USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady County, New York : its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 55
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Edward Lo Frank,
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Both of Edward L. Fronk's parents were very ingenious and per- severing. His mother was an expert carpet weaver and, when the old hand looms were in use, she wove carpets in the old mill of Stephen Sanford of Amsterdam. She could card the wool and spin the yarn used in knitting mittens and stockings for her family. She was also a good dressmaker and tailoress, having learned both of these trades. She was a devout Christian woman and a member of the Baptist Church in Amsterdam, and was always very careful that her children should grow up to be useful.
Edward L. Fronk is himself a member of the Methodist Church, which he joined when about eighteen years of age, at the Methodist Episcopal Church at Minaville. He has been a member of the Schenectady church for about twenty years and is one of the official board. He takes an interest, not only in all good work but in the welfare and progress of Schenectady and in every movement tending towards progress and advancement. He is a lover of all good books, as well as of music and works of art, and has a special fondness for fine paintings of which he is a connoisseur.
Jacob Fronk (father) was born in Albany County, N. Y., February 14, 1822, and died in Amsterdam, N. Y., May 22, 1889. His wife, Anna M. (Johnson) Fronk, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., May 12, 1821, and died March 27, 1874.
On April 25, 1882, Edward L. Fronk married Della M. Beecher, daughter of Clark and Anna M. Beecher, both of whom were natives of Newark Valley, N. Y.
Mr. Fronk is a licensed member of our New York State Ein- balmers' and Undertakers' Association and of our National Ein- balmers' Association. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, and is a charter member of Schenectady Council, which numbers at the present time about three hundred members. Mr. Fronk is an officer and an active member of the Y. M. C. A. of this city.
HENRY A. MILLER, agent for the Dobler Brewing Company, was born in Detroit, Michigan, November 16, 1861. He was educated by private tuition and afterwards learned the trade of moulder. He
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worked at his trade in Detroit for twelve years and then went to Albany, N. Y., where he worked for six years. He next went to Troy, where he worked at his trade for three years, after which he returned to Albany and remained nine months.
In 1893 Mr. Miller came to Schenectady to act as agent for the Dobler Brewing Company, and has since resided in this city where he gives his undivided attention to the interests of the well known company he represents.
WILLIAM THOMAS CLARK was born in England, July 12, 1870, but has resided in the United States since 1874. His people settled in Gloucester, Mass., where he received his early education. After his school days he entered the employ. of the Whittier Machine Com- pany of Boston, Mass., and remained with them for seven years altogether, five years of this time being spent in Boston and two years traveling on the road for his house. His next employment was with the Otis Elevator Company of New York, for whom he acted as superintendent of construction for five years, after which he was with the Sprague Electric Company in the same capacity for two years. He then joined Henry R. Worthington, taking the superintendency of his factory, and remained with him for one and one-half years. In 1900 he came to Schenectady and entered the employ of the General Electric Company, where he now. fills the position of assistant mechanical superintendent.
Mr. Clark is a member of Commonwealth Lodge No. 408, F. and A. M., and of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. On March 3, 1893, William Thomas Clark married Annie Holmes, daughter of William D. Holmes of Mount Vernon, and they have two children, Lucy Beatrice and John Lester.
Mr. Clark's parents were John and Caroline (Prior) Clark.
Mr. Clark has been essentially the architect of his own fortunes and has, by his own enterprise and ability, raised himself from the position of apprentice mechanic to that of a mechanical . superinten- dent in one of the greatest manufacturing establishments of the world.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
DAYTON L. KATHAN, M. D., was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., Nov. 16, 1856. He received his literary education at a select school, the Albany Normal College and the Geneseo Normal School, gradu- ating from the latter institution in 1881.
After leaving college he taught school for three years. For one year he was principal of the Stillwater schools, and during the two succeeding years, he taught languages in the Mechanicville schools.
In 1883 he entered the Albany Medical College, and, after a highly creditable course, was graduated in the class of 1886 with the degree of M. D. After receiving his degree he spent one and one- half years in the Albany City Hospital as house physician, and subse- quently took two post-graduate courses in New York City.
In 1888 Dr. Kathan opened an office in Schenectady and began the regular practice of his profession which he has since continued, building up a high reputation as a successful physician and surgeon and attaining an enviable popularity, not only with the public at large, but with the profession to which he belongs. He is a member of the Schenectady County Medical Society and also of the State Medical Society.
