Landmarks of Albany County, New York online

undone that would advance the welfare of residents here. Mr. Dickey has spent a
lifetime in the mills, having first began to work there at the age of thirteen years.
He was first employed by Hon. C. H. Adams in his woolen mill, and from the foot
of the ladder has steadily reached its most responsible position. He was for nine
vears superintendent of the Egberts Woolen Mill, then operated by Mr. McDowell,
and when the latter erected the Cascade Mills, he was given the superintendency.
Mr. Dickey has been connected with the fire department for twenty-five years, and
was fire commissioner for four years, treasurer for nine years of the Hitchcock Hose
Co., and captain for ten years of the same.

Calkins, H. G., though a young man has been a prominent member of the Board
of Education of the city of Cohoes for five years, and has taken an active part in its
councils. When he was twenty-one years of age he was elected school commis-
sioner, making a very competent officer for that responsible position. Mr. Calkins
is a descendant of the old Connecticut family, and a son of A. T. Calkins, a promi-
nent furniture dealer since the war. He enlisted in 1861 in Co. A, 23d Regiment
N. Y. Vols., as first sergeant, but returned lieutenant and quartermaster. Among
the battles in which he participated may be mentioned those of South Mountain,
Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Second Bull Run. He was for thirty years in the
same store, which, since 1887, has been in charge of his son, H. G. Calkins, who was
l5orn in Cohoes in 1869.

Rosemond, James, came to New York from Ireland, where he was born in 1859,
with his widowed mother who is still a resident of Cohoes. He was educated in
New York in the grammar schools and first engaged in the dry goods business where
he remained for four years. He then came to Cohoes and acquired the plumber's
tr^e, working for three years in the Harmony Mills and nine years with Burbanks
& Co. In 1893 this enterprising young man engaged in business for himself at No.
93 Main street, and has developed an extensive industry in plumbing and tin-roofing,
also steam and hot water heating, making a specialty of beer apparatus. The posi-
tion he now holds in the front rank of the young men of to-day is due to his own
personal efforts and sterling characteristics.

Hochstrasser, Arthur E., was born in the town of Berne, February 5, 1847. The
founder of the Hochstrasser name in America was Jacob Hochstrasser, the great-
grandfather of Arthur E. He was a native of Holland and was one of the pioneer
settlers in the town of Berne. He was one of a committee to petition the Legisla-



28G

ture to set off the town of Berne from Rensselaerville, and the chairman of the com-
mittee to draft the town laws, and was the first supervisor and first justice of the
peace. Paul I., the grandfather of Arthur E. Hochstrasser, was born in the town of
Berne in 1762. He was a shoemaker by trade, and a soldier in the Revolutionary
war. He settled in the town of Knox, where he erected a saw mill and manufactured
lumber for some years, but returned to Berne and purchased 200 acres of land, a
portion of which embraced the White Suiphur Springs, and there spent his re-
maining days. His wife was Dorothy Fisher. Peter Hochstrasser, the father of
Arthur E., was born in Berne on the homestead, April 18, 1800. He was a wheel-
wright by trade, his principal manufactures being spinning wheels, flax and wool
wheels; he also owned a farm of seventy-five acres which he supervised. His wife
was Eliza Weidman, born in Berne July 20, 1808. daughter of Col. Jacob Weidnian.
Their children were Jacob M., John, Charles (who was a soldier in the Rebellion),
Arthur E., Catharine. Margaret and Sarah. He died April 20, 1880, his wife Feb-
ruary 15, 1887. Arthur E. Hochstrasser learned the turner's trade and when eight-
een purchased a factory and engaged in the manufacture of bedsteads; three years
later he formed a partnership with his brother Jacob M. in a saw mill and manufac-
tured lumber, bedsteads, etc. In 1882 he sold his mill interest and engaged in gen-
eral mercantile business in the village of Berne and in 1891 he erected his present
store building. He owns and resides on the place where he was born. He was
town clerk from 1882 to 1885, was town committeeman, president of the town Re-
publican organization from 1886 to the present time, and has often been chosen as
delegate to town, district and State conventions. Mr. Hochstrasser is a member of
the Masonic fraternity and was one of the charter members of Helderberg Lodge of
Odd Fellows. He is one of the active promoters and contributors in and to the pro-
posed Albany, Helderberg and Schoharie railroad, of which he is also a stock-
holder. September 25, 1868, he married Josephine, daughter of Edward Settle of
Berne, and they have one child. Fred P. His wife died March 1, 1882, and Febru-
ary 4, 1885, Mr. Hochstrasser married Hattie, daughter of Henry W. Weidman, and
they have two children, Margaret and Chester.

