USA > New York > Rensselaer County > Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3 > Part 69
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Lasell, Samuel H., was born in North Bennington, Vi., February 9, 1819. Ilis grandfather on the maternal side was Nathaniel Hall, who was born in Roxbury, Mass., March 4, 1763, and died in North Bennington, Vt. His grandmother was a Miss Hubbard, who was born in Middletown, Conn., October 17, 1767, and died
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March 24, 1846. His father, James Lasell, was born in Providence, R. I., April 11, 1788, and died at Wallingford, Vt., December 4, 1869. His mother, Phoebe (Hall) Lavell, was born in North Bennington, Vt., March 24, 1797, and died May 22, 1860. Samuel H. Lasell was educated in the common schools and at the academy at Ben- nington. In 1839 he came to Troy and entered the employ of G. V. S. Quackenbush in the dry goods business, and in 1845 went to Albany where he remained until 1849; he was then in business in New York city until 1855, when he returned to Troy and again took a position in the Quackenbush store, and later became a partner in the establishment. This is one of the oldest and most extensive mercantile establish- ments in the city of Troy and was founded in 1824 by G. V. S. Quackenbush. Jan- uary 11, 1863, he was married to Emma Quackenbush, daughter of G. V. S. Quack- enbush ; she died March 9, 1891. Ile has one son, Edwin Q. Lasell, who assists in the store. In politics Mr. Lasell has always been a Whig or a Republican, and voted for Harrison in 1840. He is an attendant of the First Presbyterian church. As a business man he is held in the highest esteem.
Sampson, Albert Augustus, was born in the town of Brunswick, May 4, 1843. 1Tis father, John Sampson, was born in Middleboro, Mass .. April 23, 1798, and for many years was a prominent business man in New York city of the firm of Tisdale & Sampson, hardware dealers. In 1836 he retired from active business and came to Troy and bonght the old Gardner farm on the Brunswick road, which was one of the handsomest residences in the vicinity. His first wife was Margaret Janette (Williams) Sampson of New York, sister of the wife of the late Dr. Wotkyns, who was mayor of Troy in 1857 and 1858, and died December 23, 1876. His second wife, the mother of Albert A., was Stella Maria Holton, married December 7, 1837; she was the daughter of Henry and Susan Holton of White Creek, N. Y. Ile was sue- cessful in his business and accumulated a comfortable property, leaving a good es- tate for those days at his death. He died in the city of New York, March 2, 1844 ; his widow survived him until November, 1868. The subject of this sketch has mostly resided at the old homestead on the Brunswick road, which has been mod- ernized. Ile has also been interested in the improvement and development of Pawling avenue, where he owns large real estate interests. Ile is one of the gov- ernors of the Marshall Infirmary and is a director of the Central National Bank. September 3. 1869, he married Sarah E. Albertson, daughter of John P. Albertson, who was city comptroller of Troy for many years and was the first president of the Mutual Bank. . Ile organized the Savings Association to purchase the Mutual Bank building. Their son, John Albertson Sampson, is a graduate of Williams College and is now attending the Johns Hopkins University at Baltimore, being a student in the medical department. He has also one daughter, Lucy Edith, who is a graduate of the Emma Willard Seminary, still at home with her parents. The family are members of the First Presbyterian church of Troy. In polities Mr. Sampson is a Republican.
