USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 63
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Bennett, George H., son of Horace and Sophia (Skedmore) Bennett, was born in Fort Miller, Washington county, in 1834. His father was a miller, thus early turn- ing the son's mind to a liking for the same occupation. He learned the miller's trade with William M. Palmer of Middle Falls, Washington county, N. Y., and was in his employ until he accepted a position with Bullard & Marshall of Schuylerville, in the Saratoga Mills, as a journeyman miller, and continued through the various changes until 1861, when he leased the plant and successfully conducted the business until failing health compelled him to retire on April 1, 1897, when he relinquished active management in favor of his son, James E. Bennett. Mr. Bennett has always been a public spirited citizen and during the many years he has been a resident of Schuylerville he has always manifested a lively interest in its welfare. A Democrat in politics, he has always taken a lively interest in the welfare of his party; he has twice been honored with the nomination for Assembly and as many times suffered defeat, yet reducing the Republican majority from 1,200 to 300. He has served fif- teen years on the board of education and was one of the promoters of the Union Free school at Schuylerville. He is a director and vice-president of the National Bank of Schuylerville. In 1855 Mr. Bennett married Miss Helen S. McRae, and their chil-
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dren are James E., who succeeded his father in the mill business; William E., a prominent attorney of Schuylerville; and George M. James E. is a native of John- sonville, and was born in 1855; he is a miller. After finishing his education at the Schuylerville High School he entered his father's mill and has ever since been ident- ified with it, succeeding his father as stated above. The business comprises the manufacture of flour, mill feed, ship stuffs and grain. One article, the Saratoga White Rye Flour, has been continuously on the market for over forty years and com- mands a wide sale in New York and other points. Unlike his father, James E. is a Republican and a member of the board of health of Schuylerville. In 1877 he mar- ried Lillian Newton and they have three children: Edward N., who is his father's assistant in the mill; Helen and George H.
Bennett, William E., son of George H. Bennett, a retired miller of Schuylerville, was born in 1863. He was educated in the public schools of the vicinity and is a graduate of the Schuylerville High School. He studied law in the office of P. C. Ford at Schuylerville, and was admitted to the bar in 1886 and began the practice of his profession in his native village. Mr. Bennett is popular in social and legal cir- cles, is a Democrat in politics and has enjoyed the confidence of his party associates by being honored with office within their gift. He was elected justice of the peace in 1889, and was re-elected and served to 1896; has served as delegate to the various conventions held in the town and county, and at the present time is serving as village attorney, having been appointed in 1895 and again in March, 1896; he is also attor- ney for the Schuylerville National Bank. In 1895 he was the Democratic candidate for the office of district attorney, but the county being overwhelmingly Republican he was defeated, although receiving 800 votes ahead of his party ticket. Mr. Ben- nett is a brother of James E. Bennett of the Saratoga Mills, and George M. of Schuy- lerville. In 1892 Mr. Bennett married Edith J. Clark of Victory Mills, and they have two children: Ruth and Julia. Mr. Bennett is a prominent member of St. Stephen's Protestant Episcopal church and one of its vestrymen.
Berner, John .- When John Berner first started his present business enterprise, in 1877, in Schuylerville, that part of the town where he took up his residence and erected his dwelling and shop was all a vacant field. Mr. Berner is a native of Can- ada, was born in 1842, a son of Antoine Berner, and came to the United States in 1862, where he first worked at his trade, that of a wagon maker and blacksmith, at Woodstock, Conn., thence to Vincennes, Vt., and from there to Schuylerville, where he established himself in business. His parents both remained and died in Canada ; his four brothers, Jerome and Valise are still residents of the Dominion; Antoine resides in Fall River, Mass., and Isidore at Indian Orchard, Mass. He also had three sisters: Marie, wife of Joseph F. Letune of Fall River, Mass .; Me'anise, wife of Ezra Du Pall of Indian Orchard, Mass .; and Philomene, wife of P. L. Livermore of Canada. In 1865 Mr. Berner married Emily Perkins, and they had two children, both now deceased; John, born in 1867, died in 1877, and Emma, born in 1877, died April 5, 1897, aged twenty-one years. Though not an active politician, Mr. Berner has always been a consistent Republican and faithful to the principles of that party. He enjoys a goodly share of the patronage in his line from both town and country.
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He manufactures to order all kinds of vehicles and has an extensive trade in jobbing and repairing. He is a highly respected citizen, enjoying the confidence and esteem of all who know him.
