USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 65
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Mr. Boyd's parents still reside in Scotland and he is one of a family of sixteen children, six brothers and nine sisters.
Mr. Boyd is a member of the Presbyterian Church, and in politics is a Republican, but has never taken any active part in political affairs.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
JOHN BARRETT was born in County Limerick, Ireland, and is a son of Richard and Catharine (Connell) Barrett. He came to America in 1861, and in 1863 embarked in the grocery business in Whitehall, in which he has since been successfully engaged.
Mr. Barrett married Ann O'Brien of County Clare, Ireland, and they have two children, namely, Mary A. and James M.
Mr. Barrett is a thorough business man, possessing that geniality which is peculiar to his race, and is one of the most popular business men in the county.
BENJAMIN H. BASCOM was born in the town of Benson, Rutland County, Vt., March 29, 1849. He was educated in the district schools and at Poultney Commercial College, from which he was graduated in 1867. He then entered a general store in Pittsford as a clerk, where he remained two years, and then came to Whitehall. He entered the employ of H. R. Waits in his clothing store, and remained with him for six years. Mr. Bascom then went west to Lake City, Colorado, where he engaged in the grocery business on his own account, and also dealt largely in miners' supplies. He remained in Lake City for a period of ten years and in 1886 returned to Whitehall, where he formed a copartnership with W. C. Harding, under the firm name of Harding & Bascom. In 1890 the firm name was changed to Harding, Bascom & Company, and they are dealers in clothing, gents furnishing, boots and shoes, and also have a large custom tailor trade. Mr. Bascom is a thorough business man, enterprising and successful, and this establishment is recognized as one of the representative busi- ness houses, not only of Whitehall, but of Washington County.
Mr. Bascom married Elizabeth, daughter of Alfred and Sarah (Wright) Griswold, and they have four children, namely: Benjamin H. Jr., William C., Elizabeth and Harland J.
Mr. Bascom's parents were Benjamin J. and Ursula (Goodrich) Bas- com. Benjamin J. Bascom was born in Newport, N. H., February 12, 1806, and his wife was born in Benson, Rutland County, Vermont, March 10, 1806. He died in June, 1891, and his wife in July, 1884.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
ROBERT H. BRETT .- The subject of this sketch, who is one of Whitehall's substantial and enterprising citizens, is a native of this town, where he was born October 28, 1844. He was educated in the public schools of Whitehall, and after leaving school he entered his father's grocery store, where he worked intermittently for twenty years. During this time also he was inspector of boats on the canal, to which position he was appointed by the state.
In April, 1895, he established his present business, that of dealer in groceries. flour, feed, grain and horse clothing. The business has been a pronounced success from the outset and is today the leading house in its line in Whitehall.
Mr. Brett is a thorough business man, possessed of a high order of executive ability, which he evinced during his highly creditable war career and which has made him one of the sound men of Washington County. He is a veteran of the War of the Rebellion, having enlisted in August, 1863, in Company D., Second New York Veteran Cavalry. He participated with his regiment in all its operations during the last year of the war and was Quartermaster-Sergeant part of the time. He received his honorable discharge November 8, 1865, as Quarter- master-Sergeant.
Mr. Brett takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the public welfare of his village and county, and is particularly interested in the cause of education and is a member of the Whitehall School Board.
On May 8, 1867, Mr. Brett married Catharine, daughter of John and Mary Grady. They have one child, a daughter, Margaret J. Brett. Mr. Brett's parents were John and Margaret (Marshall) Brett.
Socially Mr. Brett is as much distinguished for his genial disposi- tion as he is in commercial circles for his sound judgment, and his business and financial standing place him in the front rank of the solid men of Washington County.
C. N. BROWN was born in Vermont, May 17, 1847, and received his education partly in his native state and partly in Fort Ann. He came to Fort Ann in 1859. When he first started in business he opened a meat market which he conducted for some years with great success
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
and then extending his operations, he became a wholesale meat dealer in the conduct of which he is still engaged. He also owns and man- ages a fine stock farm.
Mr. Brown is a prominent Mason and an active member of the Republican party. In 1871 he married Frances A. Brown of Fort Ann, and they have three children, namely: Fred A., Mary E. and Betsey E.
Mrs. Brown's parents were Pryer and Betsey Brown. Mr. Brown's father, Gardner Brown, was born in Dresden and his mother, Esther ( Nobles ) Brown was born in Vermont.