The Wiles Laundering Company, Limited .- Richard H. Roberts, president; Jacob H. Ten Eyck, vice president; M. Edgar Wendell, treasurer; Charles F. Wiles, sec- retary; Thomas S. Wiles, manager. The business of laundering linen goods for manufacturers, which is carried on by this company, was founded in 1861 by Mr. Thomas S. Wiles. In 1898 Mr. Alonzo P. Adams became associated with Mr. Wiles
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in the business, the name of the firm being T. S. Wiles & Co. This partnership continued until 1877, during which period, besides prosecuting the laundering busi- ness, the firm engaged in the manufacture of laundry machinery. When the part- nership was dissolved in 1877, Mr. Wilescontinued the laundering business, and he and Mr. Adams, together with Mr. Henry Kelly, continued the manufacture of laundry machinery under the firm name of Wiles, Adams & Co., which firm, upon Mr. Wiles's withdrawal therefrom in 1878, was succeeded by the firm of Adams, Kelly & Angus, which in turn was succeeded in 1882 by The Troy Laundry Machinery Company, Limited, which is now carrying on the business, its officers being Mr. Thomas S. Wiles, president; Mr. M. Edgar Wendell, vice-president; Mr. Allen Conkling, treasurer and Mr. Jacob II. Ten Eyck, secretary; Mr. Wiles continued alone in the laundering business from 1877 to 1879, when The Wiles Laundering Company, Lim- ited, was incorporated and bought the business which has since been carried on by the company under the management of Mr. Wiles and Mr. Wendell.
Cluett, Fred HI., was born in Wolverhampton, England, May 2, 1842. He is a son of William and Ann (Bywater) Cluett, and came to this country with his parents in 1850. Ile received his education in Troy, N. Y., and in May, 1863, on attaining his majority, along with his brother Edmund, he was taken into partnership by his father, William Cluett, who founded the business in 1854. The firm name was then changed to Cluett & Sons, and since that time branch stores have been established in Albany, Amsterdam and Gloversville, New York ; North Adams, Mass., and Rut- land, Vt. With constant application and able management on the part of the several members of the firm, their business has steadily increased, so that now they have one of the largest and most successful piano and organ establishments north of New York city, and their reputation extends throughout the United States. Fred. Il. Cluett, the subject of this sketch, is a charter member and a director of the Central Young Men's Christian Association of Troy, a trustees of the State Street Methodist Episcopal church, and enjoys the unique distinction of being organist of that church for thirty-six consecutive years. In 1866 he married Frances Amelia Bishop, daughter of Charles B. Bishop, of Troy, and they have two sons and two daughters: Charles Frederick, who is connected with the piano house as manager of the ac- counts, also organist and choir-master of the First Presbyterian church of Troy; Clarence Wentworth, who also holds an important position in the sales department ; Frances, a graduate of the Troy Female Seminary; Mary Elizabeth, who was edu- cated at the High School and Troy Female Seminary, and finished her education at Helmuth College, Canada. Politically Mr. Cluett is a Republican. The following is an extract from the Troy Daily Times of June 8, 1895, regarding Mr. Cluett :
To-morrow will mark the close of thirty-five years of service of Fred H. Cluett, the talented organist of the State Street Methodist church of Troy, Mr. Cluett's first musical engagement, at sixteen years of age, was as organist of Rev. Dr. Magoon's church in Albany. Dr. Magoon, clo- quent, eccentric and popular, drew farge congregations. He was a Baptist minister. A little later Mr. Clnett studied with George William Warren, who was then organist of St. Paul's Epis- copal church in Albany, and who made Mr. Chutett assistant organist and gave him the valuable privilege of practicing on the beautiful organ then in old St. Paul's. Dr. George William Warren, who is well known in this city, has been for many years organist of St. Thomas's Episcopal church in New York city. In 1860 Mr. Clnett was engaged as organist of State Street Methodist church, Troy, and he has retained his position uninterruptedly. This period of thirty-five years includes fourteen pastoral changes and the terms of thirteen Sunday school superintendents. The last
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service in the old church was Sunday evening, February 26, 1871. Tho new church was dedicated by Bishop Simpson, March 30, 1871. The large, new organ, one of the finest in the city, was opened and exhibited by Dr. T. J. Guy and Mr. Cluett May 1, 1871. Mr. Cluett was a pupil of Dr. Guy, whose faithful instructions were of great value and highly prized. Mr. Cluett made repeated visits to Europe and gained the advantage of hearing some of the greatest organists of the old world. His eldest son, Charles Fred Chuiett, is organist of the First Presbyterian church in this city. Mr. Chuett has been a member of the State Street church from boyhood and a trustee of the church for seventeen years. He is prominent and respected in social and business relations as well as in the work of the church.
