USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 71
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On July 1, 1868, Charles Mellon married Martha Benjamin, daughter of Burr and Lucy Benjamin.
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REV. MICHAEL F. MCCARTHY was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, September 27, 1862, and is a son of John and Margaret (Sullivan) McCarthy, both of whom were natives of the City of Cork, Ireland. John McCarthy was a contractor in Chelsea, in which he settled in 1850.
Rev Michael F. McCarthy was educated at the public schools of Boston, from which he graduated, and then entered St. Charles Col- lege, Baltimore, Md., for the study of classics. He then took a course of study in St. Joseph's Seminary, Troy, N. Y., and after having com- pleted all his studies was ordained a priest June 10, 1888, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Albany, N. Y., by the Right Rev. Bishop McNeirny.
His first charge was St. Joseph's Church, Albany, N. Y., under Bishop Burke, who was then Vicar General of the Albany Diocese. There he remained until April 22, 1899, when he was sent to Saratoga, after the death of Father J. J. McDonnell, to act as administrator of the parish. In the fall of 1899 he was appointed pastor of the Church of our Lady of Mount Carmel, at Middle Granville, N. Y., his parish also including an out mission at West Granville.
The parish at Middle Granville is thirty-two years old, and the church was built by the people before they had a priest, and they asked for one when they had the church built. The first pastor was the Rev. W. B. Hannett, who was succeeded by Rev. John Hayden, whose pastorate extended over a period of twenty-one years. He was succeeded by Rev. J. P. O'Connor, who had charge from 1895 until 1899.
The out mission at West Granville is the oldest in northern New York. The little church in which people came miles to worship, over sixty years ago, is still attached to the present church there. In those days everybody walked or drove to the service, for twenty miles around, and the priest came to West Granville to say mass. The present church at West Granville was built in 1858.
The congregation at Middle Granville embraces about sixty-five families, and the out mission at West Granville about fifty-six fam- ilies. Both churches are in a flourishing condition, and out of debt.
The church edifice at Middle Granville and the rectory are built of brick and are located in a commanding position on Dayton avenue, overlooking from their prominent location the beautiful valley of the
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Mettowee. The church interior is strikingly beautiful, all the win- dows being memorial windows, and the stations handsome oil paintings. [Rev. Father McCarthy died since the above was written. ]
ALEXANDER MCGEOCH was born in the town of Argyle, Washington County, N. Y., October 8, 1868, and was educated at the Argyle Academy, from which he was graduated in 1869. After completing his education he took up farming, which he has made his life's voca- tion. On December 18, 1892, Mr. McGeoch married Agnes Foster, a native of Shushan, and who graduated from the Cambridge Academy in 1892. They have one son, J. A. McGeoch. Mr. McGeoch's parents were John and Mary L. (Fullerton) McGeoch. His grandparents were Alexander and Jennet McGeoch, who were natives of Scotland.
JOSEPH MCMILLAN, M. D .- Dr. McMillan, one of the most popular and professionally successful physicians and surgeons of Washington County, was born in the town of Jackson, this county, on the farm of his father, July 12, 1869. He first attended school at what was known as the Red School House, which stood near his father's residence, and subsequently prepared for college at the Washington Academy, Cam- bridge. He then took a course in Cornell College, after which he entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, which is the medical department of Columbia College, and was graduated in the class of 1894. Immediately after graduating he accepted a posi- tion on the medical staff of the Vanderbilt Hospital, where he served for three years, and during a period of four years he spent a greater part of the afternoon of each day as physician and surgeon at the Presbyterian Hospital. He was also on the staff of the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital for a period of two years. While holding all these positions he was a regular practicing physician in New York City, with an office on 47th street. In 1899 Dr. McMillan came to Cambridge and established his office centrally on Main street, and from the very outset met with a very gratifying success. In addition to being a regular physician and surgeon, he is a specialist on the eye, car and throat.
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Dr. McMillan is a son of Morrison McMillan and Mary (Robertson) McMillan. His grandfather, John McMillan, was a captain in the War of 1812.
As the name would indicate, the McMillans are of Scotch descent, and Dr. McMillan's ancestors were among the very early settlers in Washington County. His brother, John L. McMillan, is the inventor of the McMillan typesetting machine.
WARREN H. MIDDLEWORTH .- The subject of this sketch was born at Sandy Hill June 4th, 1848, and was educated at the Fort Edward Institute. His first business experience was in the livery line which he followed successfully for ten years. In 1882 he began his career as a hotel man in which he has shown great enterprise. In the year named he leased and remodeled the Diamond Point Hotel on Lake George.
