USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 60
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At the date of this sketch, Judge Lester, now seventy-five years of age, is still engaged in the active practice of his profession and has been, for a number of years, the oldest practicing lawyer in Saratoga county.
CHARLES COOKE LESTER.
CHARLES COOKE LESTER, of the law firm of C. S. & C. C. Lester, was born June 27, 1850, a son of Hon. Charles S. and Lucy L. (Cooke) Lester. He was educated at Union College, from which he took the A. B. degree in 1870, the youngest member of his class. He read law in his father's office; was admitted as an attorney in 1873, and at this time entered into the partnership with his father, which has since con- tinued. This firm has probably the largest general practice in Sara- toga county and numbers among its clients the owners or representa- tives of many large estates.
In 1894, Charles C. Lester was elected a delegate to the Constitu- tional Convention for this Senatorial District, and took a prominent part in its proceedings. Mr. Lester has been one of the trustees of the Albany Law School for a number of years, and for four years an alumni trustee of Union College. He has been a member of the New York State Bar Association since about the time of its organization.
He married, in 1874, Catharine Perrin, daughter of Rev. Lavalette Perrin, D.D., of Torrington, Conn., who died in 1886. In 1889 he
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married Mary Lane Tuck, a Virginian by birth and daughter of George O. and Sarah F. (Strachan) Tuck. Of this union are two sons: Charles Tuck and Bernadotte Perrin.
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C. S. CLOSSON.
C. S. CLOSSON, was born in Greenwich, N. Y., July 4, 1859. His advantages for schooling were limited and came from that most im- portant educational factor, the common schools. The family removed to Schuylerville, when Mr. Closson was nine years old, and while he assisted his father, James Closson, who was a carpenter, found employ- ment in the mills at Victory and continued there for upwards of twenty years. He was for some time employed by the Walter A. Wood Har- vester Co. of Hoosick Falls and later as foreman of a cotton mill at Nor- wich, Conn., after which worked as a machinist for N. F. & John Barry in Rockford City, Ill., for about two years. In August, 1888, Mr. Closson was elected one of the trustees of the Saratoga Monument Association, and when the monument was struck by lightning in 1887, and again in 1890, he received the contract for repairing the same, which was executed in a most satisfactory manner; subsequently he was instructed to put in the bas reliefs and to place in the niches the statuary of the generals of the Revolutionary war, viz., Gates, Schuyler and Morgan, and the terra cotta work surmounting the same.
Seven years ago Mr. Closson established himself in business in the line of upholstering and undertaking and in the latter enjoys a wide field of patronage. Besides his natural abilities to engage in a business demanding peculiar fitness, naturally, as well as thorough equipment with which to take charge of and conduct in the most becoming man- ner the care of those deceased, he is a thorough and skillful embalmner, and is a graduate of the United States College of Embalming at New York. He keeps three hearses and can at all times furnish an outfit equal to that of large cities. Mr. Closson enjoys a large trade in fur- niture and upholstering, and has lately added a bicycle shop where he does general repairs to bicycles, &c.
In 1878 Mr. Closson married Anna, daughter of William P. Ostrander of Schuylerville, and they had four children, two now living: Daisy and Orley, both residing at home. In politics Mr. Closson is a Repub. lican and has been poormaster of the town of Saratoga, having been
C. S. CLOSSON.
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elected in 1895 for three years. He is a member of Schuyler Lodge No. 676, F. & A. M., Rising Sun Chapter No. 131, R. A. M., Crystal Council No. 37, R. & S. M., and Washington Commandery No. 33 of Saratoga Springs, and the Knights of the Mystic Shrine of Troy.
DR. JOHN K. ANDERSON.
DR. JOHN K. ANDERSON was born in Edinburgh, Saratoga county, April 19, 1818. For several years he engaged in school teaching in Saratoga county, Greenbush, Rensselaer county, Amsterdam, N. Y., and elsewhere, for eleven years occupying the position of principal of a graded school at Amsterdam. Having fitted himself for the medical profession, he finally became a homoeopathic practitioner, following that profession successfully for many years in Saratoga and Schoharie counties. While a resident of Saratoga county he served as justice of the peace in Edinburgh eight years, beginning with 1848, and in 1854 represented that town on the board of supervisors.
