USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 74
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Spicer, L., was born in Milton, August 21, 1845. His father, William Spicer, was a native of England and came to the United States in 1823 and settled in the town of Milton in 1825. He had twelve children, ten sons and two daughters; six sons were in the war of the Rebellion, two of whom, Edward and Frank, were killed; he died in 1888. L. Spicer was educated in the public schools, and learned the axe making trade. In 1891 he established his present business of jobber in wines, liquors, cigars and tobacco. In 1868 he married Frances L. McIntosh, who died in 1876, leaving two children, Mrs. Helen Harison and Fred. Later he married Libbie, daughter of John Osborne. Mr. Spicer is one of the self made men of Saratoga county, serving as excise commissioner, and is recognized as a man of sterling in- tegrity, who ever received and merited the respect of his associates.
Sprott, James, was born in Moreau in 1827, and educated in the common schools,
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and when twenty-five years of age left home to work for himself. Twelve years ago he purchased the farm he now occupies, which contains 103 acres of fine soil, situ- ated one-half mile east of Wiltonville, in what is without doubt one of the most sightly and picturesque places in Saratoga county. A grand sight is witnessed as you look to the southeast, where the eye catches a view of over fifty miles overlook- ing the hills of Washington county and extending in an unbroken and uninterrupted view to the Green Mountains. In summer many people are lured to this beautiful spot on account of the pure mountain air and fine scenery. In 1860 Mr. Sprott mar- ried Caroline King, and they had one daughter, Anna, wife of Claudius Tillotson. In 1879 he married Adelaide Wood, and they have one son, Walter J., a student in the Saratoga High School. Mr. Sprott's farm is an ideal place and will soon be on the market. To those having an eye to the beautiful in nature no spot can be se- lected in which to pass the summer months or for a permanent home which excels this sightly locality.
Starbuck, E. D., the leading dry goods merchant of Saratoga county, was born in in Chester, Warren county, N. Y., a son of Stephen and Cynthia (Meade) Starbuck. He began the active business of life as a clerk, but after twelve years in this capa- city he embarked in business for himself and has been uniformly successful in all his undertakings. He has been in Saratoga Springs since 1887 and his business has largely increased since its inception. Mr. Starbuck is a member of the board of edu- cation and is at present president of the board. He married Ella Martin, and their children are Katharyn, Roy and Edgar.
Steenburgh, Nicholas, was born in the town of Halfmoon, near Crescent, May 30, 1851, and his education was limited to the public schools. When a young boy he drove on the Erie Canal, giving all his earnings to his mother, but afterward he filled different positions on that water-way, until he became a boat owner, when he sold his interests, and has owned and conducted a general store at Crescent the past eleven years with success. In 1876 he married Philena Van Decar, of Crescent, N. Y. Mrs. Steenburgh's father, Jeremiah Van Decar, who was a farmer by occupation, was born in the town of Halfmoon, in the year 1825, and was educated in the schools of his day. He married Harriet, daughter of Isaac Quackinbush, of his native town, and they have five children: George, Martha J., Philena, as above, Ella and Artia L. Mr. and Mrs. Van Decar are still living at this date, 1898. Mr. Steenburgh has held the office of justice of the peace four years, and is now a member of the board of health. He is a member of the M. E. church, and in his political choice he is a staunch Democrat. The ancestry of the family is German and Dutch.
Stevens, F H., M. D., was born in New Haven, Conn., where he received his education. He studied medicine at Crown Point, N. Y., and was graduated from Castleton Medical College, Vt., and from the medical department of the University of Vermont. Dr. Stevens practiced medicine in Newark, N. J., for many years and in 1884 went to Lake George for his health, where he remained six years; during all of this time he was coroner of Warren county, N. Y., and health officer of the town of Caldwell. He then came to Saratoga Springs in 1891. Dr. Stevens is a member
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of the Vermont State Medical Association; the Addison County Medical Society; Essex County Medical Society, of which he and Dr. J. S. Murray were the founders; of the Newark (N. J.) Medical Society; and the Newark Academy of Medicine. He is also an honorary member of the Union Medical Association of Albany, Rensse- laer, Saratoga, Washington and Warren counties and was vice-president of the War- ren County Medical Society. Dr. Stevens married Amelia A. Potter, daughter of Judge Joel F. Potter of Essex county, N. Y., and they have three children; the youngest, Fannie, married Joel W. Arnett of Chicago, Ill. Dr. Stevens's parents were Rev. C. C. Stevens and Lucinda Hoadley Stevens. His maternal grandfather fought as a patriot all through the Revolutionary war and died from exposure dur- ing the military expedition through the wilderness to Canada.
