USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 79
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Dr. Cotton is a veteran of the War of the Rebellion. He was one of the first to respond to the call for troops at the breaking out of the war, and enlisted on June 1, 1861, as second leader of a regimental band in the Second Vermont Volunteers, with whom he served six months, when the band was discharged. On January 4, 1864, he again enlisted, this time in Company A, First New York Mounted Rifles, but shortly after his enlistment was detailed to regimental band duty. In this capacity he served with his regiment until it was: mustered out of service, December 5, 1865, at Albany, N. Y.
Dr. Cotton is one of Salem's enterprising and progressive men, and is a director of the People's National Bank of Salem. He takes a warm interest in fraternal societies, and is a member of Lodge No. 391, F. & A. M., and of Federal Chapter No. 10, R. A. M. He is also a member of the A. L. McDougall Post, G. A. R., and in religious mat-
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ters is associated with the Episcopal Church in Salem, of which he is a member.
Thomas Cotton, Dr. Cotton's father, was a native of the town of Hartford, N. Y., and resided in that town during his entire life: He was a farmer and wheelwright, and in politics was a Whig, which was the patriotic party of his day. He served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in 1844, at the age of fifty-one years. His wife, Clarissa Pearce, was a daughter of Daniel Pearce, who was one of the early settlers in Hartford, Washington County, and came from New England.
Thomas and Clarissa Pearce had a family of six children, namely: Zina, deceased; Phœba A., widow of Joseph M. Pratt, of Ludlow, It., where she resides; Norman E., deceased; Mary C., who married, first, Ira A. Perrin, and second, R. C. Ogers; she is now a widow and resides in Sonora. Steuben County, N. Y. ; William H., who resides in Avoca, Steuben County, N. Y., and Dr. Willard H. Cotton, the sub- ject of this sketch.
Thomas Cotton was the son of Silas Cotton, who came from Con- necticut to the town of Hartford, Washington County, N. Y., with a colony from his part of the country, several years prior to the Revo- lutionary War. The progenitor and founder of the Cotton family in America was an Episcopal minister who came from England.
Mrs. Clarissa Cotton was born in the town of Hartford, N. Y., in 1798, and died in 1848. Her ancestors were also of English origin.
ANDREW J. CHASE was born in the state of Vermont, July 12, 1850, and was educated in the district schools. His parents were Charles B. and Susan P. (Beebe) Chase. He worked on the farm with his father until eighteen years of age, after which he was engaged on public works until twenty-nine years of age. He next took up boat- ing, which he followed for seven years, and then located on the farm where he now resides.
Mr. Chase is a Republican in politics and takes quite an active part in public affairs. He was Trustee of School District No. 13 for three years, and is a member of Home Lodge No. 398, F. & A. M.
On September 10, 1879, Andrew J. Chase married Alice H. Brown, daughter of Jonathan and Betsey Elizabeth Brown.
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GEORGE BRADLEY CULVER was born January 16, 1836, at Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y. His parents were James and Kezia (Lee) Culver. He was educated in the schools of Sandy Hill and at Rev. Dr. Bostwick's private school, and then took up the study of law, which he began as a clerk in the office of Abram Wakeman in New York. Subsequently he took a course in the Poughkeepsie Law School and finally graduated from the Albany Law School in March, 1856. He then entered the law office of Hughes & Northup at Sandy Hill, N. Y.
In August, 1861, Mr. Culver went out as First Lieutenant in Com- pany F, Forty-third New York Regiment, and served until July 16, 1862, when he was mustered out on account of illness. His health was such that he could not be moved until October of the same year, and he then came north and secured a position in the New York Post Office, where Abram Wakeman was then Postmaster. Mrs. Wakeman is a cousin of George B. Culver.
After leaving the Post Office, Mr. Culver was employed by the government in the Paymaster General's department of the army, doing clerical work.
After leaving the war he was engaged as a speculator in the lumber business at Elizabeth, N. J. In 1871 he settled in Granville and accepted the position of Cashier in the North Granville National Bank where he has ever since remained. He has been a director in the bank ever since he was elected Cashier, was Postmaster at North Granville for five years and was a trustee of the Ladies' Seminary and Military Academy at North Granville for twenty years.
He is a prominent Mason, having passed to the degree of Knight Templar, and is a member of Washington Commandery, also a mem- ber of the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution, and the New York Commandery of the Military Order Loyal Legion of the United States.