Cluett, Edmund, was born near Birmingham, England, October 1, 1840 He is the son of the late William Cluett, for many years a very prominent man in Troy. Ile died September 18, 1890. His wife, mother of the subject, was Aun (Bywater) Cluett, who died in 1876. Eumund Cluett received his education in Troy and was taken into the music store of his father, William Cluett, as a partner, May 1, 1863, and the firm of Clnett & Sons is one of the largest of the kind in the country, and one of the oldest. Ile is a member of the Watervliet Arsenal Golf Club, the Troy Club, and the Troy Yacht Chib. He is a charter member of the Troy Vocal Society. In 1871 he married Mary Alice Stone, daughter of George A. Stone, president of the Troy City National Bank, by whom he has two sons: Albert Edmund, who was graduated from Williams Col- lege in the class of '93, and in June, 1896, graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Boston; and Sandford Lockwood, who is a student in the Rens- selaer Polytechnic Institute. In politics Mr. Cluett is a Republican. He and Ins family are members of St. Paul's Episcopal church.
. Martin, Edward W., was born in Colbrook, N. Il., in 1833. His father, Thomas Martin, a millwright, was born in London, England, in 1783 and came to this country about 1809, settling in Lennoxville, Can., where he remained until he came to Troy in 1872. He died in 1879 at the age of ninety-seven. Ihis mother was Sarah Cummings of Littleton, Mass., who died in 1861. Edward W. learned the trade of carpenter and builder and later worked in the West. When twenty years of age he was considered an expert in business. Ile came to Troy in 1860 and worked at his trade, then opened a shop on Fulton street; later, needing more room, he erected the building which he now occupies on Front street. He is the oldest buikler in Troy. He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the I. O. O. F., and resides in Lansingburgh. He married Elizabeth Fair of Toronto, Can., who died in 1868; he afterwards was married to Esther Lyster of Canada. He has seven children and lost two.
Byron, Patrick, was born in Ireland, April 21, 1841. He came to this country with his parents in 1815 and settled in Cohoes, N. Y. In 1857 he came to Troy and be- came connected with Hope Engine Company No. 6 as fireman; afterwards he was made assistant captain of the J. S. Osgood No. 3. In 1880 he was elected assistant chief, which position he held until 1891, when he was elected chief of the Troy Fire Department and is still holding that office.
Boltwood, Frederick A., was born in Troy, October 13, 1844. He can trace his ancestors back to 1636, who settled in Amherst, Mass. The Amherst College prop- erty was donated by the Boltwood family to that institution. His father. Frederick P. Boltwood, was born in Windsor, Vt., in 1816. He came to Troy in 1835 and died in August, 1888. His mother was Mabel Washburn of Greenwich, Washington county,
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N. Y., who died in 1868. Frederick A. when a youth went to Havre as cabin boy on a steamship and one year later returned to Troy and learned the confectioner's trade. When the war broke out he enlisted in the 2d N. Y. Vols. and re-enlisted in the 5th United States Cavalry. He returned to Troy after the war, and in 1865 became a member of the Troy City Artillery, serving five years. He was a member of the 12th Separate Company, known as the Tibbits Veteran Corps. He belongs to Tibbets Post, G. A. R. In 1868 he married Sarah E. Potter of Troy, daughter of John T. and Eliza Jennings Potter. She is a descendant of William Jennings of Virginia, The common ancestor was Humphrey Jennings, of Birmingham, England, who was born August 23, 1629, and died in 1690. She had six children, four of whom are living.
