Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 71

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 71

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).

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Boughton, William H., was born in Troy, N. Y., December 4, 18-13, and was edu- eated in the public schools of Troy. April 17, 1861, he enlisted in Co. H, 2d N. V. Vols., serving in the Army of the Potomac, Hooker's Division, 3d Army Corps, and was honorably discharged May 26, 1863. He graduated from Troy Business College, and has been a merchant tailor in Troy for the past twenty years. April 30, 1874, he married Wilhelmina A. Knower .of West Troy, Albany county, and have had two childred: Maud and Edith; the last named died at the age of six. Mr. Boughton's father, Samuel, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1791. He married Pamelia llayner, and had one son, as above. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his father, John, was eaptam of a Connecticut troop in the Revolutionary war. Mr. Boughton's father died in 1851, and his mother in 1884. In his political choice he is a thorough Republican, and is a member of William B. Tibbits Post, No. 141, G. A. R., Troy, and is past commander. This family on the paternal side are of French Huguenot stock, having descended from Count Nicholas Bouton; their later an- cestry is French, English and Dutel.

Danchy, Charles II., was born in Troy, N. Y., August 14, 1843. He was educated in private schools and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute of Troy, and was graduated from the Albany Business College in 1861. He was engaged in the grocery business on River street for about seven years, then became a dealer in paints and oils and in 1888 glass was added to his stock. December 15, 1869, he married Esther A., a daughter of Albert E. and Frances (Hanford) Powers of Lansingburgh, N. Y. They have two children living: William Powers and Frances Hanford, now students in Williams College, Williamstown, Mass., and Howard Seminary, West Bridgewater, Mass., respectively. Mr. Dauchy's father, Charles, was born in Troy in 1804. He was well edneated and was a dry goods merchant, afterwards becoming a lumber merchant. He married Hannah Waterbury, of Darien, Conn., by whom he had seven children: Nathan, Jessie M., Frances L., Georgiana, Charles H., Henrietta E., and John B. The ancestry of the family is French.

Hagen, Joseph Il., son of William and Jane S. (Jones) Hagen, was born July 16, 1839, in Troy, was educated in the public schools, the Troy Academy, and the Lan- singburgh Academy, and in 1855 became a member of an engineering corps on the Erie Canal, where he worked two years. He was employed by William Barton aud Charles L .. Fuller, engmeers, until the war broke out, when he enlisted in Co. E. 2d N. Y. Vols., as first sergeant. June 20, 1861, he was commissioned second lieuten- ant, July 27, first lieutenant and November 23, as captain. Ile returned to Troy after the war and was for three years with the Rensselaer Works and later with Bus- well, Durant & Co, as bookkeeper. In 1873-64 he was in Philadelphia as agent for the Domestic Sewing Machine Company. In the spring of 1876 Mr. Hagen entered the employ of the Troy and Lansingburgh and Troy City Railways and is now sec- retary and treasurer of the latter company and also of its leased lines. He is a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States and of Post Griswold and the Royal Arcanum. April 19, 1869, he married Sara, daughter of Or- ville Reed of Lansingburgh and they have two children living: Charles and Orville

Ives, 'Truman, was born at Poestenkill, September 24, 1816. He was educated in a private school in Fourth street and one year in the Lancaster school in Troy, N. Y.

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Ile was a clerk in a grocery store for one year; since that time he has devoted his whole life to the growing of and dealing in vegetables, growing them on his farm in Lansingburgh, and selling them to the trade in Lansingburgh and Troy, chiefly the last named place. He was the greatest worker in the county, which work was intelligently directed by his strong brain and will-power. Mr. Ives was one of the originators and promoters of the Fulton Market in 'Troy, and one of the first to occupy it, which has been continually used since by some member of the Ives family. Ile has four sons in the business on their own account. He was married twice, first on June 25, 1838, to Martha A. Cushing, of Poultney, Vt. They have had seven children: Catharine, Sarah, Charles, Lionel C., Myron C., Walter T. and one who died in infancy. They are all dead at this date except Lionel. Mrs. Ives died Janu- ary 16, 1861. For his second wife he married Mary A. Bates of the town of Bruns- wick, by whom he has had seven children: Truman C., Lillian B., George H., Reuben G., Mary F., Charles C. and Gracie. Mr. Ives is a self-made man in every sense. The Iveses are of Puritan stock of Scotch extraction.