In April, 1896, Dayton L. Kathan, M. D., married Anna B., daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth (Banker) Meeker. They have one son, Roland Kathan. Dr. Kathan's parents were Truman and Lucinda (Gray) Kathan. The first representative of the Kathan family in America was Captain John Kathan, who caine from England in the year 1629, and settled in Boston, removing afterwards to Brattleboro, Vt. His son, Charles Kathan, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. This soldier had a son, also named Charles, whose son, Luke, was the father of Truman Kathan, the father of Dr. Kathan.
ANDREW WOLF was born in Schenectady, N. Y., September 14, 1843, and was educated in the public schools of his native place. He first learned the machinist's trade in the New York Central shops in West Albany, where he worked for four years. He then moved to New York City and went into the advertising business, in which he
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remained for fifteen years. Returning to Schenectady he engaged in the grocery business and so continued for four years. He then went to Allentown, Pa., and was engaged in the same business there for two years. Again he returned to Schenectady and embarked in the coal and feed business, which he carried on very successfully for eight years, after which he was engaged in the knit goods busi- ness for two years. Finally he became a member of the firm of Peckham, Wolf & Co., lumber dealers, which is now one of the largest concerns of its kind in this part of the state.
In 1883 Mr. Wolf married Emma J. Stebbins. He is the son of Henry and Anna (Ward) Wolf.
In politics he is a Democrat and has held the office of supervisor from the fourth ward and that of alderman from the second ward in the city of Schenectady.
THOMAS M. GLEASON, son of Michael and Bridget (Kane) Gleason, who came from Ireland to Schenectady in 1863, was born in the city of Schenectady, N. Y., March 3, 1879.
He was educated in St. Paul's Parochial School, and began the active affairs of life as a clerk in the office of the General Electric Company. He remained for but a short time with the General Electric people, when, having decided to embark in the undertaking business, he took a course of study and training at the Champion College of Embalming at Utica, N. Y. He then entered the employ of D. J. Cronin, in the undertaking business, and remained with him for three years, after which he was with R. E. Jacobs for one year.
In the year 1898, the firm of Gleason & Bernardi, undertakers and enibalmers, was formed, which has become one of the most popular and successful in the city of Schenectady. Both gentlemen give their personal attention to the details of the business, and both are painstaking, courteous and popular.
Mr. Gleason is a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Ancient Order of Hibernians, the Catholic Mutual Benevolent Association, and in politics is a Democrat. His father died in September, 1900; his mother died in April, 1901.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
EVERETT E. LUCAS was born at North Carver, Mass., December 7, 1863. After his school days he learned the trade of shoemaker and followed that occupation for four years, when he abandoned it and learned the trade of machinist. He then entered the employ of the American Heeling Company, with whom he remained for one year, after which he went to Waterbury, Conn., and took a position with the Plume & Atwood Manufacturing Company. After one year in this establishment he took employment with the Waterbury Mal- leable Iron Company, where he remained for another year. He then joined the Thomson-Houston Company at Lynn, Mass., and, upon the consolidation of that company and the General Electric Com- pany, he came to Schenectady with the latter company, and is now foreman of the cut-out and socket department.
Mr. Lucas is a member of the Order of Knights and Ladies of Honor No. 12, of the Royal Arcanum No. 983, and of St. Paul's Lodge No. 17, I. O. O. F.
On November 25, 1882, Everett E. Lucas married Harriet I. Atwood, who died in May, 1889. In June, 1890, he married his present wife, Anna P. Overton, and they have one daughter, Pauline G. Mr. Lucas is a son of John B. and Abigail R. (Dunham) Lucas.
IRA B. HEDDEN, son of Archibald and Hannah (Vedder) Hedden, was born in the town of Glenville, Schenectady County, N. Y., October 18, 1818. After his school days he ran his own canal boat on the Erie Canal for five years, after which he owned and conducted a meat market in the city of Schenectady for two years. He then engaged in farming in the town of Glenville, which he inade his life business.
