USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 76
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Mr. Vaughan is one of the prominent men of Washington County, both in business and public life, and has been an important factor in the public affairs of the town of Fort Ann for the past quarter of a century.
EDWARD WALL was born in the town of Webster, Mass., in the year 1833, and received his education in the schools of his native place. On March 14, 1874, he came to the town of Fort Ann, Wash- ington County, N. Y., and took charge of the Kane's Falls Woolen Mills. For a period of eighteen years, from 1874 until 1892, he con- ducted these mills, and was principally instrumental in giving them the high reputation which they have attained all over the country. In 1892 he built his knitting mills at Fort Ann village, which he is now conducting with great success. He employs a large force of opera- tives, and his mills are kept running night and day. His product of knit goods have a high reputation all over the United States.
Mr. Wall has never taken any active part in public affairs, the demands of his manufacturing enterprise taking all of his time, but
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he is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, with which he has been united since 1860.
In 1851 Mr. Wall married Vesta Ann Smith, at North Adams, Mass. They have three children, namely: Robert Wall, who is a professor in a college in Virginia; Edward Wall, who is associated in business with his father, and Miss Vesta Wall.
Mr. Wall's parents were James and Mary Wall, and both were natives of Ireland.
Mr. Wall's knitting mills are the only industrial enterprise in the village of Fort Ann, and one of the few manufacturing concerns in Washington County. The enterprise has been brought to its present flourishing condition entirely through Mr. Wall's enterprise and busi- ness ability.
He is one of the successful men of the county, and also one who takes an interest in everything pertaining to the interests of his locality and country.
H. W. VANDEWERKER, M. D., who has for some time been an acknowledged leading physician of Sandy Hill, was born at Fort Mil- ler in the town of Fort Edward, Washington County, N. Y., October 8, 1855. He received his literary education at the Fort Edward In- stitute, from which he was graduated in the class of 1875, and the Albany Normal School from which he graduated in 1877. He also took a course in Eastman's Business College at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In the mean time, however, he had been teaching school, which he began in 1875, occupying positions in various places, among others in the Glens Falls Seminary where he taught for two years. His teach- ing career extended up to 1884 when he went to New York City and became an apothecary in the Homœopathic Hospital, during which time he was also attending college. This position he occupied for one year. During the second and third years he was assistant house surgeon in the hospital. He then entered the New York Homœo- pathic Medical College, and after a highly creditable course was graduated in the class of 1888 with the degree of M. D. In October of that year he went to Hartford, Conn., and was interne in the Mattewee Hospital until 1890, in which year he established himself permanently at Sandy Hill.
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From the very outset his success as a physician was assured and he soon had not only a large practice, but is recognized as a lead- ing physician of the county. His great success is directly attrib- utable to his progressiveness in his profession, although, at the same time, he is thoroughly practical and retains all the best attainments of the older schools. He is also highly popular personally and is distinguished as much for his culture as for his professional learning.
He is a member of the State Homoeopathic Society of New York and of the American Institute of Homœopathy, and is a valued con- tributor to some of the leading medical journals of his school of prac- tice. He is also medical examiner for many insurance companies.
On June 20, 1883, Dr. Vandewerker married Mary, daughter of John and Jane (Wing) Andrews of Patten's Mills, Washington County. His parents were James H. and Mary (Wheeler) Vande- werker, both of whom were natives of Saratoga County.
His grandfather, Martin Vandewerker, was one of four brothers who came to this country from Holland in early Colonial days and took up and settled upon a tract of land in the town of Northumber- land, Saratoga County. From these brothers all the Vandewerkers in this part of the country have descended.
His maternal grandfather, Hiram Wheeler, was a son of Alonzo Wheeler, who was born and reared in Saratoga County, and who was one of the historic figures of that historic county. He kept the old Wheeler tavern located midway between Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls, and later on he owned and conducted a store at Fortsville.
James Vandewerker, the Doctor's father, was born in 1829 at Northumberland, Saratoga County. He learned the trade of jeweler and was for many years a prominent jeweler at Fort Miller.
CHARLES W. WILLIAMSON was born in the town of Putnam, Wash- ington County, N. Y., and was educated in the common schools of his native town, and at the Seminary of Putnam, N. Y.
Mr. Williamson is both a farmer and boarding house keeper, and with the exception of three years spent in Fort Edward, has always lived on the same place. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of the Blue Lodge, No. 794, Mount Defiance Lodge, Ticonderoga.
