Albany County New York Family Sketches - Surnames A

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Albany County New York Family Sketches - surnames A, extracted from the Landmarks of Albany County, New York, Edited by Amasa J. Parker of Albany, N.Y., Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason & Co., Publishers, 1897.

AINSWORTH, Danforth E., Family Sketch

Ainsworth, Danforth E., the subject of this sketch, was born at Clayton, Jefferson county, N. Y., November 29, 1848. He was educated at Pulaski Academy and Falley Seminary, and in the early years of his life was a teacher in the common schools of the State. He read law with the Hon. Henry L. Howe, and was admitted to the bar in 1873. He then resided at Sandy Creek, Oswego county, N. Y., where he continued in the active practice of his profession as a partner of Hon. Henry L. Howe until 1878 when the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Ainsworth continued the practice of law at Sandy Creek until the year 1885 when he was elected to the Legislature, representing the second district of the county of Oswego. He represented that district in the Legislature during the years '86, '87, '88 and '89, during the two latter years serving as chairman of the Committee upon Appropriations in that body. He was again elected to the Legislature in 1892, and served during the years of '93, '94 and '95, the two latter years being chairman of the Ways and Means Committee and Republican leader of the House; also serving upon the Committee of Judiciary, where his experience as a lawyer made him a strong man upon the committee. He was always a forcible and ready speaker, taking an active part m all debates of the House. It was largely owing to his support and advocacy that the reform legislation of the city of New York passed the Legislature in the session of 1894. The policy of the two parties as represented by the passage of this legislation and its veto by Governor Flower contributed in no small degree to the Republican tidal wave of 1895. Upon the election of Hon. Charles R. Skinner as State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Mr. Ainsworth was selected as his deputy, and is at present serving in that capacity.

ALBRIGHT, Peter S., Family Sketch

Albright, Peter S., was born in New Scotland, near New Salem, on the Albright homestead, February 8, 1821. Hendrick Albright (or Albrecht), his great-grandfather, was born in Germany in 1716 and came to America in 1740 and settled on a farm of 400 acres, which he afterward divided between his four sons. One of the farms (the homestead), now owned by Jacob Albright, brother of Peter S., has ever since been in possession of the Albright family. He (Hendrick) married Hannah Poland in 1742, by whom he had seven children. As an instance of his aversion to the Tory element of his time, it is related that a son-in-law named Strauss joined the British army during the Revolution. At the close of the war on his return to his family he was emphatically ordered by his father-in-law to quit America, and evidently considering discretion the better part of valor, he withdrew to Canada for the remainder of his days. Hendrick erected a large store house on the homestead in 1783, which stood for over a hundred years and was finally destroyed by fire in 1894. He died in 1783, and was succeeded on the homestead by his son Jacob, who was born there in 1762, and where he spent his whole life. Jacob was twice married, first to Hannah Arnold, by whom he had three children. His second wife was Elizabeth Wheeler, by whom he had fourteen children. He died in 1829. Isaac, his son, was born in the old stone house June 11, 1797, and was married in 1820 to Sicily Simmons, daughter of Peter Simmons of Clarksville, by whom seven children have been born: Peter S., Jacob, Harriet, Sarah, Emeline, Mary and Isaac. Isaac Albright, sr., in early life united with the Reformed church of New Salem and was a faithful attendant until a few weeks before his death. Although a firm adherent of the doctrine of his own church, he was free from the bigotry common in churches years ago, and was a firm friend of the persecuted Methodists of the early days. Following his father and grandfather, he allied himself with the Democrats and was a firm adherent to the party of his choice, casting his last vote with them. He gave to each of his sons a farm, and after a long and honorable career died January 21, 1888. Peter S. remained on his father's farm until twenty-five years of age, when he and his brother Jacob took the homestead farm to work, and were later given each a farm by their father. In 1854 Mr. Albright purchased another farm of ninety acres adjoining the homestead, on which he erected fine and large buildings, where he has ever since made his home and conducted a successful mixed husbandry. His son is now occupying one of his farms. In March, 1846, he married Catherine Ellen Hallenbeck, who was born in Bethlehem in 1828, and was a daughter of Ephraim G. and Mary Magdelene (Bartlett) Hallenbeck. Mr. and Mrs. Albright have eight children living: Mary M. Moak, born in May, 1848; Sarah M. Jones, born in November, 1849; Isaac S., born in July, 1852; Emeline Fowler, born in March, 1858; Rocelia Hurst, born in February, 1860; (ieorge H., born in February, 1862, died November, 1882; Catherine, born in March, 1864; Adelbert, !)orn in March, 1871; and Cordelia Finch, born in September, 1873.

