James A., born in North Greenbush, April 24, 1856, is the son of Winant G. and Penelope D. (Demarest) Vandenbergh, he a native of North Green - bush and she of New York. The grandparents were Garret and Harriet Vanden- bergh; the great-grandfather, Rutger, also of Greenbush, born August 28, 1726; the great-great-grandfather of James II., Matthys Vandenbergh, leased a large tract of land near Troy from Killian Van Rensselaer 2d, patroon of Rensselaerwyck, which is still in the Vandenbergh family ; a part of it is now occupied by James A. The father of Matthys was Cornelis Gysbertse Vandenbergh of the manor of Rens- selaerwyek. In 1667 Gysbert Cornelise Vandenbergh, great-great-great-great-grand- father of James A., located near Bethlehem, Albany county, and probably emigrated from Holland. He was one of the first settlers in Albany county. Winant Van- denbergh was reared on the farm now occupied by James A. and there spent his life: he ched March 5, 1890. Mrs. Vandenbergh died April 2, 1894. James A. was educated at the Troy Business College. He married in 1883 Mary, danghter of Moses Jay Eames of Constableville, Lewis county, N. Y. James A. Vandenbergh and his brother Charles now carry on the home farm of 120 acres and make a specialty of the milk business keeping thirty cows.

Caird, Rev. James, was born in the parish of Fordoun, Kincardinshire, Scotland. His father's name was David and his mother's Jean Morton. Ile belongs to a family whose name in Scotland is quite prominent in literature and the church. His early education was begun in his native land. In Wilkes-barre, Pa., he prepared for col- lege. The degrees of of A. B. and A. M. were given him by Kenyon College, Gam- bier, Ohio; while that of B. D. was the gift of the Divinity School, Philadelphia, Pa., at which institution he graduated in 1870. Ile was ordamed to the diaconate by the Rt. Rev. Wm. Bacon Stevens, D. D., EL. D., June 24, 1820, in St. Luke's church, Philadelphia, Pa., and to the priesthood by the same prelate October 12, 1870, in

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Christ church, Williamsport, Pa. He began his ministry in Troy, N. Y., immediately after Ins ordination. His work has been in one parish, the Church of the Ascension, Troy, N. Y. Ile has filled many places of trust during his twenty five years residence in our city and in our diocese. For a number of years past he has been a member of the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Albany. He is member of the Local Committee of the State Board of Charities of the State of New York. He is the author of " The History of the Free Church of the Ascension"; besides this he has contributed articles for ecclesiastical reviews and newspapers. Caroline L. B. Phelps became his wife on May 26, 1864. The marriage ceremony was performed by Rt Rev. Wn. Bacon Stevens; D.D., LL. D., of Pennsylvania, assisted by Rt. Rev. Wm. Crowell Doane, D. D., LL. D., of the Diocese of Albany. Miss Phelps was the niece of F. W. Farnam, the founder of the Church of the Ascension and of the Farnam Institute. She is a member of the Phelps family which is prominent in the annals of the State of Connecticut. Their surviving children are Farnam Phelps Caird, born September 10, 1875, and James Morton Caird, born May 21, 1878.

Lottridge, A. Clifford, is a native of Hoosick Falls as was also his father, Alvin D. Lottridge. The family was originally from Holland and is an old family here and in every way a landmark of the town. Clifford was born in 1862, and educated at the Iligh School at Hoosick Falls and at Troy Business College, graduating in 1879; then he became bookkeeper for his uncle, S. S. Lottridge, who conducts a very ex- tensive business in lumber and all materials used in building, and personally con- trolling the works for forty eight years out of the sixty-five that they have been located here. Clifford is an ardent Democrat, member of the village Board of Trust- ees, of the Board of Trade, one of the Board of Directors of the Hoosac Club, and manager since its organization, member of the Odd Fellows, and member of Hook and Ladder Co. No. 1.