JOHN J. CUNNINGHAM, son of Edward and Mary J. ( Hart ) Cun- ningham, was born in Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., November 4, 1849. He was educated in the schools of Sandy Hill and at Troy, and began his active life as clerk in a store in Fort Edward, where he remained one year. Leaving this position, he went to Troy and entered upon the study of architecture and civil engineering, which he pursued for two years, and for the next seven years was engaged in contracting in the building line. At this time he was appointed special agent for James Shanahan, Superintendent of Public Works of the state of New York. Subsequently he received the appointment of Superintendent of Section No. 2, Champlain Canal, and filled this position for four years.
Mr. Cunningham has been a very active man all his life, and has been identified with many important interests, and has done a great deal of contracting as a builder. He was for a time connected with the Drake & Stratton Company of New York City, and while asso- ciated with that company he built the pulp and paper mills at Fort Edward, the power station at Carvers Falls, Vt., Alice Falls pulp mills, the pulp mills at Sandy Hill and Fort Miller, and carried through many other large and important contracts.
He is now a member of the McDonough-Cunningham Company of Troy, N. Y., the leading contracting firm in northeastern New York. They constructed the Indian River dam at Indian Lake.
Mr. Cunningham has always taken a great interest in his native place, and to his energy and enterprise Sandy Hill owes a great deal. Not only the business life of the place, but its public affairs and its
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
educational interests have always been matters of great importance to him. He has been President of the village of Sandy Hill, was for a number of years one of the village Trustees, and has held a seat in the Board of Education for a period of twenty years. He has been prominently identified with public matters and is a stockholder in the Sandy Hill Water Works, and was at one time connected with the pulp mills of Sandy Hill. To his enterprise also, Sandy Hill owes the fine Cunningham Hotel building, which is not only an ornament to the village, but is the finest hotel building in the county.
On November 20, 1873, John J. Cunningham married Mary J., daughter of Owen and Bee (Corcoran ) Kelley. They have seven children, namely: Edward J., Thomas H., John J., Jr., Eugene, Rosemary, Helen and Florence.
The second son, Thomas H. Cunningham, M. D., graduated from the Albany Medical College, in the class of 1899, and is now house surgeon in the Albany City Hospital.
LEONARD W. CRONKHITE was born in the village of Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., May 3, 1826. He was educated in the local schools, at Barnes' Classical School and the Granville Academy, enjoying educational advantages which were rare in those early days. After leaving school he took a position in a dry goods store and after five years' experience in this capacity he embarked in business on his own account as a merchant at Sandy Hill. This business he con- tinued successfully for twelve years. In 1860 Mr. Cionkhite engaged in the sheep raising business in Illinois, and subsequently in the ship timber business on Lake Huron, and in these undertakings he was successful. Subsequently he turned his attention to banking, both at Sandy Hill and in the state of Michigan. He is President of the Na- tional Bank of Sandy Hill. The National Bank of Sandy Hill has never failed to declare a semi-annual dividend, and has earned for its stockholders, for thirty-seven years, an average of over twenty per cent per annum. Mr. Cronkhite is also Director of the First National Bank of Fort Edward.
In 1852 Mr. Cronkhite married Bessie A. Green, daughter of Henry and Anna Green, of Queensbury, N. Y.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
Mr. Cronkhite is a member of the Baptist Church and for many years served as Deacon and as a member of the Board of Trustees of this society.
He has several times been elected presiding officer of the Union Baptist Association, and Treasurer of the Board. He has also taken a great personal interest in foreign missions and has contributed largely to their support. He also takes a deep interest in educational matters and has been President of the Board of Education of Sandy Hill. For many years also he has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Colgate University, and was Chairman of its Finance Committee for a considerable time. He has also served as a Director of the New York State Baptist Educational Society. This society has a record of aiding annually an average of one hundred young men for the ministry.
Mr. Cronkhite was also for many years a member of the Board of Directors of the Washington County Agricultural Society and served two terms as President of that society.
Leonard W. Cronkhite's parents were Woolsey and Ann (Freeman) Cronkhite. They were natives of Dutchess County, but settled in Washington County about the beginning of the nineteenth century. Woolsey Cronkhite was a merchant and manufacturer, a man of ster- ling worth and much ability, but he died when Leonard W. Cronkhite was only four years of age. Mr. Cronkhite has, therefore, attained his great success in life without any fraternal assistance and solely through his own energy, enterprise and ability.
