USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady County, New York : its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 57
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In 1863, P. H. Quackenbush married Kate Morgan. To them were born two children, Gertrude and George. Mrs. Quackenbush died in 1887. In 1889 Mr. Quackenbush married for his second wife, Kate McCaffey. Mr. Quackenbush's father's people came from Holland and his mother's from Scotland.
JOHN VANDERBELT was born in Watervliet, Albany County, . N. Y., and was the son of Richard and Catherine (Oliver) Vander- belt. He came to Schenectady at the age of twenty-one and engaged in farming, which occupation he has since pursued in the town of Niskayuna. He is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest in local affairs. He has been commissioner of highways for a number of years and assessor for five years.
John Vanderbelt married Mary, daughter of John and Ann (Van Vranken) Pearse, and they have a family of five children, Charles Edward, Eugene, Anna, Kittie and John H. The ancestors of the Van- derbelt family were Holland Dutch.
WILLIAM J. WILKSON was born in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County, N. Y., March 7, 1846. He was reared on the farm and after his school days remained with his father for several years before embarking in the same business on his own account. His parents were James Henry and Catherine (Rayner) Wilkson, and he was one of a family of five children, in which there were two sons and three daughters. The family is of English origin.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
CAROLINE WILSON WORDEN was born in Saratoga County, July 28, 1835. Her parents were George C. R. Wilson and Charity (King) Wilson. She resided in Saratoga County for twenty-seven years and, on January 29, 1863, she married Clark V. Worden, who was born in Rensselaer County, June 29, 1817. His parents were Asa and Abigail (Bentley) Worden. Mr. Worden conducted a grocery store in Schenectady for three years, was superintendent of poor for a time and was sheriff of the county for one terin. He also had charge of the state boat on the Erie Canal for one year, after which he engaged in farming. Mr. Worden died May 29, 1898. Mr. and Mrs. Worden had one daughter, Carrie, who married William Whillans.
Mr. Worden was connected with the marshal's office during the last year of the War of the Rebellion.
JAMES DONOHUE was born in Ireland, August 3, 1826, but has lived in the United States since 1848, in which year he came over and settled in this country. He was educated in the public schools of Ireland, and learned the trade of papermaker, which he followed for eight years. He then took up farming and has since been engaged in that occupation and has resided on his present farin for the last thirty years. James Donohue married Mary Souls and they have a family of four children, three daughters and one son.
JOHN SLAWSON was born in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., August 7, 1832, and was a son of Henry and Elizabeth (Stillwell) Slawson. He was reared on the farmn and has always been engaged in this occupation. He married Mary Ann Ladd, and they have had a family of three daughters, two of whom are living. Mr. Slawson's ancestors were Holland Dutch. The original progenitor of the family in America settled in this state at a very early date.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
LEWIS ROWE was born in Oak Hill, Schoharie County, N. Y., July 18, 1836, and was educated in the Schoharie High School. After leaving school he took up the study of law with Joshua Donlanson, with whom he remained for two years, at the end of which time he was admitted to the Bar. He then practiced law for several years, but, having a fondness for agricultural pursuits, he took up farming, in which occupation he is still engaged. He is also a well-known breeder of sheep and Jersey cattle.
On March 9, 1868, Lewis Rowe married Alice Dodge, daughter of John and Amanda Dodge, and they have two children, Clifton and Bertha. Mr. Rowe's ancestors on his father's side were German, and on his mother's side, French. His parents were Morgan and Lurena (Germond) Rowe.
SILAS VAN PATTEN was born in Rotterdam, Schenectady County, N. Y., October 15, 1840, and was the son of Nicholas and Rebecca Ann (Kaley) Van Patten. After his school days he learned the trade of carpenter which he followed for fifteen years, after which he engaged in farming and milling. Subsequently, he opened up a stone quarry and now does a large business in this line, as well as carrying on his agricultural affairs.
On December 24, 1874, Silas Van Patten married Nancy Liddle, daughter of Robert and Abigail Liddle. They have four children, Ida Belle, Sarah L., Howard A. and Fremont L. Mr. Van Patten's ancestors were Mohawk Dutch. He is a member of St. George's Lodge No. 6, F. and A. M., in the city of Schenectady.
ZADOK BROWN was born in Albany County, N. Y., December 22, 1852, and was the son of Silas and Elmira (Zimmer) Brown. After his school days Mr. Brown embarked in farming and bee raising, both of which occupations he has continued, and is also a dealer in fertilizers and a manufacturer of sleighs. He devotes his winters to the latter industry.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Mr. Brown is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of Schoharie Valley Lodge No. 491, F. and A. M.
