USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 78
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CHARLES H. BROUGHTON was born in Whitehall, Washington County, N. Y., July 16, 1857, and was educated in the Union School of his native place. His first business experience was in the drug store of his father, for whom he worked until 1879, when he became partner in the business, which then took the firm name of J. R. Broughton & Son. In 1887 James R. Broughton died, and Charles H. Broughton became sole owner of the drug business, which he continued until 1897.
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In 1896 he became interested in the sale of a new fishing bait, for which he became the distributing agent for the United States. In 1897 the P. & S. Ball Bearing Bait Company was organized, in which C. H. Broughton is a stockholder, and is also the Business Manager. Their factory is located at Sayre, Pa., but their principal office is at Whitehall, N. Y. They do an extensive manufacturing business, their trade extending all over the United States and Canada.
Mr. Broughton is also manager of the W. J. Boyd Pharmacy, which position he accepted in 1898.
On October 12, 1880, Charles H. Broughton married Cora Anna, daughter of Chandler and Mary A. (Cleveland) Baldwin. To this union have been born three children, namely: James Chandler, born July 15, 1881, and died December 19, 1886; Marion Amelia, born July 24, 1883, and Marshall Cleveland, born March 26, 1889, and died April 23, 1892.
C. H. Broughton's parents were James R. and Susan K. (Marshall) Broughton, both of whom were born in Poultney, Vt. His ancestors came from England.
Mr. Broughton is a member of Whitehall Lodge No. 5, I. O. O. F., and Whitehall Encampment No. 69, I. O. O. F. He enlisted in 1876 in the Ninth Separate Company, known as the Burleigh Corps, N. G. N. Y., and served for eleven years. He is an active member of the Baptist Church, and has been clerk of that society for a number of years, and is a popular and successful business man.
SILAS B. AMBLER is a son of Stephen and Lovica (Laraway) Ambler. Stephen Ambler was a native of Connecticut, but settled in Corinth, Saratoga County, when a young man, and there remained until his death in 1860, at the age of eighty years. His wife was a native of Corinth, Saratoga County, and died in 1879, aged eighty-six years. She was a daughter of Philip Laraway, a native Frenchman, who came to this country as one of the body guard of General .. Lafayette, and served with him through the Revolutionary War. After the close of the war Philip Laraway settled in Vermont, where he lived to be an old man.
Silas B. Ambler was born in the town of Corinth, Saratoga County, N. Y., February 14, 1839. He was reared on his father's farm, and
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was educated at the district schools and the Fort Edward Institute.
In 1860 Mr. Ambler went to Glens Falls and took a position as sales- man in a clothing house, where he remained three years, when he embarked in the same line of business for himself, in partnership with E. Gray, under the firm name of Gray & Ambler. This successful venture was brought to a close by the great fire at Glens Falls, in 1864, which burned them out. In 1865 Mr. Ambler went to Wheel- ing, West Virginia, and engaged in the insurance business, and there was very successful. In 1867 he came to Sandy Hill and entered the employ of O. Richards & Son, prominent lumber merchants, and remained with them about fourteen years. After leaving this firm he became one of the firm of Warren, Howe & Ambler, general mer- chants at Sandy Hill. This firm continued until IS90, and then Mr Ambler engaged in the general insurance business, which he conducted alone until August 1, 1893, when the firm of Cross & Ambler was formed. This firm did a large general insurance business, but Mr. Ambler finally withdrew, and has since been extensively engaged in the insurance business on his own account.
In January, 1867, Mr. Ambler married Martha R., daughter of Orson Richards. She died in May, 1870, and in 1874 Mr. Ambler married Julia A., daughter of J. F. Howe, of Sandy Hill. They had a family of five children, four of whom are living, namely: S. Frank, Julia, Lena M. and Ruth E. Another son, George W. V. Ambler, died in March, 1892.
Mr. Ambler is a prominent Mason, a member of Lodge No. 372, F. & A. M., Sandy Hill Chapter No. 189, and Washington Commandery No. 33, K. T., Saratoga Springs. He has always taken an active inter- est in public affairs, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace, and for four years was a Trustee of the village of Sandy Hill. He has also been a member of the Board of Education, and is regarded as one of Sandy Hill's enterprising and progressive citizens.
J. M. Barnett was born in the town of Fort Ann, Washington County, N. Y., June 23, 1826, and was the only son of Benjamin and Mary (Nicholson) Barnett. He was educated at the Troy Confer- ence Academy, and remained on his father's farm until twenty years
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of age, when he went to the state of Michigan, where his father owned a lumber camp. Of this camp J. M. Barnett had charge for three years, his office being in Chicago. At the expiration of this period he came back to Fort Ann and engaged in the lumber and grain busi- ness, dealing largely in Canadian products, but having his headquar- ters in New York. He next engaged in the woolen business at Fort Ann, in which he continued about fifteen years, withdrawing there- from in 1893. He now confines his attention entirely to farming interests.