ALLEN, General D. Frank, Family Sketch

Allen, Gen. D. Frank, is the son of William and Catharme (Wadleigh) Allen, and was born in Boston, Mass., December 25, 1843. He is a descendant of English ancestors who took part in the founding of the government of the United States. He lived and worked on a farm until 1860, when he moved to New York and obtained employment in the house of Elias Howe, the first manufacturer of the sewing machine, where he was second operator at the time of the breaking out of the war. General Allen enlisted in New York city and on April 27. 1861, was mustered for two years as a private in Co. G, 10th Regt. National Zouaves. He served his time and was discharged May 6, 1863, disabled by a broken down constitution. He was in the engagement at Big Bethel and took part in the defence of Fortress Monroe, during the battle of the Merrimac and Monitor. He was on the expedition from Fortress Monroe to Norfolk, Va. , took an active part in the famous Seven Days' battle in Porter's Corps to the final battle at Malvern Hill, and fought at the battles of Gaines Mill, White Oak Swamp, Second Bull Run, Antietam and Fredericksburg. In 1863 he removed to Albany and entered the pharmacy of Dr. Aaron Griffin and subsequentlv acquired the possession of it. He remained there twelve years, when having sold out, he went into the employ of Judson, Parsons & Haskell, dealers in spices, and was with them five years, when the company went out of existence, succeeded by Stephen H. Parsons. After two years spent in the packing department of Maurice E. Viele's hardware store, Mr. Allen went back to the employ of Stephen H. Parsons, with whom he remained until May, 1895, when he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of the department of G. A. R., and in May, 1896, he was appointed acting assistant quartermaster-general of the department of N. Y. G. A. R. During Albert C. Judson's incumbency of the office of county clerk, Mr. Allen was a clerk in his office. He has been a member of Lew Benedict Post, No. 5, G. A. R., since 1884 and has passed all the chairs, being now past commander. He is a member and past grand of Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 38, I. O. O. F. In 1864 he married Mary E. Reynolds and they have nine children.

ANGUS, Charles H., Family Sketch

Angus, Charles H., son of Charles and Mary (Pearl) Angus, was born in Albany, N. Y., in 1868. He attended the Albany public and High Schools and learned the carpenter trade with the firm of Gick & Sayles, with whom he remained five years. In 1888 he entered the employ of the Albany Venetian Blind Co. as superintendent and manager, and soon after became a stockholder. In 1889, however, owing to the pressure of personal business, he sold his interest in the latter business and confined his attention to overhauling property at Castleton, N. Y. In October, 1890, Mr. Angus bought from the estate of E. S. Foster, the nickel plating works established in 1884 by George F. Dodge, and located on Pleasant street. In 1894 Mr. Angus moved the plant to Nos. 317 and 319, North Pearl street and changed the name to the Albany Nickel Plating and Manufacturing Works, where he does a general foundry, machine and plating business, and manufacturing hardware specialties. August 26, 1889, he married Phoebe M. Vose of Albany, and they have one daughter, Helen.

ARMSTRONG, Rev. J. B., Family Sketch

Armstrong, Rev. J. B., was born at Johnsburg, N. Y., in 18.54, and a son of J. W. Armstrong, who was a farmer of Scotch-Irish ancestry. He was twenty years of age when he decided to enter the ministry, and was graduated in 1876 from Fort Edward Institute. He taught several years in the public schools, and then natural science at the Troy Conference Academy, and also taught higher mathematics. In 1883 he took his first charge at Ames, Montgomery county, where he remained for three years. Thence he proceeded to East Greenbush, then to Johnsonville and to West Troy in 1891, where he is pastor of the Third Avenue M. E. church. He is a man of rare attainments, of liberal views, and is an eloquent speaker. During his sojourn here he has labored faithfully and effectually for the upbuilding of the church of God. Among the fruits of his pastorate may be noticed a vigorous growth in all departments of the church work, largely increased membership and a new and modernized temple of worship.

[ Surnames B ]