JAMES H. CHEESMAN, one of the oldest and most reputable business men in the town of Fort Edward, was born in the town of Fort Ed- ward, Washington County, N. Y., April 8, 1837, and is a son of James and Olive (Ives) Cheesman.
He was educated at Fort Edward and began the active duties of life as a clerk for his father, who kept a general store in Fort Edward. Subsequently he occupied the position of clerk in a hardware store in Schenectady during the year 1857, and in 1858 embarked in business for himself, in the general merchandise line, in Fort Edward. In 1865 he engaged in the book and stationery business, which he has con- ducted for thirty-five years.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
On May 22, 1860, James H. Cheesman married Sarah S. Wright, daughter of George and LaVendee (Woodward) Wright. They have two children, Caroline E. and James Earl Cheesman.
Mr. Cheesman comes of an old and honorable American family, and during his long business life in Fort Edward, his career has been characterized by the highest integrity.
He is a member of Washington Council No. 261, Royal Arcanum, and of the A. O. U. W., Hudson Valley Lodge, No. 130, and was Town Clerk for twenty-five years.
BYRON A. CARR, Superintendent of the International Pulp, Paper and Sulphite Plant at Fort Edward, is eniitled to more than a passing mention in the history of Washington County, because of the position he occupies at the head of the great industrial enterprise at Fort Ed- ward, and one of the largest in the state.
He was born in Fulton County, N. Y., August 3, 1857, and was edu- cated at the Northville Union School. His first active occupation was that of a farmer in Washington County, which vocation he pursued for five years. He then took up the trade of millwright, and after three years' apprenticeship became a master mechanic. In his capacity of master mechanic and Superintendent he went to Glens Falls in June, 1882, and put up the Glens Falls mill, in connection with which he remained until 1890. On March 3Ist of that year he came to Fort Edward to assume the responsible position which he still holds and ably fills, that of Superintendent of the Pulp Mill, which gives employment to an average force of 550 men, and which manufactures into pulp 45,000 cords of wood annually.
Mr. Carr is not only prominently identified with a great industrial enterprise, but also with public affairs and educational matters, in particular, in which he takes a deep and intelligent interest. He has been a member of the Board of Education since 1891, and is also con- nected with the Business Men's Club of Fort Edward. He is a high up Mason, member of the Blue Lodge and Chapter at Fort Edward, of Washington Commandery No. 33, Saratoga Springs, and of the Shrine at Troy, N. Y.
In politics Mr. Carr is a Republican, and is a strong supporter of that party.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
On September 20, 1883, Mr. Carr married Mary E. Kenyon, and they have two children, Hugh B. and Blanche May. Mr. Carr's parents were Newton and Elizabeth (Ellithorpe) Carr. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, but his ancestors have been American for gener- ations. His great grandfather Carr was an Irishman and his mother's ancestors were Scotch.
MICHAEL E. CUSHING was born in Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., April 9, 1849, and is a son of Patrick and Catherine (Gethings) Cushing.
He was educated in the schools of Sandy Hill, and after leaving school, worked at the trade of carpenter until 1874, when he embarked in the contracting business, in which he has met with a great deal of success.
In 1887 and '88 he operated a sawmill in connection with his busi- ness, and he has done a great deal of work in the building trade in Sandy Hill, Glens Falls and vicinity.
Mr. Cushing married Eliza Joyce, daughter of John and Margaret Joyce, and they have one son, Paul M., born November 16, 1895.
Mr. Cushing is one of the representative business men of Sandy Hill, and is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and also of the Knights of Columbus and C. M. B. A.
JOHN W. CHAPMAN was born in the town of Hebron, Washington County, N. Y., November 23, 1817, and was educated at the common schools in the town of Hartford. He followed the occupation of far- mer until twenty-six years of age, when he started in the fruit growing business for himself. On January 4, 1843, he married Eliza Huggins, of Argyle, and they have a family of four children, namely: William J., Janet, James and Sarah J. Mr. Chapman's parents were Spencer and Sally (Ward) Chapman. Spencer Chapman was born at Belcher, in the town of Hebron, in 1795, and was a farmer. His wife, Sally Ward, was also born at Belcher, in the town of Hebron, in the year 1800. John W. Chapman bad one brother and one sister, viz: Alfred W. and Mary Chapman. Mr. Chapman's grandfather, Ebransessa
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Chapman, was a native of Massachusetts; his wife was Mary (Wilson) Chapman. Mrs. Chapman's parents were James and Mary Huggins. They had a family of six children, namely: William, Samuel, Mary Ann, Eliza and Lillie.