On June 4, 1862, J. M. Barnett married Lucy, daughter of Volney and Mary (Barnett) Richmond.
CLARISSA BURCH HOLLISTER, was born in Cambridge, and in 1853, at the age of eighteen years, she married Sanford Scott, who died in 1874. They had one son, Frank W. Scott, born March 17, 1863. He was educated in the district schools, and at the Troy Conference Academy. He followed farming until thirty years of age, when he embarked in the shoe and grocery business, which he still conducts on Main street, Granville. On January 12, 1888, Frank W. Scott married Lena Duel, daughter of Morgan and Eveline (Rasey) Duel, of Granville, and they have one son, Harold E. The Scott family traces its lineage back to General Walter Scott.
Mrs. Clarissa Burch married, for her second husband, Horatio Hol- lister, who died in 1891, willing all his property to his wife.
Mrs. Hollister owns a large farm, upon which are five developed slate quarries which she lets to Norton Brothers and Owen W. Owen's Sons, and there is any quantity of undeveloped slate quarries still upon her land. She also owns nine quarries in Pawlet, Vermont.
Mrs. Hollister is a thorough business woman and developed these quarries herself.
Her parents were Platt Burch and Prudence (Burch) Burch. Prudence Burch was a daughter of Henry Burch. Platt Burch lived to be an old man, dying in his eighty-second year.
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AARON B. ALLEN was born in the town of Easton, Washington County, N. Y., September 1, 1864, and is a son of Ebenezer and Mary C. (Barker) Allen. He was educated in the district schools and at Marshall's Seminary, and after leaving school began the active duties of life as a clerk, in which capacity he worked until 1890, when he embarked in business on his own account at Barker's Grove, where he established a fine grocery business and general merchandise store, which he has since conducted successfully.
On May 10, 1894, Aaron B. Allen married Lydia, daughter of Silas and Susan (Hunter) Stark. They have two children, namely: Susan and Howard.
Mr. Allen is a Democrat in politics and takes a great interest in educational matters, and is one of the school trustees of his district. He was also Postmaster at Barker's Grove under Cleveland's last administration.
He is prominent socially and is a member of Victor Lodge No. 680, F. & A. M. of Schaghticoke, Home Chapter No. 176, R. A. M., of Schuylerville, Bloss Council No. 14, R. & S. M., Troy, and Washing- ton Commandery No. 33, K. T., of Saratoga Springs.
Mr. Allen's maternal grandfather, Aaron Barker, was a prominent man of his day, and Barker's Grove was named after him.
He took an active part in public and political affairs, and was a member of the State Legislature.
SAMUEL BERRY was born in the City of New York January 20, 1858, and was the son of William F. and Herriott (Star) Berry.
He was educated in New York City at Chlerier, and was engaged in the railroad business when a boy. Subsequently he was connected with the cotton trade until 1890, since which time he has been con- nected with the slate companies of Granville.
AARON C. BROUGHTON .- The Broughton family is one of the oldest in America, its first representative, John Broughton, having settled in Connecticut in 1635. Ira Broughton, a direct descendant of his was born in 1797 and was the father of Aaron C. Broughton.
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RODNEY T. RAY was born in Rutland County, Vermont, December 30, 1830, and came to the town of Hampton, Washington County, N. Y., about forty years ago. He is an extensive farmer and speculator, operating four hundred acres of land in the town of Hampton and two hundred in Vermont. He is both a large dealer in and raiser of sheep. On April 5, 1860, Rodney T. Ray married Lydia P. Stowe, daughter of Jacob and Lydia (Andrews) Stowe. They have two daughters, Isabel and Hattie E. Isabel married Dr. Edward Ellis and Hattie E. married John W. Thomas.
Mr. Ray's parents were London and Electa (Jailett) Ray.
Mr. Ray is a Republican in politics, has always been active in the support of his party and has served on important committees and been delegate to conventions.
Mrs. Ray is a native of Mt. Holly, Vermont, but has resided in Hampton since ten years of age.