Cipperly, John H., M. D., was born in Troy, August 10, 1856. He is the son of Levi Cipperly of Brunswick, N. Y., who was in the clothing business many years and died at the age of eighty-three. His mother was Elizabeth (Fonda) Cipperly, born in New Scotland, N. Y., and came to Troy when four years of age. She is still living. John II. Cipperly attended the ward schools of Troy and graduated from the High School in 1875. He commenced the study of medieme with Dr. Thomas II. Burch- ard of New York city and in 1878 was graduated from the University of the City of New York (medical department) and was then appointed assistant resident physician at the Marshall Infirmary in Troy, where he remained for six years. He is a mem- ber of the Medical Society of the County of Rensselaer, member of the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity, and permanent member of the Medical Society of the State of New York. He has been health officer of the city of Troy since 1886, and a member of the Robert Emmet Association. He was married in 1884 to Emma B. Messenkope of New York, who died in 1889. He was again married in January, 1895, to Margaret Van Derheyden of Troy.
Cooper, William C., M. D., was born in Troy, N. Y., October 1, 1858. His father, Dr. William S. Cooper, was born in Scotland and settled in Troy in 1840, and was a prominent physician of this place. He died May 26, 1890. Ilis mother is Sarah M. (Ives) Cooper, born in Rensselaer county. She still resides in Troy. William C. Cooper received a common school and academic education and entered Albany Med. real College, from which he graduated in 1881, and after graduating from the Col- lege of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city in 1884, he came to Troy and opened an office at 81 Third street and has continued in the practice of medi- icine since. Hle belongs to the State Medical Association and is a member of the Medical Association of Troy and viemity, also a member of the Troy Scientifie As- sociation. Ile was city physician for two years and has been on the staff of Troy Hospital two years. In 1893 he was married to Miss Jeannie Lyman of Troy. Ile has one son, Wilham Ferguson.
Dominic, Brother, was born at Port Jervis, N. Y., in 1855. He is the son of James Dunn, who came from Ireland in 1840 and settled in Orange county, N. Y., and was many years a railroad man and died in 1878. His mother, Bridget Conolly, was also born in Ireland. She died in 1862. He received his education in the Westchester Institute, came to Troy in 1877 and taught in the school of the Troy Catholic Male Orphan Asyhun and has been principal of the school since 1884.
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Troy Catholie Male Orphan Asylum .-- This institution was founded in the city of Troy as St. Mary's Orphan Asylum, December 8, 1850. It was under the charge of laymen, and boys and girls were admitted. Some time after its establishment it was taken out of the hands of laymen, and the boys were given in charge of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, and the girls were sent to St. Vincent's Female Orphan Asylum, in charge of the Sisters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. In 1863 the institution was named St. Vincent's Male Orphan Asylum and placed under the control of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. In 1864 the institution was incor- porated under its present title (Troy C. M. O. Asy.) and a board of trustees ap- pointed. The asylum was destroyed by fire in 1865. It was determined to erect a large and complete brick building, the corner-stone of which was laid June 24, 1866, by Bishop Conroy and the building completed in 1869. During the interval the Brothers bought the soldiers' barracks located at Lansingburgh and had it removed to Troy, where it was erected as a temporary asylum. There are now in the insti- tution above 270 children. The school attached to the establishment is under the school board, and the rules and regulations governing the education of children in the public schools are followed. The object of the institution is the care and sup- port of orphan and half-orphan boys under sixteen years of age. They are not only given a goodl common school education, but some of them are taught useful trades. Most of the children are a publie charge. The institution is governed by a board of trustees, consisting of four brothers and three laymen. The present director is Rev. Bro. Agapus
Freeman, Ilenry Raymond, was born and educated in the city of New York, and entered the General Theological Seminary to pursue a special theological course m 1885; during the three years of this course acting as assistant minister in the church of the Holy Spirit, New York city; ordained to the priesthood by Bishop H. C. Potter, in June, 1889. He became rector of St. Mark's church, Islip, Long Island, N Y., November, 1889, and became rector of St. John's church, Troy, N. Y., No- vember, 1892, succeeding the Rev. T. A. Sniverly.