Bidwell, Alvin, was born in the town of Pinkney, Jefferson county, September 27, 1820, a son of Reuben and Sarah (Hart) Bidwell, Sarah a daughter of Jeremiah Hart. Reuben was a son of David Bidwell, who came from Holland and settled in the southern part of the town of Stillwater. He was very patriotic during the war and was very nearly taken prisoner by the Tories who tried to enter his house, but with the aid of his dog and his gun he defended his house against them. He was also a very public spirited man and an active worker in the Presbyterian church of the town of Malta. Alvin Bidwell was educated in the common schools of the town of Still- water, and Jones Academy. He lived with his father, assisting on the farm until he was twenty-two years of age, when he leased the farm of his father and started in life for himself. Six years later he purchased the farm from his father and has fol. lowed farming up to the present time. In early life he was active in town and county affairs and all public spirited enterprises. He married Helen, daughter of David Flagler, and they had two children: Harriet Aurelia (deceased) and Belle, wife of W. H. Allen of Mechanicville. Mrs. Bidwell died and for his second wife he married Ruth S. Garrison, a daughter of Henry Ferris.
Blodget, George W., chief of police, Saratoga Springs, was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., September 26, 1847, and has been a resident of this county since 1850 and of Saratoga Springs since 1859. He received a liberal public school education, and in 1863, when but fourteen years of age, he showed not only his patriotism, but also the sterling stuff of which he was made, by enlisting in the Sixteenth New York Heavy Artillery. At general muster, however, he was discharged on account of his youth, but in 1864, when the cruelties of war had become fireside love, undeterred by prospect, he again enlisted, this time in the Sixty-fourth New York Infantry, Com - pany B, serving until the close of the war, and was honorably discharged in 1865. In January of the following year (1866) he enlisted in the Twenty-fifth Regiment, United States Regulars, and saw three years of service with them, having been pro- moted to sergeant, and received his honorable discharge January 28, 1869, at Paducah, Ky. He then returned to his home in Saratoga Springs and learned the carpenter's trade with his father. This occupation he pursued until 1878, when, being elected constable, he gave all his attention to the duties of his office, and after serving as constable for some time he was appointed deputy sheriff, which office he held until appointed chief of police in 1886. During the twelve years of service, already accom- plished, Chief Blodget has proved himself both an able and wise officer, and Sara- toga Springs has benefited accordingly. He brings to the discharge of his duties, not only the keen sense of the officer, but also the broad intelligence of an able man and so efficient is the force under his direction, that in the " seasons" when the pop- ulation of the village is vastly increased, there is not the slightest difference in the public order that uniformly prevails. Chief Blodget is a member of several organizations, among them being Rising Sun Lodge, No 103, F. & A. M. ; Rising Sun Chapter, No. 131, R. A. M. ; Cryptic Council, No. 37, R. & S. M .; Washington Commandery, No. 33, K. T .; Oriental Temple, N. M. S .; the Odd Fellows, the A. O. U. W., and Mc-
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Kean Post, G. A. R. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the First Methodist Episcopal church. In 1878 Chief Blodget married Ruey Howe, daughter of Page and Lucy Howe. His parents were Ambrose and Eliza J. (Milliman) Blodget.
Brewster, James H., was born in Canajoharie, Montgomery county, N. Y., July 11, 1828, and when a child came with his parents to the town of Halfmoon. He was educated in the district schools and Waterford Academy, and was in the mercantile business with his brother Courtland for twelve years. He has resided here since 1860 and followed the honorable occupation of farming, and has been supervisor, town auditor, and highway commissioner of his township. March 14, 1860, he married Frances M. Lansing, of the town of Halfmoon, and they have had four children: One boy, who died in infancy, George W., Mary E., and David, who died at the age of eleven. George W. married Isabella George of Waterford, N. Y., and they have one daughter, Frances L. Mary E. graduated from Waterford High School in 1896, and since then until now, 1898, when she graduated again, she has been, and is, a student at Lansingburgh Academy. Mr. Brewster's father, David, was born in the town of Lansingburgh, January 12, 1801, and was educated in the schools of that day. He was a farmer and dealer in real estate. He married Eliza Lockwood of his native town, and they had six children who grew to maturity: Courtland, James H., as above, Mary S., Cordelia M., who married John Clute of Cohoes, and died May 7, 1870, Caroline and Emma A. David Brewster died in 1884, and his wife July 12, 1863. Mr. Brewster's grandfather, John Brewster, was born in the last century, and the family have descended from the Pilgrim fathers. Mrs. Brewster's father, Vandenburg Lansing, was born in the year 1801, before 12 o'clock P. M., and his twin brother, Garrett G. I., was born the first day of the year, 1802, just after 12 o'clock A. M. Vandenburg Lansing married Nancy Winnie of Rensselaer county, and they had six children. Mr. Lansing died April 11, 1883, and his wife February 25, 1870. Mr. Brewster is a Democrat and the family attend the Presby- terian church.