In 1849 Ira B. Hedden married Angelica C., daughter of Abram and Catherine (Clute) Van Antwerp. Their children are Frank A. F., Isaac V., and Belle E. T. Mr. Hedden has always been a Republican in politics and for three years was assessor in the town of Glenville. His father came from New Jersey to New York state in 1812.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
FRANK P. REEVES, one of the best known business men in the city of Schenectady, is the son of Thomas H. and Elizabeth (Van Vorst) Reeves, and was born in Schenectady, N. Y., May 12, 1866. He was educated at the public and high schools of his native city, graduating from the latter institution in 1885, after which he entered his father's store as a clerk and remained there in that capacity until 1892, when he became a partner in the well known firm of Reeves- Veeder & Company.
On June 1, 1899, Frank P. Reeves married Marie, daughter of Michael Glas, and they have one son, Thomas H. Reeves.
Mr. Reeves is essentially a business man and, therefore, takes no active part in politics; he is, however, a inember of the Order of Red Men, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Knights of Malta and St. John.
Mr. Reeves is of Holland descent on his mother's side and gener- ations of this branch of the family have lived in America.
GEORGE J. DENT was born in Smithville, N. Y., June 4, 1833, and was the son of Joseph and Betsy (Lawton) Dent. He was educated in the public schools and by private study, and worked on the farm in the summers, teaching school in the winters for a few years. He then moved to Athens, N. Y., where he was employed as railroad freight agent for four years. He came to Schenectady in 1870 and received the appointment of policeman, which position he held until the time of his death in 1892. He took a great interest in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a member of that organization for many years.
On April 10, 1856, George J. Dent married Sarah Birley, daughter of William and Phoebe A. (Phelps) Birley. They had three children, Frank I., born October 5, 1857, who is engineer on a Hudson River steamboat; Richard Ward, born January 6, 1861, who graduated from Union College in the class of '83 and is a lawyer in Brooklyn, N. Y., and Grant R., born January 28, 1872, who is connected with the Schenectady Union.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ALLEN W. JOHNSTON, a son, and the youngest child of George D. and Atlanta (Allen) Johnston, was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., in the year 1847. He was educated at Union College, and after leaving that institution was agent for the New York Central Railroad at Palatine Bridge for some time, after which he accepted a position as teller in the National Spraker Bank, which position he held for five years. He then went to Albany to take a position in the Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank, and, after remaining there for some time, finally settled in Schenectady.
He is now treasurer of the Schenectady Savings Bank, which was chartered in 1834. The first officers of this bank were: president, Joseph C. Yates ; vice-president, William Cunningham ; secretary, William A. S. North; treasurer, Thomas Palmer, and accountant, William H. Palmet.
WILLIAM H. OATTING was born in the city of Schenectady, May 15, 1867, and received his education at the Union school. His first active work in life was in the capacity of bookkeeper in the office of the Maxon Elevator, which position he occupied for nine years. In June, 1890, he entered the employ of the General Electric Company as a machinist, in which capacity he worked for six months, after which he was bookkeeper for two years, then entered the superin- tendent's office where he remained six months, when he was pro- moted to the general manager's office, where he is still employed.
Mr. Oatting is associated with several prominent societies, among them the Schaugh-naugh-ta-da Tribe No. 123, Order of Red Men, the Edison Mutual Benefit Association and the Episcopal Church, of which he has been a vestryman for four years. He is very promi- nent in the Order of Red Men, and has filled all the chairs in the local tribe of the order, and has taken the Pocohontas degree.
On June 4, 1890, William H. Oatting married Minnie, daughter of Alexander and Mary Vedder, and they have one son, William H., Jr. born September 21, 1897. Mr. Oatting's parents were Henry and Anna (Simpson) Oatting. His mother was born in England and came to America in 1852 ; his father was born in Germany and came to America in 1854.
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CHARLES GILCHRIST BRIGGS, M. D., was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., March 25, 1865, and was educated at the Ballston High School, from which he was graduated in 1881. He then took a two years' course at the Drury College, Springfield, Missouri, and after leaving that institution returned east and entered the Albany Medical College in 1886, from which, after a highly creditable course, he graduated in the class of 1889 with the degree of M. D. After gradu- ating, Dr. Briggs spent one year in St. Peter's Hospital as house physician, and also a year at Dr. Strong's Sanitarium at Saratoga Springs, N. Y.