Stewart, Charles A., was born in Waterford, N. Y., April 24, 1831, educated in the public schools and in 1858 succeeded his father in the grocery business which he has conducted ever since successfully. His father, Alexander Stewart, was born in Voluntown, Windham county, Conn., November 22, 1798, followed the water in early life and came to Waterford when a young man. He married Susan Drake of Waterford, and they had two sons: James V. S. who died in California in 1849 and Charles A. (as above). The Stewart family were represented first in New England from Scotland, by John Stewart, who married Elizabeth Kennedy of Glasgow, Scot- land, and their son, Samuel, was born on shipboard on the Atlantic; he settled in Connecticut, where his son, Major John Stewart, was born and was an officer in the Revolutionary war. One of his sons, Samuel, was a general in the war of 1812. Charles A. Stewart has served on the village board of trustees; is a member of the board of education, and has been president for a number of years. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and is one of the trustees. In his political choice he is a Republican.
Strang, Dr. James Read, son of Dr. Ira and Mrs. Ann J. (Hunt) Strang, was born in Stillwater, May 31, 1863. His early life was spent at farming. He attended the district schools and afterward the Mechanicville Academy at Mechanicville, N. Y. Dr. Strang's ancestry is of French and English descent. His great-grandfather, Thomas Hunt, was a lieutenant in the American army during the Revolution and was in the engagement at Bemis Heights. Dr. Strang has two brothers, Edward H. and Dayton Strang, both engaged in the manufacture of knit goods at Mechanicville, N. Y. In the fall of 1886 Dr. Strang entered the Albany Medical College and was graduated from that institution in March, 1889. The following November he located at Vischers Ferry, where he now enjoys a large practice and the esteem of the com- munity. He has held the office of health officer for a number of years. In 1897 was elected coroner on the Republican ticket. On January 30, 1892, Dr. Strang married Jennie B. Keeler, daughter of Russell Keeler of Clifton Park, and they have two children: Willard R., born March 17, 1893, and Marion, born October 12, 1897, died November 15, 1898.
Stumpf, Frank, was born in the town of Northumberland, June 25, 1859, a son of Charles and Rosena Hoag Stumpf, natives of Germany, who settled in Saratoga
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Springs in 1845. In 1856 they moved to Northumberland, where he carried on farm- ing. Frank was educated in the schools of Northumberland, and assisted his father until he was twenty years of age, when he was employed four years on the Cham- plain canal, after which he settled in Glens Falls, N. Y., and learned the jewelry trade. Three years later he started in business in Stillwater, N. Y., as a jeweler and watch repairing and insurance, which business he has carried on to the present time. He has been active in town and county affairs; was town clerk from 1894 to 1898, and appointed postmaster under Mckinley in 1897. He is a member of Montgomery Lodge No. 504, F. & A. M., of which he was secretary two years. He is an exempt fireman, formerly a member of E. I. Wood Steamer Co., also on the board of educa- tion for two years. He married Mary C., daughter of Miles P. and Electa Low, on January 27, 1886.
Terry, Charles, was born in Mechanicville, December 4, 1843, a son of Thomas and Sarah Ann (Adams) Terry. After his school days Mr. Terry was employed as a clerk in Troy for three years; he then learned the milling trade and spent fourteen years in that business at Valley Falls, then moved to Schaghticoke where he was three years. In 1883 he came to Saratoga Springs and has been twenty-one years an agent of the Fitchburg Railroad, three years at Valley Falls, three years at Schaghticoke and fifteen in Saratoga. Mr. Terry married Jennie M. Medbury of Lyons, N. Y. His daughter, Ola, by a previous marriage, is the wife of Kenneth McClellan of Albany. Mr. Terry is a prominent Mason, having risen to a Knight Templar, and was a justice of the peace for seven years in Valley Falls.
