USA > New York > Schenectady County > Schenectady County, New York : its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 58
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59
Mr. Van Eps is a Republican in politics and has been a supporter of that party since it came into existence. He cast his first presi- dential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has voted for every Republi- can president since that date.
ALONZO PANGBURN was born in the town of Rotterdam, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., August 2, 1839, and was educated in District School No. I of his native town. His father was a farmer and Mr. Pangburn has always followed this occupation himself. He is a prominent Democrat in the town of Rotterdam, and was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace in 1877, and has continuously held this office since that date, a period of twenty-five years. Mr. Pang- burn, in addition to his farming operations, is also an extensive manufacturer of cider.
On December 15, 1881, Alonzo Pangburn married Hattie Matice. His ancestors came from Holland, and he is a member of Boer Lodge No. 811, I. O. O. F., of the city of Schenectady.
HON. JAMES T. WASSON, one of the best known public men of Schenectady County, was born in Rotterdam, February 2, 1861. He was educated at the public schools, and after receiving a liberal edu- cation, took up the trade of blacksmith, at which he worked for one year. He then began to learn the trade of moulder, at which he worked for four years in Schenectady, when he went to New York to finish his trade with John Roach, the noted shipbuilder. After working two years in the shipyards, he returned to Schenectady and
232
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
was in the employ of the American Express Company for five years. While with the express company he went to night school and busi- ness college. His next position was that of receiving clerk for the General Electric Company, where he remained two years.
After leaving the General Electric, in 1892, Mr. Wasson forined a partnership with D. H. Williams, in the plumbing business under the firm name of Wasson & Williams. The firm existed for three years, at the end of which time Mr. Wasson assumed the entire business, which he has since conducted alone.
In politics Mr. Wasson is a Democrat and has always taken an active part in furthering the interests of his party, with which he is deservedly popular. In the fall of 1899 he was nominated by the Democrats for the office of sheriff of Schenectady County and was elected. He discharged the duties of that responsible office faitli- fully and creditably for the years 1900, 1901 and 1902, when his terin expired.
Mr. Wasson is a member of several prominent clubs and societies, among them being the Schenectady City Club, the Democratic Club and the Mohawk Club. His societies are : St. George's Lodge No. 6, F. and A. M .; Deo Volente Encampment No. 112, Knights of St. John and Malta; Schenectady Lodge No. 480, Benevolent and Pro- tective Order of Elks; the Royal Arcanum, the Red Men and the German Liederkranz.
In June, 1891, James T. Wasson married Mollie Van Derbogart of Schenectady and they have two children, James T., Jr., and Mary. Mr. Wasson's parents were Thomas L. and Mary J. (Wescott) Wasson.
JOHN JEWETT was born in Albany County, N. Y., May 31, 1859. His parents were Jacob and Nancie (Setterly) Jewett. Mr. Jewett has lived in the town of Niskayuna, Schenectady County, N. Y., since he was ten years of age, and has always been engaged in general farming, but for the last seven years has also conducted a dairy business. He is a Democrat in politics, and is a member of Schenectady Lodge No. 319, Knights of Pythias. On January 12, 1889, Mr. Jewett married Nancy E. Mudge. The Jewett family is of Holland Dutch descent.
233
BIOGRAPHICAL.
REV. BERNARD SCHOPPE, pastor of St. Joseph's Church, Schenec- tady, N. Y., was born in Westphalia, Germany, in November, 1847, and was graduated from the School of Rheine in 1870. He then took a four years' course in theology at the University of Munster, finishing in 1874. He was ordained a priest and came to America in that year (1874) and settled at Sand Lake, where he remained until 1879. That was his first church in this country. Later he went to Troy and was pastor of St. Lawrence Church, which he built and of which he had charge for ten years. He then went to Albany as pastor of Our Lady Help of Christians Church, where he remained another ten years. In 1899 he went to Schenectady to take charge of St. Joseph's Church, where he has since remained, officiating with great acceptability.
Since residing in America, Father Schoppe has made two visits to Europe. His parents celebrated their golden wedding in 1896.
