Washington County New York Biographies - Surnames B

Transcribed by Lynn Tooley

Washington County New York Biographies - Surnames B, extracted from the Washington county, New York; its history to the close of the nineteenth century by Stone, William Leete, 1835-1908.

BAKER, Frederick I. Biography

Frederick I. Baker was born in the town of Fort Ann, Washington County, N. Y., May 29, 1844, and was educated by private tuition in his native village, at a school in Montreal and the Fort Edward Institute. He studied law in the office of Hon. Joseph Potter at Whitehall, and was admitted to the bar in 1865. Immediately after his admission he opened a law office in Minneapolis, Minn., where he remained one and one-half years. He then returned to Fort Ann and embarked in the iron ore business with his father and others, and continued in this industry for about ten years. He then resumed the practice of law in Fort Ann, which he has continued ever since.

Mr. Baker is a Democrat in politics and has twice held the position of Postmaster at Fort Ann, for terms of four years each, under the two administrations of President Cleveland. He also served as Justice of the Peace for five years and was counsel for the village of Fort Ann for eighteen years.

He received the appointment as postmaster from President Cleveland upon the strength of his own letter without any outside influence. He has been a member of the Democratic County Committee for the past twenty years with the exception of one year when he was postmaster. He has been delegate to six Democratic State Conventions and has been Chairman of the Town Committee continuously since 1876.

In 1869 Frederick I. Baker married Harriet Rice, daughter of John Rice, an old family of Fort Ann. The Baker family was formerly of Granville. Mr. Baker's great-grandfather, Benjamiin Baker and his brother, Nathaniel, were among the first settlers of that town, and the family was one'of the most prominent in that part of the county. Benjamin Baker was one of the first half dozen residents assessed in Granville.

Frederick I. Baker's parents were Amyel and Salome (Bigelow) Baker. Atnyel Baker came to the town of Fort Ann from Granville in 1835. He was engaged in the lumber and mining industries for many years.

BARTHOLOMEW, Alanson Douglass Biography

Alanson Douglass Bartholomew, one of the leading members of the bar of Washington County, was born in Whitehall, N. Y., September 15, 1863. He was prepared for college at the Troy Conference Academy, Poultney, Vt., and then took a course in the Syracuse University from which he was graduated with the degree of Ph. B. in the class of 1886. After graduating he took up the study of law in the office of Potter & Lillie at Whitehall, and entering the law department of Cornell University was graduated therefrom with the degree of L.L. B. in the class of 1888.

During the years 1883 and 1887 he taught school for some terms. He was admitted to the bar in 1888 and spent some time in the editorial department of the West Publishing Company, publishers of law books in St. Paul, Minnesota.

In 1890 Mr. Bartholomew opened his offices in Whitehall and began the active practice of his profession. He has always taken an active part in public affairs and is serving his second term as Justice of the Peace. He is also Town Police Justice and Notary Public. In politics he is a Republican.

Military affairs have also entered largely into his career, and his record as a soldier is highly praiseworthy. He enlisted in the Ninth Separate Company, N. G. N. Y., in 1886 as a private, was promoted to corporal and then to sergeant in which capacity he served five years when he was promoted to the rank of second lieutenant. He served as second lieutenant with Company "I" Second Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, during the Spanish war, and won high popularity both with officers and men. The Whitehall company returned home in splendid condition as compared with other companies, which fact is a reflection of high credit to its officers. Mr. Bartholomew was promoted in January, 1900, to the rank of first lieutenant of Company "I" (Ninth Separate) Second Regiment, N. G. N. Y. He is also prominent in social organizations; is a thirty-second degree mason; a member of Phoenix Lodge No. 96, F. & A. M., of which he was Junior Warden; is Past High Priest of Champlain Chapter; a member of Whitehall Council and of Washington Commandry No. 33, Saratoga Springs. He is a Past Grand of Whitehall Lodge No. 5, I. O. O. F., and a member of Whitehall Encampment; also of the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity, Syracuse University, and of the legal fraternity of Phi Delta Phi.

In 1892 Mr. Bartholomew married Mabel E. Falkenbury, daughter of Joseph and Harriet Falkenbury, and they have three sons, namely: Alanson Douglass, Jr., Heman Almon, 2d. and Victor Herbert.

