USA > New York > Washington County > Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century > Part 80
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In politics Colonel Carrington is a Democrat, and yet he has held several offices in this notably Republican County, which fact is a strong indication of his popularity and the great public confidence reposed in him. He has been Deputy Collector of Customs for four years; Inspector on the Canal for three years, and Overseer of the Poor for a term of three years.
On June 12, 1873, Colonel Carrington married Jane Ann Frost, a native of Charleston, S. C., and a neice of Commodore Perry. They have three children, namely: Stella, Lucile, and an adopted daughter, Jennie Stroupe.
Colonel Carrington's parents were John and Polly (Barrett) Carring- ton. Polly Barrett's mother was twice married. Her first husband was Leeme Bartholomew, who was captured by the Indians in 1776, in what was then called Skenesborough, but is now Whitehall. Her
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second husband was Roger Barrett, Colonel Carrington's grandfather. An incident in the life of this lady will give a clear idea of the troubles and dangers to which the early pioneers in Washington County were subjected. Mr. Bartholomew was on his way to Skenesborough. riding horseback, with a woman on a pillion behind him. He had reached a ravine on the Poultney road, when he was fired upon by ambushed Indians and wounded in the leg. He slipped from the horse, gave the woman the reins and told her to fly for her life, which she did, urging the horse into a mad gallop, and escaped. Mr. Bar- tholomew was taken prisoner, made to walk to Canada on the ice, and draw a sled, with a number of squaws. He was imprisoned at Sorrel, but finally escaped and returned to Skenesborough, where he found his wife cooking supper for her father. He was so changed, however, from hardship and his long imprisonment, that she did not at first recognize him. He afterwards met his death by falling on a pitch- fork while unloading hay, and his wife subsequently married Roger Barrett.
It is unquestionably a just dispensation of Providence that Colonel Carrington should occupy a prominent place in Washington County, in which his ancestors were notable pioneers.
EDWARD H. CONKLIN was born in the town of Greenwich, Wash- ington County, N. Y., October 8, 1848, and is a son of David and Martha (Eggleston) Conklin.
After leaving school he engaged in the occupation of farming and sheep raising, which has been his life business, and in which he has been uniformly successful.
On February 5, 1873, Edward H. Conklin married Sarah C. Brownell, and they have one son, Edward Conklin, born February 18, 1887.
Mr. Conklin is one of the largest farmers in the town of Easton, and has a fine farm of 237 acres. In 1899 he built upon this farm one of the largest stables in the town of Easton.
He is enterprising and progressive in every way, and is a highly respected citizen.
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HENRY C. CLEMENTS is a native of the village of Fort Ann, in which he is today one of the representative business men. He was born June 6, 1844, and was educated at Clinton Liberal Institute, Clinton, N. Y., and at Eastman's Business College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y.
Mr. Clements first started in business thirty-five years ago, in 1865, when he established a general store in the village of Fort Ann, which he has since conducted in the original building occupied at that time.
In 1891 Mr. Clements married Harmie Miller, daughter of William H. and Ellen (Baker) Miller, and they have two children, Nellie and Isaac, aged seven and four years, respectively. Mr. Clements' parents were Isaac and Hannah Ette (Copeland) Clements, both of whom were born in the town of Fort Ann.
Mr. Clements has probably been in business continuously longer than any other man in the town of Fort Ann.
CLAYTON F. DEAN is a native of Washington County, N. Y., and was born July 20, 1859. He was educated in the South Hartford Academy, from which he was graduated in 1879, since which time he has pursued the occupation of farming. On January 20, 1880, Mr. Dean married Mary A. Straight, of the town of Hartford, and they have one son, C. Fayette Dean.
Mr. Dean's parents were James H. and Jeanette (McDonald) Dean. Mrs. Dean's parents were John and Sarah J. (Barden) Straight.
Clayton F. Dean is one of the representative men of the town of Hartford. He is a director in the South Hartford Cheese Factory, and is a member of the Baptist Church at Hartford, and takes a deep interest in educational matters.
SETH DEVINE, son of. Abel and Hannah (Losee) Devine, was born at Pleasant Valley. Dutchess County, N. Y., February 26, 1819. He has always been a farmer and came to Washington County and settled in 1849.
He married Margaret Griffen, daughter of Bartholomew and Maria (Sweet) Griffen, in November, 1848. They have five children living,
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namely: William G., Hannah, who is the wife of Charles Langdon; George S., Maria, and Elizabeth, who is the wife of George M. Mead. One son, Charles, is deceased. Margaret G. Devine died in January, 1878. In 1880 Mr. Devine married Louise M. Harris, his second wife, who died in April, 1899.