St. Joseph's German R. C. Church was formally organized on January 23, 1859, when about seventy-five meinbers mnet and resolved to build a church which should be called St. Peter's Church. Previous to that time the German Catholics of Schenectady had been visited by Rev. Father Theodore Noethen of Albany and other secular priests. On February 6th of the same year, collectors were appointed to take up a house collection, and on February 20th the large lot, corner State and Albany streets, was purchased for two thousand dollars. The congregation did not hold together very well and this fine site was lost. Finally the generous Bavarian, Joseph Harreker, bought and presented a site to the congregation. The church was named St. Joseph's Church, after its founder, and was dedicated June 29, 1862, by Rev. Father Alphouse Zoeller, O. M. C., of Utica. Services were held in this church regularly by the Fran- ciscan fathers of Utica. Father Oderic established a cemetery on East avenue. Father Pius was the first resident pastor and he established both a parsonage and a school. In October, 1868, the Franciscan fathers were called away and shortly afterwards the Fran- ciscan sisters were succeeded by a secular teacher. Rev. Maurus Ramssauer then became pastor. In 1876 he was succeeded by Rev. J. Henry Cluver, D. D. Through his efforts a fine churchi was
234
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
built. The cornerstone was laid July 28, 1877, by Rev. Thomas Burke of Albany, N. Y., and the church was dedicated on March 3, 1878, by Right Rev. Bishop Francis McNierny of Albany. On December 14, 1881, Bishop McNierny consecrated the new marble side altars, and in August, 1882, the cemetery was considerably enlarged. On December 8, 1883, Rev. J. Herman Wibbe succeeded Dr. Cluver. In 1884 three new bells were placed upon the church. In 1884 a large brick schoolhouse was erected, connecting the old schoolhouse with the sisters' house, and a new story was added to the latter, bringing the whole under one metal roof. In 1899 Rev. Father Schoppe became pastor, as has been already noted. .
DAYTON WATKINS was born in the town of Charlton, Saratoga County, N. Y., August 21, 1860, and was educated in the district school and the Charlton Academy. He also took a special course under James Weld of Charlton. He then taught school for some time, after which he moved to Troy and was engaged in the grocery business for four years, after which he moved into Schenectady County and took up farming, which occupation he still follows.
On August 24, 1883, Mr. Watkins married Harriet, daughter of Alexander and Nancy (Cole) Hollenbeck. They have three children, Edith, Clarence and Jeanette. Mr. Watkins' parents were David M. and Jeanette (Davison) Watkins.
MARTIN HODGES was born in Essex County, N. Y., November 21, 1865. He was engaged in farming and lumbering until 1888, in which year he went to work on the Boston & Albany Railroad, where he remained for six months. He was then engaged in the insurance business in Troy and Cohoes until 1892, when he moved to Schenectady. He is the representative of the Manhattan Life Insurance Company and of the Great Eastern Casualty Company in this city, and is one of the best known men in his line in Schenec- tady.
235
BIOGRAPHICAL.
Mr. Hodges was a member of the National Guard and served during the Spanish-American War in the Second Regiment, New York Volunteers. He is now Past Captain of the General Eugene Griffin Command No. 63, Spanish War Veterans. He is also a mem- ber of Schaugh-naugh-ta-da Tribe No. 123, Independent Order of Red Men, Degree of Pocahontas No. 189, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks No. 480, Court Dorp No. 392, Foresters of America, and of St. John's Church.
On April 28, 1898, Martin Hodges married Grace Loomis, daughter of Louis and Minnie Loomis of Syracuse. His father was William and his mother, Catherine (Fogarty) Hodges. They were both natives of Ireland, and his father was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion.
JOHN N. JONES was born in Albany, N. Y., February 15, 1860, but has resided in Schenectady County since 1884. After his school days, he worked as a clerk in the bookstore of S. R. Gray, Albany, N. Y., for five years, and was in the pork packing business in that city for two years. He was also collector for the Albany Argus for about a year, and spent a year on a stock farm in Kansas.
In 1884 he came to Schenectady County and settled in the town of Princetown, where he has since followed the occupation of farmer. He is a member of the Grange and of the United Presbyterian Church, and represented the town of Princetown on the Board of Supervisors for four years.
On March 24, 1884, John N. Jones married Mary Tinning, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Coulter) Tinning. They have three children, Ellen, Miriam and John. Mr. Jones is of English descent. His parents were John and Harriet (Spencer) Jones.
HENRY W. VEEDER, son of William and Jeronia (Wescott) Veeder, was born in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, N. Y., November 13, 1842. Mr. Veeder has always been a farmer, and for fourteen years was engaged in the dairy business, as well as in farını-
236
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
ing. He is a Democrat in politics and was assessor of his town for sixteen years. He is a member of St. George's Lodge No. 6, F. and A. M., Schenectady, N. Y.
