Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 65

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 65

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).

Wheeler, Henry, was born in Glennville, Conn., February 21, 1850. He came to Troy when eleven years of age and attended school until December, 1864, when he entered the Union Bank as clerk. He filled the various positions and in December, 1875, was appointed teller, which position he still holds. He is one of the trustees of the East Side Club, In January, 1894, he married Rebecca Robinson, daughter of the late John Robinson, of Troy. His father, James Wheelock Wheeler, was born in Hanover, N. IL., and his mother, Mary (Sargeant) Wheeler, was born in Parsip- pany, N. Y.

Godini, Madame Marie, the daughter of Enoch and Hannah (Hickok) Wadsworth, who died October 25, 1894, was born at Potter Hill, Rensselaer county, N. Y. She received her education in Troy. She possessed a remarkable voice and marked mu- sical ability, which was developed by the musical masters in Troy and Albany until the emigration of her family to California, where she received the benefit of more extended training and prepared for a professional career. She afterwards learned the Italian, French and Spanish languages, speaking and writing them as fluently as a native; at the same time she studied painting and took the first prize at the California State Fair two consecutive years for best drawing and painting. Mad- a ne Go lini ma Ie her debat in Italian Opera in the Metropolitan Opera House, San Francisco, under the direction of her teacher, Giusippe Manensi. She met with sue- cess and was engaged for a tour of the State. Later she spent a few months in New York in the study of music and returned to California under an engagement for eight months. She married the flon. Jesse O. Goodwin, who was thrice judge and one of the hold-over senators under the new constitution of California. He died soon after his marriage. Madame Godini after her husband's death made her debut in English Opera in Kansas City in the winter of 1881. The season was successful,

31I

FAMILY SKETCHES.

and to enlarge her musical knowledge went to Milan, Italy, to study with the great master Lamperti, sr. ; after studying in Italy and with Marchesi in France, she re- turned to her native country and with Signor P. Brignoli formed an Italian opera company and visited all the southern cities and Mexico with Signor D. De Vivo as manager. The Godini Company, after an eighteen months' absence under the man- agement of Signor De Vivo, returned to New York. The following year Madame established a school of music, languages and art in New York city with the eminent pianist Chevalier Aurelio Ceruelos as director. After the death of her father she removed the school to Troy where it is now located, and it is in a flourishing con- dition.

Barrett, Rev. John, was born at Cohoes, N. Y., May 31, 1862. IIe is a son of Edward and Mary (Collins) Barrett, both born in Ireland. John received his educa- tion at St. Bernard's School and in the Business College of Cohoes and the Cohoes grammar schools and was graduated from Egbert's High School in 1880, when he entered St. Michael's College of Toronto, Ont., from which he was graduated in June, 1883. Hle then entered St. Joseph's Seminary of Troy in 1883, where he was ordained to the priesthood, October 2, 1887, by Bishop MeNierney and was assigned to duty at once in St. Mary's church in Troy, where he is at present.

('Mahoney, Rev. W. IL., was born in New York city in 1852. He was a graduate of the Assumption and Free Academies of Utica in 1870, and was also graduated from Niagara University in 1874. Ile was ordained at St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, in 1879. Ile was first sent to Watertown and from there to Albany, and in 1881 and 1882 had charge of the Warrensburgh mission, which comprised the towns of Chester- town, Johnsburgh and Lucerne. In 1881 that mission was divided and Lake George, which had been in charge of the Paulist Fathers, was added to the mission of which Father ()'Mahoney had charge. In 1890 he was appointed pastor of the Church of St. Paul the Apostle of Troy, which he built. The church was completed in 1893, and has abont 1,000 souls in the parish. Ile is one of the board of examiners of the parochial schools of Troy.

Caldwell, James 11., was born in Mobile, Ala., March 21, 1865. He is of English and Scotch descent, his ancestors having settled in Virginia in the early times, some of them being in the Revolutionary war. His father was for many years a capitalist in Mobile and was at one time an alderman in that city; he died in 1822. His mother, Caroline (Shields) Caldwell, was born in Mobile, Ala., where she at present resides. He received his education at the Columbia Grammar School, New York city, and in September, 1882. entered the R. P. I. of Troy and graduated in June, 1886, and has been treasurer of the Alumni Association since June, 1888. He en- tered the Ludlow Valve Manufacturing Co. in November, 1888, as shipping clerk, and at the reorganizing of the company was made a director in the concern. He is vice-president of the Mobile Gas Light and Coke Co. and is president of the Electric Lighting Co. of Mobile, Ala. He was elected a vestryman of St. Paul's church in 1890 and still retains that office, and is one of the incorporators and a director and treasurer of the New Samaritan Hospital. He is one of the managers of the Troy Club, a member of the Laureate Boat Club, an incorporator and member of the City Club of Troy, also a member of the Committee of Public Safety. He married,