In politics he is a Republican and in church matters is a member of the Episcopal Church of which he is also the treasurer.
Mr. Culver's grandfather and great-grandfather were natives of Connecticut, and both were in the same regiment during the Revolu- tionary War. This was the celebrated Durkee Regiment in which his great-grandfather was a Sergeant.
On December 23, 1869, George B. Culver married Lucy Comstock
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Baker, daughter of Hon. I. V. Baker of Comstock's Landing, N. Y. They have one daughter, Laura Baker Culver.
The North Granville National Bank was formerly the Farmers' National Bank of Fort Edward, and the change of location and name occurred in 1871. Mr. Culver was the first cashier in the North Granville National Bank, and the first officers were Robert G. Dayton of North Granville, President, and John A. Russell of Fort Edward, Vice-President. The present officers of the bank are I. V. Baker, Jr., President; Charles K. Baker, Vice-President; George B. Culver, Cashier and John B. Davis, Teller. The capital stock is $85,000.
JOHN C. CLARK, son of William and Esther (Whitney) Clark, was born in Pennsylvania, August 23, 1852, and came to Washington County when a year old. His parents settled in the town of Gran- ville, where they lived for eleven years, and then removed to the town of Whitehall, where he has since been engaged in farming. He married Fannie E., daughter of William G. and Mary S. (Douglass) Merriam, January 5, 1876. They have two children, namely: Emory M., born December 18, 1876, and Lavona L., born August 3, 1878. Mr. Clark is a prominent farmer and highly respected in his town.
Mrs. Clark traces her ancestry back to Henry Adams, who was born in England and came to this country in 1604.
Henry Adams is believed to have arrived in Boston, with his wife, eight sons and one daughter, in 1632, or 1633. He came from Brain- tree, County of Essex, England, and left there to escape the Dragon persecution. The direct line of descent from him down was Peter, Peter, John, John, Isaac, Isaac, Jeremiah, Isaac, Sophia, who married George Douglass. Their son, Hiram, married Margaret (Wood) Fal- kenbury. Their son, Erastus B. Douglass, married Mary Murray. Their only child, Mary Sophia, married William Gridley Merriam, and Mrs. Clark is their daughter.
On his mother's side, Mr. Clark traces his ancestry back to Sir Charles Stafford, Earl of Wentworth. His mother was Esther Lavona Whitmore, daughter of Berley and Marbury (Stafford) Whitmore. Marbury Stafford was a daughter of Stutley Stafford, who was the son of Thomas Stafford, a younger son of Lord Stafford, of Staffordshire, England. Lord Stafford was the son of the Earl of Wentworth.
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John and Thomas Stafford, younger sons of Lord Stafford, came to America in their own ship and settled at Scituate, R. I. Thomas married Mercy Cleveland, who was of the family of Grover Cleve- land's ancestors.
BROWN CAMPBELL was born in Ireland, and is the son of Alexander and Lettie (Brown) Campbell. He was educated in the schools of his native country and came to the United States when twenty-one years of age. His first occupation in this country was that of farmer, and he worked for other people for several years, and then bought the farm on which he now resides in the town of Jackson.
Mr. Campbell married Susan Mulrick. He is a Republican in poli- tics, and is one of the prosperous farmers in the town of Jackson.
SAMUEL W. CARR, Superintendent of the Postal Telegraph Com- pany at Whitehall is a son of Henry C. and Harriett (Moore) Carr and was born at Salisbury, August 10, 1841. After his school days he entered the employ of the Western Union Telegraph Company as a lineman and was subsequently made foreman, working for the com- pany for a period of twenty-one years in all.
In 1884 he accepted a position with the B. & O. Telegraph Com- pany as foreman where he remained two years when he removed to Albany and engaged in the livery business. After conducting the livery business for three years he sold out and removed to Whithall to accept the management of the Postal Telegraph Company, which position he still retains.
In October, 1873, Mr. Carr married Martha, daughter of Harvey and Esther (Chapman) Buell. They have had five children, three of whom are living, namely: Mildred, (deceased), Elizabeth B., Millard, William, (deceased), and Boyd.
Mr. Carr's parents were both natives of Vermont. His grand- father, Obediah Carr, came from England and settled in Whiting. Vermont, about the beginning of the nineteenth century.
