Craft Masonry in Albany County, New York - Onondaga and Oswego ...

Biographies
Some of the following biographies are from Landmarks of Albany County, New York (1897), by Amasa Junius Parker.
http://archive.org/details/landmarksofalban00parker [pages as noted]:
Page 326 [1244] Family Sketches
Isaac Brilleman, son of Alexander, was born 19 Jan 1845, in Amsterdam, Holland, where he was educated and where he learned
the art of diamond polishing. He descends from several generations of jewelers. In 1860 he came to America and settled in Albany,
where he immediately found employment in the jewelry business. In 1866 he opened a jewelry store on the corner of South Pearl
street and Hudson avenue and in 1884 moved to his present location, Nos. 31-33 North Pearl street, the latter number being added
in 1893, when he magnificently remodeled and refitted the entire establishment. In 1895 he added what is termed a " crystal maze,"
one of the most elaborate show rooms in the world and probably the only one of its kind in this country outside of New York. He
deals extensively in the finest grades of watches, clocks, diamonds and other precious stones, sterling silver, optical goods, hollow
and Hat ware, cut glass, bric-a-brac; china, etc., a large part of which is imported by him. He is one of the foremost jewelers of the
State. He is a Democrat and was alderman of the Fifth ward in 1878-79. He is a member of Washington Lodge No. 85, F&AM, a
trustee of Beth Emeth congregation, treasurer of the Rural and Bethlehem cemeteries and a trustee of the Hebrew Benevolent
Society since about 1870.
Page 18 [936] Family Sketches
Julius Laventall, born in Mar 1832, in Bovendon, Hanover, Germany, came to America in August, 1854, settling in Albany and
opened a small jewelry store on South Pearl .street, in 1857. In June, 1865, having sold this business, he bought of S. M.
Valkenburgh the Ladies' Bazaar, on the corner of South Pearl street and Hudson avenue. In 1857 he also purchased the property,
and in 1876, built the present building, where he carries an extensive line of ladies and children's furnishings and shoes. He is a
member and ex-president of Shiloh Lodge, I. O. of B. B. and of Arnon Lodge, I. O. of F. S. and has represented both in their
respective Grand Lodges of the United States. He is a member and past noble grand of Mt. Carmel Lodge, I. O. O. F., member of
Washington Lodge, No. 85, F&AM, was manager of the Jewish Home and has been a trustee of the Congregation of Temple Beth
Emeth since 1873, and was its vice-president for eight years, its president in 1883, and chairman of the building committee during
the erection of the present temple, on the corner of Lancaster and Swan streets. He was also one of the organizers and for the first
two years a director of the South End Bank. In 1858 he married Miss Sarah Swartz of Albany, who died, leaving two daughters: Mrs.
H. W. Foreman of Albany, and Mrs. Daniel Stern of Brooklyn. In 1863 he married second, Hannah, daughter of M. Hydeman of
Albany, and they have two sons: Louis Julius, born 28 Jan 1866, and Edward Simon, born 13 Jun 1874, both of whom are
associated in business with their father.
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http://caldwellandcompany.net/catalog1.html
Major Henry W. Scovel who was an United States Additional Paymaster with the rank of Major from 27
Feb 1863 being mustered out 15 Apr 1866. Prior to being mustered out he was brevetted a Lt. Col. of US
Volunteers from 11 Jan 1866. Regular Army CDV's are much harder to find than Volunteer or State Units.
The photographer's imprint is J. H.ABBOTT, PHOTOGRAPHIST, 480 BROADWAY, ALBANY, NY. The
image shows Major Scovel in a full pose with his cap on a pedestal next to him. The forage cap has the US
in the wreath. Beautiful flawless card with the info written in pencil on the reverse. He died 23 Dec 1871. >
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Page 3 [922] Family Sketches
Moses Stark, son of Myer and Barbette (Nussbaum) Stark, was born in Albany, 11 Feb 1851. His parents
came from Germany in 1840 and first settled in North Adams, MA, whence they moved about 1842 to Albany, where the father (lied
in 1889. Myer Stark was for many years a dry goods merchant. Of his seven children four sons are living; Bernard, born 1 Jan 1846,
now a manufacturer of ladies' wrappers; Moses, the subject of this sketch; Leopold, born in Oct 1854, a bookkeeper for his brother
Moses ; and Louis, born 24 May 1856, a member of the New York Tailoring Company. All reside in Albany. Moses Stark was
educated in the public and German schools of Albany, was for three years a clerk for Mann, Waldman & Co., and in April, 1868,
formed a partnership with his brother Bernard, under the firm name of B. Stark & Co., and engaged in the fancy dry goods business
in the old Tweddle Hall building. In 1882 they removed to No. 13 North Pearl street, where they made extensive improvements,
putting in a large millinery department, and where they were burned out in the fall of 1895. The business was then divided, Moses
Stark continuing the millinery branch, which is located in the Y. M. C. A. building at the corner of North Pearl and Steuben streets. It
is one of the best known establishments of the kind in Albany. He is a member of Washington Lodge No. 85, F&AM, and Gideon
Lodge No. 140, I. O. B. B., and a charter member of the Adelphia Literary Club. 22 Mar 1874, he married Minnie, daughter of Morris
Herman of Albany, who died August 26, 1889, leaving three children: Herbert M., Mae and Hattie.
Page 179 [1197] Family Sketches
Silas Sporborg, is the son of Joseph Sporborg, a native of Bavaria, Germany, who came to America and settled in Albany about
1836 and who died here in Apr 1889, aged 73. Joseph was a prominent wholesale milliner, and founded the present business of his
son in 1846. In 1876 he took his sons Henry J. and Silas into partnership under the firm name of J. Sporborg & Sons, and upon his
retirement in 1886 the style of J. Sporborg's Sons was adopted. Henry J. died in Dec 1892, and since then Silas Sporborg has
continued the business alone, carrying on a large wholesale trade. Joseph was for many years president of the congregation of Beth
Emeth and a director of the National Savings Bank. Silas Sporborg, born in Albany, 10 Feb 1851, was educated at the Boys'
Academy and Professor Anthony's School and when eighteen entered his father's store. He is a member of Washington Lodge
No. 85, F&AM, the Bna Brith and the Delphi Club.
Page 14 [932] Family Sketches
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