Dr. Anderson's maternal grandfather and great grandfather both served in the patriot army in the Revolutionary war. His great-grand- father, John Kennelly, was taken prisoner by a band of Indian maraud- ers on their way from Johnstown, N. Y., to Canada, in 1775. He lived near what is now Vail's Mills, Fulton county, N. Y. At the end of the third day of his captivity he escaped from them, returned home, took his family at once to an American fort; then took his son, John Ken- nelly, jr., only eight years old, and started for the American camp, where he enlisted and got his son accepted as a drummer. John Ken- nelly, sr., was killed in battle. John Kennelly, jr., Dr. Anderson's grandfather, served as a drummer through the entire eight years of the war, taking part in many battles. He is reputed to have been the youngest person serving in the American army during that struggle. Probably no one so young, beside him, was ever enlisted into the ser- vice of the United States, was honorably discharged and received a pension for life.
November 12, 1845, Dr. Anderson married Catharine Shew, daughter of Col. Lodewick P. Shew of Providence, Saratoga county. Her grand- fatlier, Capt. Jacob Shew, served in the Revolutionary war. He at one time had the queue shot from his head, but was not aware of the fact until after the end of the engagement. He was carried into cap-
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tivity to Quebec. His brother, Capt. John Shew, was killed by the In- dians and tories during one of their raids on the Ballston settlement. He resided in Milton. Col. Lodewick P. Shew, Mrs. Anderson's father, was commissioned colonel of the Saratoga county regiment of militia March 10, 1832. His brother, Col. John P. Shew, was also for many years in command of a New York regiment.
Dr. Anderson and his wife had six children-Abbie Pamelia, wife of Thomas M. Billington of Amsterdam, N. Y .; Mary Matilda, wife of Deodatus W. Sturtevant of Amsterdam; Clara Louise, wife of Rev. E. Irving Rackette of East Orleans, Mass .; Kate Kirkwood, wife of Frank- lin P. Wemple of Fultonville, N. Y., now of Schenectady; Stephen Putnam, formerly city editor of the Saratogian, of Saratoga Springs; and George Baker Anderson of Ballston Spa, N. Y. Those living are Mrs. Rackette, Mrs. Wemple and George B. Anderson.
November 12, 1895, Dr. and Mrs. Anderson celebrated their golden wedding at Schenectady, N. Y. Both are still living-the former at the age of over eighty-one and the latter at the age of seventy-five years.
REV. JOSEPH CAREY, S.T.D.
REV. JOSEPH CAREY, S.T.D., rector of Bethesda Episcopal Church of Saratoga, was born in New York city, December 23, 1839, being the second son of Robert and Ellen (Gordon) Carey. He was pre- pared for college in Newburgh Academy, and in 1859 entered St. Ste- phen's College at Annandale, Dutchess county, where he was grad- uated with high honor with the class of 1861. This college, it will be remembered, was founded by Bishop Horatio Potter of New York, who was Dr. Carey's spiritual adviser. In 1861, after his graduation, Dr. Carey entered the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, in New York city, where he remained for three years, and be- came one of the most proficient Hebrew scholars in his class, being nominated to succeed Dr. George H. Houghton as professor of Hebrew.
On July 3, 1864, he was ordained a deacon in Calvary Church, New York, by Bishop Potter, and after three months' service with the pres- ent Bishop Seymour of Springfield, then rector of St. John's Church, Brooklyn, he became, in October, 1864, rector of Grace Church, Wa- terford, where he was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Potter,
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February 23, 1865. The church at Waterford was greatly strengthened during his rectorship, and he also helped to maintain a mission in the village of Crescent. At the end of four years of zealous work he accept- ed a call from Christ church, Ballston Spa, N. Y., and in October, 1868, succeeded Rev. Dr. George Worthington, present bishop of Nebraska, as pastor of that parish. Here he exhibited the saine energy that had characterized his work at Waterford, and under his charge the parish grew rapidly. He was instrumental in securing the old armory for church purposes, and carried on a successful mission a few miles west of the village, besides giving occasional services at Factory Village and in the Cullen district.
After five years of labor at Christ Church Dr. Carey accepted a call to the church of his present charge. His rectorship dates from Advent Sunday, November 30, 1873. He has repeatedly declined calls from prominent parishes from love of his flock, and his labors have been highly appreciated. During the summer season his church is largely attended by the prominent church people of the land, many of whom have shown a deep interest in his labors.
