USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 64
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Tefft, and in a short time Mr. Wells and Mr. Packer sold their inter- ests to Mr. Van Wormer and Mr. Tefft, who conducted the business very successfully up to 1897, when the company was incorporated under the laws of the State of New York, at which time Charles T. Beach, cashier of the First National Bank, became a member of the company and was elected treasurer; and in 1900 Hon. John H. Derby became a stockholder and was elected a director.
The present officers of the company are: President, F. M. Van Wormer; Vice-President and Secretary, R. C. Tefft; Treasurer, C. T. Beach; Directors, F. M. Van Wormer, C. T. Beach, R. C. Tefft and J. H. Derby.
During the year 1900 a new plant is being built, consisting of office building 54x46 feet, machine shop 90x300 feet long, blacksmith department 50x90 feet, store-room 50x90 feet, pattern storage 50x140 feet, boiler and engine room 54×54 feet, foundry building 75×150 feet.
These works are to be run by steam, the power transmitted by electric motors, and lighted by electricity from their own dynamos. This plant when running at its full capacity will employ about 200 hands, while their old plant, which they have recently sold, employed about eighty hands. These shops will be provided with every device and appliance for turning out accurate work in the shortest possible time.
The present company are engaged in the manufacture of pulp and paper mill machinery, including Fourdrinier and cylinder paper ma- chines, wet machines, pulp screens, wood barkers, wood splitters, water screens, calender rolls, paper bag machinery and general machine work. Their machinery can be found in operation in many of the largest and best mills in the country.
In 1869 Mr. Van Wormer was married to Sarah M. Cornell of Sandy Hill, N. Y., and they have resided in town ever since.
Mr. Van Wormer is a member of W. M. Collin Post No. 587, De- partment of New York, G. A. R., and has served as Commander several terms, and is a member of Sandy Hill Council, Royal Arcanum, No. 587, and has served several terms as Regent, and also as District Deputy Grand Regent for Washington and Warren Counties.
He has been identified with the village fire department since 1881, having served as president and foreman of the J. W. Wait Hose Com- pany for several years. Mr. Van Wormer is also a member of the
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
School Board and the Board of Health, also a member of the Sewer Commission.
His excellent reputation is due to his skill and energy and square dealing, and to the fact that every new improvement in the working or style of machines which the company builds are considered, and if of value, are adopted.
In politics Mr. Van Wormer is a staunch Republican, and he has been tendered any office in the gift of his town, but owing to the large amount of business he has to look after he has declined all political honors.
And now, at the age of 54 years, he is devoting all his time and energy to make a success of the new machine shop and foundry plant; the ambition of his life has been to have the best machine shop for the manufacture of paper and pulp mill machinery in the state or country, and he is about to realize the height of his ambition.
LOREN ALLEN .- In connection with the great paper industry con- ducted by the Allen Brothers Company, at Sandy Hill, more than a passing mention is due to Loren Allen, who has been prominently associated with this enterprise, from its incipiency, and to whose inde- fatigable enterprise and financial ability a great measure of the won- derful success achieved is due.
Loren Allen was born in the town of Galway, Saratoga County, N. Y., December 7, 1833. His father, Elihu Allen, was originally en- gaged in farming in Saratoga County, but being ambitious to extend his operations, he joined with a partner and began to make paper on a small scale at Stillwater. This was in 1846. In 1850 he and his two sons, Hiram and Loren Allen, came to Sandy Hill, and in 1857 the sons began making paper here, still on a small scale. Through good man- agement the business grew steadily, and about 1867 the firm of Allen Brothers was formed, consisting of Hiram and Loren Allen. The business was continued under this name until 1890 when the incorpo- rated company of Allen Brothers Company was formed. The officers of the company are Hiram Allen, President; Loren Allen, Vice-Presi- dent; Marcus C. Allen, Secretary.
When Allen Brothers began making paper at Sandy Hill they had but one small machine, with a capacity of 600 pounds a day. At the
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
end of a year they were turning out 1300 pounds daily, but now their output approximates seventy tons per diem, and the company is recog- nized as one of the great factors in the paper industry of America, and the paper industry of America is the greatest in the world.