Mr. Devine's long life has been one of industry, honor and fair dealing with his fellow men, and now, in his eighty-second year, he is as hale, hearty and active as most men of fifty.
HENRY COULTER, a well known farmer of the town of Jackson, Washington County, N. Y., was born in this town January 10, 1863. He was a farmer's son and has followed that occupation himself. He takes an active interest in local affairs and has held the important offices of School Trustee and Town Collector.
On March 12, 1890, Henry Coulter married Nancie W. Robinson, daughter of James W. and Catherine (Rice) Robinson. They have four children, namely: Margaret, Catherine, Sarah Blanche and Florence.
Mr. Coulter's parents were James A. and Janet (Alexander) Coul- ter. The ancestors of the Coulter family were of Irish descent on his father's side, and on his mother's side of Scotch lineage.
CLARENCE COPELAND was born in the town of Fort Ann, Washing- ton County, N. Y., April 23, 1853, and was educated in the public schools. He has always followed farming and lumbering, and is one. of the prosperous men of his town.
In 1877 Mr. Copeland married Miss Adele Vaughn. They have three children, namely: Beulah, Carlos and Clyde.
Mr. Copeland's parents were Carlos and Harriet Copeland. Mr. Copeland's father was a native of New York and his mother of Still- water, N. Y. Mr. Copeland has always lived in the house in which he was born.
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G. GORDON DURRIN Was born at Shushan, N. Y., March 14, 1877, and received his education at the Hoosick Falls High School. After leaving school he took up and learned the trade of machinist with his brother, Arden L. Durrin, and remained with him for a year, after which he was with C. F. Crosby, a shirt manufacturer, for a short time. He next entered the employ of L. C. Piser, shirt manufacturer, as a machinist, with whom he is still connected, and has charge of the electric plant, in connection with the shirt manufacturing business.
On March 18, 1895, George G. Durrin married Bertha, daughter of Alvin and Emily VanGuilder. They have a family of two children, namely: Ethel and Vera.
George G. Durrin is a son of Arden and Elizabeth (McClellan) Durrin. Arden Durrin was a native of Connecticut, and his wife is of Scotch descent.
MARCUS T. C. DAY is one of the oldest native residents of South Granville now living. He was born February 23, 1821, and received his education in Poultney, Vt. He has followed the pursuits of farm- ing and speculating all his life. In 1877 he purchased a residence in Granville, to which he then moved and still resides there.
Politically Mr. Day is a Republican, and has served as County Superintendent of the Poor for six years, and Assessor six years. For more than forty-five years he was chorister in the South Granville Congregational Church, and he was for many years one of the Board of Managers of the Washington County Agricultural Society. He also filled the position of Secretary and Treasurer of the Union Dairy- men's Board of Trade of New York State, and has been for years, and now is, a director in the Granville National Bank, and is the only original director of that bank living. For eighteen years he was President, Treasurer and salesman of the Granville Cheese Manufac- turing Company No. 5, at South Granville. He has been President of the Granville Co-operative Fire Insurance Company since its organ- ization in 1888.
Mr. Day is first cousin of Judge Luther Day, of Ravenna, Ohio, and second cousin of William R. Day, one of the Hague Peace Com- missioners under Mckinley's administration.
Mr. Day's parents were Noah and Susan (Wilson) Day. His grand-
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father, Captain Noah Day, Sr., was a native of Killingsley, Conn. He was a Revolutionary soldier of distinction in the militia.
M. T. C. Day was married December 21, 1843, to Elizabeth B. Potter, daughter of Stacy Potter, of South Granville, N. Y., who is still living. They have one daughter, Mrs. Willard Whitney, of South Granville. She has a son, Marcus Day Whitney, who is a graduate of Middlebury College, and is now a resident of Granville, N. Y., and a member of the firm of Rivenburgh & Whitney, in the clothing business.
CHARLES W. DEAN, the popular and efficient Chief of Police for the village of Fort Edward, was born in Greenwich, Washington County,. May 28, 1854, and received his education at the district schools. His father was a cabinet maker by trade, and having gone into the paper manufacturing business Charles W. Dean spent some time working in this line, but finally took up and learned the trade of painting, which has been his life's business. In 1873 he entered a sash, door and blind factory and remained a short time, but since then has devoted himself to painting and paper hanging.
In 1856 Mr. Dean left Greenwich and settled in Fort Edward, where he has since resided, excepting a few years spent in Glens Falls. His father died in Glens Falls, and since that time, he has been permanently identified with the village of Fort Edward.
