Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 66

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 66

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Baxter, Dennis 'T., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., May 6, 1838. He was edu- cated in the public schools and the Lansingburgh Academy. For many years he was a brick mannfacturer, afterwards a farmer; he is now retired and is residing in Lansingburgh. March 27, 1861 he married Louisa M. Van Arnum of the town of Brunswick, by whom he has had two daughters; Mary S., who married Douglass Barry formerly of Easton, Washington county, now of this place; and Ida C., who at present resides at home. Mr. Baxter's father, Dennis S., was born in Lansing- burgh, January 28, 1805. He was educated in the schools of that day, and was a brick manufacturer, as was his father before him. February 20, 1827, he married Mary . Millis, by whom he had seven children, four daughters and three sons: Charles C., Mary F., AAngelia R., Marietta, Dennis T. (the subject of this sketeh), Adelaide V. and George W Mr. Baxter died February 6, 1887, and his wife Jann- ary 6, 1886. Mrs. Baxter's father, Henry J. Van Arnum, was born in the town of Brunswick, November 21, 1812. He was educated in the schools of that day and always followed the honorable occupation of farming. He married Mary C. Holmes of Lansingburgh, N. Y., formerly of Randolph, Vt., by whom he had five children : Levi, Louise M., Romeo, Emily S. and Mareus II. He died October 13, 1894, and his wife May 19, 1856. The family have owned the same farm in Brunswick for 115 years. A considerable part of the residence of Mrs. Baxter's great-grandfather is still standing, some additions having been made. During the Revolutionary war before he lived there, an incident of the war occurred; a British tory came to visit a young lady residing there, and was discovered in hiding and shot by one of the Whig soldiers.

Thompson, Prof. Dwinel French, was born in Bangor, Me., January 1, 1846. Hte

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was educated in the public schools, the " Little Blue School" at Farmington, Me., and Lewiston Falls Academy, and is a graduate of Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, class of '69. Ile was a tutor in that college for three years. In 1872 he eame to Troy and accepted the position of professor of descriptive geometry, stere- otomy and of drawing in the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This position he has filled since 1872. January 1, 1880, he married Lena, daughter of $. Burt Saxton of Troy. They have four children: Alice Quimby, G. Saxton, Nathaniel French, and Dwinel Burt. The father, Joel D. Thompson, was born in Lisbon, Me., in 1810, and was educated in the schools of his day. He was a merchant in Bangor for many years. He married Harriet Newell French, of Bangor, Me., formerly of New Hamp- shire, by whom two children were born: Dwinel French and Alice, who died in her fifth year. Mr. Joel D. Thompson died February 21, 1853, and his wife died Novem- ber 13, 1893. This family trace their origin to Kittery, Me., to one James Thomp- son, in 1696, and on the maternal side to Edward French of Salisbury, Mass., in 1640. The grandfather of the professor's mother, Nathaniel French, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The ancestry of the maternal side is English, and of the paternal side Scotch-Irish.

Smith, Charles T. R., who has been principal of Lansingburgh Academy since 1872, was born in Pittsford, Vt., December 5, 1846, and came to Plattsburgh, N. Y .. with his parents when six years old, where he was educated in the common schools and Plattsburgh Academy, He graduated from Williams College in 1868, and then began his lifework, first as principal of Leavenworth Institute at Wolcott, Wayne county, N. Y. Ilis next field was Port Byron, Cayuga county, where he was prin- cipal of the High School; afterwards he became principal of the High School of Fayetteville, Onondaga eounty, He then came to Lansingburgh as principal of the Lansingburgh Academy, and is still holding that position with success. For several terms he was president of the Rensselaer County Teachers' Association, and presi- dent during 1888-89, of the Association of Academie Principals of New York State. In 1870 he married Cornelia A, Hibbard of South Butler, Wayne county, N. Y. They have two daughters: Cora A. and Bertha M. Cora A. graduated from Smith Col- lege, Northampton, Mass. His father, Levi Smith, was born at Acworth, N. H., in 1812. Ile was educated in the schools of that day and the New Hampton Theologi- val Seminary. His wife, Amelia B, Morse, was born in Hebron, N. 11., May 20, 1821. They had three children: Charles T. R., Oscar E., and Julia A., now the wife of Dr. Cyrenius Vaughn of Morrisonville, Clinton county, N. Y. Oscar married Julia Wil- son of Penacook, N. Il. Mr. Smith was a Baptist minister for forty years. He died in March, 1879; his widow still survives. The ancestry of this family on both sides is of New England extraction.