On July 31, 1878, Zadok Brown married Emma T. Morse, daugh- ter of Elisha and Sophia (White) Morse, and they have a family of eight children, two of whom are school teachers. Mr. Brown's ancestors on his father's side were of English descent. His great- great-grandfather came from Connecticut before the Revolutionary War into New York state along with Van Rensselaer. His mother's people were Germans and came to this country before the Revo- lutionary War, in which some of them were soldiers.
ZERAH JENKINS was born in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., May 16, 1842. He was reared on his father's farm, and remained there for some time after his school days. Later on he went into speculating in New York City. Finally he began farming in his native town and still pursues that occupation.
On December 20, 1876, Zerah Jenkins married Nettie Mosley, daughter of Sylvanus and Augusta Mosley. Mr. Jenkins' parents were Nathaniel and Eleanor (Shannon) Jenkins.
Mr. Jenkins is a Republican in politics and takes an active part in the public affairs of his town and county, in which he enjoys a high popularity. He is now serving his second term as county coroner.
AMOS VAN EPS, son of Hamilton A. and Rachael (Van Wormer) Van Eps, was born in the town of Glenville, Schenectady County, N. Y., March 3, 1835, and was educated in the district school of his native town. His father was a farmer and he remained on the home farm for some years after he left school, and then embarked in farm- ing on his own account. His ancestors were Mohawk Dutch and the family has resided in New York state for generations. His father, Hamilton A. Van Eps, was born in Schenectady County, June 16, 1800, and died February 16, 1885. Mr. Van Eps is a member of the First Reformed Church of Glenville, and was inspector of elections in his town for three terms.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
PETER E. COLE was born in Athens, Greene County, N. Y., August 30, 1833. His parents were Peter and Anna (Wood) Cole, and his father was a farmer. After his school days Peter E. Cole engaged in farming and has continued in that occupation all his life. He ran a hay press for a short time and is well known throughout this part of the country as a noted breeder of Jersey cattle and Chester white hogs. He is a Prohibitionist in politics, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On February 14, 1855, Peter E. Cole married Catherine Frayer, who died in 1886. In 1888 he married Lucy Loomis. Mr. Cole's grandfather on his mother's side, Jacob Wood, was a Revolutionary soldier. His mother's people were New Englanders, but on his father's side he is of Gerinan descent. Both families are old Ameri- can ones and have been in this country for many generations.
LATIN A. JOHNSON was born in Herkimer County, N. Y., and is a son of David and Christina (Harder) Johnson. His mother's father was John Harder.
Latin A. Johnson was educated at the district schools of his native county and has always been engaged in the occupation of farming. In politics he is a Democrat and has held the office of deputy sheriff for over a dozen years.
On October 18, 1891, Latin Johnson married Ellen L. Walton. Mr. Johnson's ancestors were Mohawk Dutch and the family has lived in this part of the state for many generations.
NICHOLAS FULLER, son of William and Helen M. (Mabee) Fuller, was born in the town of Glenville, Schenectady County, N. Y., June 22, 1863, and was educated in the district school of his native town. He remained on the farm with his father until 1888, when he took a position as office clerk with the Fitchburg Railroad and remained with that corporation until the spring of 1901, when he returned to farming, in which occupation he has since been engaged.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Mr. Fuller is a member of St. George's Lodge No. 6, F. and A. M., and of Champion Lodge No. 554, I. O. O. F., both of which lodges are in the city of Schenectady.
On December 17, 1895, Mr. Fuller married Tillie C., daughter of William and Jane (Caldwell) Ossing. The Fuller family is one of the oldest in America, as Mr. Fuller traces his ancestry back to Thomas Fuller who came over on the Mayflower.
NATHANIEL S. CHEESMAN, M. D., was born in Montgomery County, N. Y., in June, 1836. His parents were Benjamin and Thank- ful (Sanford) Cheesınan.
Dr. Cheesman received his literary education at Union College, from which he was graduated in the class of 1856. He then entered the Medical College at Albany and was graduated therefrom in 1860 with the degree of M. D. He practiced in Schenectady for many years, and also was located for a time in Scotia, this county. He was a member of the Schenectady County Medical Society, and held the offices of health officer and coroner. He came of an old Mohawk Dutch family which has existed in this part of the state for many generations. Dr. Cheesman died September 13, 1901.