Thomas, Cassius B., was born at Greenfield, Saratoga county, August 17, 1848, and has resided in Saratoga Springs since he was twelve years of age. He was ed- ucated in the schools of this village and then entered the post-office as assistant post- master, which position he occupied until he went into the coal business, forming the firm of Thomas & Brown in 1879. In 1890 Mr. Brown sold out and the firm is now composed of Cassius B. Thomas, Eugene Wiswall and Henry W. Keith. Mr. Thomas has several important interests in Saratoga Springs, including a large ice business, the Peerless Magnetic Spring and the celebrated baths conducted in con- nection therewith, and he is also a director in the Citizens' National Bank and is a prominent Mason. In 1894 he was elected on the school board, re-elected in 1897 and was president of the board during the years 1896 and 1897. In 1870 Mr. Thomas married Sarah M., daughter of Amasa Keith of Saratoga Springs, and their children are Mary, Sylvia, Harry and Cassius B. Thomas, jr. Harry Thomas is a corporal in Company L, Second New York Volunteers, and is serving with his regiment at the front. Cassius B. Thomas, the subject, is a son of Felix and Hannah (Ballow) Thomas. Seth Thomas, his grandfather, came to Washington county, N. Y., from Rhode Island; he served as a soldier in the war of 1812, and was a native of Rhode Island, where his people had lived for generations. Mr. Thomas is also a director and treasurer of the Saratoga Atheneum, and managing director of the Saratoga Floral Association.
Thompson, Henry C., son of Aaron M. and Phoebe Chapman Thompson, was born November 1, 1857. Aaron Thompson's children were Frank C., Anna L., wife of
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James A. Fake of Bacon Hill; Isabella C., wife of Dr. Charles E. Crandall of Fort Edward; Sarah E., wife of Reed Cramer of Bacon Hill; Henry C. and one daughter deceased. Both of Mr. Thompson's parents are deceased. His great-grandfather on the maternal side, Samuel Chapman, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. The record preserved of this ancestor says he was born at East Haddam, Conn., January 12, 1755 ; was married to Zilpha Gates, September 4, 1783, and taken prisoner at White Plains and confined on a British prison ship for a long time, and was liber- ated with health so impaired that he died a few months after being exchanged. Mr. Thompson is a Republican in politics and has held the office of commissioner of highways, justice of the peace, elected supervisor in 1896 and is now serving his third term in the board. He has been a delegate to the various county and other conventions, thereby attesting the esteem in which he is held in the party and by his fellow citizens. In October, 1890, Mr. Thompson married Ida A. Mulford; they have no children.
Town, Charles S., was born in Bridgewater, Vt., July 15, 1860, a son of Charles J. and Mary J. (Robinson) Town, who came from Vermont to Thurman, Warren county, in 1868. His father died in Hamilton county in 1884 and his mother is now living in Thurman. Charles S. learned the carpenter's trade and has since had a suc- cessful business. Mr. Town is a Democrat in politics. He has resided in Saratoga county for twenty-two years and owns a fine residence in the village of Hadley.
'Traver, George H .- The Travers are descended from old German stock; the grandfather, George Traver, came from Germany about the middle of the eighteenthi century. Henry H. Traver, father of George H., was born at Rhinebeck, N. Y., and always resided there. His wife was Christina M. Schultz; both died in Rhine- beck. George H. Traver was born in Rhinebeck in 1818, and was educated in the public schools and at Rhinebeck Academy. He taught school for a number of years and in 1858 came to his present farm of 260 acres which he received in exchange for a farm in Rhinebeck. Here he resided with his devoted wife, whom he married in December, 1842. Mrs. Traver died May 20, 1884. Their children are John H., Oscar N., Arthur I., William G. and Emma F. Mr. Traver has been a Republican since the organization of the party and is a firm believer in, and strict adherent to its principles. He has been road commissioner, town clerk and justice of the peace. Squire Traver's name is known and honored throughout the county.
Travis, Charles, was born in Wayne county, N. Y., November 9, 1857, and was educated in the public schools and later in Schenectady High School. For a number of years he was a general merchant, but is now a dairy farmer, having a milk route in Waterford, N. Y. October 30, 1878, he married Hattie Rosenberg, of Butler, Wayne county, N. Y., and they have had four children: Catherine M., Bennett O., who died at the age of eight months, Ida J. and H. Pauline. Mr. Travis's father, Abram, was born in the town of Halfmoon, about the year 1821, and was educated in the best schools of his day and followed the occupations of farmer and merchant. He married Mary, daughter of James Teachout, of Halfmoon, and they had two children: Adelia P. and Charles, as above. Mrs. Abram Travis died in the year
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1859, and for his second wife, he married Elizabeth Cooper, of Halfmoon, and they had four children : Birdell, Mary F., and Jerdson C. and Lewie (twins), who died in infancy. Mr. Travis died in 1889, but his widow survives him at this date (1898). Mrs. Travis's father, Andrew Rosenberg, was born in Germany, August 14, 1814, and was educated in their schools. He came to the United States at the age of fourteen, locating first in Seneca Falls and afterward in Wayne county, N. Y. November 1, 1839, he married Catherine Quick, of Butler, Wayne county, N. Y., and they had eight children: Charles, Andrew T., Cornelia F., Mathias, George H., Josephine, Lovina and Hattie, as above. Mr. Rosenberg died July 2, 1887, and his widow Feb- ruary 9, 1895. Mr. and Mrs. Travis are members of the M. E. church, and in his political choice he is a thorough Republican. The ancestry of the family is Dutch and German.