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THEODORE D. CROSS was born in the town of Kingsbury, Washing- ton County, N. Y., September 2, 1861, and received his early educa- tion in the Union School of Sandy Hill. He remained on his father's farm until 1886, when he went to Bradford, Penn., where he remained for three months, returning to Sandy Hill in 1887, in which year he opened an insurance office, and has since been engaged in that busi- ness. In 1888 he formed a partnership with J. H. Durkee, under the firm name of Cross & Durkee, and they remained together until August 1, 1893, when the firm became Cross & Ambler. This part- nership was dissolved in May, 1896, and Mr. Cross has since con- ducted the, business alone, dealing in both real estate and insurance, and reprsenting the following companies: Agricultural, of Water- town, N. Y. ; Continental, of New York; Glens Falls, of Glens Falls, N. Y. ; Greenwich, of New York; Hanover of New York; Hartford, of Hartford, Conn .; Home, of New York; Lancashire, of Manchester, England; Liverpool, London and Globe, of England; North America, of Philadelphia; National, of Hartford, Conn. ; Phoenix, of Hartford, Conn .; Queen, of America; Royal, of Liverpool, England; Sun, of London; Springfield, of Massachusetts; Westchester, of New York; Fidelity and Casualty, Accident, Emplyers' Liability, Steam Boiler, Plate Glass and Fidelity.
Mr. Cross is an able, liberal minded and successful business man, and does a large and ever increasing business.
On September 6, 1882, Theodore D. Cross married Jessie Z., daughter of Orville and Janette Vaughn. They have three children, namely: Mabel J., Mary P., and Ida J. Mr. Cross is a member of Sandy Hill Lodge No. 372, F. & A. M., of Sandy Hill Chapter No. 189, R. A. M., of Washington Commandry No. 33, K. T., Saratoga Springs, and of the Oriental Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., at Troy, N. Y.
Theodore D. Cross is a son of Stephen O. Cross, who took a very prominent part in the celebrated land claim of Daniel Jones, which at one time threatened the interests of a large number of the residents of Kingsbury. Jones was one of the early developers of the water power at Glens Falls, and owned considerable property in the town of Kingsbury and Queensbury. During the Revolution he became a Tory and was obliged to take refuge in Canada. Subsequently his lands were confiscated for treason, and sold by the commissioners of forfeiture. After a time he fought to gain his lands, but the feeling
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against him was so strong that he returned to Canada. About the year 1830 his son, Daniel, took up the matter, which dragged along for some years, without anything being done. He finally laid his case before Attorney-General Chatfield, claiming that his father's property had been unlawfully confiscated. Chatfield, after investigating the matter, reported to the Legislature that Jones' claim was valid, and recom- mended that the best settlement possible be made; but the Legisla- ture took no action. Then, in 1855, Jones began suits of ejectment against several of the occupants of the property, both in Kingsbury and Glens Falls. The Kingsbury defendants met at Vaughn's Cor- ners and commissioned Stephen O. Cross to proceed to Albany and ascertain whether the Legislature could be induced to compromise with Jones, and thus save litigation. The matter was referred to a committee, which reported adversely, so the case had to go to court. Mr. Cross then turned his attention to procuring evidence for the defense; he found that the Governor was required to appoint counsel and other necessary aid for the defense, and procured from the Gov- ernor the appointment of Hughes & Northup, as counsel for the defense.
He also searched for and found, at Albany, a book showing that the lands had been sold to Captain John Pettit, but no date was entered. Jones' lawyers had previously sought in vain for this book. The whole question hung upon the date of the sale; if before the treaty, Jones' title was manifestly void; if after the treaty, his claim was good.
To Mr. Cross belongs the whole credit for winning the case for the defense. One of his schoolmates was the grandson of Captain Pettit. Mr. Cross wrote to him in relation to his grandfather's papers and received a reply saying that they had just been barreled, to be sent to the paper mills, but would be held for the inspection of Mr. Cross.
There were five barrels, and in the bottom of the last barrel inspected the deed was found, bearing date a few weeks prior to that of Jay's treaty. This settled the case in favor of the defense.
Mr. Cross was a man of very positive convictions, always ready and able to defend his position, but always just and reasonable, willing to hear the other side of the question, and equally as ready to acknowl- edge his mistake, if he found he was in error.
He was noted for his generosity, and had the happy faculty of
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placing himself in other people's position, so as to look at the case from their side, before forming a conclusion.
He was Internal Revenue Collector during the War of the Rebellion, and gave universal satisfaction to all parties.