MARGARET M. HAYES was born in the town of Glenville, Schenectady County, N. Y., on the farm where she now resides, September 30, 1825. Her parents were Samuel and Angelica (Truex) Hayes. Miss Hayes was educated at the district school and always lived on the farm with her father, where he settled imine- diately after his marriage. When Miss Hayes was a girl, the only way of going to Schenectady was by following a blazed road through the woods. There was a family of twelve children but Miss Hayes is the only one of the family now living. Her father was a strong Republican and was a member of that party from its formation until the time of his death. Her grandfather, Hayes, was a Frenchinall. Her mother's people were Holland Dutch.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
WILLIAM W. FISHER was born in the town of Glenville, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., July 9, 1858, and was educated at the district school and the Troy Business College. Since his school days he has been engaged in farming. Mr. Fisher is a member of the I. O. O. F., Touareuna Lodge No. 35, located at Glenville, N. Y. In politics he is a Republican and has been a member of the election board several years.
On November 21, 1900, William W. Fisher married Jennie E. Romeyn, daughter of John V. and Eleanor (Van Wee) Romeyn. Mr. Fisher's grandfather, Fisher, came from Scotland to this country early in the nineteenth century. His inother's people are descended from the celebrated Conde family, and Adam Conde, the progenitor of the family in America, settled in Schenectady County at the close of the Revolutionary War.
FREDERICK D. LARRABEE was born in Amsterdam, N. Y., May 30, 1836. His parents were Simon G. and Sarah (De Graff) Larra- bee. Frederick D. Larrabee moved to Schenectady County when sixteen years of age and began farming, which business he has always followed, although at one time he speculated in real estate in addition to farming.
On April 1, 1860, Frederick D. Larrabee married Susan Aulsdorf. They have a family of five children, all of whom are living. Mr. Larrabee's ancestors were Holland Dutch.
JOHN HENRY CONDE was born in the town of Glenville, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., May 30, 1837, and was the son of Charles and Maria (Slingerland) Conde. He was educated at the district school and remained on the farm with his father until twenty-one years of age, when he began for himself in the same occupation, which he has since pursued.
In 1861 John Henry Conde married Frances Young, who died leaving a family of four children, two sons and two daughters. For his second wife Mr. Conde married Margaret Ennis in 1895. Mr.
225
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Conde belongs to one of the oldest families in the Mohawk valley, and is of Holland Dutch descent. The progenitor of the family came from Holland and settled in this country at a very early date. In politics Mr. Conde is a Democrat and is a member of the First Reformed Church.
J. DEWITT LYNK was born in Madison County, N. Y., January 9, 1847. His parents were John W. and Catharine (Harder) Lynk and he was educated in the schools of Canastota, N. Y. He has always been engaged in the occupation of farming and settled in the town of Glenville in the year 1862.
On August 29, 1867, J. Dewitt Lynk married Mary J. Lowe, daughter of David and Rachael (Staley) Lowe. They have one daughter, Rachael Smith. Mrs. Lynk's ancestors came from Scot- land and settled in this state in the latter part of the eighteenth cen- tury. Mr. Lynk's ancestors were Holland Dutch. In politics he is a Democrat and is a member of Touareuna Lodge No. 35 of Glen- ville, N. Y.
D. N. PEEK was born in Rotterdam, Schenectady County, N. Y., May 5, 1854. After his school days he learned the trade of carriage- maker and followed that occupation for sixteen years, when he went into the mercantile business and started a store and hotel.
Mr. Peek is a Democrat and is an active worker in his party, in which he is highly popular. He was postmaster under Cleveland during both of that president's administrations, is now a deputy sheriff and has held the office of collector and other town offices. He is a member of Beth-Omen Lodge No. 521, I. O. O. F., of the Society of the Netherlands, and of the Lodge of Red Men at Mariaville.
D. N. Peek married Mary J. Smith, daughter of William and Hannah (Dingman) Smith. They have a family of one son and three daughters. Mr. Peek's parents were Andrew D. and Caroline (Thomas) Peek.
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
SPENCER CHRISTMAN was born in the town of Root, Montgomery County, N. Y., January 20, 1822. He was a son of Martin and Sallie (Salisbury) Christinan. He was educated in the public schools of his native county, and moved to Schenectady County in 1847. Mr. Christinan has been a farmer since he was twenty-five years of age, and has held the offices of assessor and commissioner of highways in his town. In politics he is a Republican and is a member of the Christian Church.