In addition to devoting a great deal of energy to the interests of his business, Loren Allen has always taken a lively interest in the welfare and success of Sandy Hill. He has served three terms on the Board of Trustees and was President of the village two terms. He was a member of the Board of Education for nine years. It was during this time that the great fight to build a new schoolhouse was waged. Mr. Allen was naturally on the progressive side and in favor of building the school. and to him certainly belongs a full share of the credit of erecting the fine Union School Building, of which Sandy Hill is today justly proud. The erection of this school and the healthy agitation which preceded it, was a starting point for a general improvement of the schools of the whole county. Mr. Allen is also a prominent Mason.
In 1856 Loren Allen married Mary Ann VanDenburgh, who died May 18, 1879, leaving three children, namely: Clifford H., Charles L., and Mary Ida, who married Mr. Liddle. On February 16, 1881, Mr. Allen married, for his second wife, Harriet A. VanDenburgh.
Loren Allen's parents were Elihu and Laura (Cornell) Allen. His grandfather, John Allen, came to Saratoga County from New Bed- ford, Mass. The progenitor of the Allen family in America was of English origin and came to this country in the early New England days.
MARTIN H. ADAMS was born in the town of Fort Ann, Washington County, N. Y., August 12, 1839, and was educated in the common schools of his native town and at the Fort Edward Institute. Mr. Adams has always followed farming and has resided on his present farm for the last fourteen years. He is a prominent Mason, being Master of the lodge to which he belongs, and has also held important political offices, among them Supervisor of the town of Fort Ann, Justice of the Peace and Justice of Sessions.
On the 17th of December, 1879, Mr. Adams married Mina McDon- ald, who was born in the village of Luzerne. Warren County, N. Y.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
They have eight children, four sons and four daughters, namely: Christie M., Charles T., Ralph H., Mary E., Laura R., Martin H. Jr., Stella M. and John J.
Mr. Adams' parents were John and Martha Adams, both of whom were natives of New Hampshire.
J. ALBERT ACKLEY was born in the town of Jackson, Washington County, N. Y., on the farm on which he now resides, August 22, 1853, and was educated in the academies at Salem, N. Y., and Cam- bridge, N. Y. He has always been a farmer, as were his father and grandfather before him.
His father was John Ackley, who was born July 20, 1820, and his grandfather was Solomon Ackley, who was also born in the town of Jackson. His mother's maiden name was Frances E. Cleveland.
Mr. Ackley takes an active interest in public affairs, and held the office of deputy sheriff for eight years. He is a Democrat in politics and a consistent supporter of his party.
J. Albert Ackley married Loie A., daughter of Warren and Esther ( Clough ) Kenyon, and they have four children, namely: Minnie K., John W., Charles H. and Esther L.
Mr. Ackley has one sister, Nettie F., wife of W. H. Crandall.
The Ackley family is one of the oldest and most highly respected in the town of Jackson.
JOHN L. AGAN, a prosperous business man of Cambridge, N. Y., was born in Schaghticoke, N. Y., June 11, 1843, and was educated in the. district schools. While still quite a young man he was associated in the furniture and undertaking business with S. S. Scott at Benning- ton, Vermont.
In 1874 Mr. Agan moved to Cambridge and opened up an establish- ment in the same line of business, in the old White Meeting House building, on the corner of Main and Park streets. After sixteen years of successful business in that location, in 1890 he purchased and moved into the Miles P. Barton building, which is also on Main street.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Here he still continues in the furniture and undertaking business, in which he is both popular and successful.
In 1874 Mr. Agan married Bertha Luce, of Stowe, Vt., who died, leaving no children.
On the 2d day of May, 1883, he married for his second wife, Nancy M. Blair, of Cambridge, and they have two children, namely: Berta B. and Eliza B.
Mr. Agan's ancestors were from the North of Ireland. His parents were Jacob and Margaret (Bonesteel) Agan. His great grandfather, Patrick Agan, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
JOSEPH BROWN was born in the town of Luzerne, Warren County, N. Y .. February 15, 1851. His father was a lumberman and he also followed that business for some time, particularly in cutting and rafting timber to New York. In 1862 the family came to Fort Edward, where Mr. Brown has since resided. His principal occupation has been that of contractor, lumberman and speculator. His operations have extended into many different lines of trade in which his fine business abilities have made him uniformly successful. He is also largely interested in real estate and owns one of the leading liveries of Fort Edward.
Mr. Brown is a member of the Masonic fraternity and is a Demo- crat in politics. He has always been very active in the interest of his party and has been Assessor for a period of nine years and Trustee of the village of Fort Edward for ten years, as well as a member of the Board of Education for the same length of time ; all of which indicates the high public opinion in which he is held in this notably Republican County. He has been delegate to many town and county Democratic conventions, and is practically the Democratic leader in the town of Fort Edward.