Hyatt, Lonis E., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., January 17, 1862. Ile was educated in the publie schools, Troy High School and Cornell University, and now conduets a life and fire insurance business. September 21, 1889, he married Anna Van Kirk, of Ithaca, N. Y., and they have one daughter, Thelma V. K. Mr. Hyatt's father, Engene, was born in Stratford, Fulton county, N. Y., May 18, 1829. He was educated in the public schools and Fairfield Academy, and became a lawyer. lle came to Lansingburgh, N. Y., in 1851, and in 1869 formed a copartnership with A. C. Comstock, under the firm name of Hyatt & Comstock. He was elected to the State Legislature in 1869, and was village attorney and justice of the peace for many years. He was vestryman and treasurer of the Episcopal church, was a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., and a 32d degree Mason. October 25, 1859, Mr. Hyatt married Esther A. Ferris, then of Auburn, N. Y., by whom he had three sons: Louis E., N. Irving, who is professor of music in the Syracuse University; and John S., who is with the Walter A. Wood Co., of Hoosick Falls. John S. married Grace Bowman, of Lansingburgh, and they have two children: Sherwood and Elise. Mr. Hyatt died September 28, 1895. Louis E. is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M. and has been senior deacon of the lodge. The family is of English and Scotch descent.

. Carr, Ambrose, born on the farm where he now resides January 30, 1825, is the

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son of Barnet and Eva Carr, whose children were David, Jonas, Mary, and four de- ceased, Catherine, William, John, jr., and Jacob. Barnet came here from Canada when a young man. He was well educated and was noted for his retentive memory. He was a church member interested in church work, and respected by all his neigh- bors. Ambrose's life was spent on the farm and he attended school winters. When sixteen years of age he started for himself as a farm laborer. When thirty three years of age (1858) he located on the homestead where he has since lived. He mar- ried Martha, daughter of John Pitcher. His living children are John, Charles, Della, and Eli, and five deceased, David, Catherine, William, Jolin, jr., and Jacob. Ambrose is interested in all public enterprises, church, school, town and county affairs.

Doty, Orman, was born on the old homestead near Melrose, March 13, 1851. He was educated in the public schools and Lansingburgh Seminary, and has always fol- lowed the honorable occupation of farming. September 1, 1883, he married Jessie F. Eaton of Troy, formerly of AAlbany. They have two sons, Oliver F. and O. Leon- ard. Mrs. Doty's father, Daniel O. Eaton, was born near Boston, Mass., in the year 1813. Ile was well educated and was a merchant by occupation, He married Almira F. Snyder of Melrose; they had two children, one daughter and one son, Jessie F., and Oliver L. Eaton (Fisher). Mr. Eaton died in 1895, and his wife died in 1870. The ancestry of the family is Dutch, English and German,

Bullent, Theophilus C., was born in the town of Great Yarmouth, Norfolk county, England, September 18. 1844. He was a son of Robert and Matilda (Cole) Bullent, natives of England. lu 1850 they came to the United States and settled in Green- bush. Ile died January 17, 1890, at the age of eighty-four years, and his wife died May 17, 1877, at the age of sixty-four. Mr. Bullent was in the employ of Mr. Ring for some years in the milling business. Theophilus C. was reared in Greenbush and Bethlehem where his parents lived for a short time. He learned the barber's trade. In 1865 he established a shop, and has since carried on a successful business. In 1868 he married Deziah Aldrich, who died February 15, 1885. September 26, 1893, he married Ida L. Miles, danghter of Stephen Miles. She was a teacher for twenty years.

De Witt, Emul I, was born in Amsterdam, Holland, February 1, 1847. llis parents moved to Germany when he was a small boy, where he was educated in the academic courses. March 1, 1869, he came to the United States, locating in Laus- burgh, N. Y. Ile has had a variety of occupations and is now a successful inventor. Among his inventions is a sand box for electric, cable, and other cars, and he is shipping them to all parts of the world. August 22, 1870, he married Anna B. Zahn, of Lansingburgh, formerly of Germany. They have three children: Katie A., Sarah M., and George E. Mr. De Witt's father, A. Dederich, was born in Germany in 1800, and married Sophia F. Denoo, of Amsterdam, Holland. They had eight children: Marie, Sophia, Emma, Godfrey, Carl, Emil F., Gerhardt, and Auna. Mr. De Witt died in 1860. Emil F. De Witt is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 335, F. & A. M., and of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., of Lansingburgh. The family is of Dutch, French and German descent.