Mr. Bartholomew's parents were Heman Almon and Alice L. (Douglass) BartholomeW of Whitehall. He is descended from William Bartholomew, a Puritan, who came to Boston in the ship "Griffin" in 1634, and who was the first representative elected from the town of Ipswich. Mr. Bartholomew's forefathers were active in the Colonial wars; one holding a Captain's commission was killed in the famous " Narragansett Fort Fight" in 1675. Seven of Mr. Bartholomew's ancestors were enrolled in the American service during the Revolutionary War. The Bartholomews largely outnumber any other family in the town, twenty-seven voters of that name being enrolled in rgoo. all of them descended from Lemuel Bartholomew, who came from Connecticut and settled in the northern part of the town about 1769.

BASCOM, Robert O. Biography

Robert O. Bascom was born at Orwell, Addison County, Vt., November 18, 1855. He received his literary education in the common schools and the high schools of Brandon and Shoreham, Vt., and at the Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, graduating from the latter institution in 1876. He began the study of law in 1880 in the office of Don D. Winn where he remained for a short time after which he entered the office of Hon. Edgar Hull with whom he remained until admitted to the bar September 14, 1883. Immediately after his admission he began the practice of his profession in Fort Edward and has not only been successful, but has attained the position of one of the foremost lawyers in Washington County. He is not only a sound counselor but is a speaker of a high order. He makes a careful study of all his cases and when in court handles them admirably.

In politics Mr. Bascom is a Republican and has been Chairman of the Republican County Committee for two years, of which committee he has been a member for many years.

On December 20, 1882, Robert O. Bascom married Mary L. Piatt, daughter of Myron and Sarah E. (Larabee) Piatt. They have a family of three children, namely: Wyman S., Robert P. and Fred G.

Mr. Bascom's parents were Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Clark) Bascom, both of whom were natives of Vermont.

Mr. Bascom traces his ancestors back to Thomas Bascom, a native of England, who came to America in 1634 and settled in Windsor, Conn. He had a son, Thomas, Jr., who was born in Connecticut, February 20, 1641 or 1642.

His son was Thomas the third, and was born in Northampton, Mass., in 1668. He had a son, Ezekiel, who was born at Northampton, Mass., November 22, 1700, and his son Elias, was born at Hatfield, Mass., December 19, 1737. He had a son, Artemidorus, who was born at Northfield, Mass., May 8, 1774, and his son_ Samuel H. Bascom, was the father of the subject of this sketch and was born February 27, 1819, in Orwell, Vt.

Elias Bascom was a soldier in the Revolutionary War and was present at the surrender of Burgoyne. Ezekiel Bascom was a soldier in the Colonial wars of 1723 to 1725.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the Bascom family ranks among the oldest in America, and that at least one member of the family participated in the struggle which led to the establishment of the American Republic.

In addition to his large legal practice Mr. Bascom gives attention to other important subjects and affairs. He is Assistant Secretary of the New York State Historical Association and has done a great deal towards furthering the interests of that intelligent body. He is also a member of Fort Edward Lodge No. 267, F. & A. M., of the Royal Arcanum, Fort Edward Council, and is a charter member of the Fort Edward Club. His ability as a speaker brings him before the public in connection with social and public matters, and he is always willing to aid every worthy cause with his voice and influence.

Mrs. Bascom is a lady of fine intelligence and high culture. She takes a deep interest in all literary matters, especially historical subjects and writings. She is a direct descendant of Richard Piatt, who came from England in 1638 and settled at New Milford, Conn. Senators Orville C. Platt of Connecticut and Thomas C. Platt of New York are also descended from Richard Platt.

Mrs. Bascom was one of the charter members and is Registrar of the Jane McCrea Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

BETTS, Royal C. Biography

Royal C. Betts was born in Pawlet, Vt., June 18, 1835, and studied law in the oiifice of Fayette Porter of that place, and with O. F. Thompson of Granville. He was admitted to the bar in 1859 and opened an office in that place. In 1863 he was elected special County Judge of Washington County and was re-elected in 1867. He was elected Supervisor of his town in 1867, and again in 1868. In the fall of 1868 he was elected District Attorney of the County and was reelected in 1871.

BLAIR, Bernard Biography

Bernard Blair was born in Williamstown, Mass., in 1801, and came to Salem in 1825, where he entered the office of Russell & Allen. In 1828 he entered into partnership with Judge Allen and remained with him a year. In 1S33 he married Charlotte, daughter of Abraham C. Lansing, of Lansingburgh. He was a trustee of Washington Academy for many years, and also of the Presbyterian Church. In 1839 he was elected to Congress. He was a scholar, as well as a noted lawyer, and held the degree of M. A. from both Middlebury and Williams college. He died in 1880.