In 1877 Charles W. Dean married Christie Gilbert, who died in 1885, leaving three children, namely: Lorenzo Coleman, Jennie Cor- nelia and Mattie Christie Dean.
In 1887 Mr. Dean married, for his second wife, Maggie Coon.
For the past fifteen years Mr. Dean has taken a very active part in the public affairs of Fort Edward as well as of Washington County. He was elected police officer of Fort Edward in 1896, under a special act of the Legislature, after having been Constable for about seven years, and in 1898 he was appointed Deputy Sheriff for a term of three years.
He is a prominent Mason, being a member of Fort Edward Lodge No. 267, of Fort Edward Chapter No. 171, R. A. M., and of Washing- ton Commandery No. 33. K. T., Saratoga Springs, N. Y. He is also a member of the Fort Edward Club and has held several positions of trust. He has been connected with the Fire Department since 1877
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and is one of the oldest active members in the Department today. He is Chief Engineer of the Fire Department, and twice previously held the same position, in 1894 and 1896. He is also a member of the Durkee Hose Company.
Charles W. Dean's parents were Lorenzo and Jane Cornelia Dean, both of whom were natives of Vermont. His grandfather, William Dean, was also born in Vermont. The family is of Scotch-Irish descent, but has lived several generations in this country.
Not only in his official capacity, but in all his relations with men, business and public affairs, Chief Dean has maintained a high reputa- tion for ability, integrity and honor.
D. CAMERON EASTON was born in the town of Putnam, Washington County, N. Y., September 24, 1848. He was reared on the farm, educated in the public schools, and has followed the occupation of farming all his life.
In 1873 D. Cameron Easton married Elizabeth Price of Liberty- ville, Ill., and they have one son, D. Paul Easton.
Mr. Easton's parents were David and Janette (Williamson) Easton. Mr. Easton's brother, Theodore S. Easton, served in the War of the Rebellion with the Fifth New York Regiment, which was in com- mand of Colonel Hammond of Crown Point, and was taken prisoner and died in Andersonville prison.
Mr. Easton's grandparents, on his father's side, were born in this country and were of old Puritan stock. His grandparents on his mother's side came from Scotland and landed in America on July 4, 1803.
D. Cameron Easton is one of the prominent men of Washington County and has represented Putnam on the Board of Supervisors for seven years. He is at present Justice of the Peace and has held the office for several years past.
CHARLES FRAKE was born in the city of Newark, N. J., November 24, 1850. He was educated at the Rev. J. B. Day's College, Bridge- port, Conn., and at Bryant, Stratton & Corbin's Business College in the same state. He was associated with the firm of William Campbell &
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Co., wall paper manufacturers, New York City, from 1874 until 1895, when he came to Sandy Hill, since which time he has been connected with the Standard Wall Paper Manufacturing Company of this place.
Mr. Frake is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Sandy Hill Lodge, No. 372, F. & A. M., Sandy Hill Chapter, No. 189, R. A. M., Washington Commandery, No. 33, K. T., Saratoga Springs, and the Oriental Temple Mystic Shrine, Troy, N. Y. He also takes an active interest in public affairs, and has served as Trustee of the village of Sandy Hill for two years.
On July 6, 1875, Charles A. Frake was married to Ella M. Gaunt by Rev. Henry Ward Beecher. They have two children, namely : Clifford Harrison Frake, born May 24, 1878, and Edith M. Frake, born November 6, 1883.
Mr. Frake's parents were Abraham and Rebecca Frake.
SAMUEL L. FINCH was born in the village of Sandy Hill, Washing- ton County, N. Y., August 21, 1859, and is a son of Edwin and Har- riet (Cooper) Finch. He received his early education in the Union Schools of Sandy Hill and then engaged in the ice business and truck- ing, which he continued for twelve years, when the firm of Clark & Finch was formed, which still exists, and carries on the same business. They also do a general trucking business in stone and are furnishing the stone for the new Town Hall at Glens Falls, N. Y.
On March 10, 1880, Mr. Finch married Julia, daughter of Orson and Julia (Fiske) Richards.
GEORGE A. FERRIS was born at Sandy Hill, Washington County, N. Y., March 26, 1856. After receiving a liberal public school education he was employed as a clerk for three years, when he re-entered school, and after completing his studies became a teacher for some time. In 1876 he entered the services of Allen Brothers, (now Allen Brothers Company) as bookkeeper, which position he still holds. As a side issue, during the years 1886 to 1894, he managed the summer hotel known as Horicon Lodge, located at Ripley's Point, Lake George.
