USA > New York > Saratoga County > Our county and its people : a descriptive and biographical record of Saratoga County, New York > Part 84
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La Point, Frank, was born in Canada, September 26, 1840, a son of Frank and Catherine (Suprenent) La Point, who came from Canada to the United States in 1840, settling in Franklin county, Vt., and to Glens Falls in 1856, where he died in 1896 at the age of seventy-nine years. Frank was reared on a farm, and August 26, 1862, he enlisted in Co. K, 153d N. Y. Infantry, and served three years; he was at Pleasant Hill, Cain River, Winchester, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek. He has fol- lowed farming and lumbering and has been very successful. He owns 310 acres of land and lives near Porter's Corners on what was the Dow Rolland farm. On Aug- ust 30, 1862, he married Julia Miller, and they had thirteen children; the living are William H., Fredie F., Jennie E., Edward F., Berton A., Alice and Katie.
Atwell, Henry, was born in Maine, March 6, 1840, a son of Peter B. and Inora (Pierson) Atwell. Peter B. was a farmer and lumberman and died in 1890, his wife in 1892. Henry Atwell was nineteen years at sea as a sailor. In 1868 he married Sarah Surty, and they had seven children: Mary, Minnie (deceased), Clarence F., Charles H., Thomas W., George W. and Edith M. Minnie married William Simmons, and she died in Saratoga, leaving one child, Ethel M. In 1868 Mr. Atwell came to Corinth and bought eighty acres of land. He owns 261 acres and follows farming and lumbering.
Menshausen, Henry, was born in New York city, July 5, 1858, a son of Henry and Minnie (Wiesenberg) Menshausen, natives of Germany, who came to the United States, he in 1853, and she in 1857. They lived in New York city until 1875 and then came to Porter's Corners and purchased the Gibbs grist mill of which he was the owner until his death July 29, 1890. Henry Menshausen was educated in New York city and was with his father in the grist mill and at his father's death became proprietor and has since been very successful. On June 5, 1890, he married Carrie, daughter of Alfred Humphries, and they have three children: Bertha May, William Walter and Floyd. Mr. Menshausen's father while in New York city was foreman for Brewster & Co. for ten years and was also in the carriage business for himself there, in which he was very successful, but sold out and came to Porter's Corners as stated above.
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Shaul, Nicholas, was born in Herkimer county, N. Y., January 2, 1839, a son of David I., a son of John, a native of New York State and of German descent, and who was taken by Brandt and seven Indians during the Revolutionary war and was five years a prisoner. Nicholas Shaul was reared on a farm, educated in the grammar schools and Fort Plain Seminary and followed farming in Otsego county a short time, when he came to Galway and purchased a farm, but in one year returned to Herkimer county and was engaged in buying cheese for about one year. He then came to Greenfield and has here since resided. He has practiced law in the justice's courts in Middlegrove and has done an extensive business; he has also been actively engaged in political inatters, being an ardent Republican. He has held the office of highway commissioner, constable and deputy sheriff for about twenty years, serving first under Franklin Carpenter. Mr. Shaul is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 476, of Middlegrove, and also of the Baptist church of that place. He has married three times, first in 1859 to Diantha Ackler, by whom he had one son, Millard A .; and sec- ond to Adaline D. Taylor; and his present wife was Mary J. Briggs.
Smith, William C., was born in Greenfield, on the farm he owns, June 2, 1822, a son of William, and grandson of William Smith, a soldier in the Revolutionary war and who was killed during the war. Mr. Smith's father was born in Smithfield, R. I., April 6, 1780, and in 1795 came to Greenfield, N. Y., with his mother and stepfather, Abner Williams. He was a carpenter and joiner by trade and bought 150 acres of land in Greenfield, where he lived and died. He was a temperance man and never used tobacco. He married Nancy G. Howland, born January 5, 1785, and they had three sons, William C., the only one now living. Mrs. Smith died in 1823 and in 1826 he married Catharine Fenton, daughter of Col. Adam Comstock. Mrs. Smith died May 11, 1869, aged ninety-one years, and he died April 10, 1871, aged ninety- one years. William C. was reared on the farm and educated in the common schools; he is a man well informed and has been a great student. He was in the mercantile business for five years at Saratoga Springs, with William P. Comstock, and later spent two years as a broker at Saratoga Springs in the office of John T. Carr; he then came on the farm he owns, where he has since lived. On August 7, 1855, he married Caroline Morey, and they had three children : Hattie M., Albert G. (deceased), and Ida M., who has graduated from the Saratoga High School and the Albany Normal School and has taught in the Normal School one and one-half years. Hattie M. was educated at Poultney (Vt.) Genesee Wesleyan Seminary and Macedon Center Academy. Mr. Smith was a Whig and has been a Republican since the organiza- tion of the party; he was always anti-slavery. He has been justice of the peace about twelve years. He is very liberal in religious views and is a member of the American Secular Union. Mrs. Smith died March 4, 1864.