312

LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY,

May 3, 1887, Margery J. Christie, daughter of John T. Christie, by whom he has one daughter and a son. In national polities he is a Democrat,

Baynes, Joseph Taylor, son of Joseph and Alice Elizabeth (Taylor) Baynes, was born in Aldborough, Yorkshire, England, January 6, 1838, and came to America with his parents in 1848, settling on Diamond Rock farm in Lansingburgh, Rensse- laer county, where they remained two years, when they came to Troy. He was educated in the State Street Academy and studied music under Dr. William Hop- kins. He learned the trade of pattern maker and was first employed by Edgar B. Sherwood. August 14, 1857, he became a pattern make in the Watervliet Arsenal, where he rapidly rose to the position of foreman of the carriage department, which he holds at the present time. Mr. Baynes is a member of the Veteran Boys in Blue, and Evening Star Lodge No, 75, F. & A. M. of West Troy, of which he has been the organist for the past twenty-five years. He is also a member of Apollo Chapter No. 18, R. A. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T, the Scottish Rite bodies and the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Ile is a deacon in the Park Presbyterian church and has been its organist for twenty-eight years. In 1857 he married Carrie Elizabeth Wood, who died in 1871. They had three children: Carrie E., Anna F. and Dr. Joseph E. In 1886 he married Emma Covert of Trenton, N. J.

Filley Family, the,-Edwin Filley was born in Bloomfield, Conn., May, 1799, came to Lansingburgh, Rensselaer county, in 1813 and associated himself with a relative, Augustus Filley, and soon became foreman of the latter's large tin shop. In 1823 he succeeded to the business and for many years the tinware establishment of E. Filley & Son was the largest in this part of the country. Mr. Filley was su- pervisor of the town in 1844, a trustee of the village of Lansingburgh for several years, and a director in the Bank of Lansingburgh. His life was pure and blame- less, and he was widely known, highly respected and esteemed, and noted for his strict honor and integrity. With one exception he was the oldest member of the M. E. church of Lansingburgh, wherein he suddenly died after morning service on Sun- day, June 12, 1870. He had been its leader and a trustee from its organization in 1897, and was one of its chief supporters. His principal characteristics were his benevolence and publie usefulness. He married Elizabeth White, who died in March, 1883, and they had two children: Milford Edwin (who died September 00, 1581, and George B. (who died March 21, 1579). George B. Filley became his father's partner and in 1870, succeeded to the business, which he continued until his death in March, 1879, when his widow assumed charge and finally closed it out. He was one of the original Board of Police Commissioners of Lansingburgh, served two terms as village trustee and was a member of the Sans Souci Chib. October 22, 1856 he married Julia F., daughter of Alfred Seaman of Lansingburgh, who survives him, as do also their four children: Elizabeth M. (Mrs. William B. Smith of Troy), Milford E., Antoinette F, and Mary S.

Faye, Catherine M. - Morris Van Buskirk was born at Buskirk's Bridge in the town of Hoosick, January 25, 1802, He was well educated and was a produce dealer by occupation. He came to Lansingburgh at the age of twenty years. September 22, 1831, he married Catherine Knickerbacker of the town of Schaghticoke; she was a daughter of Judge Herman Knickerbacker of Schaghticoke; she bore him four chil-

313

FAMILY SKETCHES.

dren: Herman K., John Morris, Luretia Clay and Catherine M. Herman K. is in the official postal department at Washington, D. C. and has been for the past thirty years. John Morris married Amelia Kellogg of Lansingburgh; he was a prominent man in the county and was treasurer and busines manager of the Columbia Bank Note Co. at Washington, D. C. ; he had been engaged more or less in the banking business from the age of seventeen and was in the post-office department at Wash- ington from 1861 to 1873, when he resigned and afterwards became associated with the Columbia Bank Note Co .; he died January 29, 1878, aged forty-four years; he left on adopted daughter, Jessie Y., who married Howard Shields of Troy, and died at the age of twenty-one years. Lucretia Clay, born August 17, 1839, died at the age of twenty months; she was named by Henry Clay, after his wife, he being a guest at her father's house at the time of her birth. Catherine M. married Edward C. Faye, of New York city, who was a merchant there; he was a well educated man and a member of one of the oldest families in the city. Mr. Faye was born, October 12, 1839, and died August 26, 1881. Mrs. Van Buskirk's father was Herman Knicker- backer, born July 27, 1979. He was a member of the Eleventh Congress and was county judge for many years. He died January 30, 1855. The first settler of the town of Schaghtieoke was Johannes Knickerbacker, who was born in Holland in 1679, and died at Schaghticoke in 1718, at the age of seventy years; his wife Hanna died in 1732 aged fifty seven years. The ancestry of the family is Dutch.