In 1884 he built the Agawam hotel, which was destroyed by fire in 1890, but which he rebuilt and opened again in 1891, and has since conducted as a summer hotel, one of the finest resorts on the historic lake, which has become one of the most favorite watering places in this state.
Mr. Middleworth's parents were Henry V. and Oril (Weatherbee) Middleworth. Henry V. Middleworth was a native of Washington County, having been born at Greenwich in 1813, and was one of the most prominent men of Sandy Hill up to the time of his death. He built the Middleworth block in that village, which is still the largest business structure in the corporation. His wife was a daughter of Captain Weatherbee who was a distinguished soldier in the Revolu- tionary War.
Warren H. Middleworth married on May 27, 1870, Eunice, daughter of Perry and Sophia (Ives) Scoville. They have five children living, namely : Henry V., Wilbur R., Grace M., Maud M. and LeRoy E.
Mr. Middleworth is a member of Bolton Landing Lodge, No. 556, I. O. O. F., of the Royal Arcanum and of the Episcopal Church. In politics he is Democratic, but has never sought office. yet he has attained distinction in political campaigns as a writer and singer of campaign songs. He is a warm advocate of silver and also of the great exponent of bi-metalism, Hon. W. J. Bryan.
For Middlewith
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O. H. MOTT, M. D., was born in Old Saratoga, Saratoga County, N. Y., and was educated at the Collegiate Institute in Saffield, Conn., and the New York Homeopathic College, from which institution he was graduated in the class of 1873. He first began the active practice of his profession at Glens Falls, N. Y., where he was located from April until October, 1873, at which time he settled permanently in Fort Ann. Here he has since pursued his profession continuously, except for a few months when he took a trip to South America and through Brazil.
Dr. Mott is a prominent Mason, a member of Mount Hope Lodge, Fort Edward Chapter, Washington Council, Whitehall, Washington Commandery and the Oriental Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Troy. He is also a member of the Albany County Medical Society, of the Washington County Medical Society and the New York State Homco- pathic Society.
His parents were Lafayette and Mary (Weston) Mott. His ances- tors were originally French-Huguenots, who immigrated to Holland whence some of their posterity came over to Manhattan Island. From Manhattan Island the family came to Dutchess County, N. Y., and from Dutchess County the Doctor's grandfather, Jesse Mott, moved into Saratoga County, of which he was one of the early settlers.
WILLIAM B. MELICK, M. D .- The subject of this sketch was born in Albany, N. Y., October 19, 1858, and received his literary educa- tion in the Albany High School and Williams College, graduating from the latter institution in the class of 1881. He then took a medi- cal course in the Albany Medical College and was graduated in the class of 1884, at the end of an unusually creditable course. After graduating he spent a year and a half in the Albany Hospital and subsequently took a post-graduate course in the University of New York. In the fall of 1885 he established himself in Fort Edward, where for the past fifteen years he has successfully continued the practice of his profession and has attained a high reputation as an able physician and surgeon.
He is a member of the State Medical Society, of the Glens Falls, Sandy Hill and Fort Edward Medical Society, of the Saratoga Medi-
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cal Society and of the Washington County Medical Society, of which he is an ex-president. He is also a prominent Mason, a member of Fort Edward Lodge, No. 267, F. & A. M., Fort Edward Chapter No. 171, R. A. M., Washington Commandery No. 33, K. T., Saratoga Springs, and of the Imperial Council Mystic Shrine, Oriental Temple of Troy, N. Y.
In politics Dr. Melick has always been a staunch Republican and has taken an active part in the public affairs of Washington County, always being in line with the regular organization.
On September 5, 1888, Dr. Melick married Rose L. Mory, and they have one daughter, Ruth. His parents were James H. and Ruth (Breese) Melick of Wyoming, Penn.
Some of his mother's ancestors were in the Wyoming massacre when the Indians devastated the Susquehanna valley, and ancestors on both sides were soldiers in the Revolutionary War. An ancestor on his mother's side also fought in the Battle of Hastings.
His grandfather was one of the original signers of the Federation of the General Association of the State of Pennsylvania. His ances- tors on his father's side were Germans and came from Koblentz and settled in New Jersey. The first representative was Jacob Mehleck, now spelled Melick. On his mother's side, his ancestors came from England and settled in Connecticut about the year 1630.