Ballou, Erastus M., was born in Greenfield, on the farm he owns, April 23, 1848, a son of Dutee, son of Dutee Ballou, who came to Greenfield about 1800 and took up the farm Erastus M. now owns and here lived and died. Mr. Ballou's father was a farmer, but is now retired at the age of eighty-five; his wife died January 1, 1898. Erastus M. was educated in the common schools and has a farm of three hundred and sixty-six acres of land. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the
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Greenfield Lodge No. 308, I.O.O.F., and of the Grange. In 1880 he married Ellen Goodrich, and they have four children: Fred E., Eugene D., Ernest M. and Ber- tha E.
Bush, A. J., was born in Utica, N. Y., January 2, 1856. His father, Jacob Bush, was a native of Germany, and came to the United States in 1850 and to Ballston in 1868, and has been engaged in the coal and wood business. A. J. Bush was ed- ucated in Ballston, and learned the sash, door and blind trade, at which he served four years. In 1876 he commenced business for himself and for twenty-two years has been engaged in contracting and building. In 1889 he purchased the Abijah Comstock lumber yard, which he now conducts. In 1879 he married Mary E., daughter of Mr. Caren, and they have four children: James A., John, Sarah May and Alice. Mr. Bush is one of the self-made men of his town, taking an intelligent interest in school and church matters and has ever received and merited the respect of his associates.
Hall, A. J., was born in Ballston, April 17, 1835, a son of Henry Hall, a native of Saratoga county, and born on the old homestead which was settled in 1750. Henry Hall married Jane, daughter of Richard and Hannah Burtis, and through life was a mason by trade; he died in 1856. A. J. Hall was educated in the public schools and learned the mason's trade of his father, and has been identified as a contractor and builder. In 1873 he married Anna, daughter of Col. C. T. Peek, and they had one daughter, Nellie M., who died in 1893. Mr. Hall is a self-made man, and takes an active interest in the M. E. church, of which he is steward and class leader. He has through life been recognized as a man of sterling integrity, whose life has proven his word as good as his bond.
Salisbury, Abraham E., was born in Albany, October 21, 1845, a son of John and Lorena (Van Dusen) Salisbury, educated in the schools at Albany, and at eighteen years of age started in life for himself in the stone business, which he followed seven years, then moved to the northern part of the town of Ballston and located on the farm where he now lives, which contains one hundred and forty-five acres. He was also interested in the stone business in 1878-79 in Albany county, N. Y. When twenty-four years of age he married Hannah, daughter of Isaac and Rachael Brate, and they have two daughters: Annie and Mary. Mr. Salisbury is a public spirited man; is a member of the Episcopal church of Ballston and is much interested in ed- ucational work, as both of his children have received the benefit of the schools of Albany, N. Y.
Patterson, Alexander A., was born in Belfast, Ireland, December 9, 1827, a son of John L. and Mary (Austin) Patterson, and was educated in his native country and in this country. He is a builder and architect by trade and erected some of the finest edifices in Saratoga Springs, besides important work in Connecticut, Florida and Central New York. He was the designer of Glen Island and its beauty is a tribute to his ability. Mr. Patterson has long given special attention and study to the min- eral waters of Saratoga Springs. In 1888 he and his son, A. A. Patterson, jr., suc- ceeded in reaching a natural subterranean reservoir whose waters differ materially
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from all others in Saratoga and possess peculiar medicinal qualities of great effi- ciency. This spring, ever since known as the Patterson Spring, is one of the most popular, both at home and throughout the country, over which its water is sold ex- tensively. Mr. Patterson has always taken an active part in public affairs and is enterprising and progressive in everything. He was a trustee of Saratoga Springs from 1862 to 1869 and was the first Republican to hold office in the village. He was also a member of the board of education for several years and has held other offices. In 1852 he was commissioned captain in the 29th N. Y. Artillery and at the breaking out of the Rebellion had charge of Camp Schuyler, by appointment of General Rath- bone. He took a prominent part in mustering men for service in 1861, and in De- cember of that year delivered a part of the 77th Regiment at Washington; he was then commissioned general recruiting officer by the war department. Mr. Patterson married Louisa A. Hobby, granddaughter of Col. David Hobby of Westchester, N. Y., and their children are William, Alexander A., jr., David H., Louisa H. and Mary A. Mrs. Patterson's father, David R. Hobby, served in the war of 1812, and her grandfather, Col. David Hobby, was a distinguished soldier in the Revolution- ary war.