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Mr. Williamson is a Republican in politics and has always given his party his most liberal support, and has himself held several important offices. He was Town Clerk for the long term of thirty years, namely: from 1868 to 1898, except the time spent in Fort Edward. He was also Town Collector for two years, Constable six years and Deputy Sheriff six years.
On July 28th, 1883, Charles W. Williamson married Louise Clark of Ontario, Canada. Mr. Williamson's parents were Daniel and Mary Ann (Race) Williamson.
The Williamson family is of Scotch descent, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch coming to this country from Scotland in 1803.
LEMUEL E. WICKS was born at Lake George February 27, 1877. His parents were Charles H. and Mary (Lander) Wicks. He was educated in the Union School at Glens Falls and after completing his education worked on a farm by the month for a time and then settled on the farm where he now resides, where he carries on a general farming business, but makes his dairy business a specialty. Mr. Wicks is a Republican in politics and is a member of Fort Edward Lodge No. 267, F. & A. M.
On April 4, 1900, Lemuel E. Wicks married Julia E. Carl, daughter of John Carl.
The Wicks family is of Scotch descent.
WILLIAM GRANT WATSON, son of Vernon and Mary (Barber) Wat- son, was born in the town of Greenwich, Washington County, N. Y., January 14, 1837. He was educated in the schools of his native town and has always been a farmer excepting three years, when he was serving his country as a faithful soldier in the War of the Rebellion. He was among the men who took up arms during the first year of the war, having enlisted November 1, 1861, in Company C, 77th New York Volunteer Infantry. He served for three years and received his honorable discharge in the fall of 1864.
On November 14, 1861, William Grant Watson married Josephine, daughter of Dailey and Mariah (Baldwin) Kenyon, who died in No-
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vember, 1868, leaving one daughter, Nettie M., who married John E. Legget.
In August, 1872, Mr. Watson married for his second wife Mary J., daughter of Alexander and Reconcile (Terry) Carswell. They have one daughter, Jennie, wife of John W. Livermore.
Mr. Watson is one of the respected and representative farmers of the town of Fort Edward, and is a member of Mills Post, No. 491, G. A. R., of Grange No. 812, and of the Baptist Church.
He has also served the town for two terms as Justice of the Peace and as Assessor for two terms.
ALBERT WHITESIDE was born in South Cambridge, Washington County, N. Y., June 29, 1846, and was educated at the Cambridge Washington Academy. After leaving school he embarked in the business of farming, which he has pursued all his life.
On September 26, 1881, he married Ida Pease, daughter of Albert S. Pease, journalist, and founder of the Troy Daily Press. They had one child, Ida Whiteside. Mrs. Whiteside died, and subsequently, on January 1, 1885, Mr. Whiteside married Nellie Pease, a sister of his first wife. They have two boys, Henry and John.
Mr. Whiteside's parents were Henry and Margaret Whiteside.
The founder of the Whiteside family in America was Phineas White- side, who was a native of Tyrone County, Ireland, where he was born January 31, 1716. He came to America and settled in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. He was Ruling Elder in a Scotch Covenanter Church, and came to Cambridge in that capacity with John Cuthbert- son, a missionary, in 1764. In 1766 he again came north and leased 1400 acres of land, in what is now South Cambridge, Washington County. He had a family of six sons and one daughter, and as his sons came of age, he gave them 200 acres of land each. His son John took the farm now owned by his grandson, Robert McMurray; Wil- liam took the farm now owned by Thomas Watt; Peter took the farm now owned by his granddaughter, Mrs. Catharine Thayer; Thomas took what is now Mrs. Marion Whiteside's farm, and Edward, the farm now owned by Albert Whiteside.
Oliver remained in the old homestead with his father, which is now in possession of Mrs. Thayer. The daughter, Ann, married John
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Cochrane, and received the farm now owned by Jeremiah Donahue.
Three of these sons, namely: John, William and Peter, were Revo- lutionary soldiers.
One of the oldest churches in Washington County is the church at West Cambridge, known as the Whiteside Church, which was started by a legacy of one hundred pounds sterling, left for that purpose in the will of Mrs. Phineas Whiteside. Other members of the family contributed enough so as to have the church completed in 1800. It is, therefore, one century old. The first pastor was Rev. John Dun- lap. In 1825 the church was remodeled. For the first thirty-five years it was conducted in connection with the Associated Reform Church (now the United Presbyterian) of Cambridge, but since 1873 it has been associated with the Coila Church, and Rev. John Scott is the pastor.