S. W. BASSETT was born in Cornwall, Vermont, December 11, 1858, and is the son of Louis and Agnes (Beardow) Bassett. He was edu- cated in the district schools, and was reared on his father's farm, where he remained until he was eighteen years of age, when he took a position in a hotel at Orwell, Vt. Here he remained for two years, and then went to Ticonderoga, N. Y., and managed two hotels for T. E. Bailey for seven years. He then went to Troy and became a member of the firm of Dougrey & Bassett, who conducted the Everett House in Troy for three years. Mr. Bassett then accepted a position as paymaster for the state on Section 1, of the Champlain Canal. This position he filled with ability for five years, and during that time was elected Colletor of Taxes for the town of Stillwater. In the fall of 1895 Mr. Bassett moved to Greenwich and became proprietor of the Greenwich House, which he has successfully conducted and has made it a first-class hotel in every respect.
In 1892 Mr. Bassett married Lou Osgood, daughter of Horace and Catharine (Hill) Osgood, of Stillwater, N. Y. They have two chil- dren, Ralph O., born November 9, 1893, and Anna L., born July 3, 1895.
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MICHAEL BROWN was born in Granville, Washington County, N. Y., November 18, 1850, and received his education in the common schools of his native place. At the age of twelve years he began to learn the slate mantel business and continued it for eighteen years. He was a very expert workman and was considered an artist in his line. After going out of the slate mantel business he went into the horse business, buying, selling and matching horses. He next became a partner with G. H. Monroe, a furniture dealer and under- taker, with whom he remained for three years. Subsequently he re- entered the horse business and also embarked in the livery business, which he still conducts.
In 1871 Mr. Brown married Margaret McCoy, and they have one child living, namely: Elizabeth Brown. Mr. Brown's parents were Garry and Elizabeth (O'Brien) Brown, both natives of Cork, Ireland. .Garry Brown came to America in 1840.
REUBEN BRITTON, JR., was born in the town of Easton, Washington County, N. Y., May 10, 1855. He is a son of Reuben and Elizabeth (Van Wee) Britton, and received his education at the district schools of his native town.
He has always followed the occupation of farming and is a success- ful and highly respected business man and citizen.
He is a Republican in politics and is a strong supporter of his party principles.
In 1875 Reuben Britton, Jr., married Libbie Parker, who died, and for his second wife he married Carrie F. Hannaman, and they have three children, namely: Clarence, deceased, Francis R. and Edna.
ELIAS H. BORDEN was born in the town of Easton, Washington County, N. Y., May 8, 1849, and was a son of Russell S. and Jane (Hoag) Borden. His early education was obtained in the district schools of his native town and the Marshall Seminary.
His first business experience after leaving school was in surveying, which he followed for some time and then took up farming, in which he has since been engaged for the past thirty years. Besides farming Mr. Borden also carries on an insurance business.
Mr. Borden takes an intelligent interest in all public affairs and has
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taken quite an active part in politics, and was Assessor of the town of Easton for three years.
Socially he has the happy faculty of making friends and is very popular with all who know him.
On December 15, 1875, Elias H. Borden married Mary E. Gifford of Argyle. Their children are: Russell G. and Henry A.
CHARLES L. ALLEN, son of Loren and Mary (Van Denburgh) Allen, was born at Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., January 31, 1867. He had splendid educational advantages, and after leaving the public schools, took a course in Colgate Academy and then at the military school at Poughkeepsie, N. Y. In 1888 he entered the office of Allen Brothers (now Allen Bros. Co.) as receiving clerk, and has since held that position.
Mr. Allen is widely known, not only as a superior business man, but as a prominent Mason. He is a member of Sandy Hill Lodge, No. 372, F. & A. M., Sandy Hill Chapter, No. 189, R. A. M., Wash- ington Commandery, No. 33, K. T., Saratoga Springs, N. Y., and Oriental Temple Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Troy, N. Y.
On February 1, 1893, Charles L. Allen married Jennie, daughter of A. C. and Electa (Qua) Fox. They have one son, Adelbert, born March 21, 1894.
RAYMOND E. BROWN was born in the village of Springfield, Brad- ford County, Pa., October 30, 1865, and was educated at the Wood- hull Academy, Steuben County, N. Y., and at Alfred University, Alfred, N. Y., of which institution he is a graduate. He was a teacher in the faculty of this University for a year. He is also a graduate of the Albany Normal School and has been principal of the Granville High School for eight years. This school has made great progress under his regime, and the staff now comprises thirteen teach- ers in all, nine of whom are in the main building and four in the annex.
On July 25, 1894, Raymond E. Brown married Lena M. Spence, daughter of Charlotte (Shepherd) Spence of Ithaca, N. Y. They have four children, namely: Joseph Stanley, aged six years, Alfred
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Allen, aged four years, Warren Spence, aged two years, and Donald G., aged four months.