Although a successful man himself, Mr. Brown has always evinced the kindest sympathy for those less fortunate than himself, and has always been the poor man's friend, and many are the worthy deeds attributed to him. He is also public spirited to a high degree and every enterprise looking toward the advancement of his community or county always elicits his unstinted support.
In 1873 Mr. Brown married Alfraetta Gilbert, daughter of Henry
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
and Martha ( Gailey ) Gilbert, and they have two children, Mand and Joseph Brown, Jr.
Mr. Brown's parents were Moses and Electa ( Herrick ) Brown. Moses Brown and his wife, Electa Herrick, were both natives of Warren County, N. Y. The former was born in Luzerne and the latter in Schroon.
His grandfather was a settler in Dutchess County and was one of the first settlers at Glens Falls, N. Y.
CHARLES W. BOWTELL, the leading hardware merchant of Fort Ed- ward, was born in the city of Springfield, Mass., and was educated at Bellows Falls. He learned telegraphy and followed it at intervals, with the Vermont Central Railroad, with which line he was also associated for seven years in the locomotive department as engineer. After this, he was engaged in the telegraph business for two years, and during his engagement as telegrapher, he worked all over the New England states. He then came to Fort Edward and embarked in the book and newspaper business, which he continued for seven years. He then went to Canada and was engaged in street railroad building at Brantford, Ont., for some time. Here he built a street railway, of which he was president, until he sold out to the Edison Electric Company. He next went to New York City and worked for the Postal Telegraph Company and the Commerciel Cable Company for five years as operator. Finally, in 1891, he returned to Fort Ed- ward and embarked in the hardware business.
During the past nine years Mr. Bowtell has not only been a promi- nent factor in the business life of the village of Fort Edward and surrounding country, but has also been active in public affairs. He has always been a Republican, and was President of the village of Fort Edward in 1895. He is Chairman of the Young Men's Christian Association, in which he takes a warm interest, and is also Trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Bowtell married Sarah L. Hoysradt.
Mr. Bowtell's parents were Samuel and Margaret (Mahoney) Bow- tell. His grandfather, Josiah Bowtell, was of old New Hampshire stock.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
PARSIMUS BURCH Was born in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County, N. Y., May 28, 1833, and was educated at the district schools of his native place. He left school at the age of eighteen and began teaching, which profession he followed for four years, when he embarked in farming, which he has made his life occupation.
On July 4, 1854, Mr. Burch married Maria G. Lee of Cambridge, and they have a family of six children, namely: Zina L., Ida P., Elmer, Sylvia D .. Edward D. and Roscoe C. Mr. Burch's parents were Ira and Elizabeth ( DeGroff ) Burch. His grandfather was Henry Burch who was a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Burch has always taken an active part in public affairs and was Justice of the Peace for some time. In 1888 he accepted the position of Superin- tendent of Poor, which position he still retains with great acceptibil- ity. Mrs. Burch's parents were Zina L. and Patience ( Durfee ) Lee.
Zina L. Burch was for some time a merchant in South Cambridge. He started the business there in the year 1855, but subsequently sold out and came to Argyle, where he has been Superintendent of the Poor for three years.
Ida P. Burch married Henry E. Norton, a prosperous farmer of Cambridge in the year 1878. Elmer married Lillian Kelley of Cam- bridge. Sylvia D. married S. H. Clement of Argyle in the year 1892. Edward D. is now Deputy Superintendent under his father. Mr. Burch was Supervisor of the town of Cambridge in the years of 1876-77.
A. C. BARKLEY was born at West Hebron, Washington County, N. Y., December 20, 1861, and was educated at the West Hebron Acad- emy. He has followed the business of furniture dealer and under- taker all his life. He is a member of the Salem Lodge No. 45, I. O. O. F., and has held different town offices.
On January 7, 1888, A. C. Barkley married Hattie McKnight, and they have six children, namely: Hattie, Floy, Leon, Guy, Gladys and Albertine.
Mr. Barkley's parents were James and Nancy (Patterson) Barkley. His father was twice married, first to Janet Eggleston, on January 25, 1854, who died July 23, 1857, and for his second wife he married Nancy Patterson on July 21, 1859. She was born October 27, 1830,
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
and died November 21, 1894, and was the mother of the subject of this sketch. By his first wife James Barkley had one son, Frankie, who died at the age of thirteen; and by his second wife three children, namely, Hattie J., born January 8, 1860, who died May 10, 1880; John H., born August 2, 1864, died May 7, 1895, and A. C. Barkley, the subject of this sketch.