Nims, Clark H., proprietor of the " Western Hotel" in Saratoga Springs, is one of the best hotel men of Saratoga county. He has been a resident of Saratoga Springs for eighteen years and previously conducted hotels in the villages of Stony Creek, Corinth and Palmer Falls. Since 1882 he has conducted the Western Hotel at the intersection of Church and Lawrence streets; the house is complete in appointments and first-class in every particular, having accommodations for one hundred guests. Mr. Nims is also engaged in a livery business and conducts a retail provision store. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has taken a prom- inent part in local Republican politics. For nine years he served as constable and deputy sheriff in the town of Corinth. He married Frances M. Hagadorn, daughter of Herman Hagadorn of Corinth, and of their union are two daughters: Maud A. and Lottie M. Nims.
Koenig, George V., was born in the State of Rhine-Hessen, Germany, November 3, 1852, and educated in his native place. At the age of fourteen he took up the bar- ber's trade which he has pursued all his life with great success. In 1868 he came to America and settled in New York city, and in 1871 came to Saratoga Springs, where he settled permanently and now conducts three shops. Mr. Koenig is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Royal Arcanum, and is closely identified with the public life of Saratoga Springs. He has served on the board of health two years, and as police commissioner four years. He married Theresa Heffernan, who died November 27, 1880, leaving three children: May Theresa, Madeline M. and Jennie V.
Hammond, Frederick, was born in Galesville, Washington county, N. Y., Septem- ber 21, 1837, a son of Jonathan and Lydia (Shaw) Hammond. His father was for many years a prominent farmer in this vicinity and later removed to Saratoga Springs and assisted in laying out the Green Ridge Cemetery in 1844. He died in 1884 in the seventy-eighth year of his age, having been sexton of this cemetery since its establishment. Frederick Hammond attended the public schools of Saratoga
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Springs and after leaving school learned the harness maker's trade; later he served an apprenticeship to the painter's trade under Marcus Childs, and followed this occu- pation for some years. He has always been fond of travel and has visited every State in the Union. Mr. Hammond succeeded his father as sexton of the Green Ridge Cemetery and has since held this position. He is well known in Saratoga Springs, was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department for many years and is now a member of the Veteran Firemen's Association. He has one son, William H. Hammond.
Ferguson, W., was born in Toronto, Canada, March 31, 1861, and came to this country with his parents when eight years of age. He was educated in Connecti- cut, and there also learned the trade of engineer. In 1888 he came to Saratoga Springs and has been engineer for Congress Hall since that date. He married Jen- nie Stiles, and they have two children. Mr. Ferguson is prominent in Masonic cir- cles, being a member of the Blue Lodge, Chapter, Council and Commandery. His father was a native of Scotland and was educated in a Scotch university. He was a mechanical engineer and reputed to be one of the most scientific in this country. He emigrated to Canada in 1845 and subsequently to the United States. In Scot- land he was a ship engineer. He died in Saratoga Springs in 1895.
Bacon, George F., engineer of the Saratoga Water Works, was born in Saratoga Springs, February 22, 1846, a son of Benjamin and Mary A. Bacon. His grand- father was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was educated in common schools and in 1864 enlisted in Co. F. Thirteenth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, serving until the close of the war. He studied engineering and was appointed assistant engineer of the Sara- toga water works. Mr. Bacon has been identified with the water works since 1871, and great improvements have been effected during his régime. He was appointed chief engineer January 1, 1888, and still fills this position. Mr. Bacon is a member of McKee Post, G. A.R. He married, November 4, 1869, Agnes M. Quigg, and they have one daughter, Mary A.