Kirkland, Ralph Thornton, was born in Rome, Oneida county, in 1813. He was educated in the public schools and the Rome Academy. Ile was with Dr. S. F. 'Tremain for three years, and afterwards attended the Philadelphia Dental College and was graduated in the spring of 1822. He practiced at Adams, Jefferson county, and in October, 1889, he came to Lansingburgh where he has since been successfully engaged. Ile has married twice, first, to Antoinette V. Daw, and had one son, Ralph A. D. Mrs. Kirkland died June 29, 1878, and for his second wife he married, April 28, 1884, Mrs. Elizabeth Shapley, born Horth. Upon the completion of his education, September 1, 1862, he enlisted in Co. G, 146th Infantry N. Y. Vols., and was honorably discharged, August 14, 1865. He is a member of Bolton Post No. 471, G. A. R., of Lansingburgh. The father of Mr. Kirkland, Ralph W., was born in Clinton, Oneida county, February 5, 1814. He married Eliza W. Weightman of his native town; they had three children: Silas IL., Amy J., and Ralph T. Mrs. Kirk- land died June 8, 1885, and he survives at this date, 1896. The ancestry of the family is Scotch and English.

Lewis, Dr. Nathaniel B., was born near Binghamton, Broome county, N. Y., Feb- mary 21, 1810, son of George W. and Lovina (Bishop) Lewis. He was educated in the public schools and the old Binghamton Academy, and began to study medicine at the age of eighteen in Kane county, Ill. He immediately put his knowledge into practice, making a specialty of electro-therapeutics, in which he was very successful. Ile belonged to an independent military Co. there, and when the Rebellion broke out they were mustered into the United States service for three months at Springfield, Ills., and were honorably discharged at the end of that time. He then enlisted in Co. G. 52d Infy. Ill. Vols., and they were mustered into service September 25, 1861, Ile was wounded in the face with a gun shot in the battle of Pittsburg Landing, He was promoted first sergeant for gallant conduct, and was honorably discharged No- vember 16, 1864. After being discharged he went through to the sea with Sherman as a citizen employee of the government. He returned to Illinois in January, 1865; about two years after he went to lowa where he was freight conductor for the Chi- cago & Northwestern Railway Company, and afterwards fence contractor for the

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Illinois Central Railroad Company. In 1875 he came to Troy, N. Y., and perfected himself in his chosen profession with Dr. Benton, where he remained as partner for two years. May 2, 1880, he married Susan (Gray) King, of Waterford, Saratoga county, N. Y. She died September 30, 1896. In 1881 he came to Lansingburgh, where he has since practiced with success. He kept his office in Troy until May, 1896, when he removed it to his residence. He is a member of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., Troy, of which he is past master. The ancestry of the family is French and English.

Magee, John, M. D., son of James P. and Mary (Bradley) Magee, was born August 10, 1855, in Athol, Warren county, N. V., where he attended the common schools. In 1867 he entered the University of Vermont where he remained for one term, and in 1878 entered the medical department of the same university and took one course there in 1879, began the study of medicine at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, Md., graduating with the degree of M. D., in 1881. He then commenced active practice in Lansingburgh. Dr. Magee was graduated from the New York Post.Graduate Medical School in 1887. He was elected president of the village of Lansingburgh in March, 1895, and still holds that office. He was, up to 1894, health officer of the village for eight consecutive years, resigning to go abroad. He was school trustee from 1893 to 1896, when he declined re-election because of the pressure of professional business. Dr. Magee has a large stock farm at Chestertown, N. Y., where he keeps a number of fine horses of the Wilkes and Electioneer blood. No- vember 12, 1882, he married Addie S., daughter of Abram and Maria Wilcox of Chestertown, and they have two sons; Clarence Ashley and John Abram.

Stanley, Rev. Charles F., was born in the village of Victory Mills, Saratoga county, and was educated in the public schools at home and Saratoga Springs. He was m the employ of the Delaware and Hudson Railway Company for eleven years in various positions. He was locomotive engineer the last five of the eleven years, and for some time was engineer of the Saratoga special passenger train. He de- cided to change from an engineer and set about educating himself for the gospel ministry. He took a partial course in the Colgate Academy, and was graduated from the Theological Semmary at Hamilton in 1884. In 1881, when yet a student, he began to preach at the First Baptist church at Lansingburgh, was ordained in ISSO, and has been its pastor ever since with success. In 1881 he married 1. Estella Holloway of Lausingburgh, by whom four children have been born: Ruby May, Flossie Millis, Myrtle Estella, and Lila. He is an honorary member of Division St of B. of L. E. The father of Mr. Stanley, Frederick A., was born at the old home- stead, and married Delila Dickinson, by whom five children were born: Ethelbert A., Charles F., Frank D., Fred A., and Hattie M. Mr. Stanley died about 1874 and his widow survives at this date, 1896. The ancestry of the family is English and Dutch.