Brightman, John H., was born in the town of Saratoga, in 1831, a son of Thomas D. and Maria Sisson Brightman. In early life Thomas was a school teacher, but in the latter part of his life he followed farming. He was very active in the M. E. church of Quaker Springs. John H., when eighteen years old, started in life for himself as a clerk in the general merchandise business at Ketchum Corners. After three years he purchased the store which he ran for about one year, then moved to Illinois and was employed as a traveling salesman for a wholesale notion store. Two years later he entered the general merchandise business at Peoria, Ill., where he remained one year, then returned to Stillwater. In 1831 he took charge of Mr. T. E. Dunham's business, which he cared for until Mr. Dunham's death and then purchased the estate from the heirs and has followed farming and stock dealing to the present time. He married Sarah, daughter of T. E. and Achsa Dunham, and they have two children: Henry T. and Benjamin P. Henry T. married Hattie C., daughter of William L. and Mary Gurnsey, and their children are Bert, Leonard, Nellie. Benjamin P. married Lena, daughter of George and Ida Perkins and they have one daughter, Esther. Mr. Brightman has been active in town and county
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affairs and was assessor for fourteen years and highway commissioner six years. He and his sons are members of the Patrons of Husbandry.
Brookins, George, M. D., was born in Fulton county, January 17, 1868, a son of Abner and Mary (Johnson) Brookins, natives of Fulton county, where he died August 29, 1873, and his wife March 9, 1898. Dr. Brookins was educated in Johnstown and attended Union College two years, and was graduated from the Albany Medical College April 18, 1894, November 1, of that year, he came to Middlegrove, where he has since carried on a successful practice. He is a member of Middlegrove Lodge No. 476, I. O. O. F. ; in politics a Democrat and a member of the board of health. December 26, 1894, he married Clara Sherman, daughter of Joseph Sherman, who owns the Sherman House at Caroga Lake, and they have two children: Joseph S. and Marjorie C.
Brown, Alpheus, was born in Whitehall, Washington county, N. Y., January 9, 1853, a son of Dennis and Charlotte (Prior) Brown. Dennis Brown was a farmer and lived at Whitehall. He was a Republican and was assessor of the town and held other minor offices. He died in 1867, and his wife is now living in Stillwater. Alpheus Brown was educated in the common schools. His father died when he was sixteen years old and he took charge of the family and has made his own way in life. In 1878 he came to Hadley and worked at the woodenware works three years. He married Mary Jenkings, and they have one son, George, born March 5, 1884. Mr. Brown owns seventy-five acres of land where he lives and 150 acres elsewhere. He follows general farming and is one of the leading farmers of his town.
Brown, Frank H., was born in Brooklyn, March 2, 1869, a son of Charles M. Brown and Emma Hutchinson, his wife. Charles M. has been identified with Ballston's business interests for thirty years, and has since retired, having his residence in the town of Ballston, about two miles south of the village. Frank H. Brown was educated in the public schools and afterwards was attended by private tutors for about two years, when he became associated with his father in the mercantile busi- ness until 1890. He afterwards entered the office of James L. Scott as a clerk, and subsequently read law in Mr. Scott's office, during which time he held the office of justice of the peace and was admitted to the bar in May, 1894. He has since been associated with Mr. Scott in business. By his indomitable energy and perseverance he has already distinguished himself in many important cases and bids fair to rank favorably among the leading members of his chosen profession.
Bryan, Newton T., was born in the township of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, N. Y., April 22, 1865, educated in the district schools and the Mechanicville academy, and by occupation is a telegraph operator. He has been teller in the First National bank of Mechanicville, N. Y., for thirteen years. September 4, 1889, he married Lillian E. Moore of Mechanicville, and they have one daughter, Gretchen. Mr. Bryan's father, Amos Bryan, was born in Renssselaer county, N. Y., March 18, 1829, educated in the district schools and is now a farmer. October 28, 1856, he married Mary E., daughter of Thomas and Maria Buckhout of the town of Schaghticoke,
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and they have had three children: Stewart A., who died in his twenty-first year; Newton T., as above; and Elizabeth who died at the age of two months. Mr. and Mrs. Bryan are living at this date, 1898. Mr. Bryan's grandfather, Hiram C., was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., in 1800, and came to Schaghticoke the same year with his parents, and was educated in the schools of that day. He married Eliza- beth Yates, and they had five children that grew to maturity: William W., Amos, Henry, Jacob and Maria. Mr. Bryan died August 7, 1853, and his widow May 17, 1893. Mr. Bryan's great-grandfather, Elijah Bryan, was born in Connecticut, Sep- tember 13, 1764, and came to Pine Plains, N. Y .; when a boy. He married Miss Coy and they had four children: Ezra, Hiram C., Abbie and Sally; he died October 9, 1842. Mr. Bryan is a member of On-da-wa lodge of Mechanicville No. 820, F. & A.M. ; and in polites is a Democrat. He has been village treasurer six years and vil- lage accountant since 1891.