On February 6, 1868, Mr. Veeder married Martha, daughter of Angus and Anna (Buchan) Robinson. They have six children, five daughters and one son. Mr. Veeder's ancestors came from Holland and his wife's from Scotland.
PASQUALA MARGIOTTA was born in the village of Belle, Italy, in the year 1857. He was educated in the public schools of his native country, and was engaged in farming until 1887, when he came to the United States, landing in New York. He remained in that city for some time, after which he came to Rotterdam Junction, where he worked on the railroad for several years, after which he embarked in the hotel business, in which he is still engaged. In politics Mr. Margiotta is a Republican, and has always been a faithful worker in his party.
On March 19, 1881, Pasquala Margiotta married Tresa Navatta. They have one son, Joseph. Mr. Margiotta's parents were Joseph and Vicengo Margiotta.
CHARLES LADD was born in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenec- tady County, N. Y., October 31, 1844. He was educated at the public schools and at the Fort Edward Institute, and, after his school days, took up the occupation of farining. He was on the farm at home with his father for some time and also operated a hay press, after which he engaged in farming on his own account.
On March 11, 1870, Charles Ladd married Sarah Carey, daughter of William D. and Hannah (Wells) Carey. Mr. Ladd's parents were Charles and Prudence (Victory) Ladd. The ancestors of the Ladd family were English people. In politics Mr. Ladd is a Republican and is a member of the Baptist church.
237
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ALEXANDER ENNIS, M. D., was born in Princetown, Schenectady County, N. Y., November 7, 1830. He attended school in the city of Schenectady during the years 1845, '46 and '47, and in 1847 entered the Sophomore class in Union College. In 1850 he was graduated from Union and then took up the study of medicine at the Albany Medical College, and received his degree of M. D. from that institution in 1855. He first began the practice of his profession at Richford, Tioga County, N. Y., where he remained for three years when he moved to Esperance, Schoharie County, N. Y., and then to Pattersonville, where he now resides and where he has been actively engaged in practice since 1868.
Dr. Ennis has always taken a deep interest in public affairs and has been coroner for twenty years, besides holding the office of health officer ever since the organization of town health boards. He is a member of the Schenectady County Medical Society and is now the delegate to the State Medical Society.
On October 25, 1855, Alexander Ennis married Mary, daughter of Jeremiah and Janette (Cullings) Murray. They have a family of one son and two daughters. Dr. Ennis was the son of Robert and Isabelle (Milroy) Ennis. Robert Ennis came to this country from Ireland in the year 1800.
Dr. Ennis is probably the oldest practitioner in Schenectady County, and one of the oldest in the state.
ALEXANDER L. JONES was born in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County, N. Y., October 30, 1860. His parents were Alexander D. and Mary (Liddle) Jones. After his school days he began farming, which business he still continues, and is well known in this part of the country as a breeder of Jersey cattle.
On April 3, 1890, Alexander L. Jones married Adora L., daughter of Amos K. and Caroline (Frink) Mosher. They have one son, Harry A., born November 6, 1892. Mr. Jones is descended from Scotch ancestry who came to America and settled in this state in the early days of the country's history.
238
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
EDWARD V. SLAWSON was born on the farm where he now resides in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County, N. Y., June 9, 1862. He was educated at the district school, has been a farmer all his life and is a Republican in politics. He is a well know breeder of Shropshire sheep.
On June 25, 1888, Edward V. Slawson married Matie Frisbee, who died September 15, 1900. Mr. Slawson's parents were Silas S. and Sarah (Koonts) Slawson. The family is an old American one and has resided in this country for over two hundred years.
GEORGE W. WEMPLE was born in the town of Rotterdamn, Schenectady County, N. Y., November 27, 1865. His parents were Jacob D. and Marion (Darrow) Wemple. He was educated in the district schools of his native town, and has made farming his life occupation. He is a Democrat in politics and takes an active interest in the success of his party, and local affairs generally.
HENRY ANDREW, JR., was born in Cohoes, Albany County, N. Y., May 30, 1871. He received his early education in the public schools and afterwards entered the United States School of Embalın- ing, New York City, and graduated therefrom in August, 1900.
Mr. Andrew was for some time with J. H. Blighton of New York, one of the large undertakers of that city. In March, 1902, he came to Schenectady and embarked in business on his own account and has been deservedly successful.