EDWARD C. COLLAMER was born in the town of Greenwich, Wash- ington County, N. Y., March 13, 1852, and was educated at the Fort Edward Institute, from which he graduated in 1873. After leaving school he remained on his father's farm for two years, when he pur- chased the farm, living there four years, when he embarked in the feed and produce business in Greenwich, which he carried on until about 1896, since which time he has been in the feed and mill business.
On December 25, 1876, Edward C. Collamer married Frances Baker, daughter of Richard and Lucinda (File) Baker. They have one daughter, Lena B., born November 9, 1878.
Mr. Collamer is a member of Union Village Lodge, No. 253, I. O. O. F., and also of the Encampment, and is a Past Grand in the subor- dinate lodge.
His parents were Foster W. and Sarah J. (Adams) Collamer.
Mr. Collamer has one brother and one sister, John E. Collamer, of Cambridge, N. Y., and Malinda, wife of W. V. K. Reynolds.
JOHN WOODS CAMPBELL was born in Ireland, December 6, 1874, and is a son of Robert and Mary (McRylond) Campbell. He was edu- cated in the Greenwich High School, and after leaving that institution engaged in farming and dairying, which he has since pursued, and is one of the representative farmers of the town of Easton.
Mr. Campbell has always been a strong Republican, but has never aspired to public office.
On August 3, 1899, John Woods Campbell married Mary Elizabeth Johnson, daughter of Henry and Anna (McArthur) Johnson, and they have one daughter, Helen Louise Campbell.
Mr. and Mrs. Campbell are members of the Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Campbell's ancestors were Scotch, but moved to Ireland on account of religious persecution. He traces his ancestry back to the Duke of Argyle, whose surname, as is well known, is Campbell.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
ROBERT C. DAVIES, M. D., was born in Oneida County, N. Y., Sept. 20, 1865, and received his early education in the High School at Hol- land Patent. He entered the Normal School at Cortland, N. Y., in 1885, but transferred to the Oneonta Normal at Oneonta, N. Y., in 1889, from which he graduated in 1891, after which he taught school for three years. In 1894 he entered the Medical College at Albany and was graduated from that institution in 1897 with the degree of M. D.
Dr. Davies first began the practice of his profession at Holland Patent, but in November, 1897, removed to Middle Granville and established himself permanently.
Here his ability and success in his profession have already given him a high standing, and he enjoys a constantly increasing practice.
On June 27, 1900, Dr. Davies married Semantha Lapham, only daughter of John R. and Ellen ( Cook ) Staples.
Dr. Davies takes an active interest in social organizations and is a member of the Masonic Lodge, No. 466, in Oneonta, N. Y., and of the South Poultney Court of Foresters, No. 3520. His parents were Benjamin and Margaret ( Williams ) Davies.
MRS. ADELIA DOUGAN, daughter of Isaac and Rhoda ( Nichols ) Norton, was born in Granville, Washington County, N. Y., Septem- ber 15, 1847. She was educated at the North Granville Academy and subsequently taught school for five years.
On March 21, 1871, she married M. W. Dougan. They had a family of three children, namely: Lewis, Alice and Stella.
M. W. Dougan was born January 1, 1840. and died September 16, 1886. He was born in the town of Thurman, Warren County, N. Y., and was educated at Fort Edward. After leaving school he entered the teachers' profession in which he was very successful. He taught school for thirty terms in all, and finally retired on account of his health, and embarked in farming, which he pursued until the time of his death.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
CHARLES A. DOREN, son of James and Arabella ( Francisco ) Doren, was born in Whitehall, Washington County, N. Y., in Angust, 1862. As soon as his school days were over he entered the employ of D. M. Reed, of Bridgeport, Conn., in the carpet department of his depart- ment store where he was employed from 1881 to 1883 inclusive. He then began an apprenticeship at the building business with J. D. Brown and remained with him for three years, when he became Superintendent for James Bowler in the building business, which position he occupied for one year, when he returned to Whitehall and was Superintendent for A. C. Hopson in the building business, for about three years. He next moved to Yonkers, where he was con- nected in the building trade with Joseph Wilson, but after a short time returned to Whitehall and formed a co-partnership with W. J. Edmonds, under the firm name of Edmonds & Doren, and this partner- ship continued from 1891 until 1896, when the firm was dissolved by mutual consent, and Mr. Doren has since continued the business alone.