Bull, Stephen C., was born in Whitehall, N. Y., and educated in the Albany acad- emy, Albany, N. Y. Since his school days he has been engaged in the insurance business and has attained the status of an expert on insurance. He came to Sara- toga Springs from Albany, in 1896, and opened offices in the Ainsworth Place and is doing a general insurance business. The companies represented by him are the Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn. ; Standard Acci- dent Insurance Company, of Detroit, Mich .; New Jersey Plate Glass Insurance Com- pany, of Newark, N. J. ; the United States Fidelity & Guarantee Company, of Balti- more, Md., and a large number of prominent fire insurance companies. Mr. Bull is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In 1887 he married Sadie Parker Britton, daughter of the late Winchester Britton, a prominent lawyer and once district attorney of Brooklyn, N. Y .; they have one daughter, Edith Britton Bull. Mr. Bull's parents are Martin Van Buren and Anna Jane (Stowell) Bull, of Albany, N. Y. His father has long been an active and successful insurance man. The Bull family were the direct descendants of Henry Bull, who was born in 1610 and who came to Boston from South Wales on Juue 4, 1635, and was governor of Rhode Island in 1685, 1686 and 1690. He died at Newport in 1694.
Bumstead, George M., was born in Youngstown, Ohio, March 23, 1853, a son of Caleb M. and Ann Eliza (Hatch) Bumstead. Caleb M. was an architect and builder. He worked in New York city and spent his last days in Youngstown, where he died in 1854 and his wife in 1888. George M. was reared in New York city and there ed- ucated. He learned the printer's trade and worked at his trade for a while in New York city and in 1874 came to Greenfield, where he has since lived. In 1887 he bought the farm he now owns of eighty acres and makes a specialty of poultry rais- ing and also fine butter. He is a Republican in politics and for twelve years carried the mail from North Greenfield to King's Station. September 27, 1877, he married Estella Cady, born September 27, 1860, and they have four children: Roscoe M., Florence E., Arthur I. and Raymond S. The family are members of the Baptist church at Greenfield Center.
Burrett, James, was born in Corinth, on the farm he now owns, in 1829, a son of Thomas and Dorothy (Jennings) Burrett, who came to Corinth about 1815, and set-
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OUR COUNTY AND ITS PEOPLE.
tled on the farm James now owns. His father died April 8, 1862, and his mother about 1840. James was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools. He has a farm of 104 acres and has sold a farm of forty acres within the past two years. He married Harriet A. Davis, and they have one daughter, Ida E., who was educated at Schuylerville High School and Temple Grove. She followed teaching for a while and is now a music teacher. Mr. Burrett is a member of the Grange of Corinth. He and his family attend the Presbyterian church.
Bush, George, was born in Utica, N. Y., May 4, 1858. His father, Jacob Bush, came to Ballston in 1864, and engaged in the wood trade. He was noted for his strict integrity; he married Sarah Tie. George Bush was educated in the public schools and worked for R. C. Vanderburgh for sixteen years. In 1884 he became associated with his father in the coal and wood business, which he established in 1879, and purchased the business in 1892, and is handling 3,000 tons of coal per year and 200 cords of wood. In 1882 he married Anna, daughter of P. Conley, and they have two sons and four daughters: James E., George, jr., Elizabeth, Anna, Marguerite and Frances. Mr. Bush is a self-made man and takes an intelligent interest in schoo 1 and church matters and is recognized as a man of sterling integrity, whose word is as good as his bond.