Albert Whiteside has one of the finest farms in New York State. It comprises 250 acres of fertile rolling land, and his residence is within fifteen minutes' drive of the railroad depot at South Cambridge.
WALTER A. WARNER, son of Walter G. and Mary E. (O'Rielly) Warner, was born in Whitehall, N. Y., March 1, 1865. He attended the public schools of his native town and graduated from the High School in 1881. He then accepted a clerkship with Fred Gaylord, with whom he remained for a short time, when he decided to take up dentistry, and went to Elizabeth, N. J., and entered the office of his uncle, Dr. Eaton, a noted dentist of that city. After two years in that office he took an aversion to dentistry and went to New York, where he soon found employment as bookkeeper in a large wholesale house, and remained there for three years. At this time a better position was offered him in the employ of S. K. Griswold, Whitehall, where he acted in the capacity of bookkeeper for a period of nine years. On August 1, 1898, he formed a partnership with James P. King, under the style of King & Warner, and they are one of the rep- resentative business houses of Whitehall. They deal extensively in gent's furnishing, boots and shoes.
Mr. Warner is a descendant of Colonel Seth Warner. His ancestors on his father's side were of Welsh descent. The Clarks, of which family he is a descendant, came to Massachusetts in 1630. His great
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grandfather, James Adams, came from England and settled in West Haven, Vt. His father was in the War of the Rebellion, and was on General Paul's staff as Adjutant. At the time of his death he was Cashier of the old National Bank.
LEVI WOLFE was born in Western, N. Y., in November, 1860, and received his education in the district schools of his native town. His first business occupation was in the capacity of clerk for C. A. Hicks, which position he occupied two years. In 1884 he began the manu- facture of cheese on his own account at North Granville, and has since been continuously engaged in this occupation. His factory has a capacity of 125,000 pounds a year.
In 1883 Mr. Wolfe married Lettie Pearl, and they have a family of six children, namely: E. Gordon, Beulah, Jessie M., Harry L., Ruth and Davis.
Mr. Wolfe's father, Jacob Wolfe, died in 1896. His mother, Agatha (Hess) Wolfe, died in 1895.
Mr. Wolfe's business and factory are at North Granville, but he resides in the town of Whitehall, on his farm, and is one of the most prominent and respected citizens of the two towns.
EDGAR P. WALKER, son of William and Rachel (Wetherbee) Walker, was born in the town of Dresden, Washington County, N. Y., July 30, 1849, and was educated in the public schools of Dresden and Bolton, at a select school in Sandy Hill, and at the Warrensburgh Academy. His first employment was in the capacity of a clerk for G. V. Lansing, at Stillwater, where he remained one year, after which he was one year with J. J. Lansing. He then engaged in business for himself for two years, after which he was engaged in farming until 1886, when he went to Saratoga. He remained in Saratoga two years, and then returned to Whitehall and established a grocery business, which he has since conducted, and built up into a large and flourishing enterprise.
On November 9, 1899, he was burned out, and in less than five hours after the fire, he was located in his present place on Canal street, where his trade followed him.
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In April, 1877, Mr. Walker married Abbie M., daughter of Andrew J. and Elizabeth (Osgood) Walker. They have a family of seven children, namely: Isadore, Jesse, Grace, Helen, Chester, Stella and Gertrude.
Mr. Walker is a prominent Mason, and is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 96, F. & A. M., Champlain Chapter No. 25, and Washing- ton Commandery No. 33, Saratoga Springs.
He is a very progressive business man, and has many friends among his townsmen.
L. G. WINEGAR was born in the town of Fort Ann, September 13, 1861, and received his education in the district schools. His first occupation was that of a farmer, in which industry he was engaged until 1891, when he opened a general store in West Fort Ann and has since conducted that business with marked and increasing success.
Mr. Winegar was first married to Eva Skinner, who died leaving one son, Carmin L. Winegar, who was born September 3, 1885, and one daughter, Mabel E., who was born September 5, 1886. On Feb- ruary 11, 1891, Mr. Winegar married Helen M. Belden. Mr. Wine- gar's parents were Chester and Jane Winegar, both natives of Fort Ann. Mr. Winegar is one of the most enterprising and successful business men in the town of Fort Ann.
JOHN R. WILLETT was born in the town of Argyle, Washington County, N. Y., June 21, 1830. He is a farmer by occupation, and has been a veterinary surgeon for thirty-five years, and is still engaged in both his occupation and profession.