Dater, Almira J .- The late John Dater was born in the town of Brunswick, Rens- selaer county, May 11, 1836. He was educated in the common schools and grad-

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uated from the Middletown Academy. He had a variety of occupations. He manu- factured brick with his brother, II. C. Dater, and was for seven years in the livery business here. He was a button hole manufacturer on Sixth avenue, Troy, N. Y., for about ten years; he had partners for a short time but principally carried on the business alone. It was said of him that he was honest and upright in all his busi- ness dealings, and was very generous to those in need. October 26, 1876, he mar- ried Almira J. Wetsel, of the town of Schaghticoke, near Melrose. Mr. Dater died in 1893, mourned by a bereaved wife, and regretted by many friends. Mrs. Dater's father, Peter Wetsel, was born at the old home near Melrose, February 11, 1803. He was educated in the schools of his day, and was always a farmer by occupation. November 13, 1828, he married Elizabeth Sipperly of his native town, by whom he had four children: Mary A., Sarah L., Elizabeth and Almira J, Mr. Wetsel died October 10, 1885, and his wife in 1838, thus depriving the children of a mother's love. The ancestry of the family is Dutch on both sides.

Foster, John F., was born in Sand Lake, September 11, 1857, and is the son of Seth B. and Ilarriet J. (Feathers) Foster, he a native of Brattleboro, Vt., born De- cember 22, 1809, and she of Sand Lake, born August 14, 1819. Both taught school in early life. In early life Mr. Foster learned the trade of millwright and built a great many mills in and around Sand Lake, many of which are now in ruins. lle spent his last days on the farm now owned by John F. Foster, Mr. Foster was a Whig and then a Republican, and was for many years district steward of the M. E. church. He died in 1880 and Mrs. Foster died in 1895. The grandparents, Willard and Hannah (Briggs) Foster, came from Vermont to Sand Lake about 1821, where they lived and died. Their occupation was farming. Willard Foster died July 16, 1868, and Mrs. Foster April 21, 1863. The father of Willard, Skelton Foster, lived at Oakham, Mass., and had four sons; Samuel, John, Bernard and Willard. Henry Feathers, the maternal grandfather of John F., was born in Livingston Manor, March 27, 1786, was a Mason and prominent in public affairs. J. F. Foster taught school, then engaged in running threshing machinery, and in 1887 engaged in the sale of musical instruments; among other makes he handled the Foster pianos, manufactured at Rochester by his brother, George G. Foster. Mr. Foster has the homestead farm of 125 acres, where he carries on general farming and dairying. In ISST he married Myrtic May, daughter of Martin and Lavina Sedgwick of Stephentown. Mrs. Sedgwick died October 7, 1893. To Mr. and Mrs Foster have have been born three children: Mary C., Florence and Myrtle L. Mr. Foster is a member of Interlachan Lodge No. 641, I. O. O. F., P. of 1. at West Sand Lake, and Rensselaer County Agricultural Society. He is an active worker in the M. E. church.

Kane, Pierce D., a native of Ireland, born in February, 1840, is the son of Nich- olas and Mary (Fitzgerald) Kane, who emigrated to America and settled at West Troy in 1848, where they both died, she in 1884 and he in 1885, Pierce D. was reared in Troy and in 1868 married Mary A., daughter of James and Mary (McGuire) Ryan, who emigrated from Ireland to Cohoes about 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Kane have five children . James Il., Nicholas T., Pierce D., jr., Franklin P., and Elizabeth P. Mr. Kane commenced work in a knitting mill in Troy when a boy and has been in the business at various places. In 1871 he went into the manufacture of knit under-

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wear in Rhode Island, but sucenmbed to the crisis of 1873, his brother Nicholas then being his helper. They returned to New York and after running a factory about one year on the Hudson they came to Sand Lake and his brother hired the mill and bought it in 1880, and for three years they also run the Troy Knitting Mill, Pierce D. being the manager. He still has charge of the plant, his brother having died in 1887, September 14. Mr. Kane's brother Nicholas was a soldier in the Civil war, and served till its close. In the fall of 1886 he was elected member of the United States Congress from his district, but death prevented his taking his seat.

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 62

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