Butler, James, was born in the town of Ballston, August 22, 1862, a son of Patrick and Catherine (McCune) Butler. His father came from Ireland to Ballston when young and throughout his life was an earnest worker in the Catholic church. James Butler was educated in the common schools of the town of Ballston and when about sixteen years of age started in life for himself as a farm laborer. When about twenty-six years of age he purchased the farm where he now resides, which contains eighty acres. June 30, 1891, he married Katie, daughter of Thomas and Catherine Gilgallon, and they have two children: Bertha and Willie J. In politics Mr. Butler is a Democrat and is active in the affairs of his town and county, also in school and educational interests. He and his family are members of the Catholic church of Stillwater.
Butler, Walter Prentiss, son of Capt. James Prentiss and Naomi Jane (Clements) Butler, was born in Saratoga Springs, N. Y., April 1, 1863. He was educated in the public schools of this village, the North Granville Military School, Mohegan Lake Military Academy, Phillips Academy of Exeter, N. H., and Columbia Law School of New York city, from which he was graduated in the class of 1887, and admitted to the bar in the same year. In that year he became a member of the law firm of Pond, Brackett & Butler, which firm became Brackett, Butler & Baucus in 1890, and finally dissolved in July, 1892, since which time Mr. Butler has conducted a law of- fice of his own. The Butler family dates its American history back into the seven- teenth century, when the progenitor settled in Martha's Vineyard, Mass. Early in the eighteenth century they moved to Woodbury, Conn., and members of the family participated in the French and Indian wars, the Revolutionary war and the war of 1812. Jonathan Butler, sea captain, and his son, Malachi Butler, settled at Wood- bury, Conn., and the latter was the father of Solomon Butler, who was a lieutenant
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in the Revolutionary war and fought at the battle of White Plains. His brother, Capt. Zephaniah Butler, was the grandfather of the celebrated General Benjamin F. Butler, who achieved fame in the war of the Rebellion, as well as being one of the greatest lawyers of the country. Solomon Butler was grandfather of Capt. James Prentiss Butler. Walter P. Butler married Mary Ashman Kilmer, daughter of Chauncey Kilmer of Rock City Falls, July 9, 1890, and they have two sons, Clarence Kilmer and John Prentiss. Politically Mr. Butler is a Republican.
Byrnes, Daniel, was born in the city of Cork, Ireland, about the year 1824. He was a graduate of Dublin College and came to the United States when twenty-one years old and was a farmer in Rensselaer county many years. The family came to Mechanicville about the year 1892. January 7, 1853, he married Mary Kane, form- erly of county Lathrun, Ireland, and they had eleven children; two died young; the others are John, Nora, Daniel, jr., M. Augustine, William, James, Mary, Andrew, Katherine T. John married Margaret Gorman and they had two children, Jennie and Margaret. Nora married John Corr and they have three children, Anna, Kath- leen and Harry. M. Augustine married Madeline Beck. William married Agnes Crowley. James married Mary Sheehan; they had one son, J. Sheehan. The family are members of St. Paul's Roman Catholic church. Both father and mother are living at this date, 1898.
Caldwell, Emmor J., was born in the town of Mohawk, Montgomery county, Octo- ber 12, 1855. His father, Barney R. Caldwell, was a native of Rensselaer county and married Sarah C., daughter of Jacob Pink, and through life was identified as a farmer. E. J. Caldwell was educated in the public schools, the academy at Jones- ville and was graduated from Eastman's Business College in 1874. In 1876 he mar- ried Etta L., daughter of Lewis R. Garnsey of Clifton Park, and they have one son, Garnsey J. Caldwell. Mr. Caldwell is one of the practical and successful farmers of Saratoga county, having a farm of one hundred and seventy acres at Clifton Park. He has served as justice of the peace for eight years, supervisor six years and was elected sheriff of Saratoga county in 1897. He takes an intelligent interest in school and church matters and has ever received and merited the respect of his associates. He is a member of St. George Lodge No. 6, F. & A. M., of Schenectady and also a member of the State Grange.
Callen, Charles P., son of Patrick and Mary (Brice) Callen, was born in South Glens Falls in 1866. His father is a native of Ireland and came to the United States when a young man ; he now resides in South Glens Falls; his mother was born in Albany, N. Y. Charles P. received his education at the South Glens Falls High School, and at the commencement of his business career was connected with the drug establishment of George T. Doty, as clerk, for two years, after which he served four years with the wholesale drug house of A. McClure & Co. of Albany. He is also a graduate of the Albany College of Pharmacy, class 1889. At the completion of his term with the last named firm he returned to South Glens Falls and opened his present place of business in 1889, and has been very successful. In politics Mr. Callen is a Democrat and is one of the workers in his party and was elected treasurer of the village in 1895 and 1896 and again in 1898. He is a young business man who
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