Tynen, D. J., was born in Saratoga Springs, August 15, 1863, educated in the public schools of that place and St. Francis Xavier's College, New York city, and also read law with Hon. Theodore F. Hamilton for some time. In 1889 he embarked in the hat and gent's furnishing business in Saratoga Springs and the enterprise has been so successful that it is to-day one of the leading establishments in its line in this part of the State. Mr. Tynen takes great interest in educational matters and is a member of the board of education of Saratoga Springs and was president of the board during 1896 and 1897. So young a man has never before been president of this board, which justly boasts of the high efficiency of its schools. As a business man Mr. Tynen is very popular and he exhibits that spirit of enterprise which is a benefit to the village, as well as to his own particular business.
Vandenburgh, Russell C., was born in the town of Putnam, March 1, 1840, a son of Cornelius G. Vandenburgh, a native of Pittstown, Washington county, and through life was identified as a farmer; he married Jane, daughter of Samuel Smith, and died in 1888. R. C. Vandenburgh was educated in the public schools. In 1859 he came to Ballston Spa and entered the employ of Benjamin J. Barber, manufacturer of sash, doors and blinds and dealer in lumber and builder's materials. Mr. Barber died in 1877 and the business has been continued by Mr. Vandenburgh. In 1870 he married Charlotte, daughter of Benjamin J. Barber. Mr. Vandenburgh is one of the progressive men of his town, taking an intelligent interest in school and church work.
Van Deusen, Henry, was born in Columbia county, N. Y., but has resided in Sar- atoga county since he was two years of age, and at the age of fourteen he began the activities of life as a clerk in a dry goods store, at Glens Falls, where he spent two years. He then came to Saratoga Springs and entered the employ of J. H. Wescott and after five years was admitted as a partner, and at the death of Mr. Wescott be- came sole proprietor of the business, which he conducted for twenty years. This business Mr. Van Deusen built up to the greatest dry goods house Saratoga Springs has ever had and won for him the distinction of being named the A. T. Stewart of Saratoga. In 1879 he went out of the dry goods business and into the real estate and insurance business, which he still conducts. Mr. Van Deusen has done a great deal for Saratoga Springs in building up and fostering the development of its real estate
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interests. He owned the Vichy spring for a time and began its intelligent develop- ment, and he named the Diamond spring. Mr. Van Deusen married Martha J. Bil- lings, daughter of Reuben Billings, whose brother, Elisha Billings, held a commis- sion in the Revolutionary war. Mrs. Van Deusen died in May, 1897, leaving one son, Robert E. Van Deusen; they also had another son, Henry B., who died in 1892. The genealogy of the Van Deusen family is clearly traceable back to Wolfert Web- ber, who was born in Holland early in the seventeenth century.
Van Hyning, John, was born in the town of Malta, January 24, 1838, a son of James and Amanda (Cook) Van Hyning. His great-grandfather, Henry Van Hyning, was one of the earliest settlers in the town of Clifton Park, and died at the age of 102 years. Mr. Van Hyning's maternal great-grandfather, James Wick, was a Rev- olutionary soldier and also lived in the county. Mr. Van Hyning married, on April 1, 1856, Cornelia Elizabeth Tanner, and they have one daughter, Elizabeth A., wife of Lester M. Ferris of the town of Malta. Mr. Van Hyning has four brothers and one sister living: Henry, Theodore and Levi of the town of Malta, and Isaac of Clifton Park, and Elizabeth A., wife of James Hall. Thomas died some years ago; Freelove married Ira Southard and Mary married Edwin B. Cook of the town of Ballston.
Van Rensselaer, Charles C., was born January 21, 1865, a son of Abram and Sarah (Howe) Van Rensselaer, and was educated in the common schools. In early life he was a school teacher and farmer; five years ago he came to his present place in Wil- ton, where he carries on market gardening, fruit and berry raising. In politics he is a Republican and was elected town clerk in 1887, serving four years, and again elected in 1894. He was appointed postmaster June 29, 1898. In 1887 Mr. Van Rensselaer married Jennie L. Lincoln of Corinth, and they have one child, Leslie, aged ten years. Mr. Van Rensselaer is an exceedingly popular citizen and takes an interest in all affairs of public interest in the community where he resides.
