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

Onisquatha, born 1696, died 1731 (m. in 1724 to Anne Slingerland), son of Albert of Onisquatha. born 1666 (m. Hester Becker), son
of Teunis Cornelise Slingerland, who came from Amsterdam, Holland, about 1650 and settled in Beverwyck (now Albany) and
purchased 10,000 acres of land from the Indians and settled on the land now owned by his direct descendants. De Witt C.
Slingerland, the subject of this .sketch, was educated in the Albany public schools, after which he became clerk and bookkeeper for
his father and brother, H. H. Slingerland & Son. In 1889 Henry H. sold out to his sons, John B. and U. C, who now own a large
wholesale and retail grocery situated at 86 and 88 Washington avenue and 73 South Swan street. Mr. Slingerland is a member of
Ancient City Lodge No. 452, F&AM, the Unconditional Republican Club, and is a director of the New York Mutual Savings and
Loan Association. In March, 1875, he married Lillie Cuyler Geary of Albany, and they have two sons, Henry Cuyler and Frank
Nelson.
Page 335 [1253] Family Sketches
Frank J. Smith, Ph. G., son of David A. and Elizabeth (McGaghey) Smith, was born in Albany, NY, 23 Sep 1859. Both of Mr.
Smith's parents were born in Ireland ; his father came to America from County Moneghan, in May 1834, and settled in Albany. In
1847 he engaged in the grocery business on the corner of Green street and Hudson avenue, on property .owned by the Ten Eyck
estate. He remained in business there for 25 years and subsequently moved to the corner of Knox and Second streets. David A.
Smith is now retired after a successful business career. He was well known. Frank J. Smith attended Levi Cass's Grand Street
Institute and Amos Cass's Division Street Institute; subsequently he attended School No. 15 and was a member of the first class
graduated from that school. In the fall of 1872 he went to the Albany High School, but owing to ill health remained there only three
months. 17 Mar 1873, he went to work in the drugstore of John De P. Townsend as boy, where he remained thirteen years, in the
mean time attending the Albany College of Pharmacy, from which he was graduated 27 Feb 1883, being a member of the first class
graduated from that college. In 1886 Mr. Smith started in the drug business for himself at his present location. No. 277 Clinton
avenue, and in addition to the drug business he has an extensive bottling establishment. He was the first to put up carbonated root
beer in champagne bottles; he also puts up siphons of seltzer and vichy and manufactures many patent medicines. In 1892 he was
a candidate on the Republican ticket for the office of coroner and received a large number of votes, but was counted out. He is a
member of Ancient City Lodge No. 452, F&AM, and Mt. Hermon Lodge No. 38, I. O. O. F. He is also treasurer and for ten years
has been vestryman of Grace Episcopal church. He also belongs to the Unconditional Republican Club. 1 Jun 1881, he married
Mary E., daughter of Thomas Fazaherly, the well-known baker, and they have two children, Edna Flavell and F. J., jr.
Page 159 [1077] Family Sketches
George H. Stevens, son of George and Margaret (Browne) Stevens, was born in Albany 28 Sep 1850, and attended school No. 8
and the Boys' Academy. In 1868 he entered Rutgers College and was graduated with high honors in 1872, delivering the
valedictory. He read law in the office of Hon. Amasa J. Parker for one year and was graduated from the Albany Law School in 1874,
being one of the commencement orators. The same year he was admitted to the bar in Albany. In Nov 1874 he was appointed by
John M. Bailey assistant district attorney, an office he held for three years. For about five years he was a member of the Examining
Board of the Third Judicial Department, being appointed by the Supreme Court. Being a staunch Republican he was elected
alderman of the Fourteenth ward in the spring of 1892 and re-elected in 1894, and was noted in the Common Council for his hard
work for economy, honesty, and good government. He is a member of Ancient City Lodge No. 452, F&AM, Fort Orange Club, and
the Empire Curling Club, and from 1876 to 1892 was president of the Capital City Club. He was also for several years a director of
the Ridgefield Athletic Club. In 1880 he married Mary Hand Ogden, daughter of Edward Ogden of Albany, and they have one son,
Ogden Stevens, born 30 Jul 1882.
Page 14 [932]
George M. True, is a descendant of Puritan ancestors and was born in Holderness, NH, 8 Aug 1856. His parents were Joseph F.
and Mary B. (Watson) True. He received his education in the common schools and at the New Hampton Literary Institution, after
leaving which he was superintendent of schools in the town of Holderness, at the same time studying law with James L. Wilson of
Ashland, NH. He was graduated from the Albany Law School in May 1881, and has since practiced law at No. 82 State street,
Albany. He was married 29 Aug 1881, to Mary A, Wood, of Albany. He is a member of Ancient City Lodge No. 452, F&AM, and
Albany Senate No. 641. Knights of the Ancient Essenic Order. He is one of the attorneys for the State Department of Agriculture.
Page 38 [956] Family Sketches
Paul Wadsworth, was born in Auburn, NY, 13 Jun 1854. His parents came from New England and he is descended from
Christopher Wadsworth who landed at Duxbury, MA, in 1630 and to whom was given by Miles Standish one of the first deeds
executed by him, which now hangs in Plymouth Hall. The Wadsworth family is very prominent in New England history and Paul
Wadsworth, the subject of this sketch, is a direct descendant of Captain Samuel Wadsworth, who with his company of one hundred
men, was massacred by Indians at Sudbury, MA. Mr. Wadsworth received an academic education at the Auburn Academy and
Geneva High School and in 1868 he entered the telegraph service at Saratoga, NY. He held the positions of operator and manager
at different places in the State until the fall of 1871, when he entered the service of the D. & H. C. Co., as operator at Cooperstown
Junction, NY, from which point he was transferred to Binghamton, NY, as operator and ticket agent, and when the division
superintendent's office was moved to Oneonta in 1873, Mr. Wadsworth was given the position of train dispatcher. He was made
local freight agent at Albany, NY, in 1877 and remained at this post for thirteen years when be was appointed assistant general
freight agent and a few years later general freight agent, which position he now holds. In point of service
Mr. Wadsworth is one of the oldest employees in the railroad department of the company. He held the position of president of the
General Freight Agents Association of New England for one year and was also secretary for the same term. He is a member of a
number of traffic organizations and his name appears upon important committees of same. Mr. Wadsworth is also a member and
trustee of the Fourth Presbyterian church of Albany and is actively identified in church and Sunday school work. He is a member of
the Albany Club, the Transportation Club of New York, and Ancient City Lodge [No. 452], F&AM, of Albany. In 1876 he married
Susie Walker of Pittsburgh, PA, and they have one son and two daughters.
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