Peasley, Wallace A., was born September 12, 1857, on the farm he now owns and
occupies. Thomas Peasley, his great-grandfather, was a native of Massachusetts
who came to Albany county and settled in the town of Berne on West Mountain, m
the latter part of the eighteenth century. Orson Peasley, the grandfather was born
in Berne in 1804, where he was a lifelong farmer and lived and died on the farm of
160 acres on which he was born. He died in 1866 and his wife in 1888. Addison,
the father of Wallace A. Peasley, was born in Berne, August, 1834. He gre\\»t()
manhood on the homestead and later came in possession of it. His wife was Hen-
rietta, daughter of John Tibbitts, who was a soldier in 1812, and to them were born
two children: Wallace A. and Elmer. Wallace Peasley attended the common dis-
trict schools and the Gloversville Academy. He has spent his life on the farm with
his father and for years has been a careful and interested breeder of thoroughbred
trotting horses and is the owner of the fine stallion, Varrick ; he is also a breeder of
thoroughbred Jersey cattle, swine, chickens and turkeys. Mr. Peasley has filled
town offices continuously since he became a voter, filling first the offices of inspector
of election, excise commissioner, and in 1896 was elected to represent his town on the



Board of Supervisors. In 1890 he was appointed to take the United States census in
his election district. The farm now occupied by Mr. Peasley was originally settled
by Mrs. Abigail Taylor, his great grandmother, who came from Rhode Island. The
house she caused to be erected in 1777 is still standing, the only change from the
original being a new roof. In 1877 Mr. Peasley married Florence Shultes of West
Berne, daughter of Abram and Margaret (Turner) Shultes. Mr. and Mrs. Peasley
have four children: Blanche, Ethel, Mary and Florence.

Young, Elias, was born in the town of Berne, June 22, 1844. Samuel Young, his
grandfather, was a native of Connecticut and settled in the town of Berne, near
where is now the village of Reidsville, in 1792, where he farmed and practiced law,
having for many years an extensive law practice. His wife was Magdalene Warner,
a native of Berne, and they had three sons: Philip, David and Silas. ' He died m
1860 at the age of eighty years; his wife died some years before. Philip, the father
of Elias, was born in Berne in 1809, where he was a lifelong farmer and owned a
farm of 160 acres. His wife was Hannah, daughter of Elias Mathias of New Scot-
land, and their children were Samuel P. (deceased), David P., Mary E., Margaret
A. and Elias. He died in 1891 and his wife m 1893. Elias Young spent his earlier
days on his father's farm, where he attended the common schools and later the Fort
Edward Institute; subsequently, by the assistance of his father, he entered as a
student Eastman College, from which he was graduated in 1865. When twenty
years of age he began teaching, which profession he has followed a goodly portion
of the time. For some five years he was engaged m general mercantile business
in the village of Reidsville, in partnership with his brother, and was for many
years a dealer in agricultural implements. Mr. Young from early manhood mani-
fested a keen interest in the political affairs of his town and county, associating him-
.self with the side of Democracy. He was elected and filled the office of justice
of the peace for twelve years, and from 1886 to 1896 has been notary public. In
1881 he was elected school commissioner and again in 1891 and 1893. In 1868
he married Frances, daughter of Hugh Conger of Berne, and they have two chil-
dren : Eunice (wife of Christopher Michael), and Philip S., M. D., who was a grad-
uate from the Albany Medical College in 1896.

Rheinhart, Alonzo L., was born in the town of Berne, July 13, 1858. John Rhein-
hart, his great-grandfather, was a native of Germany and immigrated to America
in 1762, settling in or about New York. When the Revolutionary war broke out he
enlisted and served through the whole war. Johannes Rheinhart, the grandfather,
was born in Berne on the homestead where he was a lifelong farmer and owned a
farm of 113 acres. His children were Catharine, Peter, David, William and Adam.
Peter, the father of Alonzo Rheinhart, was born in Berne in 1803. In early life he
was a farmer, but later became a shoemaker in the village of Berne. His last days
were spent in Knox. He was twice married, his first wife being Christiana Deitz,
and their children were Louisa (wife of David Ball of Berne), Matilda (wife of Isaac
Ball of Schoharie), and Christiana, who died when fourteen. His second wife was
Mary Ann, daughter of William Havens of Knox, and they had the following chil-
dren: Harrison, Catharine, Addison (who was a soldier in the war of the Rebellion,
1860 to 1865, enlisting in Co. E, 7th N. Y. Heavy Artillery for three years, and was
taken prisoner at the battle of Cold Harbor and was a prisoner in the Andersonville