I11 1891 Dr. Briggs opened his office in Schenectady and began the regular practice of his profession, and has attained a high repu- tation as a skillful and successful physician and surgeon. He is one of the visiting physicians to the Ellis Hospital, and is a member of the Schenectady County Medical Society. He is also examining physician for several prominent life insurance companies, among them the Provident Life and Trust Company, the National Life Insurance Company and the Aetna Insurance Company.
Socially, Dr. Briggs is also a member of several important orders and societies. He is a member of St. Paul's Lodge No. 17, F. and A. M., of the Mohawk Club, the Mohawk Golf Club, the Schenec- tady Gun Club and the college fraternity, Phi Gamma Delta.
On February 22, 1892, Charles G. Briggs, M. D., married Laura H. Phillips. Dr. Briggs is a son of Daniel C. and Catherine M. (Gilchrist) Briggs. Daniel C. Briggs represented Saratoga County in the Assembly at Albany for the years 1883 and '84.
AMANDERS METZGER was born in the Empire of Germany in June, 1850, and was educated in his native country. .
He came to the United States of America in 1872 and settled in New York City, where he went to work with Thomas A. Edison, who will always be remembered as the greatest electrician of his age, and probably of the world. Mr. Metzger had studied electricity in Germany, and was employed by Mr. Edison upon experimental work until 1874, when he accepted a position with the Western Union
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Telegraph Company as mechanical expert. He remained with the Western Union people for five years, or until 1879, when he went back to Mr. Edison and remained with him until the consolidation of the electrical business in 1894, since which time he has been with the General Electric Company at Schenectady, N. Y., and he is now general foreman in the electrical department of the Schenectady works.
Mr. Metzger is an electrical and mechanical expert of a high order, as his position in the works of the General Electric Company clearly indicates.
In March, 1879, Amanders Metzger married Eliza Kuhn and they have had two children, namely, August, deceased, and Helen Metzger.
Mr. Metzger takes an active and intelligent interest in the welfare and progress of Schenectady, and has served two terms as fire com- missioner.
WILLIAM MUDGE was born in England, December 20, 1838, and was a son of William and Jane (Avent) Mudge. He came to America when quite young and was educated in the public schools of Schenec- tady. After his school days he worked in the Locomotive Works for two years, after which he was farming in Newtonville, Albany County, for five years, after which he settled in the town of Duanes- burgh, Schenectady County.
On September 20, 1860, William Mudge married Nancy M. Mott, daughter of John and Elizabeth Mott, and they have two children.
JOHN TURNBULL, son of Joseph W. and Sarah (Schermerhorn) Turnbull, was born in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, N. Y., December 5, 1856. After his school days he began farming in Saratoga County, where he lived for several years, finally moving to his present farm in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County.
On December 10, 1891, John Turnbull married Maggie, daughter of George and Belle Pangburn, and they have a family of three children.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
HENRY FLIEGEL, son of Henry and Gertrude (Lohre) Fliegel, was born in Albany, N. Y., November 29, 1866. He attended the public schools of his native city for a time and later entered the German Catholic School in Albany. After leaving school he took up the study of pharmacy and entered the store of C. H. Gans, with whom he remained for thirteen years. He was next with William McAllister for four years, after which he moved to the city of Schenec- tady, where he erected a business block in which he has an elegant drug store, one of the most complete in northern New York.
On September 26, 1894, Henry Fliegel married Celia, daughter of Harmon and Katie (Beal) Van Laak. Mr. Fliegel's parents were natives of Germany.
CORNELIUS BRADT was born in the town of Rotterdam, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., June 12, 1842. He lived on the farm until April 21, 1861, on which day he enlisted in the 19th N. Y. Volun- teer Infantry. He served one year with this regiment, which saw a great deal of hard fighting and was so cut away that there were too few men left to be called a regiment. These men, among whom was Mr. Bradt, were transferred into the Third N. Y. Artillery with which he was thereafter connected for the time of his service. After the close of the war he returned home and resumed farming, which he followed for two years, after which he worked for the New York Central & Hudson River Railroad on the Troy-Schenectady Division for twenty-one years. He was also baggageman at the depot in Nis- kayuna for a year, after which he returned to farming.