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Mr. Ferris is widely known as a fraternity man. He is a member of Sandy Hill Lodge, No. 372, F. & A. M., Sandy Hill Chapter, No. 189, R. A. M., Cryptic Council, No. 37, R. & S. M., Saratoga Springs, Washington Commandery, No. 33, K. T., Saratoga Springs, Albany Sovereign Consistory A. & A. S. R., Albany, and Oriental Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., Troy, N. Y. He was Master of Sandy Hill Lodge in 1897, and High Priest of Sandy Hill Chapter in 1900. He has been Treasurer of his lodge for three years, and was Assistant Grand Lec- turer in 1897-98, and District Deputy Grand Master for the Twentieth District, State of New York, for two terms, 1898-99, 1899-1900. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum.
On August 10, 1881, George A. Ferris married Harriet E. Scher- merhorn, daughter of John and Julia (Reynolds) Schermerhorn. They have two children, namely: Evelyn, born July 23, 1882, and George S., born March 22, 1890.
Mr. Ferris' parents were Lyman R. and Minerva A. (Miller) Ferris.
WALTER GALBREATH .- The subject of this sketch has by hard work, ceaseless energy, enterprise and strict integrity, taken a leading place among the manufacturers of the thriving village of Cambridge. He was born in Newburgh, Orange County, N. Y., in 1849, and did not have any large educational advantages, enjoying only three or four years attendance at a district school. .
While but a youth he learned the trades of blacksmith and wheel- right, and after being employed in several city shops, he came to Cambridge in 1869, where he worked with Lewis Miller and after- wards with Thomas Livingston, with whom he remained seven years.
In 1879 Mr. Galbreath embarked in business for himself in the old steam mill building where he had done business for years. In 1884 he completed his present commodious shops, where for the past six- teen years he has carried on a large trade. Besides manufacturing carriages, buggies and heavy wagons, he is a jobber in all kinds of vehicles. His carriage, painting and trimming departments are models. He also deals extensively in cord wood, both as buyer and seller. Mr. Galbreath takes an active interest in all public affairs and is a prominent factor in both the business and public life of Cam- bridge. He has been a Trustee of the village for eight years and has
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been a delegate to many county conventions. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus, and has been Treasurer of the Larmon Hose Company since its organization in 1887 He has also been connected with the Cambridge Fire Department for over twenty-five years.
In 1872 Mr: Galbreath married Jane Cavanaugh, and they have a family of five children, William J., Catherine G., Harriet A., Walter J. and Frances A. The eldest son, William J. Galbreath, is his father's bookkeeper and confidential clerk.
Walter Galbreath's parents were James and Harriet (McMillen) Galbreath. They were Scotch people and came to America from Glasgow in 1845.
JOHN GRAHAM was born in the town of Putnam, Washington County, N. Y., April 12, 1844, and was educated in the common schools and the Academy of Putnam, N. Y.
He is a farmer by occupation, and in business a general agent for all kinds of dairy goods, farm implements, road machines and horse powers and engines. He is an Elder in the Presbyterian Church and is one of the best known men in his town.
In February, 1869, John Graham married Helen J. Easton, and they have a family of four children, namely: Richard B., Winella, Arthur and Edgar.
John Graham is a son of John and Susan (French) Graham. The ancestors of the family on both sides were Scotch.
WALTER FRASER .- The subject of this sketch, son of David and Elizabeth Fraser, was born in the town of Hebron, Washington County, N. Y., September 30, 1848. His early training was meagre, and confined to the district schools of his native place, and the town of Salem.
Mr. Fraser has always been engaged in farming, but in addition to this, he has for some years carried on an extensive grocery trade, . carrying a general line of groceries, and doing considerable business all over his part of the town. He also deals to some extent in pota- toes, buying and shipping to outside points.
On May 20, 1867, Walter Fraser Married Mary Mitchell. They have one son, Charles W., born February 13, 1871.
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Charles W. Fraser married Martha Maynard, daughter of Dr. May- nard. She died and subsequently he married, for his second wife, Hannah Evans, and they have two children, one of whom, Hulda M., lives with her grandfather, the subject of this sketch.
The Fraser family has been identified with this country during its entire history as a nation. Walter Fraser's grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812, and his great grandfather was a patriot soldier in the Revolutionary War. . The family is of English descent.