288

prison eleven months, and died in 18T0), Morgan (who served in the army the last
year of the war of the Rebellion), Lucy, Irvin, Mary J. and Alonzo L. Alonzo L.
remained with his father until twenty three years of age. He attended the com-
mon schools and began life for himself as a farmer, which vocation he has since
followed. In the spring of 1888 he moved to the town of Berne on his present
farm of sixty acres, where he has since resided, doing general farming. In 1890
Mr. Rheinhart was elected town clerk and several times he has been called upon to
represent his town and district at town, county and assembly conventions. In 1887
he married Ida, daughter of Charles G. and Margaret (Schoonmaker) Frink, and
they have two children, Frank A. and Minnie. Mr. Frink, father of Mrs. Rhein-
hart, was a prominent man in the town of Knox, representing his town on the
Board of Supervisors several terms; he was also one of the most successful farmers
and at the time of his death his wealth was $50,000.

Snyder, Cecil, born in Rensselaerville, September 10, 1848, is a son of David H.
and Eunice (Head) Snyder, both natives of Rensselaerville. They came to Westerlo
in 1851 and engaged in farming, where they remained until his death. Mrs. Snyder
still lives on the homestead with Cecil Snyder. The grandfather, Ephraim Snyder,
was an early settler of Rensselaerville and came from Dutchess county. Cecil
Snyder has always been a farmer on the homestead, which consists of 160 acres and
he now intends making a specialty of dairying. In 1877 he married Anna, daugh-
ter of William and Ann Norton of Westerlo, and they have two children, Jessie M.
and Millard.

Lockwood, Horace R.. born in Westerlo, February 28, 1841, is a brother of Leander
S. Lockwood, mentioned in- this work. In 1865 he married Esther, daughter of
Samuel and Nancy (Tovvnsend) Green of Westerlo, and they have three children :
Estella, Samuel G. and Mary Helen. Mr. Lockwood has the old Allen farm of 164
acres and eighty acres where he resides. In politics he is a Democrat and held the
office of assessor for six years in succession. Mr. Lockwood is a member of J. M.
Austin Lodge No. -567, F. & A. M-. and the Christian church of South Westerlo.

Simpkin, Robert P.. born November 29, 1830, in Westerlo, was a son of Robert L.
and Phoebe (Powell) Simpkin, he of Westerlo, and she of Long Island, and grandson
of R. Simpkin on his father's side and of Samuel Powell on the maternal side ; the
latter was a farmer in Long Island. R. Simpkin spent his life in Westerlo; Robert
L. Simpkin was a blacksmith by trade, at which he worked in connection with farm-
ing. Robert P. Simpkin has always followed farming and is the owner of 111 acres
of laud, forty acres of homestead settled by his grandfather and seventy-one which
he bought. In 1855 he married Margaret, daughter of Nathaniel and Sally Holmes
of Westerlo, and they have three children: Alice, widow of Daniel Lockwood, who
died 1894; Ellison, who died, aged eighteen years; and Jennie, wife of Emery
Palmer, farmer and thrasher of Greenville, Greene county, N. Y. In politics Mr.
Simpkin is a Democrat and he and his family attend and support a Christian church.

Simpkin, Henry, born in Westerlo, N. Y., February 4, 1836, is a brother of Robert
P. Simpkin, mentioned in this work. Henry Simpkin was reared on the farm, and
with the exception of three years spent in Coeymans, has followed farming in the
town of Westerlo. He has a farm of 120 acres where he resides and another of fortv



289

acres. In 1857 he niar^ied Louise H., daughter of John and Elsie (Traver) Freely,
both natives of Greene county, and they have one son, Victor, v?ho married Ella,
daughter of William and Mariett Applebeen of Westerlo, and they have one daugh-
ter, Grace L. Simpkin, born January 15, 1888. Victor resides on the homestead and
carries on the farm. In politics they are both Republicans and attend the M. E.
church.

Hanney, Andrew D., born in Westerlo, August 29, 1819, is a son of David and
Hannah (Terbusli) Hanney, he a native of Westerlo and she of Fishkill. His grand-
father. Andrew Hanney, was born in Scotland, where he married and came to Hol-
land Purchase, N. Y. , then to Westerlo, where he settled as a farmer. He was a
soldier m the Revolutionary war, and raised an independent company to help at
Burgoyne's surrender. David Hanney was a farmer of Westerlo and as a Democrat,
held the office of assessor for a great many years and refused to be supervisor. He
died in 1ST3 and Mrs. Hanney in 1842. Andrew D. Hanney, has, with the exception
of a few years spent at the carpenter's trade, been a farmer on the homestead. He
has. 102 acres which is now carried on by his son. In 1851 Mr. Hanney married
Hannah M., daughter of John Hain of Westerlo, and they had two children : George,
a farmer of Westerlo. and Charles, on the home farm. Mrs. Hanney died in 1872
and Mr. Hanney married again, Phoebe C. (Babcock) La Paugh, who died January
11, 1893. Mr. Hanney is a Democrat and Baptist.

