USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady County, New York : its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 43
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Works of New York, and in 1885 came to Schenectady with the General Electric Company. He remained with the General Electric Company until 1894, when he opened an architect's office on his own account, and is still engaged in that profession.
Mr. Danco's parents were Carl and Mary (Wolf) Danco. He is a member of the German Club, and is a Democrat in politics.
FARLEY F. DUNBAR was born in Schenectady, N. Y., March 15, 1867, and was educated in the Union School of his native city. His first employment was in the shipping room of Weiderhold & Company, where he remained for a short time, after which he went into the cutting department, where he learned cutting and trimming, and of which department he became foreman at the age of twenty years.
On June 17, 1891, Farley F. Dunbar married Adele Striiben, daughter of Tobias and Catherine (Smuck) Striiben. His wife was born in Hamburg, Germany, in the year 1866. They have one daughter, Adele, who was born April 4, 1895.
Mr. Dunbar's parents were Frank and Barbara (Gilb) Dunbar. His father came from Germany in 1851, and his mother in 1852. They settled in Troy, in which city they were married. Mr. Dunbar is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
JOHN B. DAYTON was born in the town of Niskayuna, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., February 18, 1863. His parents were Patrick and Margaret (Leonard) Dayton. He was educated in the district school, and for a time followed railroading. He was station agent for the New York Central Railroad for thirteen years, the last three of which he was located in Schenectady. Since leaving the rail- road he has been employed in the transformer department of the General Electric Company.
On October 26, 1886, John B. Dayton married Anna Gorman, of Troy, N. Y. They have two children, John J. and Margaret.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
FRANK V. DE FOREST was born in the city of Schenectady, April 11, 1843, and was the son of O. L. and Sarah (Vedder) De Forest. After leaving school, he was a clerk in a grocery store for two years, after which he entered the Schenectady Locomotive Works and learned the trade of machinist. He remained in the Locomotive Works for six years and spent a year at Corinth, Saratoga County, putting up machinery in the pulp mills. He was then in the grocery business for four years, and in December, 1881, he was appointed Assistant Chief of Police, which position he still holds, along with that of Assistant Chief of Detectives.
On December 22, 1869, Frank V. De Forest married Raie Scarff. They have a family of eight children living, namely, Walter, Frank V., William, Jay, Nellie (now Mrs. Leonard Effner,) Belle, Martha, and May.
DAVID J. CRONIN was born in New York City, March 29, 1871, and was the son of Thomas and Mary (Duane) Cronin.
On December 12, 1899, he married Margaret Walsh, daugliter of John and Catherine (Murphy) Walsh, of Cohoes, N. Y.
Mr. Cronin was in the undertaking business in Schenectady for seven years. He was a graduate of Xavier College, New York City, and was an enterprising young business man. He died December 18, 1900.
THEODORE L. COMMOSS was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 1, 1873, and was educated at Oakwood Seminary, Union Springs, N. Y. After his school days he was employed in New York and Brooklyn with a wholesale casket company, and later on was with Stephen Merritt & Company, of New York. He spent seven years in Cohoes and Saratoga, and is a graduate of the United States College of Embalming, New York City. His license is No. 463. In April, 1900, he settled in Schenectady and embarked in business on his own account, which he has since conducted with gratifying success.
T. L. Commoss is a son of Stephen Otis and Louise (Pelser)
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Commoss. His father was a native of New York City and his mother (deceased) was a native of Connecticut.
Mr. Commoss is a member of St. George's Lodge, No. 6, F. and A. M., Rising Sun Chapter, No. 132, and Washington Commandery, No. 33, Knights Templar, Saratoga Springs, N. Y. He is also a member of St. Paul's Lodge, No. 17, I. O. O. F., the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Mohawk Club.
NICHOLAS BUYS, son of Henry and Harriet (Veeder) Buys, was born in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, N. Y., Septem- ber 7, 1857, and was educated in the district school. After leaving school he took a position as lock-tender on the Erie Canal, where he remained for six years. . He then worked for the Boston & Hoosac Tunnel Railroad for two years, after which he was on the Fitchburg Railroad for several years. His next position was that of fireman on the West Shore Railroad, but after two years in this position, returned to the Fitchburg as fireman, which position he held for four years, when he was promoted to night foreman for the same railroad, and held that position for nine years. He is now night mechanic for the Boston & Maine Railroad. Mr. Buys is a member of Westina Lodge, No. 762, and of the Red Men, of Rotterdam Junction.