Birrell, James N., was born in Cohoes, Albany county, N. Y., December 18, 1858, Fle was educated in the public schools and De Garmo's Institute at Rhinebeck, N. Y. Ile has been a salesman for seventeen years, and is now a wholesale and retail dealer in oils and drugs. April 30, 1891, he married Mary N. Harris of Whitehall, Washington county, then of Troy. The father of Mr. Birrell was Thomas, born in Alva, Stirlingshire, Scotland, about 1899, and in the year 1848 came to the United States and located at Troy. He married Elizabeth Sharp of Troy, formerly of his native country. They had five children, two of whom died in infancy, and the others are James N , Thomas N., and Helena E. Mr. Birrell died in 1868, and his widow died August 20, 1886. The father of Mrs. Birrell, Daniel R. Harris, was born in Washington county in 1814. He married Naomi Ellsworth, by whom two children were born: Daniel and Mary N. Mr. Harris died in 1856. The great- grandfather of Mrs. Birrel, Harris, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and Enghsh.

Maxwell, Thomas F., was born in Troy, N. Y., November 13, 1861. His father was Thomas Maxwell, a native of Troy. He served three years in the civil war as captain of Co. A, Griswold Light Cavalry. He died in 1889. His mother is Mary (McMahon) Maxwell, of Troy. He attended the public and high schools of Troy. In 1879 he entered the office of John 11. Colby, a former district attorney, for the study of law and was admitted to the bar in 1883. He had charge of the business until the death of Mr. Colby, which occurred January 1, 1886. He then formed a copart- nership with Jeremiah K. Long, under the firm name of Long & Maxwell. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans and the Troy Citizens Corps.

Thomas, Frank W., was born in Troy, October 11, 1859. Hle is the son of Francis and Caroline Frances (Connell) Thomas of Troy, at which place his father has re-

314

LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

sided since 1850 and who is a well known merchant and manufacturer of Troy. Frank was educated at the Troy Academy and the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute from which he was graduated in 1880. He began the study of law in the office of MeClellan & Lansing, was admitted to the bar in 1881 and since that time has been in active practice in Troy. July 15, 1885, he married Carrie M., daughter of Samuel S. Green of Chicago, Ill. They have two children, John Francis and Howard Standish. He is a member of the State Bar Association, the Troy Citizens Corps, the Sons of the Revolution in the right of ten ancestors, the Society of Colonial Wars, and an honorary member of many Massachusetts Historical Societies.

Hoag, John E., was born in Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, N. Y., May 7, 1839. His father, Lawton Robinson Hoag, was born in Quakerhill, Dutchess county, N. Y., and moved when a young man to a place called Kucheltown. Rensselaer county, (now Eagle Mills). He was a millwright by trade. His death, which occurred in 1890, was caused by an accident ; he was eighty-seven years old. Ilis mother, Ilan- nah Moul, was born in 1810, and died in 1854. He received a common school educa- tion, then entered Union Academy at Poestenkill; after graduating he came to Troy and entered Troy University. He taught in Troy Academy two years, during which time he was continuing the study of law. He then entered the law office of Eleazer Wooster, who was located at the time in Poestenkill, and was admitted to practice in 1866. He was in practice in New York city until 1879, then came back to Rensselaer county and associated in business with E. Wooster & Son in 1875. Mr. lloag has been in practice alone since the death of his partners. He belongs to Apollo Chapter R. A. M., and Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., and of the latter he is a life member. Ile was married in 1876 to Ophelia Reno of Troy, N. Y. He has one child, a son twelve years of age.