As a preacher he has a masterly style, his chief charm being a ready flow of language. He may be considered a conservative high church- man, and while holding fast to the great Catholic truths, is sympathetic -broadly so-with all. He is an indefatigable worker, has a pleas- ant word for every one, and when needed, visits the sick and afflicted, no matter what their condition in life.
He is a trustee of St. Stephen's College, represents the diocese at Albany, as diocesan trustee of the General Theological Seminary, and is archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of Troy, and the trusted friend and assistant of the Rt. Rev. Dr. Doane, bishop of Albany. He was a delegate to the General Convention in 1886 at Chicago, and in 1889 at New York, where he was appointed as one of the five delegates to rep. resent the Church in the United States in the Provincial Synod of Can- ada of that year. In 1892 he was a deputy to the Baltimore General Convention, where he was put on the joint commission of five bishops and five presbyters that was appointed on the " Marginal Readings of the Bible." He was also a deputy to the Convention of 1895, in Minne- apolis, Minn., and to that of 1898 in Washington, D. C.
Dr. Carey received his degree of M. A. from St. Stephen's College, which, in 1878, in recognition of his ability, learning and valuable services in the ministry, conferred the degree of D. D. upon him. He
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is a linguist of much ability ; a proficient Hebrew scholar ; and has given to the press essays and sermons which have brought him before the public as a literary scholar of note. His essay, "The Hebrew Names of God," and his sermons, " The True Knight," "Two Mas- ters," and the "Death of Garfield," have been justly called masterly efforts.
Dr. Carey has transformed Bethesda church into one of the hand- somest and most completely furnished churches in the State of New York. He conducts weekly mission services at the mission chapel on Catherine street; the Home of the Good Shepherd on State street ; and the parish house on Washington street.
In politics he is non-partisan. He is a Knight Templar Free Mason, chaplain of the Citizens' Corps, and holds other positions of honor.
October 3, 1865, he married Catharine North Guion, only daughter of the late Rev. Thomas Tompkins Guion, D. D., rector of St. John's Church, Brooklyn. Of this union are one son and five daughters: Catharine Guion, Ellen Seymour, who died in November, 1897, Mrs. Cornelia Enos Brunette (married in 1895), Mary Alice, Edith Ellison and Joseph Gordon Carey.
CLIFFORD E. CADY.
CLIFFORD E. CADY was born at Porter's Corners in thetown of Green- field, May 18, 1858, a son of Luther and grandson of Benjamin Cady, an early settler of Greenfield. The wife of Luther Cady was Margaret Leggett, a native of Schenectady, and daughter of John Leggett, who emigrated from England about 1837 to Schenectady, and to Greenfield in 1847, where he died about 1882. Luther Cady was a carpenter by trade and is now superintendent of the John Leggett & Sons straw board mills at Middlegrove.
Clifford E. Cady was educated in Greenfield and began life as a clerk in the old union store at Porter's Corners, first under his father, who was manager, and later succeeded to that position In 1894 he began his present business at Middlegrove, buying the stock of M. D. Rowell. He now has the leading store in his place. In politics he is a Repub- lican, and held the office of supervisor of the town of Greenfield for four years. He was appointed postmaster in 1898 by President Mc- Kinley. Mr. Cady is a member of St. John's Lodge No. 22, F. & A.
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M., St. John's Chapter No. 103, R. A. M. of Greenfield, and Middle- grove Lodge No. 476, I. O. O. F.
In 1880 he married Emma Allcott, daughter of Stephen Allcott, of Porter's Corners. Their children are four: Egbert A., May L., Una B., and Harold.
JOHN W. CRANE.
HON. JOHN W. CRANE, ex-county judge of Saratoga county, was born in the town of Milton, September 30, 1827, a son of Justis and Betsey (Bridges) Crane. The family is of English origin and its representatives were early settlers in New England. James Crane, grandfather of Judge Crane, was a veteran of the Revolutionary war and lived to the age of ninety years. His son, Justis Crane, was born in New Hamp- shire and in 1820 came to Saratoga county. For ten years he was en- gaged in farming in the town of Milton, and then moved to the village of Saratoga Springs, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1860. He was a successful farmer and a Democrat of strong partisanship. He married Betsey Bridges, a native of Boston, Mass., and of their union were two sons and one daughter. Mrs. Crane, who died in the eighty-fifth year of her age, October 20, 1884, was a daughter of Will- iam Bridges, who was of English descent and settled at Ballston Spa in 1810.