On December 25, 1877, Nicholas Buys married Ida Breys, and they have two children living, Mabel and Jennie.
OREN FINCH, son of Jolin J. and Calista (Gray) Finch, was born in Otsego County, N. Y., May 10, 1866. After his school days he learned the carpenter's trade, at which he worked for seven years, after which he took up the study of architecture, and in 1896 went to Gloversville and opened up an office. After spending two years in Gloversville, and some time in study and travel, he went to Oneonta, where he remained for two and one-half years.
In July, 1902, he came to Schenectady, where he has since resided, his residence in the city being contemporaneous with the life
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY
of the "new city," in the designing and building up of which he has performed a notable part. Among the building designed by him might be mentioned all the buildings of the Oneonta, Cooperstown & Richfield Springs Railroad, including depots, car-houses and office buildings.
On November 12, 1901, Oren Finch married Helen, daughter of James and Mary (Broughton) Munn.
Mr. Finch is a member of Cobleskill Lodge, No. 394, F. and A. M., and of Richmondville Lodge, No. 525, I. O. O. F.
SAMUEL A. WEAST, son of James and Margaret (Clogston) Weast, was born in the town of Princetown, Schenectady County, N. Y., August 13, 1832, and was educated at the district school and at the Charlotteville Academy. After leaving the academy Mr. Weast taught school during the winter months for a number of years, while in the summer he worked at the carpenter trade. He was afterwards elected school commissioner, and was the second commissioner elected in the county. He is a Republican in politics, and has held the office of town clerk for the town of Princetown, and was also supervisor of the town for two years.
In February, 1864, Samuel A. Weast married Sarah McMillan. Mr. Weast's ancestors on his father's side were Dutch, and on his mother's side were Scotch.
Mr. Weart's occupation at the present time, and since he was married, has been farming.
JOSEPH C. DANCER was born in Birmingham, England, September 1, 1859, and began his mechanical career as an apprentice with James Watt & Company, in the Soho Foundry. Subsequently he was in the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, England, and later was with Yarrow & Company, torpedo boat builders. Thus, before coming to America, he already had a large and varied experience and a thorough mechan- ical training.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
In 1889 Mr. Dancer came to the United States and entered the services of Jolin Roches, a ship-builder, at Chester, Pa., where he remained two years. He then came to Schenectady to work for the Edison Company, but in 1891, just four months after his arrival, he was made superintendent of the Pattern Shop, which position he now holds with the General Electric Company.
It is stated upon the best of authority that this Pattern Shop is without a superior in the entire world, and the fact that Mr. Dancer is its superintendent, is the best indication of his skill in this line, as well as of his executive ability.
Mr. Dancer is a prominent Mason, and is affiliated with St. George's Lodge, No. 6, F. and A. M., St. George's Chapter, No. 157, R. A. M., and St. George's Commandery, No. 37, Knights Templar. He is also president of the Schenectady Club, is a member of Champion Lodge, No. 554, I. O. O. F., a director of the Building & Loan Association, one of the Board of Directors of the Edison Mutual Benefit Association, and a member of the Republican Club. His father, Cornelius Dancer, was a Mason in Birmingham, England, for over thirty years.
On April 27, 1893, Joseph C. Dancer married Harriet, daughter of John H. and Mary Seeley, of Glenville, N. Y. His parents were Cornelius and Emina (Baker) Dancer, both natives of England.
As will be seen from the foregoing, Mr. Dancer not only holds an important and responsible position in the General Electric Works, but is also prominently identified with leading organizations and vital interests of the city of Schenectady. He is a public-spirited man, who is always found on the side of progress and enterprise, and is ever ready to aid every worthy cause looking toward advancement in any field of public affairs or of human life.
JACOB ENDRES, son of Joseph and Mary (Ellis) Endres, was born in Schenectady, N. Y., September 6, 1860, and was educated in the public schools and the Union School of Schenectady. At the age of twenty-three Mr. Endres began farming on his own account in Schenectady County, and has always followed this occupation.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
On June 16, 1883, Jacob Endres married Mary, daughter of Leo and Frances (Link) Greeley, and they have a family of five children, the second youngest of whom died December 20, 1901.