Mr. Willett is a prominent member of the Washington County Agricultural Society, in which he has taken an active part for over twenty years. He was President of the society for one term and has held nearly every office in the society.
In politics he is a Democrat and held the office of Town Assessor for three years. He ran for the office of County Sheriff in 1891 and made a splendid contest, surprising the Republicans of this strong Republican county by carrying several Republican towns by good majorities.
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In 1860 John R. Willett married Nancy W. Harsha. Their children are Jennie, wife of Edward McEachron of Omaha, Neb., and Hen- rietta, wife of Samuel B. Charles, M. D., of Denver, Col.
Mr. Willetts' parents were Cornelius and Anna (Lytle) Willett. Cornelius Willett was a soldier in the War of 1812. He was not of age when he enlisted, but was assisted to a position in the American ranks by his patriotic mother. His grandfather was a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary War.
GEORGE H. WILBUR was born in the town of Easton, Washington County, N. Y., October 17, 1859, and is the son of George and Hulda Jane (Robinson) Wilbur.
He was educated in the district schools and at Marshall Seminary, and has always followed the occupation of farming. He is better known, however, as a stock raiser than an agriculturist, and is a prom- inent breeder of Ohio Improved Chester swine and Guernsey cattle.
He takes quite a prominent part in local politics but has never cared for or sought public office.
George H. Wilbur married Bessie L. St. Mary, daughter of Eugene and Emma (Benway) St. Mary on February 9, 1886.
HARLAN A. WALKER was born in the town of Dresden, Washington County, N. Y., December 20, 1866. He was the son of Amos and Sarah (Bartholomew) Walker.
He received his early education in the district schools and at the Whitehall High School, and after leaving the latter institution, he took a position with George L. Clemons as bookkeeper. This position he filled with ability for some years and left it to accept his present position, that of agent for the Delaware & Hudson Railroad Company at Chubbs Dock, N. Y.
Mr. Walker is a member of Phoenix Lodge, No. 96, F. & A. M., at Whitehall, and also of Whitehall Lodge No. 5, I. O. O. F. He held the office of Supervisor for the town of Dresden for a period of three years.
On January 24, 1888, Harlan A. Walker married Elma Rice, and they have two children, namely: Ronald and Anna.
Mr. Walker's father was born in England.
Valentin Williams
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
VALENTINE WILLIAMS .- The subject of this sketch, who is one of the best known and most popular citizens of Fort Edward, N. Y., was born in the state of Indiana, but removed to Pennsylvania with his parents when quite young.
In his nineteenth year he enlisted in 1861 in Company A, 49th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers and served throughout the entire war, participating in many pitched battles and other engagements. He was wounded three times, once in each leg and once in the head. His regiment saw so much hard fighting that several companies, including his own, were badly cut up, so that two or more companies were merged into one, and in this way, he belonged to Company D at the time of his discharge, which he received in August, 1865.
Mr. Williams is a prominent Mason, a member of Blue Lodge No. 267, F. & A. M., and Fort Edward Chapter, No. 191, R. A. M. He. is also a member of the G. A. R., and was Quartermaster of his post for two years.
In politics Mr. Williams has always been an active and ardent Republican, working for the best interests of his party, and has been Inspector of Election several different times.
In March, 1900, he was elected Justice of the Peace for the town of Fort Edward and discharges the duties of his office in an eminently creditable manner.
Mr. Williams located in the town of Fort Edward March 30, 1888, and in 1893 embarked in the insurance business. He represents many of the best insurance companies doing business in America, and transacts a large volume of business owing to his honorable methods and personal popularity.
ALEXANDER WARNOCK was born at Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., May 1, 1848, and was educated in the common schools and at the Argyle Academy. Mr. Warnock has followed the occupation of farming all his life, and is a prominent Mason and a member of Her- schell Lodge No. 508, F. & A. M., at Hartford. In politics he is a strong Republican and always takes an active interest in the success of his party and has served as delegate on different occasions. On February 18, 1875, Mr. Warnock married Lucendia Gilchrist of Hart-
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ford. £ Mr. Warnock's parents were James and Mary Ann (Torrance) Warnock.
James Warnock was born in Antrim County, Ireland, in 1814, and came to America about the year 1846, locating at Sandy Hill. His wife, Mary Ann, was also born in Ireland, County Derry, and came to America in 1846. Mr. Warnock is one of three children, Robert, Matthew and himself.
