Landmarks of Albany County, New York online

is considered the highest authority. It is an acknowledged fact that he has defended
the cause of the cidermakers of the United States, without recompense, and has
done more for them than any other man in America. He is a member of the New
York State Cider and Vinegar Association. From 1882 to 1891 he was on the road a
portion of each year, selling and erecting vinegar machines. In addition to the
cider and vinegar factory the brcthers run a box factory, in which they use annually
many thousand feet of planed lumber. In 1894 they put in fruit evaporators, with
which they are now doing an extensive business, nearly their entire product going
direct to Germany and France. The homestead they have changed from a grain
and stock farm to a fruit farm. Mr. Ferguson is a member of the Odd Fellows,
Voorheesville Lodge, of which he is past grand. In 1868 he married Emma, daugh-
ter of Isaac and Lauraetta (Sprung) Morrison of East Greenbush, and their children
are Lulu May and Nellie Hendrick.

Walker, Charles Ashbel, son of Alphonsoand Jeannette(Judd) Walker, both natives
of Albany, was born in the capital city June 23, 1843. His father was a dry goods
merchant there and died in 1854, aged thirty-five. His mother was a descendant of
Thomas Judd, a colonial settler of Connecticut. Mr. Walker was educated in the
public schools of Albany, and at the outbreak of the Rebellion was clerk to Speaker
T-ittlejohn of the Assembly and also a member of Co. B, Washington Continentals.
In the Spring of 1861 he enlisted in Co I, 5th N. Y. Vols., Duryee's Zouaves, was



promoted corporal, and assisted his regiment in building Fort Federal Hill at Balti-
more. In the spring of 1862 the regiment joined the 5th Army Corps,of McClellan's
Army of the Potomac, at Fortress Monroe en route to [Richmond, where it partici-
pated in the seven day's fight and where Mr. Walker was wounded at Gaines Mills.
May 37, 1862. At the close of McClellann's campaign he was sent to New York city
with a detachment under Major Hull to raise another regiment of Zouaves to form a
brigade under Gen. G. K. Warren, his old regimental commander. This became
the 165th N. Y. Vols., 2d Duryee's Zouaves, in which Mr. Walker was commissioned
second lieutenant. The new regiment was ordered to the Department of the Gulf
under General Banks and served through the Port Hudson, Louisiana and Texas
campaigns. Mr. Walker was promoted first lieutenant and captain and brevetted
for meritorious service with rank of major by Gov. R. E. Fenton in 1864. He was
then detached and sentto Riker's and Hart's Islands in New York harbor for his regi-
ment's quota of conscripts, and while there was assistant adjutant-general on Gen.
H. W. Wessel's staff, commandant of post and provost-marshal in charge of 3,500
rebel prisoners, whose release he superintended on their taking the oath of allegi-
ance. He was mustered out of service September 15, 1865, and on returning to
Albany became successively second and first lieutenant of Co. B, Washington Conti-
nentals (now the 10th Regt. N. G. S N. Y.), and was also brevetted captain in the
National Guard. He remained with this regiment until January 1, 1876, when he
removed to New York city, where he has since resided. On October 1, 1866, he be-
came associated with the Albany and Susquehanna Railroad in the freight depart-
ment at Albany. This road is now a part of the Delaware & Hudson Canal Co.
system, and of the latter company Mr. Walker has been treasurer since 1890. He
has been in the service of these roads thirty-one years, rising by gradation through
every department. He is a trustee of the Franklin Savings Bank_'and a member of
the Colonial Club, both of New York city ; a member of the Military Order of the
Loyal Legion of the United States, a member of the Albany Society of New York,
member of Veteran Associations of the 5th N. Y. and 165th N. Y. Vols, in New York
city, and a director in the Albany & Susquehanna, New York & Canada, Schenec-
tady & Duauesburgh, Cherry Valley, Sharon S: Albany, Adirondack, and Rutland
Railroad Companies, and the Adirondack Stage Co. In politics he has always been
a Republican.

De Voe, David, was born December 3. 1837, the oldest of ten children (nine of
whom are living), bom to Henry I. and Sarah V. (Winne) De Voe. He attended the
district school until sixteen years of age, followed by two terms at Fort Plain (N. Y.)
Seminary. He then followed farming up to the time of the beginning of the war of
the Rebellion, with the exception of teaching school one winter. Under the first call
for 75,000 men he enlisted on the second day after the call in the 18th N.Y.Vols., Colonel
Jackson's Regiment. He was engaged in both Bull Run battles, both attacks on
Fredericksburg, at South Mountain and Antietam. His father died in April, 1862,
and he obtained a furlough to come home, thereby escaping the dangers and priva-
tions of the Peninsula campaign, and returned and served his term of enlistment,
being corporal when he was discharged. In 1866 he went on a whaling voyage, and
serving ten months left the ship at the Island St. Catharina. Brazil, whence he went
to Montevideo, spent ten months between there and Buenos Ayres and Paraguay,



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and returned thence to New Orleans, arriving at the latter place April 7, 1868, hav-
ing been gone two years. He has taught school nineteen winter terms, and has
been assessor six years; in politics he is a Democrat. February 14. 1884, he married
Sarah J. Warner, widow, whose maiden name was Bolster. His mother died No
vember 13, 1891.