Clark, E. Clinton, was born in Essex county, N. Y., near Fort Ticonderoga, and was educated in Williamstown, Mass., and at Albany, N. Y. He has resided in Sar- atoga county since 1856 and was engaged in the lumber business in Albany for many years, but has been out of active business for some time. His children are Samuel C., Frederick G., Frank H., Marion Green and Helen Clinton. Mr. Clark's material grandparents were James and Hulda (Ketchum) Green; his great-grandfather Ketchum was a captain in the Revolutionary war and came to Saratoga with a com- pany of soldiers, participating in the battle of Saratoga and subsequently purchased the property at Ketchum's Corners, which place is named after him. The Green family had settled on the west side of Saratoga Lake and the Ketchums being on the east side, they were neighbors and James Green married Hulda Fiske. James Green once owned High Rock spring and the surrounding property. Martha Louisa Green, grandmother of E. Clinton Clark, was born in 1793, in the old Schuyler house near the High Rock Spring. Judge Ketchum, one of the early judges of the Supreme Court, was one of this family and another member was one of the first sheriffs of Saratoga county. Richard Ketchum, great-grandfather of E. Clinton Clark, was a
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member of the New York State Legislature in the early days. Several of the Ketchums were lawyers and all were prominent men of their day and were always on friendly terms with the Indians. The Clarks are an old American family and several generations of them lived on the borders of Lake Champlain.
Blittersdorf, Isadore, was a native of Germany and came to Saratoga county where he was engaged in box manufacturing. In 1853 he married Elizabeth, daugh- ter of Jacob and Eleanore (Vischer) Medder, and they had three sons and one daughter: Austin, Francis, Charles and Mrs. Matilda Maxon. Mr. Blittersdorf was one of the prominent men of his town. He died in 1891, and his death was a loss not only to his family, but to all who knew him. Of sterling integrity and upright character, of him it can well be said " an honest man is the noblest work of God."
Aken, Nelson P., one of the prominent men of Columbia county, and a leading manufacturer of knit goods of Philmont, passed away May 6, 1879, a loss not only to his family, but to all who knew him. In 1856 he married Eliza L., daughter of Will- iam and Jane Lang, one of the leading men of Ballston, and they had one daughter, Beulah I. M. Mr. Aken was a man who was thoroughly identified in the growth and building up of Philmont, in the advancement of educational and religious insti- tutions, and was recognized as a man of sterling integrity. Of him it can well be said " an honest man is the noblest work of God."
Taylor, James, was born in Canada, December 16, 1827, a son of Isaac and Betsey (Thompson) Taylor, he born in Massachusetts and she in Ireland; they both went to Canada and there lived and died. James Taylor was reared on the farm, educated in the common schools and follows farming and lumbering; he also owns a saw mill. He came to Greenfield in 1881 and here owns a farm of 103 acres. He married Abigail B. Spaulding, sister of Charles W. Spaulding, superintendent of the county house, and they have three children: Edgar J., G. Albert, and Alice, wife of Isaac Densmore of Corinth, N. Y.
Stratton, Frank W., was born in the town of Milton, Saratoga county, November 8, 1844, a son of Stephen and Elizabeth Stratton, she a daughter of William Ford. Stephen's children were Charles, Louise, Elizabeth, Frank W. and Annie. Stephen was a son of Benjamin and Annie Comstock Stratton, who settled in the town of Stillwater about 1797. Frank W. moved from the town of Milton to Stillwater when four years of age, where he was educated in the academy. He started in life as a farmer and in 1870 purchased his father's farm, where henow lives. He owns about 500 acres of land and makes a specialty of dairy and stock raising ; he owns a milk route in the village of Stillwater. He has been somewhat active in the politics of his town and is also interested in educational matters. He is a member of the Sec- ond Baptist church, of which he has been a trustee two terms.
Baker, John C., was born in Mechanicville, November 14, 1857, a son of Henry H. and Sarah Jane (Holmes) Baker. He was educated in the district schools of the town
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of Stillwater, and when twenty-one years of age started in life for himself, working on a farm. When twenty-five years old he purchased the farm where he now resides and what he now has, has been won by his own exertion. He follows general farm- ing and dairying, having a milk route in the village of Mechanicville. He has 150 acres of land and keeps about twenty-five cows. He was married when he was twenty-nine years old to Ella M., daughter of David C. Wallace. He was elected supervisor of his town in 1896-97, and is a member of the A. O. U. W. Henry H. followed farming near Round Lake in the town of Stillwater. He was a very strong Democrat and took an active part in town affairs. He had three children: Ida J., wife of George Carlton, John C., and Walter Bloom.