Ball, John C., was born in Hoosick, N. Y., in 1846. Ilis ancestors originally came from England and settled in Connecticut early in the eighteenth century. His father, Erastus Ball, was born in Wilmington, Vt., in 1802, and died in Hoosick Falls in 1855. Erastus Ball was long a resident of Hoosick Falls, and was one of the original projectors of the Troy and Boston railroad ; he was also one of the early directors of the Troy City Bank. His mother, Rebecca (Hill) Ball, was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., m 1819, and died in Utica, N. Y., m 18;8. John C. Ball received his education in the public schools of Utica, and in 1800 came to Troy and started in the shirt manufacturing business under his own name; his brother, Clinton M., subsequently joined him in business, since which the firm name has been Ball Bros., although his brother retired from the business in 1877. He manufactures a high grade special order shirts, and the name and goods of Ball Bros. are widely known throughout the Eastern and Middle States. Mr. Ball is a member of all the Masonie boches. He married Anna B. Murdock of Utica, in 1867, and they had two sons and four daughters (one dying in infancy.) Mrs. Ball died in Watervliet, N. Y., in 1886. Ilis present wife was Julia E. Sibley of Westfield, Mass., by whom he has one daughter. Mr. Ball's eldest son James M., is foreman of his business, and is also a member of the Board of School Commissioners of the city of Watervliet.

Curtis, Fred W., was born in Troy, in September, 1865. Ilis father, Horace Curtis, was born in Troy in 1816, and was employed by the Rensselater Iron Co. for

: -

315

FAMILY SKETCHES.

fifty years, and has since retired. His mother, Ann (Hopkins) Curtis, was born in Wales, and came to this country about 1837 with her parents, who settled in Troy. She died July 9, 1839. Fred W. was educated in the public schools of Troy. He entered the drug store of F. M. Brower as clerk, and in 1892 he was made a partner, under the firm name of F. M. Brower & Co. He is a member of Mt. Zion) Lodge No. BII, F. & A. M., and of the Troy Republican Club. June 29, 1893, he married Mary L. Vincent of Troy; he has two children, Stephen HI. and Ralph T.

McChesney, Calvin S., was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer county, N. Y., De- cember 15, 1857. His grandfather was Ilugh MeChesney, who came to Pittstown in 1810. His father, Nelson McChesney, was born in Brunswick in September, 1827. His mother, Sarah S. (Barry) McChesney, was born in Pittstown and died in July, 1890. Ile received a district school education and entered the Military Acad- emy at Peekskill, N Y., in January. 1875, graduating in 1877, then entered Yale and graduated with the class of '81. He entered Yale Law School in September, 1882, and graduated in June 1884. He came to Troy and entered the office of Warren, Patterson & Gambell, remained there until 1889, and then opened an office for the general practice of law at 15 First street, where he continued until January, 1893. In 1893 he formed a copartnership with Clarence E. Betts under the firm name of McChesney & Betts, 70 Second street. Mr. Betts retired from the firm January 1, 1896. Ile is a member of the Pafraets Dael Club, of which he is president, and a member and quartermaster of the Citizens Corps.

MeConihe, Alonzo, of the firm of Bayer & McConile, was born in Troy, N. Y., in 1865. His father, Alonzo MeConthe, founded the wholesale business at No. 207 River street, in 1835, which is at present the firm of MeConihe & Co .. He died mn 1875. Ilis mother, Mary Thompson MeConihe, is a daughter of the late C. W. Thompson, who was for many years in the lumber business in Troy. Mr. McConihe was edu- cated in private schools and then entered Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., from which he was graduated in 1888. Previous to this time he had become a member of the lumber firm of Bayer & MeConihe and at the expiration of his collegiate course took an active part in the business. He is one of the board of managers of the Troy Club, and is a member of the Laureate Boat Club. He is a ditector in the New York Savings and Loan Association.

Hoyt, Marshall E., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., December 31, 1859. Ile was educated in the public schools and Lansingburgh Academy, and he spent a year and a half on a farm from July, 1877, to April 1, 1879. He afterward learned the trade of brushmaker, and in ISSS entered into copartnership with his brother, Fred- erick M., under the firin name of F. M. Hoyt & Bro., manufacturers of brushes, which had been continued with other partners since 1833. April 23, 1884, he married Jose- phine Bateson of Cohoes, N. Y. Mrs. Hoyt's father, John Bateson, was born in England and came to the United States when a young man. He married Harriet Westfall of this State, by whom he had thirteen children. Mr. Bateson died in 1864. The ancestry of the family is Dutch and English.

Hoyt, Frederick M., was born in Lansingburgh, March 28, 1837. He was edu- cated in the public schools and Lansingburgh Academy. In 1858 he succeeded his father and a Mr. Cross, who failed in business, on account of Buchanan's free trade

316

LANDMARKS OF RENSSELAER COUNTY.

administration, and continued it since; in 1888 his brother, Marshall E., became a partner, under the firm name of F. M. Hoyt & Bro. In April, 1866, he married Charlotte Tallman of this place. The father of Mr. Hoyt, Joseph, was born in Ver- shire, Vt., June 13, 1812, and came to Lansingburgh about 1826 and started in the brush business, which his sons now continue, and was founded by a Mr. Moss and a Mr. Cross, under the firm name of Cross, Moss & Hoyt. Mr. Moss died and Mr. Cross and Mr. Hoyt continned the business. Joseph was married on September 13, 1835, to Eliza Loekrow of Lansingburgh, by whom seven children were born; the sons and two daughters survive at this date, 1896: Frederick M., Allen S., Marshall E., Mary F., Mrs. F. Geer and Mina E., now Mrs. Elisha F. Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Hoyt died in 1892. The ancestry of the family is English and Dutch.