Mr. Endres takes an active interest in public affairs and politics, but has always avoided public office.
W. C. EGER was born in the city of Berlin, Germany, but was brought to this country when one year old. After residing three years in New York City, his parents removed to Scholarie County, N. Y., but subsequently came to Schenectady, and here W. C. Eger was an apprentice at the machinist's trade for nine years.
Having learned the trade, he went to Europe for a year, after which he returned to this country and embarked in the florist's business with his father. In 1878 he went into this business alone, and is still so engaged, conducting one of the finest florist's establish- ments in this part of the state.
In April, 1878, W. C. Eger married Sophia Freitag. They have two sons, Julius and Lewis. His wife died in June, 1901. Mr. Eger is a member of the Red Men and the Mohawk organization. His parents were John C. and Emily (Hasserick) Eger.
DAVID B. ENGLEMAN was born in Schenectady, N. Y., May 21, 1854, and was educated in the schools of his native place. After spending a year as a clerk in a dry goods house he engaged in the paint business in 1872 with T. B. Thornton, under the firmn name of T. B. Thornton & Company. The firm name was subsequently changed to Engleman & Thornton, and in 1882 to Engleman & Bellinger, when Myron Bellinger became a member of the firm. They conduct a large wholesale and retail business in paints, and also manufacture to a considerable extent themselves. The house has a high reputation throughout Schenectady and the surrounding country, and does a large business.
Mr. Engleman is a member of St. George's Lodge, No. 6, F. and A. M., St. George's Chapter, No. 157, R. A. M., St. George's Com-
51
BIOGRAPHICAL.
mandery, No. 37, Knights Templar, and to the Council at Troy. He is a past master of the Blue Lodge, past high priest of the Chapter, and a member of the Grand Lodge. He is also a member of the Mohawk Club, and was school commissioner in the years 1888 and 1889.
On February 8, 1878, David B. Engleman married Malinda Bellin- ger, who died in 1882. In June, 1889, he married Irene S. Robison, his present wife. Mr. Engleman's parents were Solomon and Magdalene (Bellinger) Engleman, and he was their only child. His father was a native of Berlin, and came to the United States in 1840. He was born in 1799 and died in 1882.
W. C. FINCH, son of Benjamin and Helen S. (Delamater) Finch, was born in the town of Knox, Albany County, N. Y., October 15, 1876. He moved to Schenectady in 1887, and attended school in that city for several years. He also graduated from business college, and took a complete course in the National School of Electricity. In the fall of 1894 he entered the employ of a small electrical con- cern in Schenectady, and later finished his practical experience in electricity with a large electrical fırın in New York City.
On March 1, 1899, he joined William F. Hahn in establishing a wholesale and retail electrical, photographic and bicycle supply business, with stores located in Schenectady, Albany and Troy, together with a well equipped plant for the manufacture of electrical apparatus, giving employment to over fifty men.
Mr. Finch is a member of the Merchants' Association of New York State, the Electrical Contractors' Association of New York State, and of the Young Men's Christian Association.
PATRICK FINEGAN was born in Clinton County, N. Y., February 25, 1844. His parents were Edward and Lillie Finegan. After his school days he remained on the farm in Clinton County until 1864, when he went west to California, where he was engaged in the
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
milling business until 1883, when he returned to Clinton County and resumed farming. He remained in his native county until 1899, when he settled in Schenectady, and is employed in the works of the General Electric Company. On January 1, 1876, Patrick Fine- gan married Anna McCoy.
ULRICH L. FISLER was born in Switzerland, January 17, 1859, and came to America at the age of fourteen. He came directly to Schenectady, where he settled, and went to work for C. P. Sanders, with whom he remained nine years. He then took a position in the car shops of the New York Central Railroad Company, but only remained a short time, after which he had a position in the freight department for the same road for two years. He next worked for Stephen Gates for two and one-half years, after which he embarked in the trucking business on his own account and still continues in that occupation.
Mr. Fisler married Henrietta Draper, and they have three children, namely, Charles, Henry and Arthur. His parents were Abram and Barare Fisler.
WILLIAM L. FODDER, M. D., was born at Cohoes, Albany County, N. Y., February 12, 1876. He graduated from the High School in 1893, and in 1894 entered the Albany Medical College, from which lie was graduated in the class of 1897 with the degree of M. D. After graduating he occupied the position of house physician at the Ellis Hospital for one year, after which he was in the hospital corps during the Spanishi-American War for a period of five months. Shortly after returning home from the war he opened an office in Schenectady, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession.