On December 8, 1863, Cornelius Bradt married Barbara Wolf, a native of Germany. They have had a family of fourteen children, of whom nine are still living, namely, William Henry, Fred, Eugene, Cornelius, Jr., Anna, Emma, Theresa, Ida and Ada. Mr. Bradt's parents were Cornelius and Nancy (Karns) Bradt, both of whom were natives of the town of Rotterdam. Mrs. Bradt's parents were John and Anna Wolf. The Bradts are an old family in Schenectady County and are of Holland-Dutch descent.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
FRED W. BERNING was born in Germany, June 12, 1848. His parents were William and Mary (Whitmier) Berning, and with them he came to America when three years of age. They settled in Schenectady and he was educated in the public schools of that city.
Fred W. Berning married Catherine L., daughter of Frederick and Anna (Newman) Bowman. They have six children, all of whom are living. Mr. Berning is a member of the Order of Red Men, Lodge No. 249, Scotia, N. Y., and of the Scotia Lodge of Odd Fel- lows, No. 845.
DAVID W. WALPOLE was born in the house in which he now resides in Mariaville, Schenectady County, N. Y., November 22, 1845. His parents were Richard and Margaret (King) Walpole, both of whom were natives of Ireland and came to the United States in 1837. After his school days Mr. Walpole engaged in the milling business at Oswego, where he located in 1861. He lived there eight years and then went to Champlain, where he remained one year, after which he returned to his native place. Here he conducts a grist inill, a saw mill and cider mill, and is also interested in farming.
He is a Republican in politics and takes an active part in further- ing the interests of his party. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1880 and still retains that office. He was one of the first excise com- missioners of the town and has been a county committeeman for eight years.
On March 3, 1866, David W. Walpole married Frances L. Lock- wood, daughter of Charles P. and Helen (Roth) Lockwood, who sub- sequently died. On February 23, 1876, Mr. Walpole married for his second wife, Julia L. Dorne, daughter of William B. and Martha (Barrows) Dorne, who died June 29, 1896, leaving four children, namely, Mary B., Martha J., Grace M. and Helen E. Mr. Walpole has a brother, Thomas Walpole, and a sister, Jane A. Dickson, living in Oswego, N. Y.
Mr. Walpole is a member of New Hope Lodge No. 730, F. and A. M., and has been a Mason since 1868.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
BERTIE D. KOONS was born on the farm where he now resides in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County, N. Y., October 16, 1868. He was educated at the district school and afterwards ran a hay press for a number of years, subsequently going into farming.
On October 2, 1899, Bertie D. Koons married Katie Selkirk, who only lived a short time after their marriage. On January 1, 1901, he married Pearl Guernsey, his present wife. Mr. Koons' ancestors were Holland Dutch and settled in Duanesburgh in the early part of the last century. His parents were John W. and Eleanor (Jones) Koons. He is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest in the affairs of the town and county.
JAMES DEVINE was born in the city of Schenectady, N. Y., February 17, 1856. His first employment was in the capacity of fireman on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad, which occupation he followed for seven years. At the end of this time, he was promoted to engineer and ran an engine for the D. & H. Railroad for a period of twelve years, after which he was an engineer on the New York Central Railroad for three months, filling out a total period of twelve years engineering.
Leaving the railroad, he went into the employ of the Schenectady Locomotive Works as traveling engineer, and remained in this posi- tion for three years, during which time he delivered engines to all parts of the world.
He next went into the street contracting business, which he made his permanent occupation, and at which he is still engaged. In 1898 he branched out and opened his restaurant business opposite the New York Central depot, and is one of the best public caterers in this part of the state.
In politics Mr. Devine is a Democrat, and he has taken an active interest in the public affairs of the city, having served in the city council from the year 1885 to 1891.
Mr. Devine's parents were Michael and Bridget (Scott) Devine. They were natives of Ireland and came to the United States of America in 1847.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
JUAN PANGBURN was born in the town of Florida, Montgomery County, N. Y., April 27, 1853, and after his school days took up the occupation of farming, in which he has since been continuously engaged. He began on his own account in 1873.
On June 28, 1876, Juan Pangburn married Anna Smith, daughter of Peter and Rebecca (Dorn) Smith. Mr. Pangburn's parents were Cornelius and Margaret Ann (McMillan) Pangburn. His father was of Mohawk Dutch descent and his mother of Scotch ancestry. Pang- burn is an old family in this part of the state.
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