Walter Fraser is one of the best known and most highly popular citizens of the town of Salem, and has been Assessor for the long period of twenty-one years. The duties of Assessor are more arduous than those of any other town office, as the incumbent is brought directly in contact with every property holder in a matter relating to his personal interests. Such, however, is Mr. Fraser's good judgment and accurate knowledge of property values that he has, for the long term of years mentioned, discharged the duties of his responsible office with the highest degree of satisfaction to all. He is a thorough business man, and does all his business on a strictly cash basis, and this, in connection with his honorable methods and square dealings, have made him a prominent business factor throughout his town.
MRS. M. B. HEWITT .- Few families in this country have a more honorable, patriotic and distinguished history than that of Mrs. Minerva Brownell Hewitt, of Cambridge, N. Y., and New York City. Mrs. Hewitt's maiden name was Minerva Brownell Harrell.
Born and educated in Cambridge, she married in 1866 Edgar A. Hewitt, of New London, Conn., editor and proprietor of the Insur- ance Chronicle, a trade journal of New York City, and other publica- tions. Mr. Hewitt died in 1877.
Mrs. Hewitt still retains his interest in the business, residing in New York during the winter and spending her summers in Cambridge.
William J. Harrell, her father, was born in Schaghticoke, N. Y., and when young was Colonel of the Rensselaer Militia. He enlisted in the 22d New York Volunteers, Company D, and served with credit through the war, at the close of which he returned to private life. He was a brave soldier and a good officer.
Mrs. Hewitt's paternal grandmother was Mehitable Masters, of
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Schaghticoke, N. Y., daughter of Judge Masters of the Supreme Court, and for many years United States Senator. Her paternal great grandfather was Jacob Harrell, who owned a plantation on which now stands the flourishing city of Charleston, S. C. He was a very wealthy man of his time. Mrs. Hewitt's mother was a daughter of Daniel Brownell, whose father was Simeon Brownell, a Quaker preacher, who built and established several meeting houses in the vicinty of Cambridge. The maternal grandmother of Mrs. Hewitt was Esther Miller, who married the Daniel Brownell above men- tioned, Martha Miller. of Revolutionary fame, being her mother. Martha Miller was a daughter of Colonel Elisha Miller, who, when but fourteen years of age, carried dispatches from White Plains through the British lines, when the Britons occupied Manhattan Island. George Washington, who then had his official headquarters at White Plains, at the Miller home, himself wrote the dispatches and delivered them into the hands of the brave girl. The result of the safe delivery of three of these dispatches was a joint action by the American troops, and the evacuation of the Island by the British. Mrs. Hewitt has now in her possession the table on which Washington wrote the dispatches; also Colonel Elijah Miller's sword, a pitcher presented by George Washington to Martha Miller, after he became President of the United States, which was loaned to the Metropolitan Museum for years. On this pitcher is a likeness of Washington.
Martha Miller was also Senator Warner Miller's grandmother. Martha Miller married, at the age of fifteen years, William Miller, who removed the records to Newburgh, before the town of White Plains was sacked.
ARTHUR F. GLINES was born in 1857, in the town of Hebron, Wash- ington County, N. Y., and was educated in the district schools and the West Hebron Academy. He spent the first six years after he left school in farming at Hebron after which he went to Boston and became a clerk in a grocery store. He soon bought out a grocery store in Chelsea, which he conducted for about a year. After selling this gro- cery store he moved to Severly, Mass., and went into the shoe factory of A. Perry & Co., in the capacity of cutter, where he remained more
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than three years. Upon leaving Severly he returned to Hebron and resumed farming. In 1855 he bought the large farm, which he still owns, on the Salem and Hebron turnpike, two miles south of Hebron. Shortly after his return he became interested in speculating in live stock and other farm products, and in 1893 his time was so largely taken up with these matters that he leased the farm, and moving into the village of Salem, devoted himself undividedly to the buying and selling of potatoes, apples, hides and onions, which he ships in large quantities to New York City, Boston, and the great markets of New England.
Mr. Glines is the son of Dr. T. J. and Caroline (Clement) Glines, of Hebron. He was married in 1884 to Miss Alice Burke, and has one daughter, Maud Clement, who was born May 6, 1890. Mr. Glines' paternal grandfather was a resident of Eaton, N. H. His maternal grandfather was Daniel Clement of Hebron.
PATRICK DALY was born at Smith's Basin, Washington County, N. Y., October 12, 1857, and was educated in the district schools of his native town. His parents were Bryant and Mary (McGinnis) Daly. Mr. Daly has always been a farmer, and every fall makes a large ship- ment of potatoes to New York City.
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