Professor Brown's father, Joseph B. Brown, was born in Springfield, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Benjamin and Didomia Brown, natives of New Hampshire. October 11, 1861, Captain Joseph Brown enlisted in Company E, Second Regiment, Berdan's U. S. Sharp- shooters, and served until July 11, 1865. October 11, 1861, he was promoted eighth Corporal, and in August, 1862, to Sergeant, and detailed to carry the colors until October, 1863, when he was promoted to Orderly Sergeant. January 1, 1864, he was made First Lieutenant and appointed Adjutant of the regiment. October 26, 1864, he was promoted to Captain and served in that capacity until the close of the war. February 18, 1865, the regiment disbanded and was consoli- dated with the state troops, putting Captain Brown with the 105th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. He was in the following battles: Falmouth, Va., Rappahannock, Va., Gainesville, Va., Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettys- burg, Wapping Heights, Kelly's Ford, Locust Grove, Mine Run, Spottsylvania, North Ann River, Petersburg and Weldon Road. He participated in the capture of the picket line at Jerusalem Plank Road, Boydton Plank Road, Raid on Weldon Railroad and Lee's Surrender. Captain Brown organized J. N. Warner Post No. 565, G. A. R., of which he has been Commander ten years.
WV. IRVING BRISTOL was born in the town of Fort Edward, January 9, 1863, and was educated in the district schools and at the Argyle Academy. After leaving school Mr. Bristol went west and followed the occupation of clerk for two years in Nebraska. He then returned home and began farming on the old Crocker farm, which was his grandfather's, and which has always been in the Crocker family.
Mr. Bristol is a Republican in politics and is a prominent man in his town.
He was Treasurer of the Washington County Agricultural Society for four years and is a member of the Fort Edward Lodge No 267, F. & A. M.
W. Irving Bristol married Hattie C., daughter of Luther and Myerett (Ellis) Pike, and they have one son, Harold I.
Mr. Bristol's parents were Alexander and Eliza J. (Crocker) Bristol.
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JOHN BRAYTON was born in the town of Hartford, Washington County, N. Y., June 11, 1840, and was educated in the district schools. He started in the jewelry business in 1858. in Whitehall, N. Y., where he remained two years, when he came to Hartford and followed farming until the breaking out of the War of the Rebellion. He enlisted in Company G, 44th New York, (Ellsworth People's Regi- ment) in 1861. He went to Virginia and was there detailed on special duty until 1862, when he returned to his regiment, and started for Richmond with General Mcclellan. He was in the advance guard and was at the attack on Yorktown. He stayed there for four weeks, and participated in the battles of Hanover Court House, Gaines Mills. Va., and Savage Station, Va., where he was taken prisoner, June 29, 1862. He escaped July 29, Sunday morning, and got back to the Union army and was sent to Chester, Pa .; from there he was sent back to Alexandria, Va., and to Mount Pleasant, on the sick list, and was honorably discharged in December, 1862. Subsequently he went to Baltimore and joined a government vessel, "The Maple Leaf," which was the flagsip when the Federals captured Jacksonville. He took temporary command, without orders, of a colored company at Jacksonville, and, with others, took Pulaski, Fla. He then rejoined his boat, which was subsequently blown up, just above Jacksonville, in the St. Jolin's river, and five of the crew were killed. Afterwards he was sent to New York and paid off. He then came home, and remained home until July, when he went back and shipped on the government transport, Oriental. They transported a batch of pris- oners from Point Lookout, Md., to Mobile, and were fourteen days making the trip. He then returned to New York and was discharged. He then shipped on a coast line steamer from Boston to Havana and New Orleans, and remained with the company for three years. He then came to Hartford, and started in the jewelry business in 1869. In 1873 he embarked in the hotel business in Hartford, and remained in it for twenty-six years, when he returned to the jewelry business, in which he is still engaged.
Mr. Brayton is a Republican in politics, has always been active in public affairs, and is a notary public. He was Town Clerk in 1872, and Collector of Taxes in 1878. He has been Secretary of the Hart- ford Cemetery Association since 1891. In 1873 he organized a Veteran Association, and later he was elected Lieutenant, and two years sub- sequently was elected Captain, which office he held as long as it
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lasted. He is now Commander of G. A. R. Post No. 453, and has held this position continuously since 1888, in which year the Post was organized. He was twice elected Colonel of Washington County Vet- eran Association. He is a member of the Masonic order, and was elected Marshal of Herschel Lodge, F. & A. M., and has held the office twelve years. He is also President of the Farmers Alliance, and is a member of the Farmers Grange.