ROBERT CONATY was born in County Antrim, Ireland, July 17, 1837, and came to America with his parents in 1853. They came to Wash- ington County, where they settled and became farmers, which occu- pation Mr. Conaty himself has always followed.
Robert Conaty married Mary J., daughter of Calvin and Sarah (Wright) Johnson, and they have one daughter, Grace Conaty. Mr. Conaty's father was James Conaty and his mother Nancy (Sampson) Conaty.
Mr. Conaty has always been a successful farmer and is a prosperous man. He has always taken an active interest in public affairs and politics, but has never aspired to public office himself, although he has held miner town offices. He is a Republican and is always found in line with his party.
He and his family are members of the Presbyterian Church.
C. A. CRAMER was born in the town of Granville, Washington County, N. Y., in the year 1858, and received a common school edu- cation in the village of Middle Granville and was a clerk in a store there for some time. He then went to Boston and resided in that city until 1878, then was stationed at Saratoga in the railroad business until 1881, when he came to Fort Ann to accept the position of station agent on the D. & H. Railroad, which position he has held since that year.
Mr. Cramer is an expert telegraph operator which is an aid to him in the discharge of his duties as station agent.
In 1884 Mr. Cramer married Helen M. Coleman of Fort Ann Vil- lage and they have two children, Barbara E. and Lawrence S.
Mr. Cramer's parents were Andrew F. and Elizabeth A. Cramer, both of whom were natives of Granville, N. Y. Mr. Cramer is a member of the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Mount Hope Lodge No. 260 F. & A. M., and Fort Edward Chapter No. 171.
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REV. JAMES J. O'BRIEN .- St. Mary's Catholic Church of Sandy Hill, established in 1830, is one of the most prosperous, irrespective of denominations, in Washington County, and such a condition might naturally be expected since it is under the pastorate of the able, scholarly and beneficent pastor, the subject of this sketch, Rev. James J. O'Brien.
Father O'Brien is a native of the City of Oswego, where he was born January 16, 1856. He was educated in the public schools of his native city and was graduated from the high school in the class of 1871, at the early age of fifteen years, and at the commencement exercises of his class delivered the Latin salutatory. He completed his collegiate course of study in the Niagara University, conducted by the Lazarist Fathers at Niagara Falls, N. Y., and in September, 1874, he entered St. Joseph's Seminary at Troy, N. Y. In this institution he pursued his philosophical and theological studies until 1879 when he was ordained priest by the Right Rev. Francis McNeirny, D. D., Bishop of Albany, and was assigned to the curacy of St. Mary's Church, Syracuse, N. Y. Here he was assistant to the late Rev. Dr. O'Hara for a term of three years. In 1882 he was selected by Bishop McNeirny for the new mission of Fonda and Tribes Hill, where he labored most assiduously and with great success for five years. In 1887, leaving that parish free from debt, he was promoted to his present important church at Sandy Hill. His pastorate at Sandy Hill has been remarkably successful in every way; the debt on the church and parochial residence has been liquidated and in addition to that he has purchased and paid for a magnificent pipe organ for the church which cost $3,400. But beyond all this he has undertaken the building of a grand new church to cost $50,000, and about $20,000 has been already collected for this purpose, and a new stone edifice will, within a short time, adorn the village.
He has also extended his aid to the Catholics of Fort Ann and to him they gratefully attribute the erection in that village of one of the most handsome and substantial country churches in the Albany diocese. This church, which was erected at a cost of $5,000, was completed and paid for within a period of two years, through the able management and advocacy of Father O'Brien.
Father O'Brien combines within himself not only scholarly attain- ments and great force of character, but also is gifted with sparkling wit and a heart whose kindly charities make him popular with all
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with whom he comes in contact. A strong and cheery personality is the essence of his presence, which makes him welcome and desired in all classes of society. He is not only a zealous pastor and kindly father to his flock, a scholarly and magnetic speaker in the pulpit, but he is probably most noted as a church singer, possessing a rich baritone voice, whose services are in demand all over the state at all functions of the church.
He is an ornament to the priesthood and there are few men either in the church or in the halls of Legislature who have a voice so capa- ble of influencing human hearts and minds.
A recent historian has written of him: "Father O'Brien is popular with all classes, energetic and progressive in his work and devoted to his church. The success he has already achieved at this early period of his life and the esteem in which he is held by his congregation and by the public generally give assurance of the larger work yet remain- ing to be done by him for the greater glory of God. Since his coming to Sandy Hill he has labored and been active in the advancement of religion and civilization. He was the chief promoter and organizer of the Young Men's Catholic Union, Sandy Hill Council Knights of Columbus, the Young Ladies B. V. M. Society, the Holy Name Society for men, Catholic Mutual Benefit Association, Branch 120, and several juvenile societies."