Van Valkenberg, R., was born in Kinderhook, Columbia county, in 1846. When he was eight years of age the family moved to Attica, Wyoming county, N. Y. His father was a farmer, and until his sixteenth year he remained at home, working on the farm summers and attending the district school in winter. At the age of sixteen he went to Batavia and learned the carpenter's trade with Lyman Whaley, and for the next ten years followed it as a journeyman. His first venture for himself was in Schuylerville in 1880, since which time he has done a large business as a contractor and builder. Among the many business blocks and residences erected by Mr. Van Valkenberg may be mentioned the residence of Thomas Syse on Pearl street; Bap- tist parsonage on Church street; Episcopal rectory ; residence of Rev. Mr. Webster; residence of Frederick Dick, Pearl street; remodeled the residence of Charles Bul- lard, and built both of the Bullard blocks on Broadway; and the Reform Church par- sonage on Burgoyne street. Of the out-of-town work may be mentioned the resi- dences of Hiram Cramer on the Quaker Springs road, George Peck and Charles Burt on the Bacon Hill road and the residence of Stephen Thorn, Grangerville. Many more could be added to this list, but the above is sufficient to demonstrate the char-
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acter and scope of Mr. Van Valkenberg's work as a contractor and builder during his business career in Schuylerville. R. Van Valkenberg is a relative of President Martin Van Buren on his mother's side.
Van Vorst, Andrew F., was born in Glennville, N. Y., March 21, 1844, a son of Jacob and Mary (Crane) Van Vorst, who had eight children: Harriet, Mary, Esther, Jennie, Andrew F., Jonas H., Charlotte C. and one who died in infancy. Jacob Van Vorst was a native of Schenectady county, where he lived the greater part of his life. Andrew F. was educated in the common schools of Ballston and Burnt Hills. His early life was spent on the farm with his father. When about twenty years of age he taught school for several terms and when twenty-one he married Eliza J., daughter of Elisha Weld, and they have one daughter, Eva, wife of Frank E. Sharp. Immediately after he married he hired a farm which he lived on two years, then purchased a farm in the town of Charlton, where he lived six years, when he returned to his father at Glennville. In 1879 he married Emma S, daughter of Henry F. Near. In 1877 he took the agency in Amsterdam and Schenectady for the Saratoga Geyser Water, which he followed until 1897. He is also a wholesale dealer in farm produce, principally hay, straw and apples. Mr. Van Vorst is interested in town and county affairs and is connected with the Prohibition party. He has been active in school and educational work and has devoted much of his time to church work. He was a member of the First Christian church of Burnt Hills, of which he was a trustee twelve years; but that church disbanded in the winter of 1897, and in April, 1897, the Union Christian church of Ballston Lake was organized, he being one of charter members, and was elected a trustee; he has been superintendent of the Sun- day school and teacher many years; was president of the town Sunday school, in 1896-97, and represented the Sunday school of his town in the State convention at Utica, N. Y., in 1898.
Varney, Edward R., a native of Queensbury, Warren county, was born July 24, 1858. His father, Daniel Varney, now a prominent resident of South Glens Falls, was also a native of the same locality and for many years was engaged in the rafting and timber trade on the upper Hudson. Edward R. after starting out for himself engaged in farming and up to 1895 owned and resided upon a farm near Auburn. After disposing of his farm at Auburn he returned to Saratoga county and entered the employ of his brothers in their grocery store at Glens Falls. He remained with them two years and then opened his present place of business on Main street in 1897, where he conducts a thriving trade. In 1888 Mr. Varney married Carrie B. Smith, and they had three children, two now surviving: Smith D. and Benoni J. Mr. Varney is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest in the success of his party.
Varney, Ransom, was born in 1857, a son of Ransom and Adelia (Brisbane) Varney. The family are of good old Welsh stock and were among the early settlers of this county. His father came from Queensbury, Warren county, thirty-nine years ago. Ransom Varney, the subject, was educated in the common schools of the neighborhood and the Glens Falls Academy. In politics he is a Republican and has
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been commissioner of highways, town collector, and in 1897 was appointed supervisor of the town of Wilton. He is one of the popular citizens of his section and owns one of the many pleasant and beautiful homes at the foot of Mt. McGregor. His farm is in a high state of cultivation, with fine buildings, etc. In September, 1882, he mar- ried Jennie Cook, daughter of M. C. and P. A. Cook of Saratoga Springs, and they have two children: Ransom, aged fifteen, and Vincent, aged eleven years.
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