Winslow, Joseph II., was born in Argyle, Washington county, N. V., January 11. 1836. He was educated in the common schools and Argyle Academy, coming to Troy at the age of sixteen, where he was clerk in a grocery store for six years, then became proprietor of the concern with a capital of $50. In 1868-63 he did a business of $62,000 a year, and continued in this line for thirteen years. He then embarked m

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the real estate business, which he has since followed, having handled $20,000,000 worth of real estate in twenty-seven years. Mr. Winslow has been married twice; first in 1856 to Lany A. Ilayner of the town of Brunswick, by whom he had two children: Edgar W. and Henrietta. Edgar W. is in partnership with his father in the real estate, loan and insurance busines at 13 State street, the firm name being J. II. Winslow & Co. Mrs. Winslow died in 1868 and November 17, 1870, he mar- ried Maria HI. Dusenburgh of Brunswick, by whom he had one daughter, Jessie E. Edgar W. married Emma Chism, formerly of Schenectady, by whom he had one daughter, Viola M. Henrietta married Calvin Il. Roberts of Troy, and they have one son, Leroy, Jessie E. married Fred L. Wheeler of Lansingburgh, assistant draughtsman in the employ of the Ludlow Valve Works. Mr. Winslow is a member of Trojan Lodge No. 97, 1. O. O. F., and trustee of the Ninth Presbyterian church of Troy. The ancestry of the family is English, German and Scotch.

Strecker, Werner, was born in Alsfeld, duchy of Hessen-Darmstadt, Germany, February 26, 1837, being one of six children of a woolen manufacturer, five of whom have made this their adopted country. Werner Strecker attended the public schools until his fifteenth year, when he began the study of law in his native town with a prominent lawyer named Koch. Not feeling inclined to spend his best years in the German army, he took advantage of the law allowing young men under eighteen to leave their country and came to America in the vessel Merrimac, arriving in New York October 28, and in Troy, November 3, 1854. Ile learned the barber's trade, which he followed for several years. In 1860 he became a citizen of the United States, cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln for president, and has ever since been a staunch Republican, In 1861 he married a daughter of Lorenz Kirch- ner, who for many years conducted a custom boot and shoe business in Troy. Ilis health failing he bought a farm near Egg Harbor, N. J., and left Troy on the mem- orable night of Lincoln's assassination, April 14, 1865. Two years later he removed to Boston, Mass., where he resumed his trade and jomed the Turn Verein, of which he was president two years. In 1872 he removed to Greenfield, Mass., and engaged in the grocery business and in 1874 returned to Troy, where he opened a German school in Apollo Hall, which, with the assistance of his eldest daughter, he con- tinned for several years, having at times as many as eighty scholars. Meantime hte became interested in fire and life insurance, finally relinquished his school and is now a member of the insurance firm of MacDonald & Co. He has often pres lat German meetings, is a leader among his countrymen, assisted m orgs

German Hall Association and is its secretary, is president of the German Ne .....- lican Club and is secretary of the Troy Turn Verein and German Club; he is past master of Apollo Lodge No. 13, F. & A. M., whose members on February 24, 1885, presented him with a gold watch and chain, in appreciation of his labors among them. He was also the successful candidate in the Freie Deutsche Presse voting contest as the most popular German of Troy. He is a favorite orator, an enterpris- ing citizen, and a successful business man. His children are Lorenzo, a druggist of Gloversville, N. Y .; Edward, receiving teller of the Union National Bank of Troy; Minnie, wife of William Bayer of the firm of Bayer & McConibe, and Bertha L. and Pauline E., at home.