In addition to his contracting business Mr. Doren is also interested in the general house furnishing and undertaking business of James Doren Sons. This business was established by James Doren, and after his death in 1898, he was succeeded by his four sons, namely: John J., Charles A., James E. and Fred C. Doren. The establish- ment is one of the largest furnishing houses in Washington County, and all the members of the firm are noted for their honorable busi- ness methods and fair dealings. In this establishment everything necessary for the complete furnishing of a house from kitchen to alcove can be found, and they have within the year 1900, developed an enormous trade in stoves and ranges in which line they are distinctly the leaders, their trade extending over a large part of Washington County and even into the state of Vermont.
Charles A. Doren is in every way one of the representative inen of Washington County. He is a prominent Odd Fellow, a member of Whitehall Lodge. No. 5, I. O. O. F., Whitehall Encampment No. 69, and Whitehall Canton No. 54 Patriarchs Militant, and was the represen- tative from Whitehall to the Grand Lodge in 1897.
He takes an active interest in the public welfare and advancement of Whitehall and held the office of Village Trustee from 1896 to 1898 inclusive.
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WASHINGTON COUNTY: ITS HISTORY.
On June 22, 1887, Mr. Doren married Alberta, daughter of Johnson and Minerva ( Starks ) Osgood.
Mr. Doren's father, James Doren, was one of the most prominent and successful business men of his day in Washington County. He was an energetic and progressive business man, and was the founder of the splendid business which is today conducted by his sons. He came to Whitehall in 1837 from Connecticut and from that date until 1898, when he died, he was a vital factor in both the commercial and public affairs of Washington County.
In politics he was an unswerving Republican, who stood high in the confidence and councils of his party, and who was repeatedly a mem- ber of the Republican County Committee, and several times Chairman of that body. He held the office of Deputy Sheriff for nine years, the very important one of Coroner for six years, and was Deputy Collector of Customs at Whitehall for many years. He took a deep interest in that most important of all public questions, education, and was for nearly thirty years a member of the Board of Education in Whitehall. He also took an active interest in the fire department and served as Assistant and Chief Engineer for eight years, and in the Order of Odd Fellows he was a member of both the Subordinate Lodge and the Encampment.
Indeed, every project or undertaking which had a worthy object in view always received his hearty and unstinted support, and the effects of his business energy and executive mind will long be both felt and observable in Whitehall.
When he first came to this village he was a lad fifteen years of age, possessing only a common school education. He at first entered the carpenter's and joiner's trade, with his half-brother, Oliver L. Steere, but in 1852 he branched off in the furnishing and undertaking busi- ness, and so inaugurated the business which has not only existed, but constantly grown for the past forty-eight years, and is today the leader in its line in the county.
In 1846 James Doren married Lovina Francisco, of West Pawlet, Vt., who died in 1855, one son, George, surviving her. In 1857 Mr. Doren married for his second wife Arabella Francisco, a sister of his former wife, and their children are John J., Charles A., James E. and Fred C.
James E., John J., and Fred C., were associated in business with their father, up to the time of his death.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
James Doren was born in Pomfret, Conn., February 16, 1822, and died in Whitehall in 1898.
MICHAEL C. DONEHUE, proprietor of the Arlington Hotel, White- hall, N. Y., is a son of Patrick and Margaret (Quinlan) Donehue, and was born in Whitehall, Washington County, N. Y., November 22, 1864.
His boyhood days were spent in the public school and on the farm, until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to work for his brother Cornelius in a hotel, and remained with him for three years. He then went to Albion, Nebraska, where he engaged in business on his own account for three years, when he returned to Fair Haven, and entered the service of the Valedo Marble Company, with whom he remained two years. He then opened the Lake House in Dresden on his own account, and conducted it successfully for eight years.
In January, 1898, he bought the Arlington Hotel at Whitehall, which has become, under his able management, one of the best hotels in the village.
In the summer of 1900 he made an addition 32×32, three stories high, to the hotel. The entire building is now 86x34, three stories, and has accommodations for one hundred guests.
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