Hinckley, Charles, born in Westerlo, March 21, 1821, was a son of Josiah and
Clarrissa (Slausen) Hinckley. The father of Josiah, Josiah Hinckley, came from
New York city and settled in Westerlo when the town was but a wilderness. He
fought in the Revolutionary war and then settled on a farm in Westerlo. The great-
grandfather was of Scotch descent and married a French lady and settled in New
York city, and spent his last days in Westerlo. The fatherof Charles Hinckley spent
his life on the farm in Westerlo, where he died in 1866, and Mrs. Hinckley in 1872.
Charles Hinckley married Rachel Ann Huyck, daughter of Walter and Margaret
Huyck. Mrs. Hinckley died in 1883. Mr. Hinckley has always been a farmer and
carried on farming on the homestead till 1888, when he rented the farm and took up
his residence in the vicinty of South Westerlo. He has always been a Democrat in
politics.

Erwin, Jacob M., was born in New Salem in 1843. John, his great. grandfathfer,
was one of three brothers; John, William, and Jared, from the North of Ireland, who
came to America and settled in New Scotland in about 1775. Hugh, the grand-
father, was born on the homestead in 1786, and in time came into possession of it.
His wife was Lavina, daughter of Rev. Harmanus Van Huysen, who was a captain
in the Revolutionary war and a Dutch Reformed minister. He died in 1871 and his
wife died in 1868. Isaac, the father, was born on the homestead in 1818 and his
early life was spent at various occupations. When sixteen years of age he began to
learn the shoemaker's trade in Clarksville and four years later, in 1838, he started a
shoe shop on his own account in the village of New Salem, where he has ever since
resided and plied his trade. He filled the offices of collector and overseer of the poor.
In 1840 he married Maria, daughter of Jacob Martin, of New Scotland. Their chil-
dren were Jacob M., James E., William H., John (deceased) and Leora. Jacob M.



290

attended the common schools until fourteen yearsof age, when he pntered his father's
shop as apprentice and remained there until eighteen years old when, in September,
1861, enlisted in Co. D, 91st N. Y. Vols., and served three years, and in January,
1864, he re-enhsted in the same company, which was heavy artillery after that date,
and in which he was a commissioned officer. The principal battles in which he
participated were Port Hudson, Irish Bend, Vermilion Bayou, and Alexandria, thence
to Fort Jackson, which his company took charge of, Dmwiddie Court House, Five
Forks and Appamattox. He returned home m July. 1S65. and immediately after his
return he received his commission as second lieutenant. He then went to work at
his trade which he plied until 1867. In 1868 he engaged in general mercantile busi-
ness in the village of New Salem, which business he has followed up to the present
time. In 1870 he was appointed postmaster of New Salem, which office he filled
until 1884; he was again appointed under President Harrison. He is a member of
the G. A. R., Post No. 5 of Albany. The year 1895 he spent diligently furthering
the cause of the proposed Albany, Helderberg and Schoharie Electric Railroad, of
which he is one of the directors, and is also a member of the executive committee of
directors. In 1867 he was married to Amanda, daughter of Conrad Mathias of New
Scotland. To them were born two children: Levi M. and Charles W.

Flansburgh, John, was born in the town of New Scotland, in 1836. Jacob, the great-
grandfather, was a native of Holland and of good old Holland ancestry. He came
to the United States and settled in the town of Bethlehem, where he spent his life
as a farmer. He" reared four children: John P., Elizabeth, Sophia and Cornelia.
John P., the grandfather, was born in the town of Bethlehem in September, 1784,
and died in July, 1867. In 1803 he was married to Margaret Kniver of Bethlehem,
and their children were Peter, David, Jacob, Michael, Maria, Eva, John, William,
Elizabeth, Matthew, Kate, Cornelia and Garrett. He was married twice, the issue
of the last marriage being one son, James. He removed to Sharon, Albany- county,
thence to the Helderberg in the town of New Scotland in 1809. He was a lifelong
farmer, who began poor and by his energy and ambition he accumulated a good
property. He was married to Maria Simmons, who was born in New Scotland and
daughter of Andrew Simmons, by whom seven children were born : John, Margaret
J., Mary Ann, Catherine J., Caroline, Ellen and Rufus. His second wife was Cath-
erine Simmons, a sister of his first wife, by whom two children were born, Harriet
and Ida. His second wife died in 1892. John Flansburgh worked on his father's
farm and attended the common schools, and when twenty-five years of age embarked
in farming for himself. He soon accumulated enough to purchase his present farm,
of 150 acres, upon which he has made many improvements. He served his town as
excise commissioner and collector. He is a member of the Patrons of Husbandry,
Clarksville Grange, of which he is treasurer. In 1860 he married Catherine J.,
born in New Scotland and daughter of John and Betsey (Brate) Radley. Their
children are Peter, who married Ida Relyea and has one child, and Lizzie, wife of
Elsbree Jones.