Until he was sixteen years old John W. Crane lived on the farm, and since then has resided in Saratoga Springs. He was well educated in the public schools and academies of this section, and in 1847 began the study of law in the office of Hon. William A. Beach, under whose ex- cellent instruction he remained until his admission to the bar in 1852. In 1854 he became a member of the law firm of Avery, Hoag & Crane, which later became Hoag & Crane, and as such continued in successful practice until January 1, 1859, when Mr. Crane withdrew to take his seat as county judge. At the expiration of his term of four years he returned to private practice. From 1876 to 1880 he served a second term as county judge.
Judge Crane is considered one of the best counsellors and conveyanc- ers in the county. He was admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court in 1861. In politics he has been a strong Democrat. He has held various town and village offices and served as supervisor
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in 1863, 1868 and 1869. Although twice in nomination for the county judgeship by the minority party, his popularity has been such that he has each time been elected by a good majority. He retired from the bench with the respect and esteem of the bar and public. Judge Crane has contributed much to the prosperity of the village. He was a mem- ber of the board of commissioners which introduced the Holly system of water works; a building commissioner of the town hall, and chair- man of the building committee which erected the Convention Hall. He is a stockholder in the First National Bank, the United States Hotel, and Congress Spring Companies.
He married, October 4, 1852, Mary E. Martin, daughter of Daniel Martin of Granville, Washington county. Of this union is one son, George M. Crane.
JAMES EARLEY.
JAMES EARLEY was born in Saratoga county, January 21, 1841, a son of Elijah Earley, who was a farmer and lived and died in Corinth. Mr. Earley was reared on a farm, educated in the common schools and fol- lowed farming for some years. He enlisted in the Civil war and at the close returned home and engaged in farming. He removed to the vil- lage of Corinth and had charge of the freight hauling for the Hudson River Pulp & Paper Co., and for some years looked after the buying of the the wood, also continued his farming Mr. Earley built a fine brick residence in Corinth in 1887 on Palmer avenue, and was connected with the mill for about thirty years, being a general favorite among the men. In politics he was a Republican and a member of the county committee for some years. Mr. Earley was twice married, first to Aurelia R. White, who died leaving two daughters, Mrs. Dr. C. B. Mallery, and Mrs. Geo. W. Costello, both of whom are living; in 1880 Mr. Earley married Frances E. Haines, who was born in Saratoga county ; they had one son, Charles J. Mr. Earley died December 18, 1892.
JAMES W. HORTON.
JAMES W. HORTON, who served as clerk of Saratoga county for many years, was born in Ballston, September 29, 1810, a son of Ezekiel
JAMES EARLEY.
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and Clarissa (Watson) Horton. He was educated in the schools of the vicinity and took up his residence in the village of Ballston Spa when nineteen years of age. He served the village as postmaster during General Harrison's administration. In 1845 he was elected clerk of Saratoga county on the Whig ticket and held the office for nearly half a century. In politics he was a Whig and Republican.
MILES EGBERT VARNEY, M. D.
MILES E. VARNEY, M. D., was born in Luzerne, Warren county, N. Y., January 14, 1863, a son of Josiah S. and Abby J. (Murray) Varney. The Varneys were among the earliest settlers in the vicinity of the present village of Glens Falls. Much genealogical data has been written regarding them, as they are of Saxon origin and by tradition trace their ancestry to the time of the Conqueror's invasion of Britain.
Dr. Varney's father resided all his life in this vicinity and was a man of excellent character and worth. For many years he followed his trade as a millwright and thus became well known throughout the entire region. Later he engaged in farming. In religious belief he was a Friend, having united with the Orthodox Friends Society at an early age. It is a fact of historical importance that he is credited with the introduction of singing in the order of worship of the Friends' meetings. He died in 1896, in the sixty-third year of his age. His father, Daniel Warren Varney, had gained considerable repute in this vicinity from the early stand he took as an advocate of the principles of the Abolitionists.
Dr. Miles E. Varney began his education at the Sandy Hill Union School from whence he went to the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, and later to the Oakwood Academy at Union Springs in Cayuga county, N. Y., where he completed the college preparatory course. He pre- pared for his profession in the medical department of the University of Vermont and during his entire course of four years taught in the common schools of the vicinity during the fall and winter terms. After taking his M.D. degree in June, 1889, he passed the examinations of the Regents of the University of the State of New York and was ad- mitted to practice in this State, locating first in South Glens Falls where he remained for a period of five years. In 1892 he was nom- inated by the Republican County Convention as coroner of Saratoga
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county and elected by a large majority, running ahead of his ticket. He was re-elected in 1895 and during both terms served with credit, not only to himself but to his party.