On January 20, 1897, Henry Andrew, Jr. married Lydia E., daughter of Daniel C. and Deborah (Hodges) Eggleston, of Saratoga County, N. Y. They have one son, Douglass H., born August 14, 1902. Mr. Andrew's parents were Henry and Mariah Andrew. They came from England to Albany County in 1861. His mother died December 25, 1872.
Mr. Andrew is a member of St. John's Lodge F. and A. M., and of the Albany street M. E. church.
239
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ALBERT SHEAR, son of Daniel and Caroline Shear, was born in Saratoga County, N. Y., in March, 1855. He came to Schenectady in 1868, and when sixteen years of age embarked in the stone business, which enterprise he has pursued all his life, and which he has developed to very important dimensions. In 1882 he formed a part- nership with Edward L. Haight, under the firm name of A. Shear & Company, dealers in building stone, brick and masons' supplies generally. They own and operate the celebrated Duanesburgh, Schenectady and Aqueduct quarries. The business has been very successful and both members of the firm are rated among Schenec- tady's best business men.
In 1879 Albert Shear married Iva J. Snyder and they have five children, namely, Carl, Eva, Maud, Bessie and Dudley.
Mr. Shear is a prominent Mason, being a member of 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 a member of the Order of Red Men and a director of the Van Curler Opera House.
MAJOR GEORGE WILLIAMSON VAN VRANKEN, son of Peter and Arrietta (Lansing) Van Vranken, was born in Lishaskill, N. Y., October 12, 1863, of unalloyed Holland Dutch ancestry. After attending the public schools he took a course in the Union Classical Institute and then entered Union College. He subsequently changed to Cornell University and was graduated from that institution in the class of 1885. He then engaged in teaching and took a course in the Albany Law School, graduating therefrom in 1887. He was admitted to the Bar in the same year.
After his admission to the Bar he came to Schenectady and prac- ticed law for three years. In 1890 he became actively interested in real estate operations, and his holdings of real property have always been considerable. He was a promoter of the Schenectady Opera House Company and has always been one of its directors.
It is as a contractor, however, that Major Van Vranken has made his acquaintance extended and his influence felt in the community.
240
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Since 1895 he has been president and manager of the Metropolitan Paving and Construction Company and since its organization some years ago has been manager of the Schenectady Contracting Com- pany. Besides being interested in various contracting firms and cor- porations, he conducts a considerable contracting business in his individual name.
Being a member of the National Guard he was appointed Judge Advocate by General Amasa J. Parker on the Third Brigade staff with rank of Major in 1890.
In politics he is a Democrat and represented Schenectady County in the Assembly of 1890.
He is a member of the Beta Theta Phi college fraternity, of St. George's Lodge No. 6, F. and A. M., and of the Mohawk Club.
Major George W. Van Vranken in 1895 married Laura, daughter of David J. DeCamp of French Huguenot family. They have two children, one son and one daughter.
HON. ANDREW J. McMILLAN was born in the town of Rotterdam, Schenectady County, N. Y., and received a liberal education at the district schools. After his school days he took up the occupation of farming, which he has made his life business and which he pursues in his native town of Rotterdam.
Mr. McMillan has long taken an active part in public affairs and is one of the best known public men in Schenectady County. He is a Republican in politics and a member of the Schenectady County Republican Club. He has been a member of the Board of Super- visors of Schenectady County, and has represented his county in the state legislature as a Member of the Assembly. In the fall of 1903 the Republicans nominated him for County Treasurer and his election followed. He is a member of Boer Lodge No. 811, Inde- pendent Order of Odd Fellows.
In November, 1882, Hon. Andrew J. McMillan married Annie L. Liddle, and they have one son, Everett McMillan. Mr. McMillan's parents were Andrew and Ellen (Darrow) McMillan.
24I
BIOGRAPHICAL.
ROBERT J. TURNBULL was born in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County, N. Y., April 16, 1848, and since his school days has been engaged in the occupation of farming, with the excep- tion of five and one-half years, during which time he carried the mail from Mariaville to Schenectady.
In June, 1870, Robert J. Turnbull married Sarah A. Clute, daughter of Bartholomew and Margaret (Spitzer) Clute, and they have a family of five children. Mr. Turnbull's ancestors came from Scotland and settled in the town of Princetown. Mr. Turnbull is a member of the Presbyterian Church and takes an active interest in local politics. His parents were Paran R. and Mary E. (Darrow) Turnbull.