Ilurley, Timothy J., was born in Tipperary, Ireland, in 1846, and came to the United States with his parents, Andrew and Winnifred (Ryan) Hurley, in 1849. They settled in Troy and his father was for some tune in the employ of F. A. & A. B. Fales in their wholesale produce house. He died March 6, 1857, and his widow in January, 1882. The brother of Mr. Hurley, the late Thomas Hurley, who was born in Ireland, learned the printing business in the office of the Troy Budget, then conducted by MacArthur & Whitman at No. 196 River street, and was subsequently employed in the Daily Whig office; after working at the case for some years he ae- cepted a position on the Troy Times. A vacancy occurring in the city editorship of the Whig, he was invited to accept the position, which he did and filled the same creditably for several years. He was appointed city editor of the Troy Press when that paper was established, and continued in that position until he went into the job printing business with his brother, Timothy J. Hurley. Thomas was for several years a school commissioner of the Eighth ward, and for three years was coroner of Rensselaer county; he died November 27, 1871. Timothy J. Hurley with his brother Thomas started the printing establishment of Hurley Bros. in 1870, and also pub- lished the Sunday Telegram, which was discontinued in 1871. In 1875 Mr. Hurley
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moved to his present quarters in the Harmony Hall building and conducts a general job printing business in a successful manner. He was president of the Young Men's Catholic Literary Association for two terms, also president of the Robert Emmet Association and treasurer of the same society for six years. lle served as a member of the School Board for a term and has held other positions of honor and trust.
Phelan, Michael F., M. D., was born in Troy in 1867. His father, Michael Phelan, was born in Ireland and came to this country in 1867. Ile manufactures the Boiler Cleaning Compound. His mother, Ellen (Crewe) Phelan, died in 1873. Dr. Phelan was educated at the La Salle Institute and after graduating taught one year, when he entered the Albany Medical College, during which time he was also professor of physiology in the Albany Brothers' Academy; after graduating from the Medical College he began practice in Troy He is attending physician of the out-door patient department of the Troy Hospital. He was secretary of the Medical Association of Troy and Vicinity and is a member of the New York State Medical Association, the Rensselaer County Medical Society and the B. P. O. E. He was appointed by the Board of Health as inspector during the cholera seare.
Ricketts, Palmer Chamberlaine: Born '56, Elkton, Md .; was graduated at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1875; assistant in mathematics R. P. 1. '75; assistant professor, 'S2; professor of Rational and Technical Mechanics since '81; director since '92. Consulting bridge engineer T. & B. R. R., '86-'87 and for the R. W. & O. R. R., '86-'91; engineer Public Improvements Commission, city of Troy, '91-'93; also engineer in charge of design and construction of various hydraulic works, bridges, ete. Societies: M. Ain. Soc. C. E. ; M. A. S. M. E. ; Fellow A. A. A. S .; and others. Publications: "History of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute:" contributor to Rep. U. S. Comin. Ed., Rep. N. Y. State R. R. Comm., Trans. Am. Soc. C. E., Proe. Soc. Prom. Eng. Ed., Engineering News, Railroad Gazette, Rail- way Review, Trans. Eng. Club of Philadelphia, etc.
Rousseau, Zotique, M. D., was born in Three Rivers, Canada, August 26, 1846, Ile is of French descent on both paternal and maternal sides. Ile was educated and graduated at St. Joseph's College in Three Rivers; and in 1864 entered the medical department of Laval University, Quebec, from which he graduated in 1869 with the degree of M. D., and practiced medicine for one and a half years in Three Rivers. He came to Troy, N. Y., and began practice in 1822. He is and has been medical at- tendant at the Troy Hospital since 1874 with the exception of six years. Upon the organization of the Home of the Aged Poor in 1868 he became medical attendant which position he still holds, and was physician at the house of the Good Shepherd from 1886 to 1894. He is one of the founders and a member of the New York State Medical Association, and is a member of the Rensselaer County Medical Society and the Medical Society of Troy and Vicinity. He is a member of the Troy Club. Hle was married in 1877 to Serena Connolly of Troy.
