Albany County New York Family Sketches - Surnames N

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Albany County New York Family Sketches - surnames N, 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.

NELLIS, William J., M.D., Family Sketch

Nellis, William J., M. D., son of Jacob and Julia A. (Wright) Nellis, was born at Schoharie Court House, N. Y., September 3, 1855. He was graduated from Schoharie Academy in 1873 and then engaged in the jewelry business in Schoharie for one year. In 1874 he came to Albany as a partner in the drug firm of J. Nellis & Sons, from which he withdrew in 1876. While there he read medicine with Dr. John M. Bigelow and graduated from the Albany Medical College in 1879; since then he has been in active practice in Albany. He took post-graduate courses in the New York Polyclinic Hospital and College, in laryngology and rhinology and in the New York Post-Graduate School in clinical medicine, pathology and diseases of the nose and throat. He is a member and ex-secretary of the Albany County Medical Society, a member of the New York State Medical Society and chairman of its committee of arrangements. He is also a member of the Sons of the Revolution, through his great-grandfather, Peter Nellis, who served in the 3d Regiment Tryon county militia, from 1779 to the close of the war; a member of Masters Lodge No. 5, F. & A. M., the Phi Sigma Kappa, the Fort Orange, Albany Camera, and Albany Country Clubs, the Mohican Camera Club, and served for three years as fleet surgeon of the American Canoe Association.

NORTH, Charles F., Family Sketch

North, Charles F., of the firm of North & Doyle, proprietors of the well-known Anchor Hosiery Mills. The family is of English origin. In 1640 two brothers first settled in Connecticut, where Mr. North was born in 1844, at Collinsville, a son of Morris North. He never entered school after seven years of age, the time when he came to Cohoes, but worked in a mill until twenty years of age. He then sold machinery to the mills, in exchange for knit goods, which he again sold. As a demand for paper boxes in which to ship knit goods increased, he began the manufacture of them, conducting an extensive factory. Later he became a partner of the Anchor Hosiery Mills, and with Charles F. Doyle built mill No. 1 in 1881, and in 1887 mill No. 2, and in 1890 mill No. 3. Mr. North also carries on a stone and sewer pipe yard, building a large store house in 1884 and another in 1894. He has also served officially in county affairs, and was the first alderman under city government in 1869. He later officiated as alderman for two years, and in 1874 as city chamberlain for four years. In 1879 he was appointed fire commissioner, which appointment he has since held. He has been a member of the Reform church since 1869.

NORTH, Howard C., Family Sketch

North, Howard C., has been a railroad man since he was twenty-four years old, and has steadily climbed the ladder of advancement. He entered the service of the New York & Oswego Midland, now the Ontario & Western, as clerk and telegrapher in 1874, and in 1875 came to Green Island as an operator for the Delaware & Hudson Canal Company. In 1880 he was appointed assistant train dispatcher, and in 1883 chief dispatcher. In 1887, after acting as agent in Green Island for about a year, he was appointed assistant superintendent of Saratoga & Champlain division, the important position he now so acceptably fills after a quarter of a century association with the company. He was born at Guilford, N. Y. July 4, 1812. He was the son of Erastus B. North, of old English ancestry.

NORTON, David J., Family Sketch

Norton, David J., son of David and Catharine (Putnam) Norton, w^s born in the town of Buel, Montgomery county, August 12, 1832. The first Norton who came to America, landed at Martha's Vineyard during the early settlements in the sixteenth century. He subsequently moved into Connecticut, where he became a large land owner. Some of his descendants are now living in the town of Hebron, Conn. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was a sharpshooter in the Revolutionary war, was taken prisoner by the Indians and later was imprisoned by the British. Toward the latter part of the war he was exchanged. For eight or ten consecutive terms he was a member of the Connecticut Assembly. David J. Norton was educated at the district schools and completed the course at the Cherry Valley Academy, after which he taught school in Schoharie county, N. Y., and in Illinois. He returned East and after practicing law for a few years, was admitted to the bar in Februarv, 1806, while residing at Sharon Springs. Soon after he moved to Albany, N. Y., and practiced law with ex-judge Voorhees. This partnership was dissolved after a time and another formed with William F. Beutler, which continued until Mr. Beutlerwas appointed assistant district attorney of Albany county. Since then Mr. Norton has practiced alone. He has traveled extensively and is a writer of great merit. He is the author of "Enid." an opera given in Albany by the Albany Opera Company. He has also written many very entertaining stories for Frank Leslie's and other papers and magazines, He represented the Sixteenth ward on the board of supervisors for one term and was alderman from the Fourteeuth ward for two terms, and while serving as alderman was chosen one of the members of the Committee of Albany's bi-centennial celebration in 1887. He was also a member of Beverwyck Lodge I. O. 0. F. November 10, 1863, he married Almira Voorhees and they have two daughters: May and Margaret B.

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