Ilannah, jr., David, was born in Lansingburgh, October 22, 1854. His education was obtained in the public schools, and he first began business as a newspaper boy, lle was clerk in the employ of W. R. Barton in the grocery business for twenty-two years, and then began business in that line on his own account, in which he has been very successful for the past seven years. The father of Mr. Hannah was David, born in the North of Ireland in the year 1820, where he was educated. He has been married twice; first, to Mary Leadlie of his native place, and came to the United States about 1817 and located here. They had two children: Margaret and John.

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Mrs. Hannah died in 1848. In 1851 he married Jane Wright of this place for his second wife, formerly of his native country. They have had seven children: Ed- ward B., David, jr., Mary J., Sarah, Ellen L., Deborah W. and Joseph. Edward B. married Sarah Neil. Mary J. married John Hughes of Waterford, Saratoga county, by whom two children have been born: Edward B. and Jennie. David is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, F. & A. M. He was chairman of the town committee for three years, police commissioner for six years, and tax collector for three years. He was captain of the Eake Hook and Ladder Company. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and Irish.

Henry, Horace HI., was born in Albany, January 7, 1840. His parents moved to the town of Watervliet when he was a boy. He was educated in the Moravian Acad- cmy in Pennsylvania and was graduated from there when about eighteen years old. He spent three years in Kansas and returned to Albany, owing to ill health, and manufactured fire bricks nutil 1872. He then came to Troy where he manufactured bricks and stove linings, doing business under the firm name of Bacon & Henry, until 1887. A joint stock company was organized known as the MeLeod & Henry Co., Harvey S. MeLeod, president and treasurer, and Horace II. Henry, vice presi- dent, and Augustus MeLeod as secretary. He was married twice; first, in 1862, to Mary E. Henderson of Albany, by whom two children were born, Horace II., jr., and Etta A. Horace H., jr., is now on the police force of Lansingburgh. Mrs. Henry died about 1875, and for his second wife he married Elizabeth C. Buckley of Troy. by whom one sen has been born: William J., who is a student at school. The father of Mr. Henry was born in Germany, and worked at his trade of making stone ware. Ile came to the United States when he was eighteen years old and located in Albany, where he followed his trade. Ile made the first stove lining made in the United States for coal stoves. In 1825 he married Mary A. Henderson, by whom twelve children were born, eight of whom grew to maturity; Darwin D., Mary A., Charles V., Horace H., Henrietta V., Jacob, Lemuel C. and Wilham E. Mr. Henry ched in 1865, and his wife died in 1875 Mr. Henry is a member of Ancient City Lodge of Albany No. 455, F. & A. M., of Hudson River Chapter of West Troy No. 262, R. A. M., of Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and of Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Strine. Mr. Henry is one of the solid busi- ness men of Troy and Lansingburgh.

Smith, Edwin R,, was born in Lansingburgh, September 25, 1824, and was edu- cated in the public schools and was a general merchant here for a number of years. In 1844 he married Mary L. Sterry of this place, and has three living children: Harriet, Emma and Clara September 25, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, 169th N. Y. Vols. This regiment participated in thirty-two engagements and took part in both expeditions for the reduction of Fort Fisher in North Carolina; he enlisted as a private and was rapidly promoted, for gallant service in the field, first to second lieutenant and then to first lieutenant, and again to the position of captain of Co. F. and in the battle of Cold Harbor he was shot in the neck, which disabled him for a short time, and with that exception he took part in every engagement with his com- pany and regiment. Ile was honorably discharged July 18, 1865. Upon his arrival home the State Legislature brevetted him major for gallant service in the field. Major Smith is a charter member of Bolton Post No. 471, G. A. R. of Lansingburgh,

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N. Y. Ile has held the office of senior vice-commander for several years. Ile is now president of the 169th Veteran Association and has filled the office for the past ten years; the surviving members met on September 25, 1896, and presented him with an elegant silver tea service. He has served his town as police justice for sixteen years and justice of the peace for fifteen years, and is a member of the Board of Ilealth for eighteen years. Hle was also notary public for twelve years. The an - cestry of the family is English.

Munn, Elizabeth A .- The late Rufus S. Munn was born in Trenton, N. Y., July 15, 1829, and came to Troy with his parents when a child. He was educated in the publie schools and began life's work as a clerk, and afterwards was a dealer at wholesale in millinery goods. December 28, 1857, he married Elizabeth A. Clements of Troy, and has one daughter, Ida J., who is a skillful painter and has traveled extensively in Europe, putting herself in touch with the old masters of the art. Mr. Munn was a member of the King Solomon Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., of Troy. Ile died July 12, 1883. Mrs. Munn's father, Stephen Clements, was born in Saratoga county, June 10, 1802. He was educated in the public schools and came to Troy when a young man and became one of the prominent business men as a retail aud wholesale dealer in groceries. He married Harriet N. Severance, formerly of Mass- achusetts, by whom four children were born: Elizabeth A., Harriet F., George W., and Emma A., of whom all are dead, with the exception of Mrs. Munn. Mr. Clements died May 30, 1885. Mr. Clements retired from business ten years before his death. Mrs. and Miss Munn are members of the Westminster Presbyterian church of Lansingburgh. The family trace their origin through New England of English and German extraction.