Sanford, Samuel Brown, son of Gay R. and Hannah Brown Sanford, was born in Bennington Centre, Vt., April 26, 1833, and received a common school education in his native town. In 1847 he came to Troy to enter business life as a clerk in Mather's dry goods store. Later he accepted a clerkship with Harris & Wilcox, jewelers, and remamed with them until he went to New York, where he entered the firm of Carter,
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Hale & Co., manufacturing jewelers. In 1864 he returned to Troy and, with George S. Robinson, organized the firm of Sanford & Robinson, to manufacture collars and cuffs. In 1890, this firm, and those of J. K. P. Pine, S. A. House's Sons, Marshall & Briggs, and Beiermeister & Spicer were incorporated as the United Shirt and Collar Co. Mr. Sanford was elected president of this company, and held that office until his death. Mr. Sanford's tireless energy and business ability were given not only to the manufacturing interests of Troy but he was prominently connected with many financial and benevolent institutions of the city. He was a trustee of the Troy Sav- ings Bank, a director of the Troy City National Bank, and had served as trustee or director in the Emma Willard Seminary, the Marshall Infirmary, and the Troy Or- phan Asylum. He was president of the trustees of the Second Street Presbyterian church and treasurer of the Board of Trustees of the Young Women's Association, an enterprise in which he was deeply interested from its inception. During his long and active life in Troy, he was universally honored, as a useful and benevolent cit- izen, whose uprightness was unquestioned. Mr. Sanford's death occurred at his summer residence in Bennington Centre, Vermont, August 1, 1896.
Sawin, Rev. Theophilus Parsons, D. D., was born at Lynn, Mass., January 14, 1841. His ancestors came to this country in 1632 and settled in Boston. His grandfather, Robert Mason, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and was a participant in the battle of Saratoga when Burgoyne surrendered to Gen. Gates. His father, the Rev. T. P. Sawin, was a prominent Congregational minister of New England, who died in January, 1886. His mother, Martha Melntyre Mason, was born in Andover, Mass., and died in 1895. Rev. Theophilus graduated from the high school at Manchester, N. II., and prepared for college at the Kimball Union Academy and entered Yale in the class of 1864. He left college in the sophomore year on account of poor health. He subsequently went to New York city where he taught in the Mount Washington Collegiate Institute two years, later he engaged in newspaper work and still later went to Milwaukee, Wis., where he was a professor of Latin and mathematics in the Milwaukee Academy, during the time pursuing his theological studies, and was ordained to the gospel ministry at Racine, Wis., where he preached for four years. He was then called to the Congregational church in Janesville, Wis., where he served for six years. During this period Ins well known interest in educational work led to a State appointment as lecturer before the Teacher's Institute. He was also made a member of the Board of Examiners at the Whitewater Normal School. From Janes- ville he received a unanimous call to the Mystic Congregational church in Medford, Mass. After serving here for nearly five years he was called to the First Presbyte- rian church of Troy, the oldest church in the city, and was installed June 17, 1886. This church celebrated its centennial anniversary in 1891, and Dr. Sawin prepared the historical records of the same, which were published in a volume of 140 pages. During his ministry here he has been in demand as a lecturer on literary and historical sub- jeets. Ile has been invited to deliver the Baccalaureate sermon befere the R. P. I. five times, and every year since his coming here he has delivered the Memorial Ad- dress before the Grand Army Posts on the Sunday evening preceding Memorial Day. He is an associate member of Post Griswold, G. A. R. Ile is also a trustee of the Troy Academy. He received the degree of D. D. from Williams College. Many of his sermons and addresses have been published in pamphlet form, but his most
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