On May 14, 1872, John Brayton married Arlesta Smith. His father was William Brayton, the inventor of the Silender ring for steam engines. His grandfather, Thomas Brayton, was of Scotch descent. His mother, Maria (Hoyt) Brayton, was a daughter of Captain Hoyt, who was on General George Washington's staff. His mother's family are of English descent.
EDWARD W. COOK, son of Philander and Wheatley (Benson) Cook, was born in Orville, Rutland County, Vermont, July 29, 1831. His parents moved to Ticonderoga in 1841 where he was educated in the public schools. Later on he entered the employ of Potter Delano as clerk, where he remained four years. He then went to Crown Point for a year, after which he returned to Orville and engaged in farming. After two years he removed to Hartford, Washington County, where he remained seven years, after which he resided in West Haven for one year when he returned to Whitehall and remained six years. After again spending three years in West Haven he came to Whitehall and remained five years after which he removed to Hampton, Washington County and remained there ten years, after which he again went to Fair Haven, Vermont, remaining four years, then to Benson, Vermont, where he remained three years. Then he went to Fair Haven Village where he engaged in the meat business two years. In 1890 he returned again to Whitehall where he has since been engaged in farming. On December 3, 1851, Mr. Cook married Electa J., daughter of John and Lucy (Gail) Stockwell of Hartford. They have had a family of ten children, namely: Mary, wife of E. H. Sutliff of Granville, Edna, (deceased). Ida, wife of Edward Loomis of Glens Falls, Charles, who married Elizabeth Rey- nolds of Granville, William E., who married Edith Mariams of
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Whitehall, Electa, wife of Nathaniel Rooney of Fair Haven, John, who married Ida Stone of Middlebury, Vt., Herschel, who married Allie Mosley of Fair Haven, Lucy, wife of E. M. Heath of Sandy Hill, and Delos, who married Joseph Bartholomew of Arlington, Ver- mont. Mr. and Mrs. Cook have twenty-two grand-children and six great-grand-children.
LEWIS T. BARBER was born in Bolton, Warren County, N. Y., Sep- tember 1, 1860, and is a son of John E. and Lucindia (Lane) Barber. He was educated in the district schools, and after leaving school at the age of eleven years, he began driving a team. He continued at this occupation, but as he grew to manhood, he became a team con- tractor, and was engaged in this line of business twenty years in all.
On March 1, 1896, Mr. Barber became connected in business with Monty, Higley & Company, and remained with that firm for over four years, and on August 1, 1900, he and Mr. Higley formed a part- nership, the new firm being known as Higley & Barber.
On November 13, 1883, Lewis T. Barber married Jennie M., daugh- ter of Willard H. and Louisa (Willard) Thompson. They have three children, namely: Lewis W., Ethel A. and James C.
Mr. Barber has, by his own efforts, enterprise and honesty, worked himself up from the position of a poor boy to that of a prominent contractor and a highly respected business man.
JOSEPH P. CROZIER was born in the town of Argyle, Washington County, N. Y., May 20, 1839. His parents removed to the town' of Hebron, N. Y., when he was seven years of age, and there he received his education in the district schools and resided until twenty- five years of age.
In February, 1866, he married Julia E., daughter of Nathaniel Munson, and they have five children, namely: James, George, Eliza- beth, Joseph and Maud.
Mr. Crozier's father was James Crozier, who was born in the town of Argyle, N. Y., in 1806, and died March 27, 1890. His mother was Elizabeth (Lasher) Crozier. She was born in 1810 and died in 1894.
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His grandfather was Alexander Crozier, who was born in Ireland and came to America, settling in Washington County, N. Y., in 1805, so that the Crozier family is among the oldest in the county.
Joseph P. Crozier has followed the occupation of farming all his life and is one of the representative men of the town of Salem, N. Y.
He is a Republican in politics and takes an active interest in politi- cal affairs as well as in the welfare and progress of his town and county generally.
WILLARD H. COTTON, D. D. S., was born in the town of Hartford, Washington County, N. Y., December 18, 1836, and is a son of Thomas and Clarissa (Pearce) Cotton. Being left an orphan while quite young, Willard H. Cotton, in his early days, received only a common school education.
At the age of thirteen he removed to Rensselaer County, and upon leaving school he took up the trade of making fanning mills and grain cradles. This trade he abandoned after a time, and took up that of carpenter and joiner, which, however, he soon relinquished and began the study of dentistry with his brother, Zina Cotton, of Salem, N. Y. In 1867 Dr. Zina Cotton removed to Cambridge, and Willard H. Cot- ton continued in practice for himself at Salem, and soon attained a standing of distinction in his profession, in which today he is one of the leaders in Washington County.
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