Winkelmann, David F., was born in Treves ('Trier), Rhine, Prussia, Germany, March 28, 1828. He was educated in their schools and was a cabinet maker by trade, serving two years in the Prussian army. He married Mary Morgan of his native place. IIe came to New York city August 18, 1851, and thence to Lansingburgh, N. Y. ; his wife followed one year later, with their son David F., jr., after which five more children were born: Mary, Johanna, Mary No. 2, Clara, and Albert. His wife died September 8, 1877. David F., jr., married Marcia Wager, and has one daughter, Alyta; his wife died in 1896; he married again in 1896, taking for his wife Alice Dunham, of Grafton N. Y. Mary No. 2 married James B. Hoyt of Troy, N. Y., and has two children: Grace Agnes and Hazel May. Clara married Dr. Thomas J. Southwick, of Lansingburgh, N. Y., by whom she has one son, Jesse Albert; her second husband was George E. Denmiker, of Troy, N. Y., now deceased; Mary, Johanna and Albert, deceased. Mr. Winkelmann carried on the cigar box manufac- turing for several years, and is the owner of six residences in Lansingburgh. In politics he has always been a Republican, and is a member of the Lutheran church.

Whyland, Jacob, was born in the town of Poestenkill, Angust 5, 1830. ITis ed- ucation was obtained in the common schools, and he had a variety of occupations. He was a farmer, store-keeper and hotel keeper for many years. Ile held the posi- tion of town clerk in his native town for several years, and supervisor for two years. He became a citizen of Lansingburgh in 1887, when he retired from active business. Ile was treasurer of the village of Lansingburgh from 1893 to 1895. In 1854 he

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married Jennie Van Waggoner, of the town of Brunswick, by whom he had one daughter, Perley J., who died in her third year. They have an adopted daughter, Addie. Mr. Whyland's father, Jacob, was born in the town of Sand Lake the early part of the present century; he was educated in the schools of his day, and was a farmer by occupation ; he married Elizabeth Filkins; they had ten children: Maria, John, Susan, Catharine, Deborah, Lenard, Agnes, Joseph, Jane, and Jacob 11. Mr. Whyland died in 1856, and his wife in 1844. The Whyland family settled in Poesten- kill before the Revolutionary war. The ancestry of the family is Dutch on both sides.

Wood, George F., was born in Lansingburgh, N. Y., November 22, 1861. He was educated in the public schools and the Lansingburgh Academy, and has always been a coal dealer by occupation ; his present place of business is on Second avenue cor- ner of Sixth street, Lansingburgh. His father, Artemas Wood, was also born in Lansingburgh about the year 1834. He was educated in the public schools and was a brushmaker by occupation. He married Miss Mary E. Bradshaw of his native place, by whom he had two children: George F., and Kittie, who died at the age of seven. During the war Mr. Wood enlisted twice, the second time in Co. L, 21st N. Y: Cavalry. He was shot and killed at Rood's Hill, Shenandoah Valley, November 22, 1864, and his remains were brought home for interment. Mrs. A. Wood is still living and resides with her son. George F. is a member of the efficient fire brigade of Lansingburgh. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58, F. & A. M., also of Sam- nel King Camp, Sons of Veterans. This family is of New England stock, and Eng- lish ancestry.

Witbeck, Mary .- The late Martin V. B. Witbeek was born in Watervliet, Albany county, N. Y., May 16, 1834, and was educated in the public schools and was a moulder , by trade. January 3, 1861, he married Mary Button, of Glenville, N. Y., and in about 1872 the family came to Lansingburgh to reside. They had five children, Ella, Howard M., Margaret P., Mande J., and Anna C. Howard M. married Ger- trude Thompson of Lockport, Niagara county, and have one son, Lyman T. Mar- garet P. married Henry I. Bennit of Lansingburgh. Mr. Witbeck died May 3, 1893. The father of Mrs. Witbeck, Henry Button, was born in England about 1802, where he was educated. He married Mary Stiles of his native place and came to the United States about 1831 and located in Schenectady county. They had five chil- dren: Sarah, Caroline, Mary, Harriet, and Cordelia. Mr. Button died in 1886 and his wife died in 1849. The ancestry of the family is Dutch and English.