Earing, Daniel B., was born in the central part of the town of Stillwater, October 31, 1853, a son of Harvey and Almira (Hanes) Earing. Harvey Earing was a native of Columbia county and settled in Saratoga county in 1833, starting in for himself as a laborer. In 1862 he purchased the farm where his son now lives. He was a very active man, starting in life with scarcely anything, and through economy and hard work accumulated considerable property. Daniel B. Earing received a common school education and when twenty-one years of age started in life for himself as a laborer and farmer. In 1890 he purchased the farm where he now lives from his father's heirs, and also deals in wood and timber. He married Florence, daughter of John T. Baker, and they have one adopted son, Raymond. Mr. Earing is active in town affairs and is a member of the Mechanicville M. E. church and formerly a member of Halfmoon Lodge, I. O. O. F.
Farley, John, was born in the southern part of the town of Stillwater, December 23, 1848, a son of John and Mary (Grace) Farley, who were natives of Ireland, and settled in the town of Clifton Park about 1830. John Farley was an industrious and self-made man and through his own industry he accumulated some money and prop- erty. His children were John, Mary, wife of William Tierney, Bernard, Philip and Thomas. John, jr., lived with his father until he was twenty-two years old, when he married Margaret, daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (Quinlan) Farlow, and their children are Mary, Elizabeth and Alice, all born on the farm where they now live. Mr. Farley by occupation is a farmer and when thirty years old purchased the farm where he now lives. He is actively interested in town and county affairs, and all public spirited enterprises. He and his family are active workers in the Catholic church.
Clements, Edgar D., was born in Dixboro, Washtenaw county, Mich., March 14, 1860, a son of James P. and Mary A. (Finch) Clements, both now deceased. Mr. Clements was educated in the common schools and the Schuylerville High School; he also took a course of lectures in the medical college at Ann Arbor, Mich., but never graduated. He was bookkeeper for his uncle, W. P. Finch, a lumber dcaler of Schuylerville, for a number of years, and in 1893 purchased his present farm, which is beautifully situated and commands a fine view of the Green Mountains and the surrounding country. In politics Mr. Clements is a Republican; has been town clerk for five years and fills the office at the present time. He has been delegate to
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the various conventions and is president of the local board of the Patrons of Indus- try. April 8, 1880, he married Ella M. Meyers, and they have two children living, four deceased: W. Ralph and Florence E. He has a fine dairy of cows and makes a specialty of breeding poultry. A thoroughly enterprising citizen, Mr. Clements enjoys the highest esteem of his neighbors.
Ward, Charles H., is a son of Charles and Sarah A. (McGowan) Ward. Charles H. was educated in the public schools and is engaged in general farming and whole- sale butchery business. January 8, 1874, he married Isabella Benson, a native of the Province of Quebec. Mr. Ward is a member of the Saratoga Lodge No. 115, I.O.O.F., and Knights of Pythias. His uncle, Samuel McGowan, was a member of Co. G, Seventy-seventh N. Y. Vols., and was seriously wounded in the late war. His father died when he was three years old and his mother now resides with her son.
Davidson, John P., was born in England, October 25, 1845, and came with his parents to the United States before he was three years old. When he enlisted in the army, the officer, thinking, as he had grown up in Cohoes, he was born there, entered it so upon the records, and this entry here is to correct and explain that rec- ord. He was educated in the public schools of Cohoes, and December 14, 1863, he enlisted in Company H, Fourth Heavy Artillery, N. Y. State Volunteers. He was honorably discharged September 26, 1865, and returned to his former home October 29, 1873. He married Alice Isabell Brott of Waterford, and they had two sons, William Henry and Harry Robert. Mr. Davidson's father, William, was born in Leeds, England, about the year 1813, and was educated in the schools there. He married Helen Pennington of his native place, and they had two children: John P. (as above) and Sarah, who died during the passage to the United States. Mrs. Helen Davidson died during the latter part of 1848, and for his second wife, he mar- ried Mrs. Catherine Howard, born Blanchard, and they had three children. Mr. Davidson had charge of the various kinds of material and tools that were used in the Harmony Knitting Mills at Cohoes. He died in 1856, but his widow survives him in 1898. Mrs. Alice Davidson's father, Robert Brott, was born in Lansing burgh, N. Y., March 22, 1815, and was educated in the schools of that day. He married Ann Hoag, of New York city, and they had five children. Mrs. Davidson's father and mother are living now, in 1898, with the Davidson family. Mr. Davidson is a member of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan Post No. 630, of Waterford, G.A.R., Depart- ment of New York, and now, 1898, is senior vice-commander. Mrs. Davidson is a member of the W. R.C. and is serving her fourth year as president of the organiza- tion. In his political choice he is independent.
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