Dr. Varney began his present practice in Saratoga Springs in 1894 and is recognized as one of the most prominent of the younger prac- titioners of the village. He is a member of the American Medical As- sociation; New. York State Medical Association; and the Saratoga Springs Medical Society. He has been officially connected with the Saratoga Hospital since its establishment, having been a member of each of its staffs. He is now a member of the maternity and surgical staffs and attending surgeon. He is also surgeon for the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company, a member of the New York Mutual Aid Society and examining physician for several insurance companies, in- cluding the Metropolitan Life, Phoenix, Equitable Life, Netherlands, etc.
Notwithstanding the demands of a good practice Dr. Varney has gained a wide fraternal connection. He is a prominent thirty-second degree Mason, holding membership in Rising Sun Lodge No. 103, F. & A. M. ; Rising Sun Chapter No. 131, R.A. M .; Cryptic Council No. 37; Washington Commandery No. 33, Knights Templar; and Oriental Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Troy, N. Y. He is one of the oldest members of the Improved Order of Red Men in this section of the State, being a charter member of the South Glens Falls Tribe. He is also a prominent member of the Young Men's Christian Association.
In January, 1888, Dr. Varney married Sadie M. Austin, a daughter of Cassius Austin of Burlington, Vt.
JOSEPH P. BRENNAN.
JOSEPH P. BRENNAN, son of Patrick and Catherine Brennan, was born at Saratoga Springs, N. Y., January 29, 1870. His father was a life- long resident of Saratoga Springs, and during his whole life took a deep interest in its welfare. He was a member of the board of trustees and of the board of education, and was prominent in politics in the earlier period of Saratoga's history. He died in 1898.
Joseph P. Brennan was educated in the public schools and the High school at Saratoga Springs, graduating from the latter in the class of 1888, and carrying off the prize for oratory in that year. When a
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student in the High school he evinced a marked aptitude for those studies best calculated to develop the logical forces of the mind, and after graduating, naturally turned toward the study of law. With this object in view he entered the office of Hon. John Foley, who was then State senator of the district, where he read for some time. He then entered Yale College and graduated from that institution with distinc- tion in the class of 1891, receiving the degree of LL.B. While in Yale College he attained the distinction of being elected to the Book and Gavel society and became one of its most prominent members.
In the fall of 1891 Mr. Brennan was admitted to the bar and in the spring of 1892 he was nominated by the Democratic party for justice of the peace. He was elected and began the duties of his office January 1, 1893.
Although he assumed the duties of this office when scarcely twenty- two years of age, he showed from the first that ability and fidelity which has placed him in the front rank of Saratoga's public men. The office of justice of the peace is an important one in Saratoga Springs, as the incumbent is, ex officio, a member of the town auditing board, the work of which is important to taxpayers, and the conscientious regard which he constantly showed for the interests of the taxpayers were for him the strongest commendation.
When the war broke out between the United States and Spain in the spring of 1898 this young lawyer left his desk, books and the practice he had already acquired by hard work, zeal and ability, and volunteered as a private in the United States service. He left Saratoga Springs with Company L, 2d N. Y. Volunteers, May 2, for Camp Black, N. Y .; thence to Chickamauga Park, Ga .; then on to Tampa, Fla. While at Tampa, Fla., although a private, he was selected from his company to go north to Saratoga Springs after recruits. This service he executed with promptness and success and returned to his company at Tampa with twenty-eight recruits to fill the quota of his company. He was soon after promoted to the rank of corporal, which position he filled with credit and honor as long as the regiment was in service.
In the fever stricken camps of Florida this lawyer and soldier was attacked with malaria. At Camp Hardin, in Troy, N. Y., where his regiment was stationed preparatory to being mustered out, he succumbed and was taken to the hospital, from which he was discharged as con- valescent. On his arrival at Saratoga Springs with his company he was again taken down with fever and was confined to his bed with a more violent attack.
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While serving with his company at Fernandina, the Democratic party of Saratoga county, without his knowledge, honored him with the nom- ination for member of assembly, and while the whole Republican ticket was elected in this county, Corporal Brennan ran over 1,000 votes ahead of his ticket, cutting the majority of the Republican assembly- man down to one-half of what the other candidates got.
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