Dr. Melick owes his large practice and popularity, not only to his well known success as a physician and surgeon, but also to his geniality and the fact that he keeps abreast of the times, not only in his profession, but on all public questions of the day.
GEORGE H. MCFARLAND was born in Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., March 30, 1837, being the second son of Samuel and Martha (Hill) McFarland, grandson of James and Nancy (Thomas) Hill, and great grandson of Captain Alexander Thomas, who served with distinction during the War for Independence.
Mr. McFarland was educated principally at the Cambridge Wash- ington Academy, where he was a pupil of Rev. Charles S. Robinson, the distinguished Presbyterian clergyman and writer of hymn books.
After leaving school Mr. McFarland entered the employ of Charles Porter, a well known merchant of Cambridge. Shortly after he went
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to Troy and was associated with William B. Fry & Son, with whom he remained until the business was discontinued, on the death of Mr. Fry. Mr. McFarland then became a partner in the firm of George Bristol & Company. He withdrew from this firm in 1866 and went to New York, where he was associated with H. B. Claflin & Company. Later he became a partner in the dry goods firm of F. N. Hamlin & Company, of Chicago, he being the New York representative of the firm.
While in Troy, in 1862, Mr. McFarland enlisted in Company G, 24th Regiment, National Guard, and served with it until he left Troy in 1866.
Mr. McFarland has now retired from active business, and while he spends some time in New York, his home is in Cambridge, just out- side the corporate limits of the village.
He has been quite active in the affairs of his town, serving two years as Excise Commissioner, and at the present writing is President of the Board of Trustees of Woodlawn Cemetery Association, of Cam- bridge; a member of the Board of Education ; a member of the Board of Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and one of the Direc- tors of the Cambridge Village Improvement Association.
Mr. McFarland is also a member of the Empire State Society, Sons of the American Revolution.
EDWARD P. NEWCOMB is a native and life-long resident of White- hall, Washington County, where he was born October 28, 1856. He was educated in the public schools of his native place and at the Epis- copal Institute at Burlington, Vermont, where for two years he stood at the head of the school. Returning to Whitehall from school at Burlington he engaged in the lumber and transportation business, being associated with his elder half brother, Robert II. Cook. Since that time he has been constantly engaged in the transportation busi- ness and has been Secretary and Treasurer of the New York & Lake Champlain Transportation Company since 1885.
In politics Mr. Newcomb has always been an ardent Republican, standing high in the councils of his party and always giving it his earnest and effective support. He has been President of the village of Whitehall for two terms and is now President of the Board of Edu- cation, a position he has held for the past ten years, as the result of
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the deep and intelligent interest which he takes in educational mat- ters. He has also held the position of Town Clerk and was appointed special agent of the Postal Department under President Arthur, serving in the northwest. He is also a prominent Mason and is a member of all branches of that order; a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 96, F. & A. M., Champlain Chapter No. 25, R. A. M., Washing- ton Council, No. 52, Washington Commandery No. 33, Saratoga Springs, Oriental Shrine at Troy, N. Y. He has been Worshipful Master of Phoenix Lodge and was also District Deputy of the Masonic District including Washington County.
Mr. Newcomb is not only an enterprising and successful business man, but is one of the best known and most popular citizens of Washington County. He is always interested in every project look- ing toward the advancement of his community and county and all such receive his unstinted support. Not only in business, but in every public office he has held, he has faithfully directed the energies of an unusually bright and comprehensive mind to the duties which lay before him, and always with the most pronounced success.
On September 15, 1880, Mr. Newcomb married Jennie Watson of Whitehall, and they have a family of three children, namely: Robert C., Kenneth Watson and Georgia Aileen Newcomb.
Mr. Newcomb's parents were Dr. John E. and Fannie (Boynton) Newcomb. Dr. John E. Newcomb was a native of Dutchess County, and settled in Whitehall, and became not only one of the most distin- guished physicians of northern New York, but also a large land holder. He was also a man of inventive genius, and invented a mowing machine and a reaper, the latter proving a great success. He was a descendant from Captain Thomas Newcomb of Revolution- ary fame.
JAMES M. NORTHUP was born in 1867, at Hartford, N. Y. He received his early education in the public schools of that place and at Eastman's Business College, at Poughkeepsie, from which institution he was graduated in 1885.