Smith, Lampson, was born in the city of Troy, September 12, 1844, was educated in the public schools and was a grocery merchant by occupation. September 6, 1869, he enlisted in Co. B, 169th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged July 9, 1865. April 3, 1878, he married Mary Vahn of Troy, formerly of Pittstown. The father of Mr. Smith Lampson, was born in Danbury, Vt., June 22, 1801, and died September 1, 1892; was educated in the schools of that early day and was a tanner and harnessmaker by trade; he worked for two years at his trade at Kinderhook, and then purchased the business and carried it on for six years, when he was burned out. lle then came to Troy and formed a partnership with Elias Ross in the leather and hardware business; Mr. Ross died in 1873, and Philander Pollock, who had

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been clerk for two years, bought the Ross interest which was carried on for twenty years under the firm name of Smith & Pollock. He had married twice; by his first wife he had one son, and two daughters: John B., Laura and Sarah. By his second wife, Lucinda Lansing, born Price, he had three children: Lampson, Lansing, and Charles S. Lansing was a clerk in the county clerk's office, and was also captain of the first steam fire engine in Troy. He enlisted in the 2d N. Y. Vols., was honora- bly discharged in 1863, and died, December 21, 1875. Charles S. was also a clerk in the county clerk's office and was a soldier in the 62d Anderson Zouaves and was honorably discharged. Mr. Smith is a member of Griswold Post No. 338, G. A. R. The ancestry of the family is Scotch, German and Dateli extraction.

Buckingham, Jonas C., was born in Troy, January 4, 1819, and was educated in the private schools of Troy and the Troy High school. He has been bookkeeper for the Troy Steamboat Company for many years. He followed the river for two years as purser on the Swallow, and was aboard when she was wrecked, and so many lives were lost. He has been in the hat, cap and fur trade on two different occasions in Troy. In 1852 he went to New York city and had charge of the Bald Mountain Lime Works until 1860. He was accountant in their Wall street office for two years, and then was appointed inspector of customs, under Lincoln's administration, until 1869, when he removed to Lansingburgh. He was then engaged in the Troy post-office as money order clerk for eighteen months, and was then appointed assistant post- master by General Alden until 1874. In 1881 he began the fire insurance business in Lansingburgh for the leading insurance companies, which he continues with success until this day. December 10, 1844, he married Frances E. Sheldon of Troy, by whom seven children have been born, three sons and four daughters, of whom only two survive: Martha S. married Theodore B. Walsh of Lansingburgh, and Henry J. married Catherine Gilmore and has one son, William C. Mr. Buckingham is a member of the Y. M. C. A. His father, Gideon, was born in East Hladdam, Connect- icut, in 1787. He married Maria J. Crowley of Troy, by whom five children were born: Edward M., Richard G., Jonas C., Elizabeth and Howard, of whom all are now dead with the exception of Jonas C. and Elizabeth, widow of Anson Gray, of Brooklyn. Gideon died in 1868 and his wife died in 1876. Mrs. Buckingham's father, Mr. Crowley, was a captain in the Revolutionary war; he was a member of the Society of the Cincinnati. The ancestry of the family is English, Swiss, and Irish.

Van De Bogart, Mrs. Nellie .- The late Daniel Van De Bogart was born in Sche- neetady in 1810, aud was educated in the schools of that day, and was a mason con- tractor by trade. In 1838 he married Nellie Smith of his native place, by whom eight children have been born: Lydia, Daniel W., William II., Harvey, Magdaline, Benjamin F., Sarah E., and Estella. Daniel W. was a soldier in the late war, and was killed by a rebel sharpshooter, June 19, 1864. William II. enlisted in Co. E, 11th Infantry, and was captured and sent to Libby, Andersonville, and Sanlisbnry Prisons, and was honorably discharged December 21, 1865. Lydia married Andrew Dilmore, of Philadelphia, Pa., who died in 1880. Harvey died at the age of fifteen months. Magdaline died young, and Estella died at the age of fifteen months. Benjamin F. married Jennie Constance of Wisconsin, by whom four children have been born: Fannie E., Hattie, Frank, and George. Mr. Van De Bogart

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died December 20, 1876. The father of Mrs. Van Dc Bogart was a soldier in the war of 1812, and her grandfather, Smith, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, The ancestry of the family is Dutch, French, German, Scotch and English.