On January 7, 1847, Spencer Christman married Nancy A. Weaver, daughter of Jacob and Deborah (Coffin) Weaver. They had a family of four children, three of whom are dead ; one son, William W. Christian is living. Mrs. Christman died October 1, 1900. The Christians are of Holland Dutch descent.
.JOHN D. ABELL was born in Cherry Valley, Schoharie County, N. Y., February 10, 1874. He was educated in the district schools and lived on the farmn with his father until 1895, when he began business on his own account.
On November 15, 1893, John D. Abell married Nellie Reagan, daughter of John and Mary (McCann) Reagan. They have three children, May A., Lizzie and John. Mr. Abell's ancestors on his father's side were English, and on his mother's side were Germans. His parents were John and Caroline (Houser) Abell.
EUGENE J. RYON, the popular and well-known manager of the Electric Express Company in the city of Schenectady, N. Y., is the son of Professor Charles M. and Sarah A. (Vincent) Ryon. Prof. Ryon is a well-known educator and was superintendent of the schools of Kingston, N. Y., a position which he held very much to the advantage of that city from 1875 until 1902.
Eugene J. Ryon first attended the public schools in Kingston, N. Y., and then took a course in the Kingston Free Academy, from which he was graduated in the class of 1881.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
On July 29, 1882, he entered the employ of the American Express Company in Kingston, and was connected with that office until Feb- ruary, 1884, when he was transferred to the Rome, N. Y., office, where he remained until November, 1885, at which time he was pro- moted to the position of agent at Little Falls, N. Y. In August, 1891, he was transferred from Little Falls to the Yonkers, N. Y., agency, and in 1892 he took charge of the office at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., and there remained until he came to Schenectady in October, 1900. He remained with the American Express Company in Schenectady until January I, 1902, when he resigned his position and accepted one with the Electric Express Company, with which he is still connected.
Eugene J. Ryon married Susie V., daughter of William S. and Freelove (Armstrong) Cary. They have two children, Alfred H. and Frances A.
Mr. Ryon is a member of Triune Lodge No. 783, F. and A. M., Poughkeepsie Chapter No. 172, R. A. M., St. George's Cominandery No. 37, Knights Templar and Oriental Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum, and when he resided in Kingston was a member of the 14th Separate Co., N. G. N. Y.
Mr. Ryon is essentially a business man and is popular with the business public in Schenectady not only on account of the prompt attention which he gives to everything which comes before him, but also because of the uniform courtesy extended to all with whom he comes in contact.
ROCKWELL HARMON was born in Charlton, Saratoga County, N. Y., November 3, 1803. He was a descendant of John Harmon, who came to America from England about 1640. His grandfather was a soldier in the War of the Revolution, and took part in the Battle of Bennington. In 1825 he married Eleanor De Remer, daughter of James and Elizabeth (Angle) De Remer, and removed to Glenville, Schenectady County, N. Y., where he was engaged in the leather and shoe business for thirty-five years. They had three children, William De R., born in 1827, and died in Richmond, Va.,
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY,
in 1866; James H., born in 1829, died in West Troy, N. Y., in 1894 ; and Julia A. C., born in 1840. James H. Harmon married Emeline Gillespie, daughter of James and Lucretia (Chamberlain) Gillespie, and removed to West Troy where he was extensively engaged in the lumber business. It was largely owing to his efforts that the Y. M. C. A. of that place was organized, and also the Fairview Home for friendless children. He was for many years a prominent member and elder in the North Reformed Church of West Troy.
Rockwell Harmon, after the death of his first wife, married Amelia A. Smith, daughter of Jacob and Ann (Curran) Smith. They had one child, Catherine L., born in 1850, who married Spencer S. Potter, son of Johnson and Susan (Romeyn) Potter. They have three children, Rev. Rockwell Harmon Potter born 1874, pastor of the Center Congregational Church of Hartford, Conn., Clayton Johnson Potter, born 1878, at present a theological student, and James Henry Potter, born 1888.
Rev. Rockwell Harmon Potter married Jean A. Gilchrist, daughter of John Montgomery and Ida (White) Gilchrist. They have two children, Montgomery Gilchrist Potter, born in 1899, and Amelia Harmon Potter, born in 1901.
Rockwell Harmon died April 8, 1896. He was a man of sterling integrity and strict temperance principles. His chief interest was in his churchı, the First Reformed of Glenville, of which he was for fifty years an elder and for forty years the treasurer.