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In tracing the history of the Masters family, one of the oldest and most prominent in the county, we find that in 1716 Nicholas Masters, navigator and landed proprie- tor, came to this country from the Isle of Guernsey, crossing the Atlantic in a small vessel of which he was owner and commander, He landed at Stratford, L. 1., and remamed there several years, engaged in trade with the West Indies, He married Elizabeth Shelton and removed to Woodbridge, Conn., where he purchased a large tract of land, known then, as now, as Grassy Hill. Ile left a large family of sons and daughters. One of the sons, James Masters, removed to Schaghticoke in 1783, bringing his family and household goods in three covered wagons. He also brought several slaves. The last night of the journey was passed at the Van der Heyden tavern in Troy, which at that time was a small settlement of a few log houses. Ile purchased of Daniel Toll, of Schenectady, who married Maria Van Rensselaer, daughter and heir of the first patroon, a tract of land two miles square, on the north bank of the Hoosick River four miles east of the present village of Schaghticoke, and built the first frame house in that section, and moved into it from his tent in six weeks. He also built a saw mill, grist mill, and a mill for carding and dressing wool, lle married three times and left three sons, Nicholas, Jamies Shelton, and Josiah, and two daughters. Nicholas married Sally Phelps of Rupert, Vt. They had two sons, Nicholas Merrit and Albert Phelps, who were the pioneers of the pow- der manufacture in Schaghticoke, and were esteemed for intelligence and integrity of character. James Shelton, a farmer and merchant, was twice married, and had five sons and three daughters. Two of the sons died young. Robert was a mer- chant in Saratoga county; James E. A. was a major in the U. S. navy and served in the war of 1812, and Phineas, a midshipman in the U. S. navy. The daughters were Mrs. Munson Smith and Mrs. Daniel Curtis of Schaghticoke and Mrs. Claudius Harrold of Cambridge, N. Y. Josiah was a prominent politician and statesman. He represented the county of Rensselaer in the Legislature four years, his district in Congress from 1806 to 1810; was for twenty five years first judge of the county, and for the last twelve judge of the Common Pleas. He held correspondence with the most distinguished men of his times, De Witt Clinton, John Randolph and many others. lle married three times and was the father of four sons and five daughters. Of the sous Josiah was an officer in the U. S. army; Samuel, a sea captain and con- sul to British Giniana under President Pierce; Augustus, who with Captam Nve, built the first elevators at the Atlantic docks, Brooklyn, was for many years engaged in the warehousing business. Justus was a merchant in Western New Yor !. married daughters were Mrs. Charles Stebbins, of Cazenovia ; Mrs. A. B. J

of Utica, and Mrs. King, of New Haven, Conn. Nicholas Merrit, son of Nichols, was a graduate of Union College, studied law at Sandy Hill, was admitted to the bar in 1814, when he formed a partnership with Samuel Cheever of Troy, and prac_ ticed for several years, until his health failing him he returned to the homestead in Schaghticoke. He was largely interested in the manufacture of gun powder, and was active and influential in all matters of pubhe interest. He was for many years an elder in the Presbyterian church, held many offices in his town and county, was twice a member of the Legislature, and presidential elector when the vote of the State was cast for James K. Polk. In politics he was a Democrat until 1848, when his party refused to endorse the Wilmot proviso, he cast his vote for Martin Van Buren and was one of the first and most active and influential supporters of the Re-

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publican party. He married Miss Ann Thomas of Sandy Hill m 1815 and was the father of John T. Masters, who was engaged with him in the powder business and also held the office of revenue collector for many years. Mr. Masters was an ardent Republican from the formation of the party, and from his personal popularity and influence occupied a prominent position in his locality, both politically and socially. He married Miss Mary Mowry of Greenwich; they had four children, all of whom died in youth and early manhood ; a granddaughter, Mrs. Walter Cottrell of Green- wich, is the only descendant. Albert Phelps married Sally Rising of Rupert, Vt., in 1817. Hle died in 185.1, leaving three sons, Josiah Rising, Edward Nicholas and Marshall, and one daughter, Mrs. George G, Arnold of Washington, D.C. Josiah R. was unmarried. Marshall married Lucy M. Benjamin of Pittstown; they had three children, Frank A. and E. Shelton, who are engaged in the grocery trade in Troy, and Mrs. Calvin Lockwood of Brooklyn. Edward N. was born at Rupert, V't., edu- cated at Burr Seminary, Poultney, Vt., studied law and was admitted to the bar in Utica, N. Y., m 1846, when he formed a partnership with Judge Isaac MeConthe of Troy, but soon abandoned his profession and returned to Schagliticoke, where he was engaged in farming for many years. In 1850 he married Alice A., danghter of John R. and Clarissa (Goodrich) Le Barnes, of Sheffield, Mass. They had eight children: William B., Alice A., Mary E., Ellen, Annie, Edward B., John A. and Marshall A. ; of these, three died in childhood. In 1889 he removed with his re- maining family to Montrose, Col., where a daughter and two sons had preceded him, and where he recently died in January, 1896. Mary E. in 1882 married Sterling S. Sherman, a prominent attorney of Montrose, formerly of Salem, N. Y. Edward B., a farmer, married in 1886 Martha M. Ritter, of Williamsport, Pa. Marshall A., proprietor of Montrose Wood and Metal Works, married Virginia F. Wright of North Branch. Va., in 1895. John A. removed to Jamestown, N D., in 1894, where he is owner and manager of an electric light plant. In his political choice Mr. Mas- ters was a thorough Republican from the formation of the party, always a prominent leader in local polities and contributed largely to the success of the cause he sup- ported. The farm to which reference has been made and upon whose soil the most of the family whose history is here recorded were born, was a part of the original purchase of 1,600 acres by James Masters. It lies upon the broad and beautiful highway running north and nearly parallel with the Hoosick River, on the bluff overlooking it, and is one of the most sightly and beautiful places in the county. This highway has been known as Masters street for nearly a century, and for a long distance is shaded by huge maples, which were saplings during the Revolutionary war. Until it passed out of the possession of the Masters family it had only been owned by the Dutch government and the Van Rensselaer family, and there had been but two sales of it since the discovery of the country by Columbus.