In 1893 James M. Northup married Lillian Hodgeman, and they have one son, J. Frederick Northup, who was born in 1894; and one daughter, Maude Francis Northup, born in 1900. Mr. Northup comes from one of the oldest and most highly respected families of
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Washington County. His parents are H. Davis and Pamelia (Waite) Northup. His grandfather settled in Hartford soon after the Revo- lutionary War. His grandfather, James M. Northup, was for many years the largest potato buyer in Washington County, and a portrait of this estimable man appears in another part of this work.
CHARLES A. NORTON was born in the town of Hartford, Washing- ton County, N. Y., May 17, 1849, and was educated in the common schools of his native place. He has followed farming all his life since his boyhood, with the exception of about three years, during which he was engaged as salesman in a mercantile business in Hartford and at Plainville, N. Y.
Mr. Norton has always taken an intelligent interest in the progress and welfare of his town, and held the office of town collector of taxes, has also been Trustee of his School District for several years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hartford, and has always been friendly to the temperance cause.
On December 24, 1873, Mr. Norton married Sarah E. Brown. Their children are William D., Susie O. and Annie E.
Mr. Norton's parents were Daniel and Olivia S. (Snow) Norton, both of whom were natives of the town of Hartford and always resided there.
Mrs. Norton's parents were William and Mary Ann (Smith) Brown.
ROBERT R. LAW .- There is no man in Washington County with a wider acquaintance than Robert R. Law; indeed, he is generally regarded as an authority on men and things of the past and present. He was born in the town of Jackson, Washington County, N. Y., No- vember 30, 1854, and received his education at the common schools and the Cambridge Washington Academy.
In 1873 he took up the printer's trade, in the office of the Washing- ton County Post. Here his ability was immediately recognized, and for several years after serving his apprenticeship the columns of the Post were greatly stimulated and enriched by his ready pen. During
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his early newspaper experience, he took up the study of stenography, and without an instructor became so proficient that his services came into demand, doing court reporting in March, 1879.
On August 8, 1884, Mr. Law became a partner in the Washington County Post, in company with Hon. James S. Smart, under the firm name and style of James S. Smart & Co., and the partnership con- tinued until July, 1889, when it was dissolved by mutual consent, Mr. Law's stenographie engagements making it necessary.
O11 June 14, 1888, he received the appointment of official court sten- ographer for the Fourth Judicial District of the State of New York, and has continuously held that position up to the present time.
Mr. Law has been actively identified with the public affairs of Washington County for over twenty years. In 1879 he was Clerk of the Board of Supervisors; in 1882 he was elected to the Board of Edu- cation, and has been a member of the board ever since. He has held the office of Village Clerk, and has several times been sent as delegate to political conventions. In politics he is Republican, and a liberal supporter of this party.
When the new High School question was first agitated, Mr. Law became at once its champion, and worked unceasingly until his desires were consummated, and the handsome and commodions building was erected, which is an ornament and a credit to the village of Cambridge.
He was admitted to the bar in 1891.
In 1877 Mr. Law married Mary Josepha Woodard of East Green- wich, N. Y., daughter of James Woodard, and they have one daughter, Ethel.
Mr. Law's great grandfather, Captain George Gilmore, was a Revo- lutionary soldier, and was in the battle of Bennington.
The Law family came to this country from Ireland in 1789, where they had previously lived in Belfast. They were Scoth-Irish, and the good, sturdy old blood has shown itself in every generation by the prominent and capable men who have distinguished this family.
Mrs. Law's great-grandfather, John Wier of Cambridge, N. Y., was a soldier in the French and Indian wars. He was with Sir William Johnson in the Mohawk valley conflicts and had the reputa- tion of being the best rifle shot of his time. He was also a Revolu- tionary soldier, and on one occasion, learning from Tory relatives that the Hessians were enroute to assault the American troops at Benning-
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ton, he went alone, and on foot, from Cambridge to Bennington, and informed General Starks of the approach of the British. Within a few hours of his arrival, the British columns came in sight and General Starks made the memorable remark to his troops, "The Redcoats are ours before night or Molly Starks is a widow."
A Revolutionary ancestor of Mrs. Law was Captain Alexander 'Thomas of Rhode Island. Amos Woodard, her great-grandfather, was also a soldier.
The ancestry of this family is traced to Richard Woodard, who came from Suffolk, England, in 1636, and settled in Watertown, Mass.
From the foregoing it will be seen that the ancestors of this family on both sides played an important part in the history, not only of Washington County, but of the United States, and in the historic sec- tion of the country where the success of the patriot arms first made the independence of the United States possible.