The annual field day of St. Mary's congregation attracts thousands of spectators, and demonstrates the genuine popularity and influence of this Catholic clergyman.
GEORGE D. CULL was born in Whitehall, Washington County, N. Y., May 30, 1862, and at the age of sixteen years took the position of clerk for L. B. Manville, with whom he remained for three and one- half years, after which he went to Milton, Vermont, in the capacity of clerk for D. F. Quinn, a dry goods merchant, with whom he remained two years when he went to Burlington and took the position of shipper for Charles F. Hart, a fruit dealer. He remained in this position eight months and then returned to Whitehall where he worked for F. H. Gaylord for five years, after which he was shipper for the D. & H. Coal Company for one season. He next worked for Parks & Jilson for three years when he went to Port Henry and entered the employ of N. Bremen as clerk and remained eight
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months. He then went to Corinth, Saratoga County, and worked for Judson Dayton in a clothing store for nine months, after which he again came to Whitehall and clerked for Manville & Skeele for three years. In 1894 he embarked in business for himself in the grocery line which he conducted for one year when he was appointed clerk in the Canal Collector's office. This position he held two years, when he was appointed Inspector, which office he still holds.
On the 14th of July, 1892, Mr. Cull married Lillian W., only daugh- ter of John and Emeline (Gero) Davy.
Mr. Cull's parents were John and Sarah C. (Carrington) Cull.
John Cull was a commercial traveler for George F. Bassett, a glass ware merchant, for twenty-nine years. He was born in the north of Ireland, but came to Benson, Vermont, when two years of age, and Whitehall about the year 1840, and was engaged in the hardware and. tinning business until 1857. He died the 22d of December, 1888.
George D. Cull is an ardent and active Republican and held the office of Town Clerk from 1894 to 1897 inclusive, and was Village Clerk for the year 1886. He is a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 96, F. & A. M., and has been a member of the Whitehall Steamer Com- pany No. 3 for the last eighteen years.
COLONEL LUKE H. CARRINGTON .- The subject of this sketch was born November 1, 1840, and spent his boyhood days at home on the farm, and in attending the public schools. While still a youth he went south and was employed on the Memphis & Ohio Railroad until 1861, when he returned home, because of the war, and with patriotic ardor enlisted in Company C, 123d New York Volunteers. He was mustered in as a private, but after the battle of Chancellorsville was promoted to Second Lieutenant for gallantry in the face of the enemy, and at the close of the war was breveted First Lieutenant. He was mustered out of the service in July, 1865, but subsequently was a member of the Washington County Veteran Association, in connection with which he received his commission of Colonel. He was also in the National Guard for ten years. From 1865 until 1869 he was in New York City, on the Sixth Avenue Railway.
From 1871 until 1874 Colonel Carrington was a member of the firm of Baker, Paterson & Co., dealers in boots and shoes; and in 1874
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succeeded the firm, and was sole proprietor until 1879. From 1879 to 1891 he was associated with John Earl, since which time he has been alone.
For a third of a century Colonel Carrington has been intimately associated with the business and public life of Whitehall, and is a prominent factor in the life of this historic place. August 24, 1899, was unquestionably the greatest day in the history of Whitehall, for upon that date was held not only a reunion of the veterans of Wash- ington County, but the Soldiers and Sailors Monument was dedicated. Colonel Carrington took a very active part in bringing about the reunion of the veterans upon this date, and also in promoting the patriotic project of erecting a monument to the nation's dead heroes, and it was through his energy and executive ability that the ceremo- nies and all the details of this memorable day were carried through to such a grand success, and the public spirit and deep interest which he exhibited in preparing for and carrying through the fete of August 24, 1899, are indications of the public spirit which Colonel Carrington evinces in all laudable public movements and undertakings.
As might be expected, from his honorable war record, Colonel Car- rington is an enthusiastic G. A. R. man, and is a member of A. H. Tanner Post No. 563, G. A. R. He is also a prominent Mason, a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 96, F. & A. M .; Champlain Chapter No. 25, R. A. M .; Washington Council, and Washington Commandery No. 33, of Saratoga Springs. In 1899 he was a delegate to the National Encampment, G. A. R., held in Chicago.
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