A. C. Barkley's paternal grandfather, who was born in 1789, and died February 28, 1843, married Margaret McDougall (born in 1793 and died October 1, 1851) October 5, 1812.
To them were born ten children, namely: Jane, born March 27, 1814, died May 4. 1869; Samuel, born October 10, 1815; Alexander, born May 4, 1817; Agnes, born January 15, 1819; William J., born November 23, 1820, died September 2, 1822; John J., born January 7, 1824; Margaret A., born July 28, 1827, died May 30, 1857; Eliza R., born April 5, 1829, died June 27, 1856; James, born June 23, 1831, died November 2, 1892; Harriet N., born January 26, 1834.
Jane Barkley married Samuel Donaldson Deccember 16, 1841; Samuel married January 23, 1845; Alexander married Margaret Armatage, October 1, 1845; Margaret A., married February 28, 1848.
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JOSEPH W. BROWN was born in the town of Kingsbury, Washington County, N. Y., March 11, 1833, and was educated in the public schools of his native town and at Glens Falls, receiving so liberal an educa- tion that at the age of seventeen he began teaching school. This occupation he continued for seven winter terins.
On October 24, 1855, Joseph W. Brown married Ida M., daughter of Theodore and Pamelia (Kidder) Cross.
Mrs. Brown traces her ancestry back to the Rev. Dr. Richard Kidder, who was Bishop of Bath and Wells, England, in 1320.
Mr. Brown's parents were George V. and Abigail (Sherman) Brown. Mr. Brown is one of the best known and most highly respected men in the town of Kingsbury. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for sixteen years, and is postmaster at Vaughns, to which office he was appointed in May, 1898. He has been a life-long Republican, and has always been a staunch supporter of that party.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
DENNIS BROWNELL, one of the best known and most prominent citi- zens of the town of Easton, was born in Easton, Washington County, N. Y., October 22, 1852, and is a son of Elijah W. and Deborah (Gifford ) Brownell. He was educated in the district schools of his native town, and has followed the occupation of farming all his life, in which he has been so prosperous that he is today universally regarded as one of the leading farmers of Washington County.
He married Ida E. Norton on November 29, 1876, who died Febru- ary 22, 1887, leaving five children, namely: Harry E., Esek E., Alice P., Addie M. and Aaron C. D. Brownell. Mrs. Brownell was a daughter of Leroy and Safronia ( Burch ) Norton.
HENRY W. BECKER was born in the town of Easton, Washington County, N. Y., January 31, 1861, and is a son of Jacob V. and Sarah ( Small) Becker. He was educated in his native town and at the Marshall Seminary, and since leaving school has always been engaged in the occupation of farming.
On January 29, 1890, Henry W. Becker married Emma, daughter of John F. and Lydia ( Butler ) Skiff, and they have one daughter, Elna G. Becker, who was born August 5, 1891.
Mrs. Becker is a highly educated and unusually intelligent woman and has been correspondent for the past ten years for local and city papers. She has also written a number of historical sketches and short stories, evincing a fine literary taste and knowledge of the world. She is also identified with the Women's Christian Temper- ance Union and is superintendent of press work in the Society of Political Equality.
In religious matters Mrs. Becker is associated with the Reform Church. Prior to her marriage she taught school a number of terms and has always retained her interest in educational matters.
She traces her genealogy back to the year 1625 and to Welch ances- try; her people, however, have been Americans for generations, and her great-grandfather was a soldier in the Revolutionary War.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
RUSSELL A. BORDEN was born in the town of Easton, Washington County, N. Y .. April 12, 1848, and is a son of Henry T. and Caroline ( Robinson ) Borden. He was educated in the public schools and at the Marshall Seminary, and after completing his education, taught school for several terms. He then took up the study of civil engi- neering and spent twenty-five years in this profession. He finally embarked in farming, in which occupation he is at present engaged. He has a fine farm and a remarkably fine apple orchard, which com- prises 1200 trees.
Mr. Borden is a prominent man in the town of Easton and takes an intelligent interest in all public affairs. He is a Republican in politics and was Justice of the Peace for a period of eight years.