Swarthout, William, born in Wcsterlo, January 10, 1829, was a son of George W.
and Catherine (Patre) Swarthout, and grandson of Peter Patre, and Cornelius Swart-
hout. Peter Patre was a native of Holland and an early settler of Westerlo. Cor-
nelius^Swarthout came from Dutchess county to Westerlo in pioneer days. George"
W. Swarthout was a farmer of Westerlo and a Whig, then Republican in politics,
and a member of the Dutch Reform church. He died in 1857 and his wife in 1870.
William Swarthout was brought up on the farm and in 1855 married Catherine,
daughter of John Crawford of Westerlo, and they have one son, George W., who
married Annie Adrience, daughter of George Adrience, farmer of Westerlo. George
W. Swarthout works the homestead farm with his father, which consists of 104 acres;
they also carry on a farm of C. Hinckley of 140 acres. In politics they are Repub-

Gilbert, Edmond J., was born in Troy in 1847, and has devoted much of his time
to the public service of his country. He is a son of A. J. Gilbert and was left moth-
erless at three years of age. When sixteen years of age he enlisted in Company A,
21st New York Cavalry, and endured all the privations of a soldier. He was cap-
tured at Ashby's Ford and incarcerated in Libby prison for three and a half months
After one year in Panama, with the Panama Railroad Company, as a machinist, he
enlisted in the regular army artillery in the capacity of sergeant major, remaining
for three years. He is a member of the G. A. R , and his private business began
with the Gilbert Car Company, in 1870, where he superintended the machine shops;
he was for three and a half years in Brazil for the same Company as superintendent
of construction. Mr. Gilbert has been collector of the village, and is now president
of the tenth district.

Bloomingdale, John P., an old and highly respected citizen of the town, was born
in 1818. John, his grandfather, was a farmer in Guilderland. He was twice mar-
ried; by the first marriage two sons were born and by the second several sons and
daughters. Peter, his father, was a farmer of Guilderland. His wife was Lydia
Gray, daughter of Robert Gray, who was a hotel-keeper. Their children were Lucan,
Jane Mary. Ann, Lydia, John P., Robert, and Peter. Mr. Bloomingdale remained
on the farm, a.ssisting his father, until twenty-six years of age, when he began for
himself at farming at which he continued many years, with unusually good success.
He added from time to time to his real estate possessions until he owned many farms
throughout the county, and at the time of his death owned five farms containing sev-
eral hundred acres, and also for years was an extensive money loaner. In 1871 he
retired to the village of Guilderland Center, where he owned a large amount of real
estate and there devoted a number of years of his time to the building of residences
and disposing of them. He erected among other buildings a large cigar factory,
which he leased. Mr. Bloomingdale will long be remembered by many to whom he
has rendered financial assistance at opportune times. In 1839 he was married to
Hannah Young of the town of New Scotland, and daughter of George Young; to



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them was born one son, Joel, of New Salem. His wife died very young, and five
years after her death he married Mary M., daughter of Frederick Crounse of Guilder-
land. She died in 1870. Mr. Bloomingdale died in July, 1896.

White, Isaac, was born in the town of Berne, September 30, 1837. His great-
grandfather, Leonard Berkeman, was an Orangeman, living in the North of Ireland.
Mary, his daughter, while a young girl in her native place, was playing one day on
tl:e dock, at a time when a ship was about to sail for America. Owing to the jeal-
ousy which existed between the Catholics and the Protestants, she was kidnapped.
.She was allowed to come on board the ship where she was seized and cast into the
hold and not permitted to come above until the ship was far out to sea. She was
brought to America and sold for her passage. She married James White, an Eng-
lishman, and they settled in town of New Scotland. Frederick White, his grand-
father, was born on his father's homestead in New Scotland. David, the father of
Isaac White, was also a native of New Scotland and was a farmer and speculator in
live stock. He settled in town of Berne, where he owned a large farm. Some years
later he exchanged this farm for another in town of New Scotland and there lived
to time of his death in 1847. His wife was Hannah Schermerhorn of Berne, and
their children were: Abram, Isaac, Jacob, Elias, Frederick, Margaret, Harriet and
Jeremiah. His wife survives him and now resides in New Salem. Isaac White
grew to manhood in New Scotland and attended the common district schools. In
18.58 he returned to the town of Berne with his mother, where she bought a farm ;
he later purchased half of this farm and subsequently the other half, to which he
has added several farnjs, now owning over 500 acres, the most of which he superin-
tends himself. He was one of the organizers of the Berne Cheese Company, of
which he is now president and stockholder in the factory. Mr. White has repre-
sented his town on the Board of Supervisors two terms and filled other minor offices.
He has provided all of his children with liberal educational advantages, all of whom
are teachers except the youngest. In 1865 he married Miss Melvina E. Flansburg,
and their children arp Elsie, Frank, EHas, Emma and Floyd.