On November 29, 1900, William L. Fodder, M. D., married Josephine, daughter of Edward and Susan (Kingston) McNeary, of Colioes. His parents are John and Margaret (Ayres) Fodder.
Dr. Fodder is a member of the Schenectady County Medical Society, St. George's Lodge, No. 6, F. and A. M., and the University Club.
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Henry S. De Jined ,
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
HON. HENRY S. DE FOREST-No city in the United States has experienced such an advancement during the last decade as has Schen- ectady, and no man in this flourishing little city has been so intimately associated with its growth and development as the subject of this sketchı.
Hon. Henry S. De Forest was born in the city of Schenectady in the year 1847, and has been identified with it and its business and public affairs all his life. For the past seventeen years he has devoted his attention to the real estate business, and has become the recognized leader in this line, not only in Schenectady, but in this part of the state. He is not only an extensive dealer in real estate, but is himself a large property owner, so that his interests are intimately interwoven with those of the city. He owns the largest office building in the city, and has built hundreds of houses during the last few years. Millions of dollars worth of real estate in the city of Schenectady have passed through his hands, most of it being sold on easy terms, so that purchasers were given the best advantages possible. His liberal and honorable treatment of cus- tomers was well illustrated during the panic of '93, when it is on record that he did not foreclose a single mortgage or demand any stringent terms from any purchaser. When Schenectady's new life began, he was a potent force in assisting its growth and development. In addition to his activity in putting up new buildings, he laid out many new streets, and, by his enterprise and energy, aided immensely in establishing and maintaining the spirit of confidence in the new growth of the city, which to-day has become a permanent realization.
The confidence which the public has in him as a capable, honor- able, and enterprising man, was first expressed when he was elected City Recorder, and was emphasized by his election to the office of Mayor of the city for two terms, namely, from 1885 to 1887, and again from 1889 to 1891.
Of the many benefits which Schenectady has secured through him may be inentioned the fine railroad depot, the handsome Edison Hotel, and the elegant Van Curler Opera House. He has left his impress upon the history of the best days in the life of the city of
34
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Schenectady, and is still aiding in promoting its welfare and advancement.
Mr. De Forest is a director of the Schenectady State Bank, of the Van Curler Opera House, of the Schenectady Contracting Company, and is the principal owner of the Daily Gazette, the leading Dem- ocratic paper of Schenectady.
Although Mr. De Forest has his politics, and has held public office, his regime bears a striking contrast to the inere politician. During his term of office he looked only to the welfare and advance- ment of his city, and no considerations of party, creed or influence, could swerve him from his duty to the public at large. And he has had the felicity of seeing many notable and permanent improvements made, as well as the honor of being the official herald of the new Schenectady.
Hon. Henry S. De Forest is a descendant of one of the old and well known families of this part of the state. His grandfather, Jacob De Forest, was born in Rensselaer County, N. Y., May 28, 1754. He was the father of Obidiah L. De Forest, who was the father of the subject of this sketch. Obidialı L. De Forest was a prominent man of his day, and held the office of sheriff of Schencc- tady County.
JAMES WARREN VEDDER was born in Schenectady, N. Y., in 1873. He attended the public schools, and after graduating there- from, entered Union Classical Institute, from which he graduated in 1890, and entered Union College in 1894. After completing his course he entered the Albany Law School, graduating in 1899, in the fall of which year he was admitted to the Bar. He immediately located in this city, where he has since been actively engaged in the practice of his profession. Mr. Vedder is a member of the following societies : Sigina Phi Society, the Mohawk Club, the Mohawk Golf Club, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Schenectady County Republican Club, and the Schenectady County Bar Asso- ciation.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
GEORGE DEB. GREENE was born in the city of Annapolis, Mary- land, in the year 1870, and was prepared for college by private tuition and in the schools of Washington and Philadelphia. He then entered Cornell University, and was graduated in the class of '93 with the degree of M. E.
After graduating he went to New York City and worked for the Edison Illuminating Company for one year, after which he entered the New York office of the General Electric Company, where he remained for two years, coming to Schenectady in the employ of the saine company. He was connected with the Foreign Department of this company until the breaking out of the Spanish-American War, in the spring of 1898.