He is very prominent in Masonic circles and is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M., of Schaghticoke, Montgomery Chapter No. 257, R. A. M., Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., and of Washing- ton Commandery No. 33, K. T., of Saratoga Springs.
In 1878 Russell A. Borden married Augusta Buckley, daughter of Spencer and Frances (Bosworth) Buckley, and they have five children, Lucy J., Harry S., Ernest M. and Oscar.
Mr. Borden's father was of French descent, and his mother's people came from Rhode Island.
The Buckley family is one of the old, wealthy and highly respected families of Washington County.
FRANKLIN BUCKLEY was born on the farm on which he now resides in the town of Easton, Washington County, N. Y., December 8, 1855. He is a son of Spencer A. Buckley, who was also born on this same farm. His mother's name was Frances (Bosworth) Buckley, and he is of the fifth generation that has lived on this farm.
Franklin Buckley was educated at the district schools and at the Friends Seminary at Easton and at the Troy Academy. At the age of seventeen he left school to work on his fathers's farm and has since continued in this business.
On February 14, 1877, Franklin Buckley married Helen, daughter of Elisha and Anna (Hoag) Gifford. Their children are Ida May, Anna, (deceased) Mabelle F., Irvin and Albert.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Politically Mr. Buckley is a Republican and has been Road Com- missioner of his town for six years.
He has spent considerable time in travel, and in the year 1878 he was engaged in the wheat business in California. He is one of the enterprising and representative men in the town of Easton.
Along with farming, Mr. Buckley is one of the largest stock raisers in Washington County, making a specialty of Guernsey cattle, which he imports.
ISAAC ADDISON BURTON was born in the town of Easton, on the east bank of the Hudson River, in Washington County, N. Y., Sep- tember 29, 1829. He was educated in the public schools of Easton and at the Greenwich Academy, and after his school days, he took up the occupation of farming, in which he has continued all his life, and with such success that he has accumulated wealth and become an hon- ored and prominent citizen of Washington County.
In 1881 Mr. Burton was elected President of the Greenwich Na- tional Bank, which position he held until 1898. He has lived on his present farm for sixty-seven years.
During his younger days Mr. Burton taught school for a time, and throughout his long career he has always taken an intelligent interest in all public affairs.
In politics he is a Republican, and held the office of Commissioner for six years.
His life carries us back to the several political parties and through many great changes in this country. During the existence of the party known as the "Know Nothings," he was a member of that organization.
His father was Simon Burton. He was a miller by trade and also taught school several terms, and in his later years turned his attention to farming. He was a great abolitionist in his day.
Mr. Burton's ancestors were of English descent and first settled in this country in the state of Rhode Island. From there they came to Washington County in the year 1800.
His grandfather, Uriah Burton, was a millwright by trade. Mr. Burton's mother was Phoebe B (Beadle) Burton.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
LEANDER E. BAILEY was born in the town of Fort Ann, Washing- ton County, N. Y., December 15, 1836, and was educated in the schools of his native town. His principal occupation is farming, but he has also engaged both in the blacksmith and carpenter's trades. He has lived on his present farm for fifty years. He is a prominent man in his neighborhood and town, and has held the important office of Trus- tee, besides minor offices.
In 1861 Mr. Bailey married Miss Martha Barber. She was a native of Dresden and a daughter of John and Betsey (Benjamin) Barber. They have a family of three children, namely: Norman W., Verona D. and May E. The last named is assistant principal of the Fort Ann High School, and is an unusually accomplished young lady.
Mr. Bailey's parents were Howard and Mary (Cutter) Bailey, both of whom were natives of Fort Ann. His father died in 1879 and his mother in 1884, each at the age of eighty-four years.
WILLIAM J. BOYD, son of David and Ellen (McLoud) Boyd, was born in Randfordshire, Scotland, November 1, 1865. In October, 1885, he came to the United States and settled in Boston, where he remained for a time, when he removed to Troy and finally, in June, 1886, came to Whitehall and engaged as fireman on the Delaware & Hudson Railroad. After serving four years as fireman, he was made engineer, which position he still holds. In July. 1897, be bought the Broughton pharmacy, which business he still owns, but gives the busi- ness no attention, having for his manager there Mr. C. H. Broughton.
On September 14, 1892, Mr. Boyd married Mary R., daughter of Hamilton and Mary J. Morris. They have one child, Grace K., born January 13, 1894. Mrs. Boyd died December 25, 1896.
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