BLANCHARD, Hon. Anthony I., Biography

Hon. Anthony I. Blanchard was born August 21, 1768, and studied law with Cornelius I. Bogart, in New York, from 1784 to 1787. He was admitted to the bar in 1789, and settled in Salem immediately after. In 1796 he was appointed Assistant Attorney General for the district of Washington and Clinton counties. In 1810 he was appointed first Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. He was also connected with the military service, in which he attained to the rank of Major in 1793. He married Maria, daughter of John Williams. He died in 1853.

BOIES, David A. Biography

David A. Boies was born in Greenwich April 28, 1819. He graduated from Union College in 1839, and then entered his father's law office. He was admitted to the bar in 1842, and in 1852 succeeded his father as Surrogate. In 1858 he married Margaret Gifford, daughter of Elihu Gifford, of Easton.

BOIES, Joseph Biography

Joseph Boies was born at Blandford, Mass., October 2, 1783, and graduated from Williams College in 1808. He studied law with Savage & Crary, at Salem, N. Y., and with Charles Ingalls, at Greenwich. He was admitted to the bar in 1811. He began the practice of law in Cambridge, but returned to Greenwich in 1812, where he remained until his death in 1866. He was Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for several years, and in 1847 was elected to the office of Surrogate.

BOYD, Hon. John H. Biography

Hon. John H. Boyd was born July 31, 1799, and was one of the foremost jurists of his day in Washington County, as well as one of the leading men of this part of the state. He practiced law in Whitehall for over forty years, was elected Justice of the Peace in 1828 and served as Special Surrogate from January i, 1857, to December. 31, 1859. He was elected to the State Senate in 1840, and sat in the United States Congress from March 4, 185 1 to March 3, 1853. On January 6, 1830, he married Lucretia Adams, who died September 4, 1831. On November 20, 1834, he married Margaret W. Billings. Of her issue, Mary E., John Williams and William Thomas survived her. She died October 31, 1844. On June 30, 1849, Mr. Boyd married Catherine I. Bunce, who survived him by thirty years, and died July 2, 1898. Their daughter. Kate Lucretia, is the wife of Charles W. Harding, of Whitehall. John H. Boyd died July 2, 1868, at Whitehall.

BRATT, Judge Frederick A. Biography

Judge Frederick A. Bratt was born in the town of Easton, Washington County, December 2, 1855, and was educated at the Fort Edward Institute and the Hudson River Institute. He studied law in the oflfice of Hon. A. D. Wait, at Fort Edward, and was admitted to the bar at the General Term at Albany. N. Y., in January, 1882. Immediately after his admission to the bar he began the practice of his profession in Fort Edward where he has met with distinctly marked success. He was elected Special County Judge in the fall of 1898 for a term of four years. In politics Judge Bratt is a Republican and is a consistent adherent of his party.

Judge Bratt married Fannie Parish, of Fort Edward, N. Y. His parents were William P. and Jemima C. (Van Antwerp) Bratt. Peter Yates Van Antwerp was her father and he was a nephew of Colonel Yates of Revolutionary fame. Judge Bratt's grandfather, NicholasBratt, was born near the city of Albany and lived to be one hundred and three years of age.

Judge Bratt has not only been successful as a lawyer, and has achieved a high reputation from his able handling of large and important cases that have gone through his hands, but since his elevation to the bench he has proved himself an able and competent judge, and no appeal has ever been taken against him in the county.

BURBY, Alonzo Augustus Biography

Alonzo Augustus Burby, a representative member of the bar of Washington County, was born November 16, 1873, in the town of Fort Edward, and received his education in the Fort Edward Union school and the Fort Edward Institute, graduating from the latter in 1887. He taught school for five years, and during that time began the study of law with Hon. A. D. Wait and was admitted to the bar December 6, 1894, at the General Term at Albany, N. Y. He then began the practice of his profession at Fort Edward where he has already achieved prominent recognition at the bar of the county.

In 1893 Mr. Burby was elected Justice of the Peace for a term of four years, and in May, 1898, was appointed Deputy Factory Inspector.

In politics Mr. Burby is a Republican and is noted both as an organizer and as an orator. As a public speaker he has few equals in the State and in this direction has achieved a reputation uniisual for a man of his years and he enjoys the advantages, not only of an excellent education, but of a fine literary mind.

Mr. Burby is a member of the Knights of Columbus, Fort Edward Council No. 336 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, Division No. 3, Fort Edward, and has been president of this division since its organization. He is also a member of the Bibby Hose Company and of the Fortnightly Club, of which he has been Treasurer since its organization.

Mr. Burby's parents were John J. and Anna L. (Lynch) Burby. His father was a native of Ireland, but his mother was born in this country and is a southern lady. Her people were Americans for many generations and she is a direct descendant of Thomas Lynch, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.

[ Surnames C ]