Ranken, David M., was born in Troy, May 16, 1843, and his education was ob- tained in the public schools, Troy Business College, and Fort Edward Institute. In 1861 he enlisted in Company B, 2d N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged in 1862, and immediately re-enlisted in the United States navy, serving on board the North Carolina, the Montgomery, and the Oneida, and was under Admiral Farragut on the Mississippi River, and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Upon his return to Troy he became a wool dealer for twelve years, and has been connected with the knit goods business in Cohoes ever sinee, and at the present time is manager of the Star Knitting Co. He was a member of the Common Council for fourteen years, and was in the School and Water Boards for eight years, when he resigned both of these positions and moved to Lansingburgh in 1890. In 1867 he married Mary F. Morrison of Troy, and has one son, Fred M., who is in New York city as selling agent for the Star Knitting Co. Mr. Ranken's father, John, was born in 1810 and was educated in the schools of that early day. He was a manufacturer at Albia for many years, and afterwards was a merchant in Troy. He married Nancy MeNally of Hope, Canada. They had ten children: Ingh F. was lost at sea in 1854; Cordelia 1I., Henry S., William J., Robert B., David M., Elizabeth J., Peter B., Sarah J. and Mary. Mr. Ranken died in 1864 and his wife died in 1892. David M. is a charter member of Griswold Post No. 338, G. A. R. of Troy, and is past commander. He is a member of Mount Zion Lodge No. 311, F. & A. M., of Troy, of Apollo Chapter No. 18, R. A. M., of Bloss Council No. 14, of Apollo Com- mandery No. 15. R. & S. M., of Delta Lodge of Perfection, of Delta Council P. of J. of Delta Chapter Rose Croix, of Albany Sovereign Consistory A. A. R., of Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and Diamond Rock Lodge No. 564, I. O. O. F. The family went from Scotland to the north of Ireland, and the ancestry of the family is Seoteh.

King, Phebe J .- Joseph, the father, is said to be the oldst man in the State. He was born May 5, 1791, on Hoover Island, and was educated in the schools of that very early day. He was married twice, first, in 1821, to Phebe Bennett, by whom three children were born: Charles, John O., and C. Henry. Mrs. King died in 1828, and for his second wife he married Belinda Wager of Schenectady, by whom twelve children were born: Joseph, jr., William G., Belinda A., Phebe J., Betsey M., Walter A., Augustus, Stephen F., George A., Christina A., Marshall N., and M. Edward. His second wife is also dead. Joseph, jr., married Mary A. Nicholas of Brooklyn, by whom three children were born: Joseph E., Mary B., and Charlotte,

317

FAMILY SKETCHES.

who died in infancy. Joseph E., son of Joseph, jr., married Mary Fordell, by whom one son has been born: Franeis. Joseph King was a drummer in the war of 1812. He is in fairly good health and has made a good start in his 106th year. His daughter Phebe keeps house for him.

Smith, John F., was born in Aberdeen, Scotland, and came with his parents to the United States when he was five years of age. Ile was educated in the public schools here, and has been a traveling salesman for fifteen years. In March, 1896, he was elected overseer of the poor. December 19, 1869, he married Ximena Barrett, by whom four children were born, of which two are living: Herbert A. and Jessie A. The father of Mr. Smith was a merchant; was born at the old home in Scotland about 1806, and he came to this country in 1851. lle married Isabella Watson of his native place, by whom five children were born: James, a soldier in the late war, was killed in North Carolina; John F., Anna B., Jennie, who died at the age of twenty-two; and Alexander. Mr. Smith died in 1857, and his widow survives him at this date, 1896. John F. is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, F. & A. M., of Phoenix Chapter No. 133, R. A. M., of this place, and is also a member of Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and Oriental Temple. Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of Troy, N. Y. He has served as master of Jerusalem Lodge for three years, as high priest of Phoenix Chapter four years, and is now recorder of Apollo Commandery, and a member of the famous Drill Corps that attained such distinction in Boston in 1995. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and New England stock.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 65

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