Abrams, John D., was born in Vermont, July 1, 1826. and was a son of Daniel
and Althea Drake, he born in Long Island and his wife in Vermont. They came to
Westerlo in 1837, thence to Rensselaerville, and thence to Greene county, where he
died September, 1879, and she, April, 1878. John D. Abrams was reared on a farm
and educated in the common schools. November 16, 1858, he married Caroline
Travis, daughter of David and Susan Root. David Travis was born in Dutchess
county January 21, 1783, and died in Rensselaerville, December 19, 1871; his wife
was born in Greene county March 10, 1790, and died in Rensselaerville February 20,
1877. To Mr. and Mrs. Abrams was born one daughter, Allie S., wife of William F.
Van Valkenburgh of Greene county. Mr. Abrams was a Whig and is now a Repub-
lican. The family attend the Baptist church. Mr. Abrams owns 160 acres of land,
which he bought in 1873.

Fitch, Dr. John H., was born in New Scotland, April 2, 1837. His father, Ebe-
nezer A. Fitch, w-as a descendant in the sixth generation from Rev. James Fitch,
who emigrated from England in 1638 and was one of the founders of Norwich,
Conn., where he preached over fifty years. The mother of Dr. Fitch was Eliza,
daughter of John A. Crounse and granddaughter of David Martin, a soldier of the



180

Revolution. Dr. Fitch received his education at the New York Conference Semi-
nary, Charlotteville. N. Y., and at the New York State Normal School at Albany,
from which institution he was graduated in 1858. He spent two years in teaching
and in September, 1861, enlisted in Co. D, 48th N. Y. State Infantry. He served
three years, seeing much active service and was honorably discharged in 1864. He
commenced the study of medicine in 1866 and was graduated from the New York
Eclectic Medical College in 1868. He commenced practice in New York city and
was house surgeon of its dispensary, demonstrator of anatomy two years and in 1870
was appointed adjunct professor of anatomy. He removed to Albany in 1872, where
he was surgeon in the Albany Homeopathic Hospital in 1872-73; since 1873 he has
resided in New Scotland Dr. Fitch has been to some extent a contributor to cur-
rent medical literature, is the author of articles in "The Encyclopedia of Materia
Medica Pura," and in conjunction with Dr. R. E. Kinze of New York, of a work en-
titled " A Monograph on Cactus," published in 1875. He is a member of the Albany
Homeopathic Medical Society and of the International Hahnemann Association ; is a
member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Masonic fraternity. Dr. Fitch was
married in 1874, to Mary, daughter of A. W. Twitchell, of Albany, who died in 1882
and by whom he had one daughter. May. In 1884 he married Melissa, daughter of
James McCulloch, of New Scotland.

Wright, Fred, was born in the town of Berne, January 26, 1861. John S., the
great-grandfather, was a resident of the town of Berne, and was a farmer by occu-
pation and also burned charcoal in large quantities. He reared a large family and
died in 1850 at the age of seventy years. Silas, the grandfather, was a resident of
Clarksville, was born in the town of Berne in 1812, and spent many years of his life
as a miller in different places. He served the town of Berne as supervisor and
held other offices for several terras. Since 1856 he has resided in Clarksville, where
he conducted a mill for many years and later engaged in the mercantile business,
which he continued until he retired from active business life. He was postmaster
for sixteen years and was also justice of the peace. He is alive and enjoys good
health. Jacob M., the father, was born in Berne in 1836, and spent his early life on
the farm and attended the common schools. His first enterprise was that of a hotel-
keeper in his native town, and during the late war was employed by the Remington
Firearms Company in their factory at Ilion ; later he was janitor at the Normal
School in Albany, where he remained for five years, and then conducted a livery for
some time. In 1878 he removed to Clarksville and erected buildings and put in a
baking furnace and has been interested in the baking business since. He served as
tax collector while in the town of Berne. His wife is Celinda E., born in Berne and
a daughter of John and Charity Bell. To them were born three children: Silas J.,
deceased; Fred, and Charles J., deceased. Fred spent his early life on his father's
farm and attended the common schools and the Albany public schools. He delivered
bread for his father until he was twenty-one years of age, when he engaged in the
cigar business as jobber, doing his own selling. In 1884 he returned to Clarksville,
where he has ever since been engaged in the bakery business. He has also been in-
terested in various enterprises, and officiated as town clerk in 1886. He is a mem-
ber of the Knights of Pythias, of the National Union of Albany, and Schuyler Coun-
cil No. 705. In 1886 he married Emma, daughter of Martin S. Van Derzee, and
have one child, Maud.



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Clapp, Augustus {ienly, was born in Albany, August 18, 1865. He is a clesceiid-
ant of Richard Clapp of Dorset, England, whose son Thomas, born 1597, tame t