OWEN W. OWEN'S SONS .- This is one of the best known firms in Washington County, N. Y., and the individual members are David O. Owen, Robert O. Owen and William O. Owen, all of whom were partners with their father previous to his death. They are extensive dealers in slate and their offices are located in the Hays Block, Main street, Granville, N. Y. They are all natives of North Wales and came to this country in 1884.
Immediately after he came to this country, Owen W. Owen pur- chased a small quarry in Pawlet, Vt., which he developed and to which he added by leasing adjacent land. He died in 1890, and the business has since been conducted and largely extended by his enter- prising sons.
All the members of this firm are prominent and popular gentle- men, socially as well as in a business way, and are members of the Ivorites of Middle Granville.
David O. and Robert O. Owen are both members of the Granville Lodge, No. 55. F. & A. M., and also of Sylvan Chapter and the Eas- tern Star.
William O. Owen is a member of the Odd Fellows' fraternity. Robert O. Owen is a noted musician and is a pianist from the Boston Conservatory of Music. He has played in church ever since he was
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eleven years of age, and for Welch festivals. He took a national first prize in Wales as a pianist when but fourteen years old. He is organist for the Welch church at Granville. Their father, Owen W. Owen, was also a musician of note and a composer, and was for twenty years choir leader in Wales. He was also an enterprising and successful business man, as his establishment and development of his quarries in Pawlet show.
In 1892 Robert O. Owen married Mary Williams, daughter of Robert Williams, the general superintendent for General Hughes. She died in August, 1898, leaving one son, Owen.
David O. has been married twice. His first wife was Ella Jones, sister of Owen D. Jones of Granville, and his second wife was Jennie Roberts of Oneida County, N. Y.
Robert O. was Trustee of the village of Granville for one term in 1897-98.
Their mother's maiden name was Ella Evans, and her father, David Evans, was a prominent divine in Wales in the Calvinist Methodist Church.
LEWIS R. OATMAN, M. D., was born in the town of Hebron, Wash- ington County, N. Y., October 31, 1867, and received his early educa- tion in the Union School at West Hebron, N. Y. He then entered the Albany Medical College at Albany, N. Y., and was graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D., in the class of 1891. After graduating he went to Ward's Island Hospital, where he had the benefit of a large and varied experience, and in 1892 he located in Gloversville, N. Y., where he practiced his profession until the spring of 1900, when he came to Greenwich. While at Gloversville Dr. Oatman was visiting surgeon at Nathan Littauer's Hospital for four years, and was president of the staff of that hospital during the year 1899. He was a member of the Fulton County Medical Society for seven years, and was its president one year. He was also County Physician one year, and City Physician for three years.
Dr. Oatman makes a specialty of surgery, in which he is an expert, and has always been eminently successful.
On September 27, 1893, Dr. Oatman married Agnes E. Morris, daughter of Rev. A. W. and Laura (Gilkerson) Morris. They have one daughter, Charlotte, born September 24, 1895.
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Dr. Oatman's parents were Isaac H. and Charlotte (Chapman) Oat- man. Isaac H. Oatman was born May 17, 1825, and was of Holland descent. The Chapmans are of English descent.
Dr. Oatman is a member of Lone Star Lodge, No. 39, I. O. O. F., and in politics is a staunch Republican.
JOHN O'NEIL, proprietor of the well known Temple of Economy, one of the finest general stores in Washington County, was born in Rutland. Vt., February 19, 1852. He was educated in the public schools of his native town, and began the active duties of life in the capacity of a clerk in the establishment of W. R. Gilmore, of Rutland, with whom he remained for a short time. For the next three years he worked on the farm of W. F. Barnes, when he entered the employ of the Rensselaer & Saratoga Railroad, in the capacity of Assistant Agent, and remained in that office for two years, when he embarked in the grocery business on his own account. After conducting this business successfully for two years he entered into partnership with his brother James, and opened a general store in Burlington, Vt., under the firm name of O'Neil Brothers. They continued business for two years, when John O'Neil sold out his interest and returned to Rutland, where he formed a copartnership with Charles Quigley, under the firm name of O'Neil & Quigley. This partnership existed for two and one-half years, when they dissolved, and Mr. O'Neil came to Whitehall and began his prosperous business career in this place. He first opened a high class wholesale and retail liquor store and the year following he added a splendid department store, which today is said to be the largest in Washington County. The business is divided into departments, each in charge of a competent clerk and assistants. The business done in this establishment is very large, and Mr. O'Neil is universally recognized as one of the most prominent and influential citizens and merchants of Whitehall.
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