He was Second Lieutenant of the 36th Separate Company, but went to the front as First Lieutenant of Company E, Second New York Volunteer Infantry, in May, 1898, and was appointed Battalion Adjutant in June of that year. He also acted as Ordnance Officer of the regiment during all the time it was out, and was with the regi- ment from its first muster at Camp Black, to Chickamauga, to Tampa, to Fernandina to Camp Hardin.
In June, 1899, George deB. Greene married Harriet M. Campbell, of Schenectady, a granddaughter of Hon. Alonzo Christopher Paige, and daughter of the late Douglas Campbell and Harriet B. (Paige) Campbell. Douglas Campbell was the author of "The Puritans in England, Holland and America."
Mr. Greene's father was S. Dana Greene, a commander in the United States Navy, who served as executive officer on the Monitor in its famous fight with the Merrimac in 1862, and who commanded his ship at the end of that fight. He served in the navy all his life, and his name is one of the most distinguished in the roll of America's naval heroes. He was a son of Major-General George S. Greene, who saw much active service in the Civil War, and who was a prominent civil engineer, both before and after that conflict. He graduated from West Point when he was twenty-three years of age, and died at the ripe old age of ninety-seven, being at the time of his death the oldest living graduate of West Point.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
George deB. Greene's mother was Mary W. Dearth, of Rhode Island, and he belongs to the same family as General Nathaniel Greene, a famous Revolutionary soldier of that state. His wife's father was a major in the Civil War, and was also a prominent lawyer.
HENRY GEISENHOUER was born in Germany, October 13, 1858, and was educated in the schools of his native place. He learned the trade of machinist and gunmaker, serving an apprenticeship of four years, and worked in various gunshops, and served three years in the German cavalry until 1881, when he went to Holland, working in gunshops, and proceeded from there to England, spending six months in London at gun and machine shops. He came to the United States in the fall of 1881, and settled first in Virginia. Here he first ran a gas engine in a hotel for seven months, and then went to the Roanoke Locomotive Works, after which he moved to New York, where lie remained two years, and was employed in the Scale Works. He next went west to Oregon, Washington, California and Arizona, spending nine months on the trip, after which he went to Fort Smith, Arkansas, Paris, Texas and St. Louis. From St. Louis he went to Springfield, Mass., and later returned to New York City, where he took employment with the Edison Company in 1886. In that year he came to Schenectady as a mechanic, and is now foreman of the experimental department of the General Electric Company. This position he lias hield since 1889.
On May 11, 1887, Henry Geisenhouer married Caroline Hines. They have one adopted son, Layman. Mr. Geisenhouer is a member of the Royal Arcanum, the Edison Mutual Benefit Association, and the Methodist Society.
MASON W. HALL was born in the village of Crescent, Saratoga County, N. Y., July 19, 1871. His first position of importance after leaving school was that of cashier and bookkeeper for Charles C. Yund, of Amsterdam, N. Y., with whom he remained for two and
.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
one-half years. He next entered the employ of Knox & Knox, with whom he remained for four years. Part of this time he resided in Binghamton, attending to the affairs of his employers.
In 1893 he came to Schenectady and, along with Jesse L. Patton, formned the partnership of Patton & Hall, shoe dealers, and established the house which subsists to-day in Schenectady under that name.
The firm of Patton & Hall has become one of the best known shoe houses in this part of the state. They have a branch store on lower State Street, and also one in Amsterdam, and one in Johnstown, N. Y.
On September 6, 1898, Mason W. Hall married Nellie C. Chubb, niece of Walter and Ellen Wellinan, of Schenectady. They have one son, Howard W., born March 15, 1902. His parents were Henry E. and Sophia J. (Van Keuren) Hall. Mr. Hall is a member of St. George's Lodge, No. 6, F. and A. M., St. Paul's Lodge, No. 17, I. O. O. F., and the Union Presbyterian Church.
ELMER A. GASNER was born in West Fulton, Schoharie County, N. Y., June 8, 1871, and was educated in the public schools of his native place. After his school days he remained on the farin for about six years, and then engaged in the inilk business, coming to this city to reside in 1896. Two years later he embarked in the laundry business, in which he has since been engaged, and in which his integrity and perseverance have won him many friends and established on a firm footing the " Union Laundry," one of the best laundries in Greater Schenectady.
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