Barker, Calvin J., was born in New York city, March 16, 1839, and came to Lansing- burgh with his parents when a child. He was educated in the public schools and Balston Spring Academy, and was a druggist with Hageman & Co, of New York city for twenty years. June 3, 1863, he married Celia F., daughter of Thomas Curran of Lansingburgh, by whom three children hava been born: Irene H., Ed- ward G., and Clara B. The son is a bookkeeper for the Standard Oil Co. in New Vork city The father of Mr. Barker, James N., was born in Lansingburgh, Jan- uary 15, 1814, and was educated in the schools of that early day, and was a druggist by occupation, Ile married Eliza Dougrey, by whom three children have been born : Calvin J., Irene Il., and Agnes B. Mr. Barker died May 3, 1883, and his wife died about 1848. Mr. Barker is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 58 F. & A. M., and is one of the past masters; a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 183, R. A. M. and is its high priest in his second term ; of Bloss Council No. 14; of Apollo Commandery No. 15, K. T., and of Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and English.

McMurray, Josephine A .- The late William McMurray was born in 1798, and was educated in the private schools of that early day. He was a brush manufacturer on a large scale, employing a large force. When Henry Clay visited Lansingburgh he was entertained as a guest by Mr. McMurray and family; he died in 1851 and was the first one buried in Oakwood Cemetery of Troy. He married 11. Alida Baker of this place by whom ten children have been born: Hester A., Nancy, now Mrs. Channey W. Farnham; Mary F., now Mrs. G. W. Cornell; Edgar A., Josephine A., William, and Charles, who died at maturity, and three died in infancy. Hester A. married William Allen, formerly of England, who came to Lansingburgh with his parents when ten years of age and became a brush manufacturer, They had one son, Frederick, who died in his seventh year. Mr. Allen was president of the village for one term. He died March 1, 1869, and his widow survives at this date, 1896. William MeMurray died September 7, 1851, and his wife died September 7, 1988. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and English.

Bradt, John A., was born in the town of Poestenkill, Rensselaer county, in 1830, and was educated in the public schools. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. C, 9th N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. In 1863 he married Kate MeChesney of Brunswick. They have one adopted daughter, Carrie. The father of Mr. Bradt, Volkeart, was born in Albany about 1798, and was educated in the schools of that early day. He was a shoemaker and farmer by occupation. He married Phebe Lynd of Poestenkill, and has eight children, five sons and three daughters: John A., Elizabeth, Rosetta, Ellen, Tunis, George, William and Charles. Mr. Bradt died about 1882 and his wife about 1885. The father of Mrs. Bradt, Peter MeChesney, was born in Brunswick, December 15, 1808, and was educated in the schools of that early day. Ile was a carpenter and builder by trade. He mar- ried Lydia Rifinburg of Pittstown, and had six children: George, Mary J., Juha A., Kate, Caroline and Alexander, Mr. MeChesney died in 1847 and his wife died in 1871. The ancestry of the family is German,

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Hawkins, John E., was born in Lansingburgh, January 29, 1841, and was edu- cated in the public schools. He learned the tinsmith trade and has been a manufac- turer of tinware for the past eighteen years. Ilis son, Frederick J., has been in company with him for ten years, under the firm name of John E. Hawkins & Son. In September, 1861, he enlisted in Co. F, 2d N. Y. Vols., and was honorably dis- charged by surgeon's certificate of disability the same year. In 1859 he married Catherine Ann Yonnglove, and has had two children; Josephine and Frederick. The father of Mr. Hawkins, Jabez, was born July 25, 1806, and educated in the schools of that early day. Ile married Jane A. Smith and had twelve children, eight of whom lived to their majority: Frederick, John E., Samuel K., Alfred T., Marcus E., Mary J., Eliza J., and Frank F. Mr. Jabez Hawkins died in October, 1877, and his wife died August 28, 1872. The grandfather of Mr. Hawkins was born in Rhode Island in 1768, and was a son of Joseph, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. John E. is a member of Jerusalem Lodge No. 355, F. & A. M., and is also a member of Phoenix Chapter No. 183, R. A. M. The ancestry of the family is New England stock of English origin.

Homer, Samuel, was Born in England, October 16, 1843, and was educated in their schools. He came to the United States in 1861 and located in Trenton, N. J., and came to Troy in 1865. He was a chain maker by trade. November 1, 1866, he married Elizabeth Boycott of Troy, formerly of England, and have three children : William Kemp, Ensign Stover, and Hannah E., who resides at home. William Kemp married Mary C. Snyder of Lansingburgh, and has two children: William K., jr., and Phebe E. Ensign Stover married Ida Hartwell of Troy. Both sons are mem- bers of the Masonic order. The ancestry of the family is English on both sides.

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 66

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