HARRY P. WISELY, D. D. S .- The leading dentist of Whitehall is Harry P. Wisely, who is the son of Robert and Gertrude (Taylor) Wisely and was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick, March 24, 1873. After completing his public school education he entered Mt. Allison University. Saco, where he pursued his studies for two years and then entered the Philadelphia Dental College from which he was graduated in the class of 1894. In April of that year he located in Whitehall and opened an office for the practice of his profossion. Here he has since resided and has built up a large and influential clientele. On August 25, 1897, Dr. Wisely married Maud, daughter of De Witt and Laura Leonard. They have one daughter, Muriel, born June 3, 1898.
Dr. Wisely is a member of Whitehall Lodge No. 5, I. O. O. F., and Whitehall Encampment No. 69.
ROSWELL ETHAN WARREN was born in Pawlet, Vt., November II. 1850, and was brought to Washington County when one and one-half years of age, by his parents. He received his education at the public school, Landsley's Business College of Poultney, Vt., and at Rutland Academy, from which he was graduated in 1870. His first active occupation was working on his father's farm for six years, when he moved to Poultney and embarked in the livery and produce business, in which he was engaged for six years. During five years of this time he was Deputy Sheriff, Constable and Collector. In 1880 he returned to the town of Hampton, Washington County, where he has since resided.
Mr. Warren conducts a general store at Hampton, N. Y., and has
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been engaged in this business for the last three years; he is also largely interested in real estate, and owns a fine farm near the village of Hampton.
Mr. Warren has always been an active and successful business man, and is prominent both in commercial and political circles in Washing- ton County. He is a Republican in politics and has been elected Supervisor of the town of Hampton on three different occasions, first in 1887, then in 1899, and again in 1900. He has also held the office of Assessor, and that of Deputy Sheriff, the latter for a period of twelve years; he has also held, by appointment of the Governor of the State of New York, the important position of Assistant Sergeant-at- Arms at Albany for the last three terms of the Legislature. Mr. Warren is a prominent Mason and a member of Morning Star Lodge No. 37, F. & A. M. ; he is also a member of Poultney Lodge, Knights of Pythias.
On January 1, 1870, Mr. Warren married Harriet, daughter of Rufus and Prudence L. (Rice) Clark. They have a family of three sons, namely: Frederick, Ford and Benjamin.
Mr. Warren's parents were Squire A. and Mary A. (Place) Warren. His father was a native of Hampton and his mother of Malone, N. Y. His grandfather on his mother's side was Roswell Place, who was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Warren's grandfather was Ethan Warren and his grandmother was Sally (Willis) Warren. His great-grandfather, Caleb Warren, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, so that he is a descendant from Revolutionary ancestors on both his paternal and maternal side.
Mr. Warren's ancestors in America were of English descent, and first settled in the state of Massachusetts.
D. L. VALENTINE was born in the town of Jackson, Washington County, N. Y., June 13, 1849, and is a son of Joseph and Elizabeth (Wright) Valentine. He received his early education in the district schools, and subsequently attended the Cambridge Academy. After leaving the academy he worked on the farm with his father for fifteen years, and then took control of the farm, which he has inherited. At one time Mr. Valentine was engaged in the raising of Poland China
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swine, and was a member of the Ohio Poland China Record Company. He now makes a specialty of raising fine sheep, known as the Cots- wold breed. Mr. Valentine's ancestors were Germans, and settled in New York City, where they owned sixty acres of land, on which Trinity Church now stands.
JOHN G. WILLIAMS, the leading druggist of the thriving village of Granville, N. Y., was born in Festiniog, Wales, January 18, 1855. His parents were thrifty, intelligent people, and though poor, were anxious their children should receive a good education, and gave them such advantages as were in their power.
The subject of this sketch came to this country at the age of twelve years with his elder brother. He attended school three years at Elizabeth, N. J., after which he obtained employment with a pro- fessor at Princeton College, and while there received private tutorage evenings from his brother, now Rev. Robert G. Williams. At sixteen years of age he secured employment in the drug store of Joseph Priest at Princeton and remained with him nearly seventeen years. Mr. Williams, then thirty-two years old, went to Granville, N. Y., and launched out in the drug business for himself, his first store being located in the Joseph Green building, where he remained seven years from which place he moved to the Reynolds block. Remaining there three years, he again moved to the Roberts block, where he is now engaged in the largest drug business in the eastern part of the county and carries a much larger and more complete stock of drugs than two- thirds of the metropolitan druggists, his store being up to date in every particular.
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