Sambrook, George T., was born in London, England, in 1839, married Susan Dignam in 1857 and later came to America and settled in Albany. Four and a half years afterward he removed to West Troy, now Watervliet. At the breaking out of the Civil war he enlisted in the 93d Regiment, N. Y. Vols., and was wounded in the arm in the battle of the Wilderness. He is a member of Griswold post, G. A. R. In 1865 Mr. Sambrook started in business as a florist at Tle to 728 Fifth avenue, for- merly called Groton street, with one greenhouse 50 by 16 feet in dimensions. Ile

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continued to extend the same until Jime, 1892, when he formed a copartnership with his son, George T., jr., at which time they demolished the old plant and built an entirely new plant in the newest style, The property comprises five greenhouses, each 100 by 20 feet, in which are grown all varieties of flowers, such as roses, cal- nations, violets, sinilax, lilies, ferns, chrysanthemums, palms and orchids. They employ three expert florists and the plant is valued at $10,000. In August, 1887, the firm started a store at 413 Fulton street, Troy, which was enlarged and improved in 1892. George T. Sambrook, jr., entered the employ of Louis Menand in 1876 and remained there until 1892, when he formed a copartnership with his father under the firm name of George T. Sambrook & Son.

Anthony, J. Erwin, was born in Troy, N. Y., July 5, 1864, and is a son of Aaron C. and Lydia B. (Robinson) Anthony, He was given a common school education, and at the age of seventeen entered the employ of II. B. Nims & Co., later he became the assistant bookkeeper of the Wheeler & Wilson Machine Co., with whom he re- mained until July 1, 1881, when he entered the Troy Savings Bank as junior clerk and since has served as assistant receiving teller, and on April 7, 1893, was elected secretary and treasurer, succeeding Mr. Charles E. Hanaman who had been elected to the presidency of that institution. When the City Club was organized Mr. An- thony was elected its secretary. He married Mina A., daughter of Mr. Charles Moore of Troy.

Roberts, John Wesley, was born m Valatie, Columbia county, N. Y., July 28, 1820, and with his parents moved to Troy, N. Y., in 1882. His father is John 11. Roberts, who was born in Chatham, N. Y., and his mother was Sarah Helen Gilbert. lle received his education in the public schools of his birth-place and his adopted city and also by private instruction. He began the study of law in 1888 and was admitted to practice from the office of Rutus M. Townsend of Troy, in 1892. He began prac- tice alone in 1893, having then opened his office, and has built up a profitable and extensive law business.

Harper, William J., was born in Troy in 1859. His father, Peter J., was born in Ireland and came to this country in 1840. He was for a number of years in the ding business in Cohoes. He died June 28, 1892. His mother, Mary E. (Rogerson) Har- per, was born in England and is at present living in Troy. William J. received a common school education ; he entered the Quackenbush dry goods store as clerk, and later was in the same business with William Wilkinson, N. C. Winne & Co., and later with Church & Phalen, and when the firm was made a stock company, he be- vame one of the stockholders, and now Mr. Harper has charge of the ribbons, laces, etc. He is a member of King Solomon Lodge F. & A. M., and is a trustee of the M. E. church of Lansingburgh, In 1889 he was married to Anna L. Blumer of Syra- vuse, N. Y. His children are Edward and Viola.

Tompkins, Clark J., was born in Dutchess county, November 12, 1838. He is a son of Jesse 11. and Anna Tompkins. The grandfather of Mr. Tompkins was Nathan- iel Tompkins of Dutchess county where he lived most of his life. The maternal grandfather was Aaron Tompkins, a native of Dutchess county, N. Y., who came to Nassau at a very early date. He spent his last days in Columbia county, N. Y. The father of Mr. Tompkins was a clothier by trade and also followed farming. He

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Landmarks of Rensselaer county, New York, pt 2 - 3, Part 71

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