FRANK AUCOMPAUGH was born in the town of Duanesburgh, Schenectady County, N. Y., August 24, 1856. His parents were Robert and Ellen (Pulver) Aucompaugh. They inoved to the town of Princetown in 1866, and Frank Aucompaugh was reared on the farm and educated at the district school. He worked as a hired man until 1884, when he engaged in farming for himself, which occupa- tion he still continues.
On January 3, 1884, Frank Aucompaugh married Ida Smith, daughter of Cornelius and Caroline Smith, and they have a family of four children, William, Carrie, Mabel and Edith. The Aucom- paugh family is of Holland Dutch descent.
-
FREDERICK WILLIAM FROST, son of Luther and Mary (Mathews) Frost, was born at Richland, Oswego County, N. Y., September 29, 1853. He was educated in the district school and at the Pulaski Academy, where he finished in 1875. After leaving school he was engaged in the lumber business at Saginaw, Michigan, until 1877, after which he took up farming until 1881. For the next two years he was engaged on construction work as foreman on the West Shore Railroad. In 1884 he was with the North River Construction Com- pany, and in 1885 was in the Motive Power Department. For the
242
SCHENECTADY COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
next fourteen years he was a locomotive engineer. From 1899 until 1901 he was proprietor of the Hotel Robinson, Schenectady, N. Y. In the latter year he went into the employ of the General Electric Company, where he still remains.
Mr. Frost is a Democrat in politics, is an active worker and is a member of the Democratic County Club and the Mohawk Club. He is a member of New Hope Lodge F. and A. M., of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, is president of the local union, No. 188, and president of the Trades Assembly. He is also a prominent Odd Fellow and is a member of both the subordinate lodge and the Encampment. He is a Past District Deputy Grand Master, I. O. O. F.
In 1877 Frederick W. Frost married Sarah M. Wallace of Williamstown, N. Y., and they have a family of four children. He has resided in the city of Schenectady since 1902, and was elected alderman for the seventh ward in the fall of that year.
SAMUEL MCCLINTOCK HAMILL, son of Samuel M. and Matilda M. (Green) Hamill, was born in Lawrenceville, N. J., and was pre- pared for college in the Lawrenceville school, of which his father was the head for a period of fifty years.
After receiving his preparatory education he entered Princeton University and, after a highly creditable course, was graduated there- from in the class of 1880, with the degree of A. B. In 1883 his Alma Mater conferred upon him the degree of A. M.
From 1880 to 1883 he was a teacher in the Lawrenceville school and, during part of this time studied law, but never applied for admission to the Bar.
Leaving Lawrenceville, he accepted a position with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad and was general freight agent in the St. Louis office for one year. Later on he was in the paymaster's office and in the office of the second vice-president. Subsequently he became inanager of the grain elevator for this railroad in Peoria, Illinois.
243
BIOGRAPHICAL.
In 1886 he went to Cleveland, Ohio, to take the position of assis- tant secretary of the Brush Electric Company, and remained with them for three years. He had charge of the eastern business of the company, with offices in New York City, and was general manager and vice-president of the company at the time it consolidated with the General Electric Company. As soon as the consolidation was consummated, he settled in Schenectady, where he has since been connected with the lighting department of the General Electric Company.
Since coming to Schenectady Mr. Hamill has identified himself with the growing city, and is now a prominent and permanent factor in its affairs. . He is president of the Schenectady Trust Company, a trustee of the Ellis Hospital, vice-president of the University Club and president of the Mohawk Country Club. He is also a member of the Union Club of Cleveland, Ohio, the Country Club of Trenton, N. J., the University Club of New York City, and the Princeton Club of New York City. He is a director in a number of electric companies and electric railroad companies all over the country.
Starting out as a student, and beginning the active duties of life as an educator, Mr. Hamill early developed a capacity for business and executive ability which drew him into commercial affairs, in which he has been highly successful. His splendid education and trained mind have naturally led him to take an interest in all public affairs, political as well as industrial, and the number of corporations with which he is identified, and the prominent clubs of which he is a member, indicate his activity, standing and success. While a resi- dent of Cleveland, Ohio, he was associated in a social way with Senator Hanna.
In November, 1900, Samuel Mcclintock Hamill married Maria Woodward Baldwin, of the city of Baltimore.
GUSTAVE A. HECKELER was born March 22, 1861, and was educated at the district school in the town of Charlton, Saratoga County, N. Y. After his school days he began farming on his father's farm in Charlton and when 18 years of age he became a
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.