Crookes, John, was born in Yorkshire, England, July 10, 1898. He was a .son of
William and Frances (Wardwell) Crookes, natives of the same place. They reared
five children: John, Fannie, Sarah Ann, Elizabeth and Jane. The mother died in
1848. The father was a blacksmith, and in 1851 left England with his family and



291

sailed for America, landing in New Yftrk one mouth later. He came direct to Al-
bany, where he plied his trade for one year, when he removed to Tarrytown in New
Scotland, and four years later to the village of Clarksville, where he spent his
remaining days at his trade. While in England he was a member of the Odd Fel-
lows fraternity. He died in 1867. John, when at the age of ten years, was obliged
to enter his fathers shop as a helper. He has devoted his life successfully at his
trade, and at the age of twenty-two entered his father's shop and has ever since done
a general blacksraithmg business on his own account. September 5, 1864, he
enlisted in the '33d New York Independent Battery and was transferred to the 8th
New York Heavy Artillery, and served until the close of the war. He participated
in a good many battles and skirmishes. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity,
Kerne Lodge No. 864. In 1860 he married Sarah Ingraham, daughter of Lyman In-
graham of New Scotland. Their children are Charles, who is employed in the State
Capitol at Albany ; Clara, wife of Benjamin Winston of New Scotland ; John and
Frank, twins; and Lizzie. All of his .sons are blacksmiths. John is in Altamont,
N. Y , and Frank is a blacksmith in the State Capitol.

Oliver, Abram E., was born in the town of New Scotland, N. Y., in January, 1833.
He has spent his life successfully at farming and fruit growing, being one of the
most e.Ktensive apple growers in his town, in which pursuit he has manifested
a thorough knowledge. He purchased his first farm from his father, but now owns
four farms containing 383 acres, which was originally owned by his great-grand-
faher, grandfather and father, and which he purchased at different times. In early
life he dealt to some extent in cattle and sheep. He has made many essential im-
provements on his farm, erected an imposing dwelling, etc. He has provided each
of his children with liberal educational advantages, and has since placed two of his
sons on two of his farms. Mr. Oliver is a Republican m politics, has served his town
nine years as assessor, and is now president in the third district of the Republican town
organization. Mr. Oliver has been twice married; May 17, 1856, he married Lucre-
tia, daughter of Anthony Legrange, by whom he had seven children: Anna, Abram,
Nelson, Ida, Lovina, Frank and Elwood, the latter a physician m Colorado. In 1872
Mr. Oliver married Elizabeth Borst, a native of Schoharie county, by whom he had
three children; Chester. Lillian and Sadie. Mr. and Mrs. Oliver are members of the
New Scotland Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Oliver has been trustee for many
years and is now superintendent of the Sunday school. Everett Oliver, the great-
grandfather of our subject, was born in the town of New Scotland, on one of the
farms now owned by Mr. Oliver, about 1759. He spent his life as a farmer and lived
to be about eighty years of age. He reared four sons and three daughters. John
E., the grandfather, was the oldest of his father's children, and was born on the
same farm about 1780. He came into possession of twenty-five acres of his father's
homestead and became an active, energetic and successful farmer. He was a Re-
publican in politics, and was much interested in the welfare of his party. He reared
eight sons and one daughter, and to each of these he gave a farm. He lived to be
ninety-four years of age. The last half of his life was spent in the town of Westerlo.
Everett Oliver, father of our subject, was born in New Scotland, in 1807, on one of
the farms now owned by his son. He was a lifelong farmer, meeting with good suc-
cess. He married Mary Albright, by whom he had four children: John, Abram,



292

Ellen J., and Eve Ann. His wife died at fifty-seven years of age. They were
members of the M. E. church, of which he was a liberal supporter. He died in
January, 1896. At the time of his death he owned four farms and §7,000 in cash ; he
had eight living great-great-grandchildren, a number of great-grandchildren, several
grandchildren, and three children.