WILLIAM D. SUITS was born in the town of Mohawk, Mont- gomery County, N. Y., August 1, 1858. He was reared on the farmn, and after his school days he remained with his father for some time before embarking in business for himself.
On December 21, 1881, William D. Suits married Carrie Young daughter of Alexander and Emiline (Vanauken) Young. They have three children, Raymond, Emma and Elmer. Mr. Suits is of Holland Dutch descent, and his parents were Daniel and Margaret (Sitterly) Suits. He resided in Albany County for ten years before settling permanently in Schenectady County.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
CAPT. HERMAN PHILIP SCHUYLER, a scion of one of the oldest and most highly respected families of New York State or of the United States, was born in Albany County, N. Y., September 13, 1842 .. His parents were Thomas Hook and Angelica (Aspinwall) Schuyler. His father was born in the old Revolutionary house which is still standing on Schuyler Place, Locust Grove, in Schenec- tady.
Although the earlier years of the life of Herman P. Schuyler were passed under difficulties and he had almost no opportunity for educa- tion, his success in life has shown that he possesses all the fortitude, perseverance and ability which characterized the Schuylers of old and made the name historic in this country.
At nine years of age he left school and began selling newspapers and doing chores. He was variously occupied from that time on until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion, when lie enlisted as a private, in 1861, in the First Wisconsin Volunteer Regiment. He served throughout the war and not only proved a true and faith- ful soldier, but so distinguished himself that he successively rose from the ranks to corporal, sergeant, orderly-sergeant, sergeant-major, then to a commissioned officer and finally attained the rank of cap- tain.
After the war was over, he entered the employ of John A. Gris- wold & Co., in the iron business, and became sales-manager for that house and the succeeding companies. This was the John A. Gris- wold who ran for governor against John T. Hoffinan in 1868.
From 1885 until 1893 he was engaged in the iron and steel manu- facturing business at Chester, Pa. He then became credit manager for the General Electric Company, and in 1895 was made assistant treasurer of that company, with headquarters at Schenectady, N. Y.
Capt. Schuyler is a member of the military order, Loyal Legion; of the Army and Navy Club, New York City, and the Fort Orange Club, Albany, N. Y.
Captain Schuyler's life has been one of continual activity. Start- ing out as a poor boy he bravely carried on his struggle with the world ; at the age of nineteen he was a soldier fighting in the field
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SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
for his country, and as a soldier attained both rank and distinction ; as a business man he has risen to a position of great responsibility in connection with the financial department of the largest manufactur- ing concern in America, probably in the world. Notwithstanding the pressure of his important duties, his genial nature and high- mindedness have prevented him acquiring the austerity which too often accompanies success, and he is always a courteous and affable gentleman.
Captain Schuyler was married in 1870, and has one daughter, Miss Mabel Schuyler, and one son, Herman P. Schuyler, Jr.
THOMAS R. POTTER was born in the town of Glenville, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., December 2, 1837, and was a son of Johnson and Susan M. Potter. He was educated at the district school and the Amsterdam Academy, and has been engaged in the occupation of farining all his life.
On January 6, 1861, Thomas R. Potter married Jane Ann Van Wormer, who died June 9, 1893, leaving two children, Frank R. and Eliza Jane. On September 8, 1897, Mr. Potter married for his second wife, Effie C. Van Wormer. Mr. Potter is a member of Touareuna Lodge No. 35, I. O. O. F., of Glenville, N. Y., and also of the First Reforined Church of Glenville.
CHARLES SCHEUER was born in Batteau, Germany, September 22, 1858. His parents were Winfield and Helen (Horwittle) Scheuer. He was educated in Germany and came to the United States of America in 1883. After coming to this country he worked for a time as a blacksmith in the horse-car barns at Albany, N. Y., after which he removed to Rynex Corners, in the town of Princetown, Schenectady County, N. Y. Before coming to America, Mr. Scheuer served three years as an infantry soldier in the German armny, and is . a member of the German Soldiers' Lodge in Schenectady, N. Y. He married Bina Tirolf, and they have a family of seven children.
James IWasson
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
JOHN D. VAN EPS was born in Amsterdam, N. Y., November 21, 1841. His parents were Isaac D. and Eliza (Staley) Van Eps. When quite young he was brought to Schenectady with his parents who settled upon a farm, and he has followed the occupation of a farmer all his life. When he was sixteen years of age his father died and he was left to take care of the farin from that time on.
On September 21, 1886, John D. Van Eps married Helen L., daughter of John Davenport.
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